According to the always in-the-know peeps at MTV News, Hova and Alicia Keys are already cooking up a sequel to their smash Big Apple anthem, "Empire State Of Mind."

The track has been ubiquitous (especially for New Yorkers) since it unofficially debuted at the MTV Video Music Awards (along with that infamous Lil' Mama cameo); it gets played at least once in almost every club in the 5 boroughs on any given night, and was the unofficial theme song for the Yankees march to the World Series championship (Jay and Keys performed before Game 2, and Hov did it today at the Yankees victory parade).

But is it too soon to go back to the well? Will Jay and Alicia strike oil twice? It ain't easy. Here are a few (some good, some bad) song sequels/remakes.

Jessica Simpson's remake of "These Boots Were Made For Walkin'". Pretty much a FAIL in every conceivable way. Took Nancy Sinatra's all-time jam and turned it into a honky-tonk strip tease jingle.

"Rapper's Delight" by the Sugarhill Gang is one of the all-time classics.

But Redman, Erick Sermon and the Def Squad's sequel to the track actually embraced the pass-the-mic energy in the best possible way.

We can talk all we want about sequels, but Jay-Z's been down this road before. He and Beyonce remade Tupac's "Me And My Girlfriend" as "'03 Bonnie & Clyde."

Can you think of any other dope remakes or sequels? Any not so dope one's? Let us know in the comments!

+ Jessica Simpson has landed her first magazine cover, post-breakup with Tony Romo. (Glamour)

+ Hey girl hey! Gossip Girl's Leighton Meester loves to wrap her lips around a foot long! (Skinny Girls, Big Sandwiches)

+ Wanna enter for a chance to win a VIP trip for two to L.A. to see Morningwood at Six Flags Magic Mountain? DO IT NOW! (LogoOnline)

+ Check out this interview Kid Cudi gave recently, talking 'shrooms and being more than just Kanye's little sidekick. (Complex)

+ Up-and-coming MC/pop songstress/crazywoman Amanda Blank is launching a coast-to-coast tour with Matt and Kim to close out the summer and support the launch of her new CD 'I Love You,' with dates from L.A. to D.C. (MySpace)

+ Brit Brit's back to her old tricks again, and by old tricks we mean Lindsay Lohan. The two were spotted partying into the wee morning hours at an L.A. hotspot last night. Come on now, girl -- we're almost rid of Daddy-o. Don't spoil it now!! (Life & Style Weekly)

+ The feud between Mariah Carey and Eminem has just escalated to new levels. Now the rapper is threatening to release nude photos of the megastar, supposedly from when they were together. (US Magazine)

+ Jessica Simpson has a new reality show coming out on VH1 and she's got some people pretty pissed about her extravagant spending habits. (Pop Crunch)

+ Panic At The Disco have finally announced replacements for the two members who left the group earlier this month. (NME)

+ Leona Lewis is pulling out all the stops for her sophomore album due out this fall, working with the likes of Justin Timberlake, Ryan Tedder, Timbaland and more. (Rap-Up)

+ So the story is true: Michael Jackson did get busy with some Norwegian girl and had a son who is now 25 years old. (Socialite Life)

+ Buzzcrush David Archuleta recently covered Colbie Caillat's "Bubbly" and it sounds simply divine. (Neon Limelight)

The subject of my girl Jessica Simpson is not the most cheery for me right now... That said, this vintage TRL video temporarily sent me to a happy place. First off, Jessica's outfit will put a smile on your face; I had to hit pause just to savor the image. I mean... just watch it. The glittery pink eye shadow, the crimped hair, the leather pants... what a difference nine years makes.

Yes, it was a simpler time, a happier time, when Nick Lachey and Jessica Simpson were still together. While the duet of "Where You Are" from Jessica's 1999 debut, Sweet Kisses, showcases Jessica's fantastic voice (she also knows to turn her head before a belt, sparing Nick's eardrums), my happy moment was short-lived.

