Stop This Trend: Frumpy Harem Pants

Stop This Trend: Frumpy Harem Pants
Why, oh why, are stars still wearing harem pants?! We were hoping last year's fugliest trend had run its course, but nope, Kylie Minogue, Lindsay Lohan, Janet Jackson and...

Paula Garc�s
Paulina Rubio

Kat Von D Selita Ebanks Karol�na Kurkov� Christina

Kat Von D Selita Ebanks Karol�na Kurkov� Christina Ricci

Pamela Anderson
Patricia Vel�squez

http://wikifoia.pbworks.com/State-Salary-Database http://galahaitirelief.pbworks.com/GALA-Haiti-Relief-Information http://entrepreneurialjourno.pbworks.com/cuny

http://wikifoia.pbworks.com/State-Salary-Database http://galahaitirelief.pbworks.com/GALA-Haiti-Relief-Information http://entrepreneurialjourno.pbworks.com/cuny

Nicole Richie
Nikki Cox
Norah Jones
Paige Butcher

Tiger Blogs About "Cool" Masters, Elin-Less "Family Vacation"

Tiger Blogs About "Cool" Masters, Elin-Less "Family Vacation"
Tiger Woods is trying to ace this whole comeback thing. In a blog post today on his website, the golfer addressed what it was like seeing his first tournament action since his detour...

Monika Kramlik
M�a
Natassia Malthe

Tim Urban Says Shirtless Picture 'Helped More Than It Hurt' On 'American Idol'

Tim Urban Says Shirtless Picture 'Helped More Than It Hurt' On 'American Idol'

'I don't perform for the people who don't like me; I perform for the people who want me to be onstage,' he says.
By Katie Byrne

Tim Urban performs on "American Idol"
Photo: Frank Micelotta/ Getty Images

Tim Urban might have lasted on "American Idol" longer than fans expected, but those extra weeks actually gave him a chance to redeem himself after being lambasted by the judges week after week.

But he reached a little too high with his cover of the Goo Goo Dolls' "Better Days" during "Idol Gives Back" week and was sent packing Wednesday night.

During a conference call with reporters after his elimination, he opened up about his good attitude through all the criticism, Vote for the Worst's support and that shirtless picture.

Q: Simon complimented you on your attitude in the competition, that you took everything positively. What did it mean to you that they recognized not only how you grew as a performer, but also appreciated the way you came across?

A: That's actually something that was my goal on the show. It was not just to improve as an artist, but to just be a very good contestant and to take what everybody was saying and to just treat the situation — not let it get me down, but to take what they were saying and work at it and improve, but also, not to really complain or to talk back. Just take the criticism and work from it. It was cool to get that recognition about that. It's something that I'm very proud of.

Q: What would you say to your critics who thought you only lasted as long as you did because of your good looks and charisma?

A: Oh, wow. I don't think that I would respond to that. It seems that people just like to take somebody and then find something that they don't like about them and talk about it. I get that. It's part of dealing with the industry. It's part of being in the spotlight. So people are going to say that, but people are going to say that about pretty much anybody. You'll find people that don't like any artist out there, and so you have to deal with it, shrug it off. I don't perform for the people who don't like me; I perform for the people who want me to be onstage, so those are the people that I try to worry about.

Q: What did you think when the shirtless picture of you hit the Web?

A: I kind of knew it would come out eventually. I didn't really expect it to be as big as it was, because it kind of blew up really fast. That was kind of a little crazy, but I just took it in stride. It's part of the show. Everybody is looking for something in the backstory. Everybody is looking for an extra story, so it's just one of the stories that people decided to run with. I just try not to worry about it too much.

Q: Do you think it helped or hindered you?

A: Kind of both. I definitely heard that it helped, but then there are also people who might see that and not take me seriously, just because of that type of thing. I don't know; I think it probably helped more than it hurt, but I don't really know for sure.

Q: Last year, we heard a lot about contestants' religious backgrounds and their experiences singing in church. How has your religion influenced your time on "American Idol"?

A: My personal belief has really shaped pretty much every aspect of my life. I grew up in a very Christian home, and that set of morals and just that upbringing has shaped me musically, has shaped me as a person, and just, I don't know, it's kind of hard to explain, because it's pretty much who I am. So it's not just a part of my life.

