Today's Pick

It's soccer time! T.I. sure doesn't waste any time to debuted the stylish music video for "No Mediocre," featuring Iggy Azalea, only one day after releasing the single itself as he also wanted the Brazilian-themed video to premiere in the midst of the World Cup. The rappers new collaboration is far from mediocre. The Atlanta rapper enlisted his Australian protégée for his DJ Mustard-produced single "No Mediocre," the second cut off of his upcoming ninth album "Paperwork: The Motion Picture," which is due out in September.
The banger has T.I. rapping about his disdain for "mediocre" women, and praising "bad bitches" who do their hair and have a "pretty face." Breakout star Azalea joins the single, rhyming, "Want a billboard bitch stop running in place/ Heels on me saying gimme six inches of space/ Courtside while designer frames cover my face/ Now everybody in the game wanna get 'em a taste." T.I. references Brazil in the lyrics to "No Mediocre," and decided to shoot the song's accompanying video in the country. The X-directed clip shows the "Live Your Life" performer surrounded by a bevy of exotic beauties bump and grind for his approval before Azalea enters the shot, rapping and twerking.
T.I. lets us know right away that he's interested in "bad bitches only," thank you very much. That's probably why Featured Bombshell is introduced in the first shots. The King begins his day in the Tavares Bastos favela and makes his way through the village, playing a quick game of soccer before heading to his casa, where some sexy mamacitas await him. As he dances down the back alleys of Rio de Janeiro in his black tee and cargo pants, he mingles with some more Brazilian beauties while rapping about his quest to find a woman who meets his high physical standards.
He meets up with his 24-year-old "Fancy" protégée, who first appears strutting around favelas like she owns the place, which she pretty much does in this Alejandra Huerta-styled outfit, and hypnotizes the fellas as she dances alongside T.I. at an outdoor party. Luckily, Azalea swoops in with her usual confident bad-assery, and adds at least one not wholly irredeemable verse to the song. While not exactly easing up on the impossible physical standards set by the media for women, Azalea at least tells T.I. to actually put a little work into achieving his wants and "stop running in place," if he's going to have such an intricate list of demands. Take it to Rio with Hustle Gang.

Jennifer Hudson returns with a glossy music video for her newest 70s stylized uptempo ballad, "I Can't Describe (The Way I Feel)." The T.I.-assisted, Pharrell-produced 70's-influenced jazz-soul uptempo ballad is the first offering from Hudson's upcoming yet-untitled third studio album, expected on RCA this winter. Hudson has spent a lot of her time onstage fiercely performing the single, which is reminiscent of 70s throwback dance tracks and the new video transfers every bit of that ferocity in four minutes with feel-good sounds by taking Hudson fans back to the disco.

The Oscar and Grammy-winning singer, who doesn't wait long to explain herself despite the title for "I Can't Describe (The Way I Feel)," "It feels so good it hurts." Musically, it is an uptempo 1970s-inspired dance ballad that incorporates elements of disco music. Considering she had the "Blurred Lines" combo of Pharrell and T.I., the sensual track keeps up the throwback feel that marks a few of Pharrell's other recent collaborations. Excited about the new track, the former 'American Idol' contestant says, "Working with a visionary like Pharrell was a really special experience for me. He is one of the most talented musicians of our time and I couldn't be more proud of what we did together."
The Weight Watchers spokeswoman has been working with Timbaland, Pharrell, and R. Kelly on her upcoming album. "Some of the songs have a nice old school swag to them, but I think people will be very pleasantly surprised with this album 'cause it's about the mood and the groove and real music," she recently shared with Yahoo! Music of the follow-up to 2011's "I Remember Me," will have an old school feel, while revealing that the new record pays homage to Evelyn's 1981 hit "I'm in Love" and Rufus and Chaka's 1979 smash "Do You Love What You Feel."
In the Anthony Mandler-directed clip, the former 'American Idol' star shows off her svelte figure and gets her sexy on in a red bustier and sunglasses while busting out some choreographed moves (by Fatima Robinson) with her shirtless male crew. T.I. also shows up dressed in a tux. His swagger keeps in line with the coolness of his verse, as he stays calm during a peep show. Hudson told Huffington Post about new video: "It's a different side of me. I'm not going to say I discovered anything, but I'm introducing a new side of me."

