Rickrollin’ — the harmless yet annoying bait-and-switch practice of intentionally misleading an unsuspecting Internet reader from an intended link to a covert Rick Astley video (see also: “dorkiness”) — is no new phenomenon, but it may have officially jumped the shark as of this interview, which confirms that Rick Astley himself is fully cognizant of the practice.

What this means (aside from the fact that bizarrely, Rick Astley now looks slightly like Jason Bateman) is that all you low-grade haxx0rs out there need to find a new game. Which is why we suggest RickRossRollin’ — same idea, different video: Rick Ross’ “Hustlin’.”

Also: MTV.com has not one, not two, but EIGHT Rick Astley videos! We went with what we editorially determined is the most annoying one of all.

And finally, there was a time when Rick Astley looked like Rick Springfield, a time when Rick Springfield looked like Tommy Lee, and a time when Rick Springfield breaking his arm made news. Weird.

Flo Rida is, unsurprisingly, from the state denoted by closing the space between the rapper’s two-part stage name. Or, you could just refer to the enormous postcard pictorial he has inked across his hulking back.

But don’t let his bulked-up, tatted and often-shirtless appearance or innuendo-laced lyrics fool you into thinking he’s a straight thug or strictly into dropping booty beats. The guy is essentially a big teddy bear — albeit an obscenely ripped teddy bear of Dr. Dre-like proportions. And he just wants to make a little something for everyone.

“On this album I talk about the happiest of times to the sad times, to the lovable times. You know those times when you just loving your girl, and you know, past relationships, and it’s basically just an everyday life album,” he told illroots.com of his mainstream debut. “I try to put something on there where it’s like the best party you ever had or the worst time you ever had, so you might want to grab a tissue.”

But aside from his one-name wordplay, Flo Rida, born Tramar Dillard, doesn’t need gimmicks — he’s already got clubs, cars and cellphones bumping with his infectious hip-hop tracks — “Low,” featuring T-Pain, was one of the most-downloaded iTunes tracks of 2007, and shot to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts, with the Timbaland-backed “Elevator” rising quickly behind. And now he’s following up his radio-ready singles with en entire album of them.

Read more…

Baton Rouge rapper Webbie, known for co-penning the 2007 Lil Boosie hit “Wipe Me Down,” has a lot on his destined-to-be-platinum plate right now: a spot on Trey Songz’s upcoming “Southern Hustlin’ Tour” with hip-hop heavy-hitters Shawty Lo, Rick Ross, Plies, and Flo Rida; a not-unsubstantial mention in the New York Times (because when you think hip-hop, you think the Times, right?); and a lawsuit (whoopsies!).

But above all that, he’s got a brand-new album, Savage Life 2, that drops next week. And we’ve got the whole thing on preview right here. Listen to every track off Webbie’s Savage Life 2, featuring Lil Boosie and the legendary Dirty South rappers Bun B and Birdman, on “The Leak.”

Plus: More hip-hop videos, news and exclusives on Sucker Free blog.

Oh holla at a new Ludacris video! We’ve kinda been missing Luda. After 2006’s Release Therapy, which went Platinum and scored him two Grammys and his first No. 1 single in six years (for “Money Maker”), we hadn’t seen as much of ‘Cris as we wanted, except for a walk-ons in Fergie’s “Glamorous” (and you gotta admit, he stepped that up) and R. Kelly’s “Rockstar” — which he upgraded to first class from the bathroom seats — plus a role in Vince Vaughn’s Fred Claus (hey, everybody’s gotta pay the electric bill).

Anyway, we love the hot twangy hook and the more serious, less clown side of Ludacris (“Number One Spot,” anybody?) on “Down In the Dirty.” And damn, that Rick Ross beard!? The only thing separating him from morphing into Rick Rubin is some pigment.

While you wait for Ludacris’ next album, “Theater of the Mind”…

+ Check out “Down In the Dirty” video, off the Disturbing Tha Peace Strength In Numbers compilation.
+ Peep pics of Ludacris, Bun B and Rick Ross on the video set back in October 2007 at XXL.com.
+ Get more hip-hop videos and news at the always-informed Sucker Free blog.
+ And check out Ludacris’ most recent video appearances after the jump.

Read more…

Alright now, try and keep this Newport� Harbor action straight: Chase was seeing Taylor and is now bummed out that she kicked it in the hot tub with Grant. Then Grant told Clay that Chase was so torn up about the whole thing that he had to drown his sorrows by hooking up with Clay’s old girl, Chrissie. Naturally this has left Clay feeling a little lonely and vulnerable; enter Allie who is just dying to pounce on him. All of this begs the question “how was it that New Order’s immortal ‘Bizarre Love Triangle’ was not used in this episode?” Easy. It’s because Rick Ross‘ “Hustlin’” was! After all, that is exactly what the guys are doing on MTV’s newest hit show, hustlin’ for a hookup.

Check out Rick’s “Hustlin’” music video after the jump, along with a look at the rest of the songs heard in last night’s of Newport Harbor.

Read more…