Q: What did you think about VoteForTheWorst.com backing you?

A: I'm not excited that I was on their website. I think that it's really not anything that anybody should be proud of. I really didn't like being on there, and basically I was working my hardest to get off of it. Yes, I'm actually kind of sad that I was on that website at all.

Q: What do you want to do next? A few people have floated the idea of you teaming up with Disney or appearing on "Glee."

A: You know, I would love to do music. I would love to pursue that, and I'm hoping that that door opens up, but I also have always had a desire to act, and to just be in that side of the entertainment industry as well. So I would be really excited if I got the opportunity to do that as well. I'm just waiting to see what happens, but I'm open to any of that at this point. I'm really just excited about the whole thing.

Were you sad to see Tim go? Will you listen to his post-"Idol" music? Let us know in the comments below!

Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.

Related Videos

• 'American Idol' In 60 Seconds

Related Photos

• 'American Idol' Season Nine Performances
• 'American Idol' Top 12 Party
• A Look Back At Tim Urban's 'Idol' Journey

Monica Bellucci
Monica Keena
Monica Potter

Bret Michaels Still In Critical Condition

Bret Michaels Still In Critical Condition

Bret Michaels, who suffered from a brain hemorrhage Friday wass said to be conscious and in stable condition.

However, on Saturday, the rocker's tour manager, Janna Elias, who is at Michaels hospital bedside, said: “There are several incorrect reports on Bret's condition. Bret remains in critical condition at an undisclosed location. Further tests are being ran and information will be updated in the coming days.”

Our thoughts go out to him during this most difficult time! We send him good energy and wish him a full and speedy recovery!

Even Donald Trump, who can currently be seen with Bret Michaels on NBC's Celebrity Apprentice, expressed his concerns and said that his thoughts and prayers are with Michaels.

"He's a great competitor and champion and I hope he will be fine."

We're all pulling for you, Bret!

[Image via WENN.]

Missi Pyle
Monet Mazur

What Do Survivor, Pretty Wild and Housewives Have in Common? (Hint: Trainwrecks!)

What Do Survivor, Pretty Wild and Housewives Have in Common? (Hint: Trainwrecks!)
Sometimes life imitates art. Sometime life utterly outshines art, especially if by art you mean reality TV, and by life you mean the show's trainwreck stars themselves. E!'s own...

Michelle Branch
Michelle Rodriguez
Minki van der Westhuizen

Russell Brand Shacks Up With Helen Mirren

Russell Brand Shacks Up With Helen Mirren

And we think Katy Perry will approve!

Another remake is hitting the big screen, this time of Dudley Moore's classic Arthur.

The 1981 comedy about a rich playboy who gets cut off from his parents will be reimagined with Russell Brand playing the lead and Helen Mirren starring opposite him as his longtime nanny.

Never would have thought to put them together. Hopefully, it'll turn out funnier than we think it will.

Thoughts?

[Image via WENN.]

Melissa Sagemiller
Michelle Behennah

Michael C. Hall "Fully Recovered" From Cancer

Michael C. Hall "Fully Recovered" From Cancer
It looks like Michael C. Hall has defeated his biggest bad guy yet: cancer. The 38-year-old Dexter star has "fully recovered" from Hodgkin's lymphoma, according to wife...

Melissa George
Melissa Howard

A Bra For Brit Brit!

A Bra For Brit Brit!

Uh-oh! The leash is being tightened!

Sources are claiming that Jamie Spears, who still has legal control over our beloved Brit Brit's life, is none too pleased with some mild signs that the pop star may be going off the deep end again, so he's nipping that shiz right in the bud before it escalates!

First order of action: girlfriend must wear a bra whenever she leaves the house, and her security guards must enforce it if she says otherwise!

WTF?? HA!

It sounds pretty ridiculous, but we suppose as a parent, it must not be fun to see your daughter running around with her nips out!

What do U think?? Is Jamie overreacting or is Brit Brit starting to act a little crazy??

[Image via Fame Pictures.]

Malia Jones
Megan Ewing

Custody of Kids Becomes Focus in Survivor Murder Case

Custody of Kids Becomes Focus in Survivor Murder Case
It stands to reason that someone fingered by police as the sole suspect in the murder of his wife may not be the best person to be left in charge of their kids. Mexican police have yet...