Why can't it just be like this again? Vanessa's gone; Tony's gone; John Mayer's gone (wait -- Mayer might not be gone; did you hear that rumor?), so couldn't Nick and Jessica offer each other the perfect comfort? So say her Tweets, Jessica's just sleeping with her mom and dogs and listening to Olivia Broadfield songs right now. Help her! Let the rumors of a reconciliation be true...

Watch the duet from the good ol' days below, intro-ed by a "lonely and untalented" Carson Daly.

+ We hate to say it, but Perez Hilton has a pretty good ear for up-and-coming music, so much so that he's getting his own record label. Yikes. (The Tripwire)

+ FINALLY some good news today... Jessica Simpson and Tony Romo have broken up. The kicker is that it was because Tony didn't want to dress up as Ken doll for a "Barbie & Ken"-themed party. Wonder who gets to keep the Dream House?  (Pink Is The New Blog)

+ Like her or not, lady is getting paid: Lauren Conrad just topped the NY Times' Best Seller's List! (StarPulse)

+ It's nice to see all the American Idol kids sticking together in spite of all the anti-gay protesters that are showing up outside their concerts (bashing Adam Lambert). (Popnography)

+ Lady Gaga made history this week, as she is only the third artist EVER to have three songs on the Billboard Mainstream Top 40. (Perez Hilton)

+ This weekend, Lindsay Lohan threw herself at 2008 MTV VMA host Russell Brand and surprisingly enough, the self-proclaimed sex addict said "NO!" (The Superficial)

+ Finally, we get some confirmation from the people who change Britney Spears' batteries each day that yes, she IS dating her agent Jason Trawick (much to her daddy's delight, because the guy also happens to be one of her brother Bryan's best buds). Between numerous tour dates in Europe, dates with Jason, (play)dates with her kids, and U.S. tour dates just added, poor Brit Brit should be so GRATEFUL that she has all these people in her life! She's a fuggin' ROOMBA without a tray to empty!! <beep bop boo bop> (People)

+ Speaking of blondes with doting daddies, Jessica Simpson roamed around NYC last night with her chicken cutlets pressed up into her chin for no apparent reason. (What Would Tyler Durden Do)

+ It's just boobs and babes today at Buzzworthy!!! AaaaHOOOOOOga! Former Spice Girl and footballer's wife Victoria Beckham was spotted in London superbly shipshape, with nary a nippenstruden left to the imagination. Thanks Tore! (Agent Bedhead)

+ We're not sure how we feel about this, but fashion-forward Kanye West (after cooing about how amazing she is) announced that he's going on tour with Lady Gaga (no opener, just two performers side by side). Personally, we think HE should be opening for HER! (MTV News)

+ Also, while vacationing in Hawaii, it looks like Lady Gaga was fishin' for shrimp and caught one -- by the name of "Speedy." Jay kay -- it's her longtime boyfriend. Not kidding about his name being "Speedy" (wonder if he is insecure about her beasti-- bisexuality). Oh - and she's not. wearing. ANY. makeup. so prep yourself for that. (Daily Mail)

+ We told you yesterday about Miley Cyrus twisting into a Twitter tizzy about Nick Jonas and her boyfriend Justin Gaston breaking up. But that's not all! She's puttin' her foot down and screamin' to news outlets everywheres! Her Tweets are "not news people!" (Twitter)

+ And here's those crazy kids bein' all cutesy wutesy tootsey on the set of "Before The Storm," the song that the Jonas Brothers wrote and she and Nick Jonas recorded together (again, yesterday's news but we GOTTA KEEP YOU UPDATED!!!). (Socialite Life)

Recently, more's been made of Jessica Simpson's weight and denim cut-off short shorts than the fact that Arizona State University denied President Obama an honorary degree. Vanity Fair writer Rich Cohen even managed to use the word "fat" three times in one paragraph in his recent Jessica Simpson profile! Wow. It took him several more PARAGRAPHS to even get to the word "beautiful," which feels like a bit of an oversight, no?)

