• What exactly is L'Oreal advertising with this photo — some sort of race-reversal cream? [CF]

• I don't know. Maybe you're bored at work and want to see a video of Nelly's Sean John underwear photo shoot. [TLF]

• Kanye West wants everyone to stop discriminating against gays… and Soulja Boy. [MTV]

• Here's how the blogosphere — including one of you guys — responded to Vogue Italia. [BV]

• Joe says R. Kelly tried to sabotage his career. [EUR]

Joe, who debuted in second place last week, is already gone from the Billboard charts. Akon's lengthy reign is over, too. It could either be related to his Trinidad scandal or the fact that a lot of new music came out last week, or both. But who needs Akon when there's Ne-yo? Ne-yo may be a bit egotistical, but simulating sex with 14 year olds isn't his style. Also, he actually possesses talent. He deserves to have his album, Because of You, debut at number 1, and I'm okay with him being the sole representation of black music on the top of the charts. Okay with it but kind of mystified. Has our reign over popular music come to an end?

CONTINUED »

Although Joe is complaining to AllHipHop in the above clip that mp3 downloading is hurting his pockets and lowering record sales, his new album, Ain't Nothing Like Me, managed to debut at number 2 (nobody's knocking over Avril Lavigne, apparently). Bringing some new (soulful) blood to the Billboard Top 10, Joe's only bedfellow is Akon, who wild horses couldn't drag off the top of the charts, no matter how annoying he is. And still, the hip hop backlash continues from last week. Could it be the March of Decency?

[Billboard]