Magdalena Wr�bel
Maggie Gyllenhaal
Majandra Delfino

Green Day Surprise 'American Idiot' Crowd With Impromptu Set

Green Day Surprise 'American Idiot' Crowd With Impromptu Set

Billie Joe and company make their own Broadway debut with 'American Idiot' and 'Basket Case.'
By Margaret Pesa

Green Day performs on the "American Idiot" stage on Broadway Thursday night
Photo: MTV News

Green Day fans attending Thursday night's performance of the just-opened Broadway musical "American Idiot" got an extra-special treat following the final bow: The veteran rock trio jumped onstage for a surprise performance.

"This is my first night on Broadway," frontman Billie Joe Armstrong announced as his two bandmates — bassist Mike Dirnt and drummer Tré Cool — took their places behind him. They quickly ripped into a blistering performance of "American Idiot," the first single from the album of the same name that serves as the basis for the musical. The adoring audience — which included winners of MTV's "American Idiot" contest — went berserk and rushed the stage in order to get a little closer to the band they adore.

Clearly, the performance was as surprising to the cast as it was to the crowd, as the actors — still onstage from their curtain call — joined in the bedlam. They broke out video cameras and snapped photos. One actor crowd-surfed over the audience as Armstrong encouraged the crowd to pump their fists in the air during the song's bridge.

Once they finished "American Idiot," Cool tossed his sticks into the crowd and Armstrong waved to the fans. But the energized theatergoers would not let the band leave so soon, so Armstrong raised one finger to indicate they had one more number in them. Armstrong ripped into the opening chords of "Basket Case" (the massive single from their breakthrough album Dookie, which is not included in the stage musical), once again sending the crowd into a frenzy. For a brief moment, it seemed like a mosh pit was going break out. Instead, it turned into the ultimate punk-rock singalong, with both the crowd and the cast shouting every word right along with Armstrong.

When the song wrapped, the band took its final bow with the cast. Everyone received a standing ovation from the adoring crowd (which included Armstrong's wife and children and U2's The Edge), ending an unexpectedly transcendent night of rock and theater.

Related Videos

• Green Day's 'American Idiot' On Broadway

Related Photos

• The Evolution Of: Green Day

Related Artists

• Green Day

The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
Liz Phair
Lokelani McMichael
Luj�n Fern�ndez

New Eclipse Trailer!!!

New Eclipse Trailer!!!

The moment you have all been waiting for!

Here is the final trailer for the third and much anticipted flick of the Twilight Saga, ECLIPSE!!!

Ch-ch-check it out! (Above)

See R-Patz knock over a tree! Tay Tay turn into a wolf! KStew blink way too often!!!

Exciting!!!!

Thoughts?

Lauren German
LeAnn Rimes

Is Dancing With the Stars Against Full-Figured Gals?

Is Dancing With the Stars Against Full-Figured Gals?
There's nothing more delicate—or hard to crack—than a potential conspiracy involving underwear. Especially when there are two sides. To the conspiracy. Not to the...

Larissa Meek
Laura Harring
Lauren Bush

Ludacris And Plies To Play Atlanta's Birthday Bash

Ludacris And Plies To Play Atlanta's Birthday Bash

More performers will be announced for the Hot 107.9 concert in the coming weeks.
By Shaheem Reid, with additional reporting by Rahman Dukes

Ludacris
Photo: Jerritt Clark/ Getty Images

Atlanta's Hot 107.9 has an extra-special birthday in 2010. This year, the radio station celebrates its 15th anniversary, and you already know what the celebration will be: the annual summer Birthday Bash concert.

On Thursday evening (April 22), 107.9 announced its first two performers for the June 19 concert at the Philips Arena. First up on the roster will be the always combustible Ludacris. Before Luda embarked on the road to superstardom, he was a personality on the station in the late '90s.

The other name 107.9 announced today should come as no surprise, but fans will love the news nonetheless: Plies. The Florida native is becoming a staple of the concert. He's had two highly touted performances the last couple of years. A testament to Plies' potency as an MC is when his album cuts are sung word for word at the Birthday Bash, just like his singles.

"The game is a tricky situation," Plies said about the success of his non-singles. "From what we really stand for and what we're trying to get across, from a company standpoint, we don't stand a chance on radio with those records. A lot of times, people don't understand the impact of the structure of radio. If I could put 'Old Lady' on the radio, I'd love to have it on the radio. A lot of times, it's about trying to balance your situation but understanding your situation at the same time."