Seriously, who CARES how much Jessica Simpson weighs? Sure, she should've fired her stylist over the Mom Jeans incident of January 2009, but the girl was born gorgeous and looks great at any weight. And Jessica Simpson in short-shorts? Even better. Hello? She even PLAYED Daisy Duke. Why? Because girl's got legs for months.

So, while ASU skipped over Obama, we're giving Jessica Simpson Buzzworthy's all-time favorite short-shorter award. And she's also the official inspiration behind some of our all-time favorite short-shorts videos by Katy Perry, Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez, Vanessa Hudgens, Gwen Stefani, Aerosmith and more...

Jessica Simpson -- "These Boots Are Made For Walkin'" -- True, The Dukes of Hazzard movie was a total flop (or a box office smash if you're measuring it against the Glitter yardstick!) but Jessica did get in absolutely bananas shape to play Daisy Duke in the movie and its resultant video, which was so overtly sexy (duh -- Brett Ratner directed it) that it ended up banned in several countries. And true, the remake doesn't do the original much justice (I'm fairly confident the Nancy Sinatra version doesn't mention anything about "double Ds"), but sharing a set with Willie Nelson and the General Lee is still worth something, right? (Right?)

Katy Perry -- "Hot 'N' Cold" -- Katy Perry pulled off an impressive feat in her "Hot 'N" Cold" video; she managed to wear short-shorts in just about EVERY scene, including the scene where she tears off her wedding dress to reveal a hidden pair of white short-shorts -- which wind up being the perfect thing to wear while chasing her wayward groom down the street. And walking a zebra, obvs.

Britney Spears -- "Don't Let Me Be The Last To Know" -- I won't let YOU be the last to know that at NO point in her 2001 "Don't Let Me Be The Last To Know" beach video, directed by the late Herb Ritts (he also directed Madonna's "Cherish" and Chris Isaak's "Wicked Game" videos) does Britney wear pants at ALL. In just a bikini top and a pair of I-can't-believe-they're-not-drawers cut-off shorts, Britney rolls around in the sand with French model Brice Durand. The video resulted in a TRL #1 hit for Britney, as well as what was probably a LOT of sand stuck inside dark, uncomfortable places.

Christina Aguilera -- "Can't Hold Us Down" -- Christina Aguilera rocked an extreme... ly short pair of pink ones in her 2003 video, "Can't Hold Us Down." But what Christina lacked in shorts she made up for with old-school knee-high tube socks. True to the named Stripped -- Christina's 2002 album which featured "Can't Hold Us Down" -- Lil' Kim, who guested on the track and co-stars in the video -- puts Christina's short-shorts to shame when she throws open her robe and reveals little more than a teeny weeny bikini. And a superfluous belt. She's subtle, that Kim!

Beyonce -- "Crazy In Love" -- In her 2003 "Crazy In Love" video, featuring Jay-Z, Beyonce wears a pair of barely there denim short-shorts. And my guess is that her choreographer stuffed the pockets of said shorts with fire ants because Beyonce writhes around on the ground, spazzes out, and almost twerks her way out of those shorts for nearly the entire duration of the time she spends in them. "Crazy In Love" won three 2003 VMAs (the VMAs where Britney and Madonna made out!) by the way -- Best R&B Video, Best Choreography, and Best Female Video.

Keri Hilson -- "Knock You Down" -- Keri Hilson looks like she frequently skips dessert and never skips a workout. Plus, if you've seen her "Energy" video, then you're fully aware that she's a lady boxer. (Plus, she shleps around a CRAPload of nail polish everywhere she goes.) Therefore her short-shorts are practically a necessity.

Vanessa Hudgens -- "Sneakernight" -- Which did you notice first in Vanessa Hudgens' "Sneakernight" video? Vanessa's light-up sneakers, or her micro-mini super-duper short-shorts? Or the fact that "Sneakernight" sounds exactly like Nikka Costa's "Like A Feather"?

++ Check out more celebs in short-shorts and classic short-shorts videos after the jump!

Read more...

