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Brothers Allergic To Shirts
Lil Wayne:
Far and away, the hottest anything in the game, Wayne can do no wrong. Seemingly with the Midas touch, whatever he has rapped on or been featured on this year has turned to gold. Needless to say that when the 5'6" rapper takes off his shirt (which is often) the people are just happy he's around.
Kevin Winter, Getty Images
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BlackVoices.com
Brothers Allergic To Shirts
50 Cent:
What he lacks in looks he makes up in physique. Very few artists can match his chiseled body so it's no wonder he finds it difficult to keep his shirt on.
Brothers Allergic To Shirts
Bow Wow:
Growing up in front of everyone's eyes can't be easy for a successful child rapper trying to change his brand. Enter in the fact that he's 21 years old and hasn't grown past 5'7" and it's not hard to tell that Bow Wow is definitely trying to shed his past by taking his shirt off and showing people how grown he really is.
Brothers Allergic To Shirts
Braylon Edwards:
Young, talented and very television-friendly, wide receiver Braylon Edwards is quickly becoming the NFL's hottest face/body.
Brothers Allergic To Shirts
Nelly:
It's no secret why Nelly was chosen to be a Sean John model. He has seemingly been sculpting his body in his long hiatus and happens to look great. Not a terrible fallback when records aren't selling.
Brothers Allergic To Shirts
Flo-rida:
Relatively new rapper, Flo-rida has wasted no time in the rap game as he has practically been introduced to his fans with no shirt on. Unfortunately, now he will only be just another shirtless monosyllabic rapper who gets number one records on repetitive hooks. He sure does love his state though, we'll give him that.
Brothers Allergic To Shirts
Ja Rule:
At one point long, long ago rapper Ja Rule was on top of the world. His R & B collabos were highly coveted as they often became instant pop hits. And throughout the heights of his career, there have been many occasions in which the diminutive rapper has taken off his shirt to the chagrin or delight of his fans.
Brothers Allergic To Shirts
Plies:
Apparently this southern rapper is contractually obligated to take his shirt off in every video which he's in, Hip Hop, R & B, or otherwise. The creator of the bust-it-baby phenomenon works effortlessly to insure that there are no shirts in the vicinity when he performs his love songs.
Brothers Allergic To Shirts
Ray J:
Over the last few years Ray J has been making a name for himself, for better or worse in Hollywood. Whether it be leaking sex tapes, talking recklessly, or cavorting around with much older women, Ray J has taken every occasion possible to show off his body.
Brothers Allergic To Shirts
Rick Ross:
The self-proclaimed "Boss" and former CO, has frequently been seen taking his shirt off to expose audiences everywhere to his Grimace-like appearance. There's no shame in his game though and for that he deserves some manner of recognition.
Brothers Allergic To Shirts
Terry Crews:
Whether he's playing Chris' father on Everybody Hates Chris' or a cocky basketball star in the movie 'White Chicks,' there's no hiding Crews' buff bod. He flaunts his torso on the big screen every chance he gets -- must be somewhere in the contracts.
Brothers Allergic To Shirts
It's not as if anyone is surprised by Drake's stellar debut. He and the rest of the Young Money clique did an outstanding job creating buzz for the album, and Drake proved that even in the age of massive Internet pirating, he can still make his money.
Drake's sales are impressive, but they don't match the sales mojo of
Eminem, who pushed out 608,000 copies during the first week after the release of his 2009 album, 'Relapse.' Drake will also most likely never match the amazing performance of his mentor (and I use that term lightly)
Lil Wayne, who was able to push over a million copies in the first week of the release of his album 'Tha Carter III' in 2008. Either way, Drake should be congratulated for kicking some butt both here and around the world.
Most of Drake's songs have been commercial hits, hardly earning the respect of hip-hop purists. But what I like about Drake, as opposed to Eminem, Lil Wayne, Jay-Z and others, is that his music doesn't come with a destructive gimmick. He's not bragging about packing a gun, selling drugs or being more blinged out than a diamond mine. Instead, he's just a young brother with a serious flow doing his thing in the studio. While some might think that Drake doesn't represent the essence of hip-hop, I might be inclined to agree: Instead, Drake represents THE FUTURE of hip-hop, and that cannot be denied.