Last year, the Birthday Bash show-stealer was Young Jeezy, who brought out Lil Wayne and Mary J. Blige. Rick Ross, Fabolous, Gucci Mane, Trey Songz, Keri Hilson, Soulja Boy Tell'em and the Grand Hustle family also hit the stage.

In 2008, Jeezy also had the most talked-about set, bringing out Kanye West, The-Dream and Usher.

Stay tuned to MTVNews.com in the coming weeks for more performers who will appear at this year's Bash.

Who would you like to see perform at this year's Birthday Bash? Let us know in the comments!

Related Photos

• Lil Wayne, Young Jeezy, Mary J. Blige And More Come Out For Hot 107.9's Birthday Bash 2009
• T.I., Young Jeezy, Kanye West And More At Atlanta's Birthday Bash 2008

Related Artists

• Plies
• Ludacris

Kylie Bax
Vogue

Archie Comics Introduce Gay Character To Series!!

Archie Comics Introduce Gay Character To Series!!

Even Archie is getting with the times!

The classic comic book is introducing its first openly gay character, named Kevin Keller, in the upcoming issue Isn't It Bromantic? - and the only conflict he faces is whether or not to tell an interested Veronica that she's not his type!

Lovely!

Says the cartoonist, Dan Parent:

"In the last year or two, we've been introducing a lot of new characters: Diverse characters, characters with different ethnicities. With trying to be diverse, we wanted to have everybody at the table. We knew at some point we wanted to introduce a gay character, and when I came up with the story idea, we felt it worked in context with this story. They just like watching Veronica making a fool of herself, trying to get this guy to like her. At the beginning of the book, Kevin tells Jughead first that he's gay. And Kevin feels kind of bad and wants to tell Veronica why he's not interested. But Jughead keeps saying, 'No, you should wait to tell her,' because he's enjoying watching Veronica's antics. Jughead's got a mind of his own. I think he'd be the first person to be accepting of a gay character. The story is very much in the true context of our Archie stories. It's Veronica being Veronica. The fact that there's a gay character in the story isn't a big deal to the characters. We didn't do something with turmoil. The guy just happens to be gay, and the characters accept it, and that's it. My daughter has openly gay kids in her high school and it's accepted. Obviously this isn't the case everywhere in the country. There are struggles that gay people have. But gay kids in high schools isn't the big deal it used to be, and we want to reflect the way being gay is accepted in today's society. We're trying to show that Riverdale is an accepting community, that everyone is welcome in Riverdale. We're trying to show that Riverdale is that ideal town that everybody wants to be a part of."

Well spoken and 100% true!

We think it's wonderful that they would introduce a gay character in such a natural and effortless manner!

What do U think?? Are U interested to see how Kevin fits with the rest of the Riverdale gang??

Kristanna Loken
Kristin Kreuk

Brandy's Mom Blames Kim Kardashian For Sex Tape Leak!

Brandy's Mom Blames Kim Kardashian For Sex Tape Leak!

Oh MY!

Check out this cringe-inducing clip of Brandy, Ray J, and their folks on The Wendy Williams Show, where mamma Sonja Norwood takes the opportunity to make some allegations about who's responsible for leaking her son's sex tape with Kim Kardashian!

Eek! Look at Ray J's face while she speaks! PAINFUL!

What do U think?? Do U agree with Sonja's take on everything??

Kelly Hu
Kelly Rowland
Krista Allen

Good Hubby Kevin Jonas Goes Shopping With Wife

Good Hubby Kevin Jonas Goes Shopping With Wife
Now that Kevin Jonas has ditched his purity ring for a wedding band, he gets to enjoy all the really fun things that come along with married life...like going shopping with your...

Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head
Kelly Brook

Glee's Still Hazardous For Your Health!

Glee's Still Hazardous For Your Health!

It's dangerous being a Gleek!

Three backup dancers were injured on the set of Glee while filming the season finale on Wednesday night.

Ouch!

The cast was shooting the Regionals show-competition when the dancers had a run-in with the cameras.

Thankfully, everyone's doing just fine after receiving some band-aids from executive producer Brad Falchuk.

