By now we’ve all seen the BET awards, thought about them and discussed them. Still however, there are a few important questions about the show that are weighing heavily on our minds.

Here are 30 questions that just seem to be lingering in the air, waiting to be answered. Check them out and tell us your thoughts.

1) Isn’t Drake certifiably the leader of new school cool?

2) Was Nicki’s slick black performance outfit the result of a dip in the Gulf Coast?

3) What the heck happened to Keyshia Cole?

4) Even though Prince had the nerve to wear a shirt with his own image painted on it, weren’t you still oddly intrigued by the purple one?

5) How many of you were jealous and pissed until you figured out that the lady on Trey Songz’s arm is actually his mother?

6) Is Ricky Ross losing weight?

7) Can a skinny Ross still be “the Bawse”?

8.) Why did Keri Hilson look like a brand new person?

9) Why did Kid & Play show up looking like a deacon and a used car salesman?

10) Is Nicki Minaj’s wig crypt more extensive than Beyonce’s yet?

11) What the heck is that panty thing that Jada was wearing?

11) Who has the better legs, Jada or Ciara?

12) Don’t Will & Jada’s kids look like really, really interesting little people?

13) Were you holding your breath when a pregnant Alicia got up on that piano?

14) How mad was Mashonda at that very moment?

15) How long before chicks start doing Janell Monet’s good-foot dance in the club?

16) How did Janell manage all of those crazy dance moves without messing up that bouffant hair-style?

17) How is it that Diddy isn’t totally ruining Janell’s career?

18) Did Kanye shut it down with his performance of “Power” or what?!

19) How funny was his GIANT Jesus piece though?

20) Aren’t you really starting to feel the Dirty Money movement?

21) All that anger is really taking a toll on eminem’s looks isn’t it?

22) How dare Chilli show up in a ten dollar K-Mart jumper and hair color courtesy of a box from the drug store’s hair care aisle? Terrible.

23) So all it took was some fancy dance moves, a few tears and an MJ tribute for America to forgive Chris Brown?

24) Was Breezy’s tribute better than Janet’s last year at the MTV Awards?

25) Didn’t Chris Brown blow Usher’s lackluster performance out of the water?

26) Were you more excited to see Monica or Brandy?

27) Did you see how the violinists in Luda’s performance almost took out a few audience members with their bows?

28) Do you think Chris Brown’s breakdown was as fake as Nicki Minaj’s speech about women?

29) Was the prince tribute better than the Michael tribute?

30) Overall, wasn’t this one of the best shows we’ve seen from BET in quite a while?

There are a slew of new  rappers taking the game by storm as of late. First up, Canadian-import Drake knocked the proverbial ball right out of the album-sales-park, selling 462,989 copies of his much anticipated album in its first week. Who’s next to bat? We’re guessing hot new artist J. Cole. With the release of his new single “Who Dat,” Cole is using his underground buzz and his sizzling new video to catapult himself from the underground sector into rap’s upper echelons. Oh, you didn’t know? We’re about to put you onto this future GIANT.

Here are five interesting things you should know about J. Cole:

1.

Roots

J. Cole was born in Frankfurt, Germany, but was raised in Fayetteville, North Carolina. He is bi-racial having been born to a Black mother and a White father.

2.

Unorthodox

J.Cole decided to attend college in New York City in order to place himself at the apex of the city’s thriving music industry. He attended St. John’s University on an academic scholarship, majored in communication and minored in business. In a largely unorthadox move for a hip hop artist, Cole graduated magna cum laude. If you thought Kanye’s “college dropout” steez was hot, then college graduate is definitely the new black.

3.

Flagship Artist

Cole is the first artist signed to Jay-Z’s label, Roc Nation. A major accomplishment indeed.

4.

Big Backing

Cole has managed features on tracks with many of today’s httest artists. He appeared on Jay-Z’s album The Blueprint 3, on the track “A Star Is Born,” and Wale’s debut album, Attention Deficit in the song “Beautiful Bliss.” Cole has also stated that he worked with producers such as No I.D., Pharrell, Jim Jonsin and Salaam Remi for his upcoming debut album.

5.

