So, umm, Nicki Minaj just went all Katy Perry on us. The Barbie rapper gets her saaang on with a new, leaked track, "Marilyn Monroe." On it, she croons about "not being perfect," seeing her life fall apart...all like, well, "Marilyn Monroe." This track hears Minaj move very far from her roots as Queens' regining rapper, into a place that, while very mainstream -friendly, may garner lots of criticism. But homegirl DID perform alongside Madonna in a ridiculously un-badass video, so not sure she cares too much about what the haters have to say. Watch below:

Lady Gaga is arguably the most interesting, provocative and progressive pop artist of our generation. But is she genuine, or just a carbon copy of the iconic Madonna? That's the question critics have argued over since Gaga (and her gays) hit the dance floor with the chart-topping album, The Fame. While the mother of all Monsters has often deflected the imitation question - instead choosing to reference Madonna's influence on her childhood - the "Express Yourself" singer has taken the opposite route, attacking questions of Gaga's authenticity head on.

In the latest issue of queer magazine, The Advocate, the Queen of Pop remarks on Gaga's individuality saying, "I have no thoughts...what's the question," only to pipe up later with "She's not Britney Spears. She's not built like a brick shi*-house!" Harsh? Though Madonna does go on to call Gaga's relationship with the gay community "genuine," this isn't the first time the pop icon has taken a jab at her New York neighbor. In a recent ABC interview, the singer called Gaga's "Born This Way" a diluted "Express Yourself" and later followed up in Newsweek saying "I recognized the chord changes [in Born This Way], I thought it was...interesting."

With the Super Bowl days away, and Madonna's album slated for March 26th, it's questionable whether the decades-old icon is attempting to stir up controversy for album sales. It's also notable that Gaga has never admitted to blatantly stealing chords from Madonna's "Express Yourself" for her mega-hit "Born This Way." So the questions continue to loom:

Is Madonna just trying to pick a fight for some press? Or is Gaga really a Madonna-biter? And is Britney a "shi*-brickhouse"!? What do you think! Let us know!

Just two days before the Super Bowl, Madonna has released the lead single from her upcoming album, MDNA. "Give Me All Ur Luvin" is saccharine-pop goodness but seems more fit more Miley Cyrus than it does for Madonna. Featuring Nicki Minaj and MIA, for seriously five seconds a piece, the track is all about giving all one's love the one-and-only Queen of Pop. "Give Me All Ur Luvin" is heavy on electropop, but only shines when it veers away into the world and sounds of Minaj or MIA. The video, while fun in lieu of Sunday's big game, is a little cheap. But, hey, maybe that's what the Miley crew's into? Watch Madonna's latest below...will yu buy MDNA?

This is the new hit...trust us. Zebra Katz's "Ima Read" has is an infectious thumper of a track that's hard to forget in its simplicity. But it's the the video that takes the track to a whole new level, as both Katz and Reddd Foxxx turn out their baddest, sexiest, and funniest high-school characters. At one point Foxxx looks dead into the camera and says, "I'ma fight that bit**!"  ""I'ma Read" is totally irreverent, totally un-PC, and totally awesome. Watch the duo of Katz and Reddd Foxxx below in the video below... it'll be hard not to press repeat.

Lana Del Rey

Ok, so it hasn't been the best of times for New York native, Lana Del Rey. Entering the scene as the g'd up Nancy Sinatra, the sultry film-noir inspired songstress battled controversy regarding her legitimacy in 2011, only to become the butt of what seemed to be a poorly-planed marketing joke, after a sub-par performance on Saturday Night Live. But let's be real: The minute Lana (aka Lizzy Grant) stepped out of her red dress, we were taken aback. And while the pout certainly helped, her voice was one that cut through all the sickly pop-saturated airwaves. With the blogosphere still abuzz - Will she survive?! Are those lips really real?! - it's clear there's a lot left  to learn about the "Video Games" vixen. So get ready for some more gangsta.

Azealia Banks + A$AP Rocky

The Harlem underground scene's been shaken and stirred up, all thanks to a pretty muthaf*cker and a black Rapunzel. Azealia Banks had everyone tapping into their bad-ass alter ego with her spitfire-track "212" last year, Marc Jacobs and Kanye included. Starting off 2012 with a bang, the rapper just inked a deal with Universal and flowed her way into the fashion world, performing at Lagerfeld's dinner and premiering her latest track 'Bambi' on the Mugler runway...in the same week. We hate to say it...but we told ya so.

Good things come in pairs: shoes, earrings... Harlem-bred rappers. Enter A$AP Rocky, the rapper/director with a southern style who had underground cool kids kids bumping to "Peso" before the hit-track hit the airwaves. In a matter of months, A$AP Rocky has signed a deal with Sony/RCA (worth a reported $3 million), debuted a gangsta-luxe 'Wassup' vid, and sealed the opening spot on Drake's upcoming tour this summer. Looks like we're just on the brink of living and loving all things A$AP.