Katharine Towne
Katie Holmes

Warrant Out for Deadliest Catch Dude

Warrant Out for Deadliest Catch Dude
Wanted: one Deadliest Catch star. A Seattle judge has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of Jake Harris, the youngest son of the late reality-TV skipper Phil Harris, after...

Kate Groombridge
Kate Hudson

Jodie Sweetin's Sour Marriage in the Books

Jodie Sweetin's Sour Marriage in the Books
Jodie Sweetin's house is half full. Or, as she would prefer it, half empty now that her nasty divorce is a done deal. A judge has made the split official, her rep confirms to E!...

K. D. Aubert
Karen Carreno
Kasey Chambers

Lindsay Lohan's Ice-Tossing Escapades: Sam's the Target!

Lindsay Lohan's Ice-Tossing Escapades: Sam's the Target!
Although Lindsay Lohan took to her Twitter last night to claim Sam Ronson spit on her, a source tells E! News that it was actually Lindsay on the offensive. The exes were both...

Jules Asner
Julie Benz
Julie Berry

Solar Opens Up About His Relationship With Guru

Solar Opens Up About His Relationship With Guru

'I looked at him as a brother,' Solar says; denies rumors of romantic relationship.
By Shaheem Reid, with additional reporting by Sway Calloway

Solar
Photo: MTV News

Simply known as Solar, the music-industry veteran knows when it comes to the hip-hop community, he's probably the most hated man on the Internet. It seems that everyone is questioning his relationship with Keith Elam — better known to millions of fans as Guru — who died on Monday. On Wednesday (April 21), RapRadar.com had Solar as the focus of their infamous "You Played Yourself" section and one of the blog's writers, Brian "B. Dot" Miller, referred to him as a "lying sack of sh--."

"This is one solar that needs to be eclipsed," B. Dot went on to write. And that may be one of the kindest things said about Solar, friend and confidant of the rap legend since 2002.

Twitter's list of trending topics includes #F---SOLAR and longtime Gang Starr musical family member Bumpy Knuckles has been posting tweets directed at Solar that we cannot reprint here. Journalists such as "The Media Assassin" Harry Allen and Miss Info have openly questioned the authenticity of statements issued by Solar on behalf of Guru. Beloved rap figures such as ?uestlove have called him a fraud and Ice-T has expressed that he intends to get to the bottom of the situation.

"All this Guru drama WILL be exposed and dealt with ... say no more ... , " Ice tweeted.

Solar maintains his intentions are pure and sat down with MTV's Sway for an extensive discussion about his relationship with Guru and all the controversy surrounding his role in Guru's life and tragic death.

"The friendship got close fairly rapidly," Solar said of their first meeting through a mutual friend in 2002. "I think the reason why it got close is that I wasn't interested in a record deal. I wasn't interested in him as Guru. Me and him just hit it off as men. I got to know him as a man, he got to know me as a man. We were both going through tricky periods in our lives. I was working with homeless children at the time. It's a heavy problem ... Guru was dealing with certain situations. We started hanging out, hitting the clubs in New York. We needed to lighten it up a little bit.

"Once that trust developed, he was able to tell me about certain things within his life and career that was leading him to feel extremely frustrated that I believe contributed to his problems with substance abuse," Solar continued. "Anybody who knows him knows that it was a very serious situation at the time. I wasn't judgmental. I just listened and became a friend."

Solar said he eventually helped Guru to rid himself of weed and other substances as well as alcohol, and he had been clean and sober since 2003.

Solar came onboard to work on Guru's last two Jazzmatazz albums and toured with him. They also started the label 7 Grand Records.

"Once 7 Grand was started, certain aspects of Gang Starr kept holding onto him and he felt that it was dragging him down or holding him from getting to where he wanted to get," Solar explained. "It was influences around the industry that he felt was contributing to that. It was a source of frustration for him and also for myself."

Guru maintained a consistent touring schedule around the world. According to Solar, in early 2009, he started to experience pain in his back, which he at first attributed to vigorous gym workouts. After the pain carried on for a couple of months, Guru sought medical attention, which resulted in an MRI and a cancer diagnosis.

"He was upset and distraught," Solar added.

Guru went in for further testing and it was confirmed that he suffered from myeloma, a cancer that affects the white blood cells. He had an operation in July 2009 that was unfortunately unsuccessful.