All He Needs Is One Take

He shot the video for his new single “Who Dat” in one take. Check him out below:

50 Won The Battle, But Has Rick Ross Won The War?

What Makes A Breakout Star?

Lady Gaga’s much anticipated video for her newest single, “Alejandro” is here with no shortage of controversy.

The emerging pop queen has set her standard for artistically weird imagery even higher with the visual accompaniment for “Alejandro.” The video portrays Gaga in a whirlwind of pseudo-religious, homosexual, militaristic scenarios that don’t seem to have any direct relation to the songs lyrics, but then again, since when does that matter. Our guess is, more than a few people are sure to be upset by the video. Here are a list of the people who are surely anti-Alejandro.

1.

Christians

Any one who dons a habit without being a nun is automatically placed on the running anti-Christ list. And lady Gaga in all her fake-nun glory has just secured a top spot. Not only does she wear a latex version of the classic habit, but she is also pictured sucking on a rosary and engaging in homo-erogenous behavior. Yep, that’ll do it Gaga.

2.

Madonna

We have a sneaky suspicion that Madge is somewhere pissed that she is being swagger-jacked left and right by this new up-start. The whole blasphemy, short blond hair, military, gays thing has been done (by the material girl) many times; but hey, who’s counting?

3.

The “Gays”

Gaga is quoted as saying that the video is:

“a celebration of my love and appreciation for the gay community, my admiration of their bravery, their love for one another and their courage in their relationships. In the video I’m pining for the love of my gay friends–but they just don’t want me to be with them.”

Still, the “gays” in her video are portrayed as over-sexed and preying on good little christian-Gaga. Who knows how she intended for us to interpret this video. In the end, her love and admiration for the “gays” may be lost amongst all of the groping.

4.

Katy Perry

Katy said it herself via Twitter:

Well, either she’s a lot more religious than we thought, or Katy’s just aiming a low blow at her competition. Either way we find it entertaining.

Check out the video here:

What do you think?

Discuss.

Also, check out these photos of Lady Gaga.

After watching Drake’s new video for “Find Your Love,” we are truly inspired. Here are five reasons why we think that Jamaica is a small island with a big influence:

1.

Rastafarian Fashion

This seasons’ top designers like Blumarine and Christian Louboutin are showing collections with clear Rastafarian influences. This little Island obviously has a cultural identity that is iconic enough to pierce the ultra exclusive upper echelons of the fashion realm.

2.

The Iconic “Badman”

The Jamaican badman is a fearsome figure indeed. Most recently, Drake jetted down to Jamaica to film the video for his latest single “Find Your Love.” The plot surrounds Drake’s feeble attempts to court a shotta’s girl. In the end, though, the badman (played by dancehall heavy hitter Mavado) prevails, having set Drake up to fall in love with his girl, who then takes the crooner out with 3 shots to the back of the head, execution style. Drake has failed in his videos many times before, but perhaps that Jamaican influence was all he needed to succeed. Take a look below:

3.

Bolt

Usain Bolt is the 23 year old phenom responsible for single handedly propelling Jamaica into a place of recognition on the world’s athletic stage. The famed Jamaican sprinter and a three-time Olympic gold medalist holds a  plethora of world and Olympic records as well as the distinction of being the first man to win three sprinting events at a single Olympics since Carl Lewis in 1984, and the first man to set world records in three races at a single Olympics. Add to that the lucrative global campaigns he is featured in and the powerhouse corporations jockeying to provide him with sponsorships and Usain is simply unstoppable. Although he has become an international figure, his achievements have solidified him as a hometown hero.

4.

Far Reaching Influence

Jamaica has its own, very distinct musical culture, from which legends like Bob Marley emerged. It also has a faction by the name of “Dancehall” which is outrageous, though in many ways enthralling. When deep baselines combine with rhythmic and verbal calls to waste-winding action, so begins the dancehall phenomenon. Such bashments are known for their scantily clad attendees, and wild dancing antics. Dancehall, however has stretched far beyond the Jamaican shorelines, as far away as Japan where the culture seems to be thriving. Take a look at this video of a Japanese dancehall party that serves no purpose other than to demonstrate why Jamaicans are truly trendsetters:

5.

