Those same talented dancers/inmates at the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center in the Philippines are at it again. This time, however, the tribute is not for Michael Jackson. Another effeminate and over-the-top singer gets their start treatment. Mr. Freddie Mercury would no doubt be proud that these prisoners, who learn to dance during their rehabilitation process, chose a Queen medley to perform. Filmed last week on Halloween, it will rock you.

The video of Sesame Street’s Bert and Ernie spliced to look as though they were rapping M.O.P’s popular hit “Ante Up” became a global viral hit with over 4 million views on YouTube. I mean, you really haven’t lived until you’ve seen this puppet (are they or aren’t they) couple boast:

Things that we need, money, clothes, weed indeed.
Hats, food, booze, essentials, credentials!
Code of the streets, owners who creep!
Slow when you sleep, holdin the heat!

Well, the Yip Yips have ante’d up and thrown their interplanetary hat into this song’s ring to answer Bert and Ernie’s challenge with their own performance of “Ante Up.”

In a world of manufactured pop stars and even politicians getting better looking it is hard to believe that sometime not too long ago there were actors, singers, and celebrities, who, how should I say this, were a bit on the ugly side. Simon Doonan is someone who knows both beauty and ugly. As the creative director of Barneys he is day in and day out surrounded by beauty: models, fashion folks, fabulous people. Yet his personal style is quirky and at times, dare I say, ugly. His decorating tastes, prints, color, garish items, could also be described by the U.

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A fun music video directed by Warran and Rhett of Moop Jaw featuring sassy kids break dancing to this electro-pop song, “Maximus” by Beni and Sam Sparrow.

[Via]

DJ Mayhem and MC Mouthmaster Murf, the duo behind the band The Anomolies have gained some fame and the adoration of nerdcore hip hop and action film fanboys alike in the past for their epic rap summarizations of classic blockbuster movies such PREDATOR and ROBOCOP. They’re back brilliantly again and this time apply their lyricism skills to “Arnie” and TERMINATOR 2.

Barbie, long a brand that epitomizes wholesome, American values, has switched gears with the announcement of a new line of dolls in the likeness of 1980s pop music icons. Women, who were little girls during that decade of greed and outrageous fashion, assuredly will approve. Gay guys, who secretly worshipped both pop stars and Barbie dolls, will scream like little girls.

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It was only a matter of time before hip-hop made its way to Broadway. Many a musical act, from the Pet Shop Boys to ABBA, have translated their records from radio to stage. Run-DMC seem poised to follow with some big name Hollywood types getting behind the concept.

They have all the makings for a hit. Run-DMC’s back catalog is filled with hits and way-ahead-of-their-time productions. Their visual style, and the dancing of their era, would translate to stage. And the personal story of the band - one was shot and killed and another found God - has the highs and lows any good drama incorporates. But is a Hollywood producer best known for her work with, um, Tom Cruise, up for the challenge? We’ll have to wait and see. Developments are in the early stages.

The other night in Manhattan we were treated to something quite unusual: the Empire State building lit up in a way not seen before. We New Yorkers are used to seeing the color change. The building is orange on Halloween and red and green around Christmas. But last night’s colors were unique. They mixed many hues. Had I not been wearing gloves I might have thought it was summer’s Gay Pride.

The rainbow lights turned out to be tie-dye in honor of the Grateful Dead. A new exhibit at the New York Historical Society is set to open in March 2010. It is the first ever large-scale retrospective of the band’s history. Legendary Dead members Phil Lesh and Bob Weir are in town all week playing shows thus prompting the psychedelic colors bathing the building.

Brett Domino and Scott Peavis, two of the Brett Domino Trio, nerdify Hip Hop by performing this medley of rap classics such as “Rappers Delight” and “Jump Around.” They are using the Stylophone beatbox, which reproduces sounds that were originally created, not by a computer, but by a MAN, or less dramatically, beatboxing champ, MC Zani, winner of the 2008 Vauxhall UK Beatbox Championships.

Love him or hate him, one thing is for certain: you’ve talked about Kanye West this year. He’s the arrogant buffoon who bullied a teen girl in front of millions. He’s the rap star who at the top of his game turned his back on hip-hop’s school of thought and made a techno-pop album where he sings. He’s remarkably annoying.

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Chita Rivera onstage at New York City’s Birdland Jazz Club - October 13, 2009.

Saxophone giant Charlie “Bird” Parker called it the “crossroads of the world.” New York City’s famed jazz club, Birdland, was just that on Tuesday for the launch of beloved Broadway star Chita Rivera’s new album, And Now I Swing.

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