Cher Lloyd is at risk of reigniting her feud with Cheryl Cole again, after seemingly stealing her look in the restaurant-themed video for her latest blast of pop fun track, "I Wish," featuring rapper T.I., serve as the lead single from her as-yet-untitled sophomore studio album, will be released in the UK on October 13 via Epic Records. The new collection sees her preserve the spunky, slick sound millions fell in love with, while getting a bit deeper and more intimate at the same time.
The 20-year-old former 'X Factor' contestant builds her self-confidence and has her eye on the "King of the South" in her latest vibrant video for "I Wish," as the British bombshell plays the role of a waitress at a posh nightclub, where she's serving up cocktails to a handful of rude women that treat her like a second-rate individual. She's super annoyed with some girls who think they're so much better than her, but once she gets over the fact that she's not like them, she totally owns it and nothing can stop her from getting what she wants!
Lloyd wishes for a big butt and a rack, but ends up getting more than that in the playful video, as she waltzing around in loads of cool clothes, using a phone that she's most definitely not advertising in any way shape or form and finding alternative uses for vegetables. When T.I. comes through with a group of girls, the sassy Lloyd tries to impress him by doing things out of her character. But she eventually gives up on the flash and decides to just be herself. It goes over well with T.I., who leaves the groupies behind and hangs with her, while drops in all sunglasses-cool to spit a quick verse.
It seems as though that wish has been granted. In her signature style, Lloyd makes goofy faces at the camera, reflects the song's lyrics by miming bell peppers as bigger breasts and swings her hips back and forth. Though not as outwardly quirky as, say, "Want U Back," "I Wish" still shows off Lloyd's fun-filled personality. Not much of an evolution from the quirky-sweet style of her first visuals, but a nice continuation of that vibe - lively and jubilant. It is as fun-filled and quirky as anything Lloyd has done to date.

Following her booming Bollywood outing in "Bounce," Iggy Azalea heads to Sin City, turns it up a few notches and is quirky charisma on full display in the stylish, sleek and very sexy cinematic video for her catchy new single, "Change Your Life," which features a guest appearance from her mentor T.I., and served as the second American and third international single taken from the 23-year-old Aussie rapper-model's forthcoming debut album, "The New Classic," which is expected to be released worldwide later this fall.
"The New Classic" is a record that's been long in the making and is a culmination of Azalea's hard to work and perseverance to take it from small-town Australia to the top of the global rap charts via Miami, Atlanta, Los Angeles and London. Always straight up and to the point, the lyrics of "Change Your Life" express some of the experiences that drive her passion and ambition. "I'm a new classic/upgrade your status," she raps. "From a standby to frequent flyer." Azalea admitted that "Change Your Life" is one of the most poppiest moments on the album (alongside "Bounce"). She even decided to sing for the first time on "Change Your Life" to give the track some extra shine and sizzle.
The rising star continues to display her penchant for provocative imagery. Inspired by the 1995's critically-panned Paul Verhoeven-directed cult classic movie "Showgirls," the video has all the makings of a movie and shows Azalea sassing up the scene with a non-stop parade of sexy looks and spitfire rhymes that perfectly amplify her unique brand of hip hop. The visuals opens up with Azalea in her Nevada back-yard bungalow, entered the fray with the blonde bombshell models several glamorous looks and exposes her breasts in the provocative garment as she lies on a springboard over a pool, beauty rest with a baby tiger and T.I. neglecting only a tie. She is later seen playing a hard night Vegas dancer surrounded by a bevy of platinum-wigged dancers, while T.I. acts as the club owner. After some passionate love making on the hood of his vintage Mercedes, she ends up taking his money and torching the vehicle before being dragged off in handcuffs. Viva Las Vegas!