MeLo-X

Remixing and rhyming his way through basement parties sampling Maxwell's Timeline, MeLo-X ushered in the Dragon Year with THE remix of 2012.  We've been craving more from MeLo for years now (2009's BLACKsummers'Night Instrumental Album was the business!), until today, when FEWTURE hit the interwebz  With a stamp of approval from Jay and fashion cred from GQ and Details Mag, the Brooklyn-based Renaissance Man will scorch the stage  come this summer.

Santigold

We know what you're thinking: "Santigold? Wasn't her break out year '07?'" Sure, the singer reached indie-darling status after lending her rhymes to Converse's infectious summer anthem "Drive-Thru'" and releasing her eponymous album, but since 2010 the dub step rapper has been M.I.A--until now. Currently opening for Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Santigold teased us with this, before announcing the long awaited follow up to Santigold, Master Of My Make-Believe slated to debut this spring. With collaborations featuring David Sitek ('TV On The Radio') and Nick Zinner (Yeah Yeah Yeahs), a sophomore slump should be the last of her worries...this indie darling's set to be the pop star of 2012.

Phony Ppl

As of late, we've been re-introduced to music crews a la Wu-Tang Clan (see: OFWGKTA, OVO, A$AP). But there's no crew quite like Phony Ppl. To be clear: The Brooklyn-based musicians, producers, and rappers are anything but faux, combining the likes of Coltrane Jazz, and 90's hip hop and R&B to create eclectic tracks like 'If I Was a Chair' .With a first album already under their belts, and heavy hitters like Q-Tip cosigning the team, the fellas (all under 21) hit the stage alongside our boy Theopilus London next month Looks like when it comes to talent, age ain't nothing but a number.

"Live fast, die young, bad girls do it well," says MIA in a re-work of "Bad Girls" originally available off her Vicki Leekx mixtape. The Sri Lankan singer hasn't received much radio play since a scathing review of her last album MAYA, but she's on the rise this year with a rumored (shh...definite) performance at the Super Bowl alongside Madonna and Nicki Minaj. Take a listen to the Danja-produced "Bad Girls" via Pitchfork. Watch the video below:

With the Big Game just under a week away, some Super Bowl fans are scrambling to answer a few key questions: where's the party, what's the dress code, and who's taking home the title. As we've got all those preliminary logistics figured out - our place, sport-chic, Pats by 10 - we've had a little time to put together a music playlist inspired by Super Bowl XLVI. Take a listen to our six favorite new-ish tracks that'll get the tailgate party started, no matter where you celebrate!

Pre-Game

+ National Anthem - Lana Del Rey

+ Make Me Proud - Drake ft. Nicki Minaj

First Half

+ Talk That Talk - Rihanna ft. Jay-Z

+ Roman's Revenge  - Nicki Minaj ("Eliiiii Manning!")

Second Half

+ Comeback Kid - Sleigh Bells

+ Celebration - Common

Notorious B.I.G. is rap's Mona Lisa...classic. For over a decade, the Brooklyn phenom's verses have influenced artists of all genres, and his samples have taken some of our favorite tracks to entirely new (and better) levels. So for our own selfish pleasure (and yours too), we've compiled a list of our Fave 5 Notorious B.I.G. remixes. Though they're varied (Miley Cyrus and White Lotus?!), each one speaks to the talent of Poppa. Have a favorite? Let us know on our Facebook page!

+ Notorious B.I.G. Dubstep Remix, "Gimme The Loot"

+ Kanye West ft. Notorious B.I.G. (White Lotus Mash-Up), "Suicidal Thoughts"

+ Adele ft. Notorious B.I.G., "Notorious A.D.E.L.E."

+ Miley Cyrus ft. Notorious B.I.G., "Party and Bullshit In The USA"


+ Eminem, Fort Minor ft. Notorious B.I.G. Mash-Up, "Where'd You Go Running Like Toy Soldiers"

Ah, and so it begins...the Lana Del Rey covers. The first hyped tribute comes from singer and actress, Sky Ferreira. This version is stripped almost completely of music save a light piano and Ferreira allegedly drops her rendition in just one take...impressive. Take a listen to the below, and let us know if you think it's better than the Del Rey original?

Drake's been making news lately, but not so much for his music. The Canadian rapper's recent scuffle with Common made for a week's worth of tabloid fodder, but lucky for the Take Care spitter, positive press is on the way!  The latest remix to hit the internets features Drake, his endorsed indie-wonder, The Weeknd, and R&B singer, Jhene Aiko...and it's damn good! The mashup lays Aiko's sweet voice over the Weeknd's "High For This," adding a verse or two from Drizzy for good measure. It's kinda better than all three originals. What do you think?