"It wasn't long before we realized the operation wasn't a success — by the end of the summer we knew the cancer was spreading." Still, Guru and Solar continued to tour around the world — Guru was able to get onstage and perform as long as he took his medicine.

However, despite the setbacks, Solar insisted Guru didn't want to tell his family about his situation, as he was still optimistic that he could overcome the diagnosis.

"When I met Guru, his situation with his family was somewhat of an estrangement," Solar explained. "I was an advocate of meeting his mom, meeting his dad — developing a strong, good relationship with them."

Solar said that Guru and his parents eventually became close again and he got back in contact with his brother as well, however he still wasn't close with his sister Trish and her children. In March, Trish's son Justin said that Solar — who had become Guru's medical proxy — was keeping info from the family about Guru's condition.

"My family has no way of knowing what is going on with Guru's situation," Justin said via his YouTube vlog. "[Solar] also has primary control over the decisions made for Guru's health in the hospital. Solar has complete control of the flow of information. I know that Solar has been his right-hand man, day-in and day-out for the last six years, but that does not give him the right to make decisions about whether his family is to see Guru or learn about his status. The fact that he is acting like this lets me know that he does not have Guru's best interests in mind."

Solar denied that he took advantage of Guru while he was in a weakened mental state.

"He doesn't fit the profile of someone that is mentally unstable," Solar said calmly. " ... He knew exactly what he wanted to do, not only his business but his personal life."

He also denied rumors that he used to physically abuse Guru while he was sick.

"Me and Guru, we used to play fight," Solar answered. "Roughhouse. Not only with him, but other members of the band. These are all accusations without Guru being here to look you in the eye and saying that's just ridiculous. That's just idiotic."

Solar also denied widespread rumors that he was involved in a romantic relationship with the MC.

"That's untrue, completely unfounded," he said. "Guru is a family man, I'm a family man. I don't want to say anything against anybody living a certain type of lifestyle — everybody is free to live their life how they choose to live it — but that's not my lifestyle or Guru's lifestyle. We're straight men. He dealt with women and family. I dealt with women and family. There's never been any blurring of the lines whatsoever."

Between last summer and February 2010, Guru's focus shifted to his health, and his condition worsened to the point where Solar had to temporarily move into Guru's New Jersey residence to help the rap legend with daily activities.

"It was getting bad," Solar said. "His mobility was starting to worsen. I was staying in his home with him to help him with his day to day. I did it as a brother — I looked at him as a brother. I did that to preserve his dignity, even in those times."

Guru checked himself into the hospital at the start of the year and underwent chemotherapy, but later suffered two cardiac arrests and slipped into a coma. He died on Monday.

Guru's family issued a statement about his passing on Wednesday.

Related Videos

• MTV News Extended Play: Solar
• Gang Starr's Guru Passes Away

Related Photos

• Gang Starr's Guru: A Life In Photos

Related Artists

• Gangstarr

Joanne Montanez
Jolene Blalock
Josie Maran

Real Housewives' The Countess: "My Love Life Is Real Good"

Real Housewives' The Countess: "My Love Life Is Real Good"
Things are getting serious between Real Housewives of New York City star Countess LuAnn de Lesseps and her French wine distributor boyfriend Jacques Azoulay. "My love life is real...

Jill Arrington
Jill Wagner

'American Idol' Report Card: Who Soared On Inspirational Songs Night?

'American Idol' Report Card: Who Soared On Inspirational Songs Night?

Crystal Bowersox's emotional take on 'People Get Ready' was the only performance that made the grade.
By Eric Ditzian

Crystal Bowersox performs on "American Idol" on Tuesday
Photo: FOX

Is it too early to name our valedictorian and dismiss this "American Idol" class for the summer? Though the show will stretch on deep into May, there's no doubting now that Crystal Bowersox is this season's top student. With Tuesday night's emotional take on the Impressions' "People Get Ready," MamaSox made a convincing and teary case that she alone deserves summa cum laude reality-show status, while the rest of the "Idol" hopefuls would be lucky simply to graduate.

Not all of them will. So who's going home after failing to make the grade on Inspirational Song night? Let's find out as we write up another edition of our "American Idol" report card. (And don't miss Jim Cantiello's "Idol" recap in the MTV Newsroom).