+ Oh holy GOD yes that IS Joe Jonas drip-drying by the pool, after having jumped in fully clothed. Yes. It. Is. (Buzzworthy)

+ It's Friday and we're lookin' great, feelin' great. That's why we're sharing this instrumental version of Britney Spears' next single "Radar," courtesy of someone who seems pretty good at tickling the ivories. (BritneySpears.com)

+ And on that note, don't bother putting that extra mole sauce on your chimichanga, kids. The JoBros have cancelled all their Mexican concert dates due to that pesky piggy flu that keeps rootin' around. (Us Magazine)

+ Buxom country music sweetheart/legend Dolly Parton wants to lend a "set" of helping hands to "perk up" Jessica Simpson's "sagging" career. (Celebitchy)

+ Barenaked Ladies have launched their own Ben & Jerry's ice cream flavor, much like predecessors Phish and Jerry Garcia. And if ex-lead singer Steven Page had his way, he would have named it "It's All Been Done" -- and then frantically called his dealer. (The Canadian Press)

+ OMG we just got our frosted hair and fire engine-red lipstick in a twist -- Blondie and Pat Benetar going on a U.S. tour this summer?  WHAT?! (The Tripwire)

+ And speaking of uh-mayzing summer tours, Blink-182, Weezer, AND Fall Out Boy are getting together and traipsing cross-country from July to October.  Word on the street is that All-American Rejects may join in the fun, too.  WEEEE! (MTV News)

+ If this rumor is true that Ashlee Simpson is preggo again... we just. cant. (The Blemish)

(Photo Credit: Gregg Delman)

Who's that pop starlet hiding under the big ol' top hat, leaving us nothing for clues other than her pearly whites and gold hoops? Well, let's see. What can we deduce from the photo? The brown bob rules out Britney and Jessica. Katy's locks are longer. The flirty, it's-not-me-it's-you smile (which shows no trace of the fear) rules out Amy Winehouse (she has all of her teeth). Her nose is one of the cutest, littlest things I've ever seen, so it can't be the chick from My Big Fat Greek Wedding, although she was a great guess up until now. Without the eyes, she's tough to peg, but alright, still, isn't there something so familiar about that smirk? Think... Who's been hanging around MTV lately? Oh my God! Give up??? Well, click the photo and find out, genius!

+ Check out exclusive Lily Allen photos!

+ In her upcoming memoir Miles to Go (and is there a-n-y-t-h-i-n-g this girl can't do?), Miley Cyrus clears up any "weirdness" rumors regarding her relationship with her dad Billy Ray: "For me, my dad is not weird at all." (D Listed)

+ Nicole Richie and Joel Madden are already taking their PTA responsibilities pretty seriously: Baby numero dos is on the way! (Us Magazine)

+ We think Jessica Simpson looks gorge! But, uhm, Richard Simmons kinda compared her to his 268-pound former fat self... AND is "praying for her." OUCH. (The Superficial)

+ We are srsly loving these vintage high school pics of Lady Gaga from waaay before she discovered lavender lipstick or Minnie Mouse hair bows. (Perez Hilton)

+ Katy Perry performed her single "Thinking Of You" at the Echo Awards this weekend in Germany, and ZOMG! KP Unplugged totally killed it! (Showbiz News)

+ After Shaquille O'Neil (@The_Real_Shaq) and Notorious B.I.G (@NotoriousBIG), our fave Twitter celeb is MC Hammer. He really kinda rules. Which is why we're so stoked that the dude just got his own reality show on A&E called (wait for it....): Hammertime! (Evil Beet)

+ If, like us, you've never *quite* been able to get over the awesomeness that was Michael Jackson's Off the Wall album, you will probably be pretty psyched to hear that the gloved/masked one might be doing a bunch of concerts this summer in London. If you're like everyone else on the planet and don't give a crap, you probably just wanna get back to your Miley Cyrus memoir... right... now. (Fafarazzi)

+ Is Chris Brown trying to win Rihanna back? With jewelry? (Seriously, dude?) (Hip-hop Chronicle)

+ We had never heard of Ahmir before, but this R&B remake of Britney Spear's "Womanizer" is made of pure awesomeness. (Poor Britney)