MTV2's "2.0" revival of one of its most influential Hip-Hop shows ever, Yo! MTV Raps, is taking fans on a nostalgic trip through some of the genre's most influential songs. The new series, Yo! MTV Raps Classic Cuts, digs into the history and inspiration behind the game-changing tracks. Here are some exclusive clips from episode No.2 featuring Common on his break out hit 'I Used To Love Her" and how NWA's "Straight Outta Compton" introduced the world to gangsta rap.

Hosted by Sway - featuring Joell Ortiz, Maino and Fab 5 Freddy.

Airs Sunday February 19 at 10PM on @mtv_2

Check out what UK-based deafblind charity and initiative, Sense, put together to promote awareness for their cause. It's a full-on rap battle between two deaf MC's who take to the microphone via sign language! Fresh.  

Okay, so now that The Throne's official "Niggas In Paris" video is out we thought it'd be cool to present this piano-laced alternative of the uber-popular ode to "blackness in France./ Asian musician, The Theorist, hits the keys and presents to you his epic rendition. Hell yea, blast this!

Music being the rich and intertwined cultural phenomenon that it is usually makes it difficult for fans to understand the geographic significance of every single genre. That is, until now. Thanks to Thomson and their interactive How Music Travels infographic, fans can now see a relatively accurate breakdown (5-year margin of error) of the origins of some of the world's most popular dance music. Check it out!

Click image to open interactive version (via Thomson Holidays).

Thanks to OkayAfrica, sister site to the music-loving OkayPlayer, Hip-Hop icon Q-Tip (A Tribe Called Quest) was recently able to trace back his African ancestry. On the latest episode of the blog's "The Roots Of..." video series, Q takes an actual q-tip (the irony) to his cheek and gives the research team a sample of his DNA. Tests later reveal that his lineage traces back to the West African territory of Guinea Bissau, a place that is rich in music influence. Amazing how it all connects!

It's no secret that the fashion world and the commercial music scene share lots of commonalities. For one, both industries are as competitive as they come. Add in a melting pot of movers and players that are constantly creating and exchanging, and you'll realize how relatively easy it is for the line between inspiration and cloning blur. Which leads us to the following story between winter drygoods brand, Psyberia, and Harlem-based rapper, Jim Jones (The Diplomats).

According to Psyberia, Jimmy and some of his cohorts were given complimentary jackets courtesy of the upstart brand. The hope, as with any infant line, was for publicity--to have Jim Jones and company rocking the "Psyberian Coat" was a golden opportunity! And it was, that is, until a couple of months later Jimmy and competing brand, Parish Nation, show up on the scene with a collaborative line called Protocol that includes a winter jacket that looks awfully familiar.

So here it is, a rundown of the entire "exchange" process:

Psyberia Drygoods debuts Winter 2010/2011 line and Psyberian Coat.

Jim Jones receives complimentary Psyberian Coat.

Jim Jones uploads TwitVid of himself wearing coat during Winter 2010/2011 snow storm.

Jim Jones artist, Sen City, wears Pysberian Coat in brown.

2011 Parish Nation X Jim Jones "Protocol" video w/ Psyberian Coat on sample table.

Jim Jones "Ski Jacket" for Protocol Winter 2011/2012. 

As the saying goes, imitation is the best form of flattery, but we're really scratching our heads over this one. Is it possible that Jimmy was so "inspired" by the Psyberian Coat design (chest pocket and all) that he had to go ahead and create his own? And if so, where is the line drawn between borrowing and copying?

Given the evidence presented, we're letting our readers' comments decide this one.

Did Jim Jones bite?

Music mogul, Jay-Z, was in the spotlight this past Wednesday as he re-opened his famous 40/40 Club in New York City. The star-studded evening was graced with a handful of celebs, one of which was probably more noteworthy than the rest--Warren Buffett. The multi-billionaire was caught enjoying the scene and remodeled look of the trendy establishment. Photographers even caught him throwing up Jay-Z's infamous "Roc Diamond." Now we've seen everything!

CBC broadcaster Bill Richardson and singer/songwriter Veda Hille are the culprits behind the quirky new musical, Do You Want What I Have Got? A Craigslist Cantata. The show is a musical parody based largely on Craigslist want-ads and the theme of humanity in the age of social networking and exchange. It will make its big debut at this year's PuSh International Performing Arts Festival in Vancouver, Canada. Expect lots of laughs and weirdness like irregular cat hats, mounted lobsters, and a slew of other want-ad mentions.

Dani, an English teacher that's currently working in Korea, recently exposed her 7th grade kids to the magic of electronic music group, Daft Punk. The premise was to use the band's music to encourage learning among the children. The following is the result--a funky little performance that not only looks cool, but also helped the students with their English word recognition. Literally too cool for school!

Meet Jenna Marbles, an internet sensation that whips up weekly comedic videos about her random thoughts and happenings. Her latest feat, however, isn't some self-made web cam video, it's a full-on music video production dedicated to male genitalia. "Bounce That D*ck" is Ms. Marbles' comedic response to years of sexist pop music videos that only glorify scantily clad women. She's decided to turn the tables and it's hilarious!

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