R&R

Jamaicans wrote the book on rest and relaxation; or at least they should have considering that the small island boasts some of the most amazingly serene tropical scenery in the world. Either you’ve all been to Jamaica, or you really want to go. Just another reason Jamaica has earned its place on the map, both literally and figuratively.

Now check out these exclusive GIANT images of one of our favorite Jamaican Supermodels, and possibly the sixth reason why  the island deserves ’nuff respect:

Click here to read an excerpt from Naomi’s GIANT Magazine cover story!

Also take a look at this exclusive behind the scenes footage:

Lately, being a bad chick is oh-so-good.

The other day I watched a music video for Rapper Ludacris’ latest single, “My Chick Bad” in which he explains the dynamics of being a bad chick.

With the help of a few of the baddest, bad-girls in the game, Luda put down a track explaining the A-B-Cs and 1-2-3s of badness. As the raunchy rap riddle came to an end, I sat trying to figure out the formula for badness. I mean, really…what makes a bad chick? I am a college graduate with a dual degree in history and political science. I work hard, I have a promising career, I am independent, confident and I take pride in myself. Doesn’t that make me bad? After taking the lyrics at face value I came to the conclusion that I am a mediocre chick at best.

Apparently badness is measured in terms of waist to hip ratio, food (ie, lettuce, cheese and cheddar) and expensive boots. Huh?

This confused me. All of the time and effort that I put into my own personal betterment was seemingly irrelevant according to the rap geniuses that wrote the song on badness. When I first listened to  Maya Angelou explain the depths of being phenomenal:

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.

I’m not cute or built to suit a fashion model’s size

But when I start to tell them,

They think I’m telling lies.
I say,

It’s in the reach of my arms

The span of my hips,

The stride of my step,

The curl of my lips.

I’m a woman

Phenomenally.

Phenomenal woman,

That’s me.

I screamed from the rooftops, “I am a phenomenal woman!” So why, then, do the likes of Luda, Trina, Eve and Diamond have me doubting my badness? It would be too easy to write this off as silly rap-talk, both ignorant and meaningless. No, I decided; there must be something meaningful in the bowels of this bad-chick-debauchery. Again, I listened closely and took notes on what exactly this motley crew considers necessary in order to achieve near perfection. Believe it or not, Diamond, Eve and Trina at times did manage to hit the nail right on the head!

No one reads Shakespeare once and fully grasps the immensity of his hold on the complexities of love and life. You must always push yourself to dig deeper in order to fully indulge in his brilliance. I dug deeper into “My Chick Bad,” and I did not find Shakespeare or brilliance, but i did find some level of redemption.

Sure, I expected raunchy, imbecilic references to big booties and sex appeal. In that respect, my expectations were fulfilled. But oddly enough, nestled between the narcissistic lines lie a few jewels that every woman could use and every man should expect. Ladies, want to know how to be a “bad Chick?” Fellas, want to know whether or not your chick is bad? Here, with GIANT‘s help, is the blow-by-blow analysis of “My Chick Bad.”

As it turns out these girls are actually brilliant and perceptive! Or at least, with our help they are…

There you have it. Want to be a bad chick? Refer to the far right column.

Thank us later.

Take a look at the video with your newly enlightened mind in case you needed a visual guide:

STYLE FILE: Only Built For Cubannie Links

Is Rihanna Qualified To Teach “Rockstar 101″?

From the movie set to the photo shoot for his May ’09 feature story in GIANT, Common’s always on point. Check him out in the exclusive video below.   

CLICK HERE TO READ AN EXCERPT FROM OUR MAY ’09 FEATURE STORY WITH COMMON!

CLICK HERE TO SEE COMMON’S PHOTOS FROM HIS GIANT MAGAZINE SHOOT! 

CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO GIANT! 

CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO GIANT TODAY!

If you don’t know who Peter Hadar is (think hip-hop hipster meets R&B singer), then you are reading this for Selita Ebanks. I don’t blame you — look at her. Anywho, Hadar was lucky enough to score the wonderful talents of Nick Cannon’s ex Ms. Ebanks for his new video, “Planets.” Check out the Coodie & Chike-directed clip here.