Excellent

Crystal Bowersox: We'd been hoping MamaSox would revisit the gospel and soul vibe that worked so well when she brought it to tunes like "Me and Bobby McGee" and "Long as I Can See the Light." We never imagined, however, that she'd bring that vibe ... and knock America out cold with it. Her rendition of "People Get Ready" was nothing short of staggering. Remember during "The Matrix" when Morpheus says of Neo, "He's starting to believe"? That seems like what was going through Crystal's head when she broke down in tears toward the song's end: She was singing beautifully, she was looking at her dad and she was starting to realize, finally, that not only could she win "Idol" but that she deserves to win it.

Good

Lee Dewyze: On an ordinary night, Dewyze would find himself rejoicing with a big fat Excellent. As passionate and pleasurable as his refashioning of Simon and Garfunkel's "The Boxer" was, it still did not approach the power of Bowersox's performance. That's not to take anything away from Dewyze, who seems to be coming into his own at exactly the right time. His arrangement made a crusty classic fresh, and his vocals were at their growly best. Why, though, that look of utter relief when it was all over? Lee, you're a contender, kid! Take a note from MamaSox and gain some confidence.

Average

Casey James: Casey, Casey, Casey. We know you're not as generic a rocker as Fleetwood Mac's "Don't Stop" made you sound. We've seen you bring smoldering emotion to performances past. But my goodness, every time you try to rock out, you showcase bad taste and worse stage presence, and you leave the general impression that we're witnessing the stylings of a proficient and not particularly entertaining wedding-band frontman. You've never hit the bottom three, Mr. James, but is it possible you could this week? Probably not, even though that sort of wakeup call might be good for you.

Siobhan Magnus: It's a troubling complaint to have at this point in the competition, but Kara DioGuardi summed up our own feelings when she admitted to having no clue what kind of artist Siobhan Magnus is or wants to be. One week she's a gothic temptress, the next she's an ethereal fairy crooning from a land far, far away. This week, during Whitney Houston and Mariah Carey's "When You Believe," she seemed to be pretending she was auditioning for a Broadway production of a Disney musical. We've defended the singer's shape-shiftiness in the past. The time for excuse-making is over. Magnus might end up in the bottom three, and much like with Casey, that sort of humbling might serve her well.

Michael Lynche: Big Mike really has to make a decision. Is he an R&B-cloaked teddy bear or a guitar-strumming indie rock wannabe? Week to week, it seems even he's not sure. In fact, it might be past the time when he can actually make that choice for himself. Tuesday's version of Nickelback's "Hero" had Lynche ditching the R&B tuneage that a) saved his hide from elimination with a judges' save and b) has been his undeniable strong suit all season. He may like to think of himself as a double threat. He ain't. Only a return to soul territory — à la "This Woman's Work" — can keep Big Mike returning to the "Idol" stage week after week.

Poor

Tim Urban: Here we come to the week's toughest grade. A case could be made that Urban's "Better Days," by the Goo Goo Dolls, was merely Average, as opposed to truly Poor. He's clearly found the lite-rock sound that works best for his talents. And the kid looks like he's having so much darn fun up there. And yet he stretched far beyond his comfort zone this week, and the results were not pleasing to the ear. We're not sure it matters. Urban is on a magical run this season. The fates — and the tweens — seem to be conspiring to keep him around.

Aaron Kelly: This 17-year-old's problem has never been his vocals. If he doesn't try to go too big, he'll sound just fine. Where things have gotten dicey for him is in the showmanship department: Kelly just looks silly up there, as if after the big kids went home for the day, a pre-schooler hopped up onstage and pretended he was gonna be a star. Last night's "I Believe I Can Fly" was, then, a perfect storm of "Aw, hells no!" The R. Kelly song was far too big for him, and he attempted some expressive arm and hand gestures that could well have been pulled from the Big Book of Clichéd Diva Moves. No and no. Will it matter in the end? Kelly escaped his brush with the bottom three a few weeks back, and it's anybody's guess if voters finally wake up and send him back there.

Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.

Related Photos

• Crystal Bowersox's 'American Idol' Experience
• 'American Idol' Season Nine Performances

Jennifer Sky
Jessica Cauffiel
Jessica Par�

Guess the Cute Celebrity Brother!