Dr. Boyce Watkins is the founder of the Your Black World Coalition and the author of the new book 'Black American Money.' To have Dr. Boyce's commentary delivered to your e-mail, please click here. 
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Comments: (26)
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By: Mai10 on 6/22/2010 8:08PM
Sorry Drake u still didn't sell more than Sade did in a week, 500,000 LoL!!!! What happen to the 650,000 prediction LMAO!!!! More "More Real Music Like Sade" u can't hang son.
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By: rdw on 6/23/2010 12:17AM
Lol!!! On top of that she (Sade) was gone for 10 years and still came back strong on the music scene and kicked everybody's A$$!! Lol!!
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By: TheFashionistaChic on 6/22/2010 9:48PM
I am a true hip hop head for me Drake is an embarrassment to HipHop. He is what is term a knock off, of Jay Z and Lil Wayne. His style lacks originality, but I believe he is being marketed to the old Nickelodeon viewers. I'm sure half off his sales where made by old Nickelodeons fans. I have sneaky suspicion the remaining sales are somehow being gamed.
I am appalled by your comment of "gimmick" JayZ. Lil Wayne and Eminem speak their truths. Drake is a drop out who Nickelodeon decided to brand as a trouble black youth. Classically they pick a bi-racial adolescent because they believe he will be more appealing to white viewers.
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By: koolkid on 6/22/2010 11:35PM
thats it??? all that hype for no reason lol they were actin like he was gone sell a mill in da 1st week and he didnt. IMO drake sucks he's not even original, mostly only females listen to him cuz no real nigga can take him seriously
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By: Andre on 6/24/2010 1:41PM
Gotta agree with you bruh. His music isn't something any real dude would want to get caught dead listing to.
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By: Andre on 6/23/2010 12:05AM
I'm not a huge Drake fan, but 462,000 is nothing to sneeze at! You have to give credit where credit is due. The real question is will his album have sales longevity and can he continue to recreate sales with future projects, which is the question all new music acts have to prove/answer. As for you disliking Eminem and Lil' Wayne, you're clearly in the minority.
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By: Expose the truth on 6/23/2010 6:55AM
Yeah Congrats Drake ..
The real story is J Records constantly purchasing their own product ..
C Davis and his dirty fudge the soundscan #'s goons purchased 11,000 copies of Element of Freedom
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By: Jason C. on 6/23/2010 6:57AM
So Sade sold more than any artist this year thus far, she hasn't had a successful follow up to the first single off the album to continue selling the album. Eminem and Wayne have been around since the late 90's, so their first week sales was no surprise. That doesn't make Drake any less worthy. Because Drake doesn't rap about what you're used to, doesn't make him whack. If you actually listen to the album, you'll find that he makes sense and he does have a story to tell; two things that hip hop what it is. What makes him different from others that he doesn't rap about money, ho#s and guns. He does rap about his fame, and his life which is the truth. If you think he's whack, sit back and watch him make moves and let the man do his thing.
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By: MsHuNNii on 6/24/2010 9:27PM
I agree, up until Drake came out hip hop was considered dead. And we had to endure silly songs like Stanky Leg, My lip gloss is poppin, and Souja Boy. Now that we have a rapper that actually rapping and has an amazing flo mofoz wanna hate. Also this is Drake's first non underground album and his sells are fine to me. What i think is unfair how his album is being compared to Lil Wayne and Eminem 4th or 5th album that doesn't make sense how bout compare all three first album sells. Also let's be real about Lil Wayne wasn't always this great record selling artist his music was well known among the black community his crossover success was with the Carter III.
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By: Kay on 6/25/2010 1:36AM
Did you listen to the same drake? This the problem,he raps about the drug spot and smoking weed, Come on. This is stuff he knows nothing about.
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