Durrell Babbs better known by his stage name Tank has returned with a music video featuring T.I. and Kris Stephens for "Compliments," the first single appears on the R&B singer's just released latest fifth effort, "This Is How I Feel," via Atlantic Records.
On single "Compliments," originally featured back in September of 2011, Tank regaled his girl with a laundry list of her admirable qualities. Now, the 36-year-old R&B veteran's returned to dole out another round of glowing praise on the official remix. For this version of the cut, original feature Kris Stephens cedes her spot to T.I., who showcases his own knack for flattery in a fresh guest verse.
The R&B crooner explained the background to the song: "I've been trying to fuse R&B along with more upbeat club music. I've been trying to find the perfect balance for me; to not to be so chanty and out there, but have a record I can sing on that can make sense in the club. Kris Stephens is my first artist off my label, so I had her on there showing off, giving a sultry vocal. If it's gonna be an R&B song, it's got to be about a woman. I created the record with a call-out, so women can participate, and so we could get back to celebrating women in that way, just as simple as a compliment. I was just trying to create that feel-good moment for women. We added T.I. to make the record totally unfair."
Tank never commanded a large budget for his music videos but him reach a new low with "Compliments." The Juwan Lee-directed visual takes place in an abandoned warehouse backed by a patchwork wall in Atlanta, and sees Tank singing about killing the ladies with flattery. As these threesome each prepare for their own sexy solo performance shots, all the while being goofy and having the time of their lives while on set. The single, is dedicated to all the women out there to let them know that they are appreciated and beautiful.

T.I. has returned to the familiar territory after he served a 11-month jail stint. And life's so good, he decides to share it with his queens in his new fashion-themed clip for "Love This Life," serves as the lead single from his forthcoming eighth studio album, "Trouble Man," is scheduled for September 4th. The 31-year-old Georgia-born rapper told MTV News that a 1972 Marvin Gaye song of the same name was the inspiration for the album title.
Through the song, T.I. talks about a woman falling in love with living the high life. Speaking to XXL magazine, the MC explained that the song speaks to women, "but from a man's perspective." He described the song's concept as "People who find themselves in a situation where the woman might say she wants to part ways with the man, but the man [is] like, 'Let's be sensible about this. You gonna leave all this? And go where?'" While T.I. incorporates references to cars, shoes, and jewelry, he also expresses the desire to have an understanding relationship.
That's T.I. himself harmonizing on the song's hook. It's not the first time Tip's sung on one of his singles. The song is thematically reminiscent of his 2008 chart-topper single "Whatever You Like," in which he delivered breathy, soft vocals on the chorus. T.I. made a killing on Paper Trail when he made it okay to trick if you got it. "Love This Life" is a great rap ballad that could make the toughest neighborhood thug want to buy candy and flowers for his girlfriend.
The King of the South is definitely talking big shit over the thumping, piano and bass guitar-driven soundbed, and letting his lady know that life don't get no better than this. He raps about treating his lady to the finer things of life in the Ryan Hope-directed smooth video, which is a fairly generic hip-hop video, with T.I. rapping and smoking a cigar while shots of sexy women sporting high-fashion outfits flash in and out. Nevertheless, "Love This Life" will certainly be occupying the airwaves this summer, and the clip is sure to spend some time on the weekly countdowns as well.

