When people talk about Paul Wall, they invariably talk about his teeth. It's his own doing, of course -- not only does Paul Wall rap about grills, but he also makes and sells them. But when it came time to list the most important factors that influenced his new album, Fast Life, grills didn't even crack Paul Wall's top five.

What did? Beef jerky and baseball. The essentials.

Also notably absent from Paul Wall's list are Fast Life collaborators Travis Barker, Yung Joc, Gorilla Zoe, Too $hort and Tech N9ne. No room for Mr. Boomtown (the Dirty South's leading video director responsible for Paul Wall's "Bizzy Body" clip, as well as new joints from Mike Jones, Slim Thug, Gucci Mane and Bun B) either.

That's how important beef jerky and baseball are to Paul Wall. Don't forget it. Fill in the blanks on the rest of his list in the video below.

We've already seen proof in the original run of "Grand Theft Auto: Vice City" ads that time has transformed A Flock Of Seagulls (and I ra-a-an) from a pack of fops with Pomeranian haircuts into straight-up thugs. Paired with a Miami sunset and a fleet of matching neon sports cars, not much else sounds as sinister as the one-hit-wonders' new wave Hail Mary, "I Ran."

Cut to a bird's-eye view of late-night Houston where native son Slim Thug is doing FOS one better by transforming their old lyrics to match their new thugged-out sound:

I run/ the streets all night and day (the hood love thug)/ cuz I still run/ the streets all night and day/ I rep for my city/ go hard for the hood/ still posted on that block what's good/ I run the streets all night and day/ can't stay away

A Flock Of Seagulls couldn't be in better hands. The O.G. who's so G that Lupe Fiasco based a whole rap narrative ("Hip-Hop Saved My Life") on his hustle, puts the classic '80s hook on a whole new level. Produced by Jim Jonsin (T.I., "Whatever You Like" and Lil Wayne's "Lollipop"), "I Run" is the first single off of Slim's upcoming Boss Of Bosses record, his first in three years. And if it's anywhere near as tough as the Mr. Boomtown (Bun B, Scarface)-directed video, Slim's got big things to look forward to in '09. So do you.

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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.

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In case you didn't hear the news, Pimp C, one half of hip-hop duo UGK, was found dead yesterday in Los Angeles. Read Sway Calhoun's moving tribute to the late rapper, who was just 33 and died of undisclosed causes. And check out Suckerfreeblog.com for more on the infamous rapper, who left behind a substantial body of work that spans almost 20 years, from his unforgettable guest spot on Jay-Z's groundbreaking track, "Big Pimpin'" to collaborations with T.I., Three 6 Mafia and Chamillionaire, and of course, his own solo albums and prolific career with Bun B.

Keep on ridin' dirty and sippin' on that sizzurp.