Now, this video makes no sense to me but I will definitely watch again. And that says a lot since I am not typically a fan of short hair. Just my personal preference.

Let me know what you think…

For more videos, click here to watch Ciara get her swirl on for “Love Sex Magic”!

And for more, click here to watch Padma eat a burger!

Kid Cudi is on his way. With “Day ‘N’ Nite” making noise on the charts, the Cleveland MC made his U.S. television debut on Last Call with Carson Daly last night (March 18). Watch the video below:

Hot, right? And who knew Carson Daly’s show was hot now?

Is Kid Cudi really retiring? Click here to find out!

For more Kid Cudi, click here to watch the first video for “Day ‘n’ Nite’!

And for more Cudi, click here to read a review of his live show with Wale!

See… CNN does more than just make hilarious videos with The Real. Three/21 Media, Thugged Out Militainment, and SMC Recordings recently debuted Capone-N-Noreaga’s new NSFW video, “Talk To Me (Big Tyme).” Watch it below:

Capone-N-Noreaga – “Talk To Me (Big Tyme)” from Three/21 Films on Vimeo.

I gotta give it to CNN. They keep on keeping on… As an added bonus, watch the star-studded video (if you consider Busta Rhymes and Ron Browz stars) for “Rotate,” the first single from their new album, Channel 10 below. It is also NSFW:

When the CW network launched a billboard campaign for their series, “Everybody Hates Chris,” they asked graffiti artist Faust to paint all over them.

The landmark campaign marked a turning point in hip-hop graffiti artists’ long climb to mainstream acceptance.

Watch the video here, PART THREE of GIANT Magazine’s exclusive, six-part online look inside the creation of DEFinition: The Art and Design of Hip-Hop (Collins Design), championing the impact of hip-hop-inspired design on music, fashion, advertising, and more, with narration from author Bill Adler and cameos from artists like Ice-T and Run (of Run-D.M.C.).

PART ONE: Making Hip-Hop’s Classic Album Covers

PART TWO: Ice-T and Run Examine Hip-Hop’s Classic Album Covers

PART THREE: Graf Artists Invited To Deface Billboards

PART FOUR: Hip-Hop Design Drives Cars Over The Edge

PART FIVE: Rev Run Sermon – How To Keep Your Adidas From Getting Took

PART SIX: Is Hip-Hop Fashion Going Backwards?

More:

Click here for GIANT’s exclusive gallery of the book party for “DEFinition: The Art and Design of Hip-Hop”

Click here to purchase “DEFinition: The Art and Design of Hip-Hop”

Click here for book website: “DEFinition: The Art and Design of Hip-Hop”

After years out of the spotlight Ginuwine is coming back with a new album, and allegedly a new woman.

Ginuwine is seen serenading his rumored leading lady LisaRaye on the set of the video for his latest single “Last Chance,” which was filmed in Los Angeles over the weekend.

Check out the behind-the-scenes photo gallery and the audio for “Last Chance” below.

- Pharoh Martin

Hip-hop began as the antithesis of high fashion: tracksuits and sneakers were all that kids could afford. Then hip-hop  took those low-cost clothes and made them trendy. Now hip-hop fashion entrepreneurs are making classic clothing. One might well ask, “What’s hip-hop about that?”

In the final episode of GIANT Magazine’s exclusive, six-part online look inside the creation of “DEFinition: The Art and Design of Hip-Hop (Collins Design),” co-author Bill Adler and Ice-T discuss the evolution of hip-hop fashion.

Watch the video here:

PART ONE: Making Hip-Hop’s Classic Album Covers

More:

Click here for GIANT’s exclusive gallery of the book party for “DEFinition: The Art and Design of Hip-Hop”

Click here to purchase “DEFinition: The Art and Design of Hip-Hop”

Click here for book website: “DEFinition: The Art and Design of Hip-Hop”

Hip-hop almost singlehandedly transformed the lowly sneaker into high fashion and a great canvas for design.