Atlanta hip-hop star B.o.B ventures out in the wilderness in his latest video for Dr. Luke-produced single "Strange Clouds," the lead single and title track from his upcoming sophomore effort, set to hit store shelves March 2012. It's a 3 minutes 47 seconds of bass heavy bragging, and harder edged hip hop. The 'Airplanes' hitmaker does not only bring rapper Lil Wayne, but also takes fellow rapper T.I. with him to enjoy some strange-colored clouds in a beautiful meadow.
On the kickoff to his second LP, the 23-year-old Atlanta rapper slings references to Nancy Kerrigan, Inception and Top Chef over a blippy dubstep beat. Wayne drops a wink-nudge verse about getting blitzed, but it's B.o.B who lights up with a charming, tenacious flow. It definitely has a catchy, melodic chorus, but the rhymes hit hard, and the two voices and sensibilities blend well. Lyrically, the song is focused on self-promotion and dismissal of any haters.
B.o.B told Billboard magazine he chose the album title to reflect his maturity as an artist. "It's reflective of the growth, and how my perspective has changed. And 'Strange Clouds' is like a hybrid, the sci-fi with the organic. It's all about art, it's all about music, and I feel like this album is going to be a classic." He said the track was originally just something he wanted to rhyme on: "'Strange Clouds' could mean a variety of things from lacunosus clouds to unidentified flying objects to puffs of the most exotic of plants. He wanted to get an artist on it who could really bring that idea to life, and who better than Lil Wayne?"
With its infectious hook and braggadocious lyrics, the Motion Family-directed clip has an evening outdoors theme, and the two rappers performing under psychedelic natural light display which is apparently sending everybody in the hood crazy. The video finds the two MCs spitter swank about their meticulous rhyming in a green field beneath a sky of strange clouds, while T.I. drops in for a few appearances and everyone tries to figure out what's happening with those strange clouds up above. Once again, B.o.B proves that Young Money is still on top of the mainstream rap game.

Southern rapper T.I. brings the story of his life to the small screen by adapting it for "Got Your Back" music video. The track is the first official single off Tip's highly anticipated seventh studio album "King Uncaged" which is set to hit stores on September 28. The Keri Hilson-featuring new video is inspired by a chapter in T.I.'s life who spent much of 2009 behind bars for weapon possession charge, and the Atlanta rapper rhymes about a lover holding him down during arduous times, and he shows love to the women who stand by their man despite legal woes.
"Got Your Back" is a female-friendly cut that essentially attempts to recreate the magic of "Whatever You Like." The song features a bright and bouncy electro/synth beat with a super catchy chorus provided by the ultra fashionable Hilson, while T.I. raps the verses and harmonizes in the song's melodic bridge. "[It's] basically just me showing my appreciation to all the ladies who got they man's back in the world, acknowledging the one who had my back and acknowledging the ones that got they man's back at the same time," T.I. explained about the song to Jamie Foxx. Tip's flawless rap technique with Hilson's incredible vocals makes for one hit fans won't be able to get out of their head.
The clip begins with a couple sitting in a sterile courtroom, the man seated before the judge and his love, tearful, sitting in the row behind him. The video then segues to another couple, showing the female love interest having lunch with her man at his loading-dock job. The visual transitions again to the pair making the best of what legal troubles have done to their lives: She shares a laugh with her incarcerated love during a visit to him in jail. Whether it's the easy bliss of one romance or the strain of another, the clip represents how both women get his back. The rest of the video shows Tip and Hilson performers grooving to "Got Your Back" in various well-chosen outfits, often while separated by a symbolic wall. At the end, T.I.'s real-life fiancée Tomeka "Tiny" Cottle makes a cameo, throwing her hand on the rapper's shoulder in support.
T.I., one of the biggest names in hip-hop, gradually came into his own and established himself as one of rap's most successful MCs during the early 2000s. Father, astute businessman, fashion icon, King of the South, future Hollywood A-Lister, and hip-hop standard bearer. With all these titles, no wonder Atlanta, GA native Clifford Harris needs two monikers to tell his whole story. And with the release of the year's most anticipated rap album, T.I. vs. TIP, we get both sides of one of contemporary music's most compelling characters, who carried a balance of smoothness and toughness.