Guess the Cute Celebrity Brother!
Whoa! Where has this guy been hiding? With striking features that resemble a more famous family member, we're surprised he isn't gracing silver screens as well. The...

January Jones
Jennie Finch
Jennifer Gareis
Jennifer Gimenez

Lil Wayne Gives Tity Boi A Kanye West-Produced Track For New Tape

Lil Wayne Gives Tity Boi A Kanye West-Produced Track For New Tape

Playaz Circle rapper calls Me Against the World 2: Codeine Withdrawal 'conceptual,' in Mixtape Daily.
By Shaheem Reid

Tity Boi
Photo: Def Jam

This Week's Main Pick

Street King: Tity Boi

Holding It Down For: ATL, Southside

Mixtape: Me Against the World 2: Codeine Withdrawal

Real Spit: "Twoooooo Chains!" The name just has a ring to it. Especially when Disturbing Tha Peace member Tity Boi yells it out in the streets. He walked down the street in Times Square telling everyone to watch their step because he had swag dripping all over the place. Don't sue if you slip, he warned. You see the two chains swinging 'round his neck!

"The name of the tape is Me Against the World 2: Codeine Withdrawal," he said. "If anybody has been following what I have been doing on mixtapes, I've been following in the concept and the team of what 'Pac was doing. Not in the music, but with his titles. I had mixtapes come out called Trapavelli then dropped a double disc called All Ice on Me. The music is pure, straight form the heart. A chance for me to get my solo outlet out. Not breaking up Playaz Circle or nothing like that. Just getting a few things off my shoulders, ya dig?

"It's conceptual. ... The subtitle is Codeine Withdrawal," he explained. "If anybody ever been into the epic of the lean, the sizzurp era, that's what's going down on the south side of Atlanta right now. A lot of cats really stopped drinking liquor, and they switched to a fruitier-tasting drink over ice. This tape, being that we were going so hard drinking syrup, it's like a drought. So I was like, 'You know what? They have habits [and some people can't function].' I did my whole tape without the assistance of what I've been doing for a couple of years. I still smoked, but the title is Codeine Withdrawal. I've had a few people tell me, 'Slow down, you moving too fast.' I slowed down. I got a little girl. It is what it is. Full of 'hood classics."

Tity Boi made his tape with DJ Black Bill Gates. TB also has the album Flight 360 out right now with his partner Dolla Boy.

Joints to Check For

1. "Lo Boots." " 'Hood classic soon as it dropped," Tity said. "A lot of my style comes through me rapping about fashion. A lot of my stuff was 'Gucci this, Louis that.' What I was doing was making the bootleggers rich. 'Cause a lot of y'all wasn't going to Gucci like me and Dolla was doing. So I did Polo boots. 'Lo Boots.' Everybody got them. They like $60 or something, some are $100, but they got nice flavors. Nice brands. The name of the song is about being swagged out with the team, rocking the 'Lo Boots.' "

2. "Can't Be Broke" (featuring Trae Tha Truth and M. Beezy). "Basically, the title speaks for itself. My verse, I give a brief summary on my birth until now, with hustling. It's always been hustling. That's basically what this song is about."

3. "Real as They Come" (featuring Lil Wayne, produced by Kanye West). "Wayne gave me that song. For no reason, the boy got a song produced by Kanye, with Dre from Cool & Dre on the hook," TB said. "[Wayne's] like, 'Here, I got a song for you.' It's a banger. It's self-explanatory, about looking in the mirror and judging yourself. 'You're as real as they come.' "

For other artists featured in Mixtape Daily, check out Mixtape Daily Headlines or follow the Mixtape Daily team on Twitter: @shaheemreid and @mongosladenyc.

Related Videos

• Mixtape Daily: Tity Boi

Related Artists

• Lil Wayne
• Kanye West

Izabella Scorupco
Janet Jackson

Chachi Hates Jezzie: Scott Baio, Wife Blast "Hypocrite Lesbian S--tasses"

Chachi Hates Jezzie: Scott Baio, Wife Blast "Hypocrite Lesbian S--tasses"
UPDATE: Well, look who's a fan! Scott Baio has gotten back to us via (where else?) Twitter: "@eonline Report the TRUTH not 1/8 of it. Funny how it goes viral when twisted Next...

Giuliana DePandi
Gretha Cavazzoni
Gwen Stefani
Ivana Bozilovic