In part five of GIANT Magazine’s exclusive, six-part online look inside the creation of “DEFinition: The Art and Design of Hip-Hop (Collins Design),” co-author Bill Adler takes you on a tour of some of the most outlandish kicks in the book, and Rev Run reminisces about how Jam Master Jay kept his sneakers on his feet back in the day.

Watch the video here:

PART ONE: Making Hip-Hop’s Classic Album Covers

PART TWO: Ice-T and Run Examine Hip-Hop’s Classic Album Covers

Guys are connected to cars,” says rapper/actor Ice-T, “because it’s usually the first toy we get.”

And hip-hop is connected to cars because of the power, freedom and individuality they symbolize.

Hip-hop’s ascent to the mainstream has had a huge effect on the relationship between America and the auto, from MTV’s “Pimp My Ride” to the Ford Flex. And the hip-hop auto aesthetic is something distinctive, say the authors of “DEFinition: The Art and Design of Hip-Hop (Collins Design).”

Watch the video here, part four of GIANT Magazine’s exclusive, six-part online look inside the creation of “DEFinition,” a book championing the impact of hip-hop-inspired design on music, fashion, advertising, and more, featuring narration from author Bill Adler and cameos from artists like Ice-T and Run (of Run-D.M.C.).

PART ONE: Making Hip-Hop’s Classic Album Covers

More:

Click here for GIANT’s exclusive gallery of the book party for “DEFinition: The Art and Design of Hip-Hop”

Click here to purchase “DEFinition: The Art and Design of Hip-Hop”

Click here for book website: “DEFinition: The Art and Design of Hip-Hop”

Cey Adams created some of hip-hop’s most memorable album covers as the art director for Def Jam Recordings in the late 1980s and 1990s.

Now Adams and former Def Jam publicist Bill Adler have created a book, DEFinition: The Art and Design of Hip-Hop (Collins Design) that champions the impact of hip-hop-inspired design on music, fashion, advertising, and more.

GIANT Magazine gives you an exclusive, six-part online look inside the creation of this book, with narration from author Bill Adler and cameos from artists like Ice-T and Run (of Run-D.M.C.).

Here’s Part Two of the series!

PART ONE: Making Hip-Hop’s Classic Album Covers

More:

Click here for GIANT’s exclusive gallery of the book party for “DEFinition: The Art and Design of Hip-Hop”

Click here to purchase “DEFinition: The Art and Design of Hip-Hop”

Click here for book website: “DEFinition: The Art and Design of Hip-Hop”

Cey Adams created some of hip-hop’s most memorable album covers as the art director for Def Jam Recordings in the late 1980s and 1990s.

Now Adams and former Def Jam publicist Bill Adler have created a book, DEFinition: The Art and Design of Hip-Hop (Collins Design) that champions the impact of hip-hop-inspired design on music, fashion, advertising, and more.

GIANT Magazine gives you an exclusive, six-part online look inside the creation of this book, with narration from author Bill Adler and cameos from artists like Ice-T and Run (of Run-D.M.C.).

PART ONE: Making Hip-Hop’s Classic Album Covers

More:

Click here for GIANT’s exclusive gallery of the book party for “DEFinition: The Art and Design of Hip-Hop”

Click here to purchase “DEFinition: The Art and Design of Hip-Hop”

Click here for book website: “DEFinition: The Art and Design of Hip-Hop”

My favorite track on Kanye’s album gets the video treatment it deserves.

KANYE WEST “Welcome To Heartbreak” Directed by Nabil from nabil elderkin on Vimeo.

Want to know what your cell phone says about you? Check this video to see if you’re more StarTac, handsfree headset or everyone’s new favorite, the ego-centric iPhone.

If it was popping in 2008, we covered it! Check out list to end all lists here. It’s the GIANT 8 of ’08… We’re kind of a BIG deal.

MUSIC

Goodbye, and hello

My 8 Favorite Albums of 2008: #8
My 8 Favorite Albums of 2008: #7
My 8 Favorite Albums of 2008: #6
My 8 Favorite Albums of 2008: #5
My 8 Favorite Albums of 2008: #4
My 8 Favorite Albums of 2008: #3
My 8 Favorite Albums of 2008: #2
My 8 Favorite Albums of 2008: #1

10 Best Albums You Missed in 2008: #10
10 Best Albums You Missed in 2008: #9
10 Best Albums You Missed in 2008: #8
10 Best Albums You Missed in 2008: #7
10 Best Albums You Missed in 2008: #6
10 Best Albums You Missed in 2008: #5
10 Best Albums You Missed in 2008: #4
10 Best Albums You Missed in 2008: #3
10 Best Albums You Missed in 2008: #2
10 Best Albums You Missed in 2008: #1

Missing Notes Best of ’08 Mixtape, Vol. 1
Missing Notes Best of ’08 Mixtape, Vol. 2

MOVIES
Best Movies of ’08: #8
Best Movies of ’08: #7
Best Movies of ’08: #6
Best Movies of ’08: #5
Best Movies of ’08: #4
Best Movies of ’08: #3
Best Movies of ’08: #2
Best Movies of ’08: #1

Worst Movies of ’08: #8
Worst Movies of ’08: #7
Worst Movies of ’08: #6
Worst Movies of ’08: #5
Worst Movies of ’08: #4
Worst Movies of ’08: #3
Worst Movies of ’08: #2
Worst Movies of ’08: #1

Best Actors of ’08: #8
Best Actors of ’08: #7
Best Actors of ’08: #6
Best Actors of ’08: #5
Best Actors of ’08: #4
Best Actors of ’08: #3
Best Actors of ’08: #2
Best Actors of ’08: #1

Best Actresses of ’08: #8
Best Actresses of ’08: #7
Best Actresses of ’08: #6
Best Actresses of ’08: #5
Best Actresses of ’08: #4
Best Actresses of ’08: #3
Best Actresses of ’08: #2
Best Actresses of ’08: #1

Worst Actors of ’08: #8
Worst Actors of ’08: #7
Worst Actors of ’08: #6
Worst Actors of ’08: #5
Worst Actors of ’08: #4
Worst Actors of ’08: #3
Worst Actors of ’08: #2
Worst Actors of ’08: #1

Worst Actresses of ’08: #8
Worst Actresses of ’08: #7
Worst Actresses of ’08: #6
Worst Actresses of ’08: #5
Worst Actresses of ’08: #4
Worst Actresses of ’08: #3
Worst Actresses of ’08: #2
Worst Actresses of ’08: #1

VIDEO GAMES
Best Video Games of 2008

DVD
Best DVDs of ’08: #8
Best DVDs of ’08: #7
Best DVDs of ’08: #6
Best DVDs of ’08: #5
Best DVDs of ’08: #4
Best DVDs of ’08: #3
Best DVDs of ’08: #2
Best DVDs of ’08: #1

SPECIAL
The Epic Fail That Was 2008: #8
The Epic Fail That Was 2008: #7
The Epic Fail That Was 2008: #6
The Epic Fail That Was 2008: #5
The Epic Fail That Was 2008: #4
The Epic Fail That Was 2008: #3
The Epic Fail That Was 2008: #2
The Epic Fail That Was 2008: #1

Ludacris knows how to have a good time. Don’t believe us. Check out the video from his release party for his Theater Of The Mind album at Atlanta’s Velvet Room below (NSFW):

Ludacris Album Release Party from DTP TV on Vimeo.

Did I mention how good B is looking in her new vids? So, here is Beyonce’s second premiere for the day, “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It).” It’s a simple vid with a clean look and great choreography. And Beyonce in a leotard—nuff said.

MTV will be spotlighting our girl throughout the week, pretending they still care about the music biz.

Damn, B is looking good. “If I Were a Boy” is the first single off of Beyonce’s highly anticipated album, due to hit the streets in just a few weeks on November 18. The video, directed by Jake Nava, is definitely one to watch as it is not only a playful switcheroo outdoing M. Night Shyamalan’s recent efforts, but just to see Beyonce back doing her thing again. We missed you B. It’s been a minute…

The video for “All the Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)” will premiere today as well on MTV. It’s B in a club, hand claps and all. This winter’s going to be fun with this as the soundtrack. To hear the two singles, go here.