It's time to mourn, everyone.

The pain's almost too much to bear.

This show begins where the last one left off. Everyone discusses Sullee's surprising departure. Persia feels that Sullee was tired of being in the losing group. The talk of quitting begins discourse on the nature of a man and his rap. Jus Rhyme wonders aloud, "Do we have a choice when we decide to be an MC?" Decision is the product of choice, no? But you get what he's saying: do rappers choose to rhyme, or does rhyming choose them? Is rapping an innate ability?

Watching Jus Rhyme, you also have to wonder: is gesticulating like a Muppet innate? Do you choose Muppet or does it choose you? Jus talks about people's passion for hip-hop, saying, "Some people this is all they have to live. To live! Like, seriously, breathe." Then, in an interview, he gives some advice to those who may not have their hearts in this (and no matter what you think of Jus, you have to admit that he's pure passion): "Step off. " He's no Serch.

Reflecting on last week's final rhymes, John Brown says that he watered his down his disses aimed at Sullee and Jon Boy.

To this, Persia responds: "I think John Brown should have went, too, being that he sugarcoated his insults, and being that he's such an a******, I know he has it in him." What is this show going to be without her expert commentary?

The rappers soon find that they'll be appearing on a radio show. The channel is none other than Hot97 and the show is none other than that of...

In a voice over, Serch highlights Miss Jones' sassiness. He does not highlight her bustiness because it highlights itself.

Jones interviews the rappers and has them freestyle and it's really embarrassing for all of them.

She openly mocks them and it's awesome and painful at once. Then she has them kick their own rhymes. Jus Rhyme does this one that has him aligning himself with the Black Panthers, raised fist and all.

Remember how Sullee pointed out after Jus Rhyme's barbershop freestyle that not everyone will always take to Jus' guilty-whitey shtick? Sullee was right:

And then things get even more mortifying. Before going to break, Miss Jones says when they come back, she's going to ask them about beef, because every rapper has beef. John Brown inanely says, "We got beef like Clear Channel."

Despite the fact that John Brown's point is obscured by his general inability to make sense, Miss Jones gets really worked up about this comment. She even apparently needs consoling.

She says that Hot97 isn't a Clear Channel company and, furthermore, the station just happens to be embroiled in a legal fracas with CC. John Brown claims to know nothing about this, which means his comment makes even less sense. Regardless of how elusive his point is, Miss Jones kicks him out and he watches the rest of the show through a plate of glass.

How much is that John Brown in the window? The one with the waggily slogans?

After the show, Persia takes John Brown to task, saying that people don't want to listen to him and that he's "dipped in bulls***." To this, John retorts:

Oooh! Memory insult. Burn! Persia throws some more barbs, attacking John Brown's skills as a rapper, and John Brown says that he's not a rapper, he's an entity. Maybe he thinks if he just repeats this stuff enough, somehow it will make sense? Then, in an interview, he says Persia isn't wise to the business side of things and that she has three verses. "She's not a thoroughbred," he says. Yeah, well, she's kinda too busy being a rapper to be a horse, you know? Anyway, in response to this whole blow-up, John luxuriates in hate.

He's probably lying, but he actually handles things well, considering.

Then, rather awesomely, Jus Rhyme drops the po'faced routine for a second and does something that's actually funny. John Brown comes home to find the moose head that hangs in the living room in his bed. As he just fought with Persia, he figures that this is her work.

After talking to Jus Rhyme about it, however, it becomes clear that Rhyme's the culprit. That's kind of twisted, which is such a better look for Jus.

Naughty devil!

Then Serch brings in Roger McKenzie, a hip-hop stylist, to help the rappers become more thugged-out. Here are the results.

Jus Rhyme says that Roger told him that "gold is in." Where would hip-hop be without Roger? $hamrock notes that his new outfit of a black t-shirt and baggy shorts is just like the one he was already wearing. Is looking thuggish innate?

Now that they have their uniforms, as it were, the rappers are ready to take part in a physical challenge:

It's basically an obstacle course based on cute double-entendres that we're about to explore. Helping judge will be the beefcakey, but thuggy:

Also, please don't start crying about the glamorization of thug life:

The way that the obstacle goes is that the rappers first must catch cases being thrown from a roof at them in a shopping cart:

Then, they have to wheel said shopping cart, pushing its weight up a hill:

When they arrive at their bodega destination, they'll be met with a rat piñata.

They have to hit it and get the dimes inside to drop:

They find $2 worth of dimes, take it into the bodega and are presented with a bolt-cutter, which they must use on a bike parked outside that will give them a boost home:

Then, they ride that bike back to where they started, completing the circle of thuggery.

The rappers begin and split-screen madness ensues.

The undoubted highlight is Jus Rhyme's ultimate wipe out.

Didn't something similar happen to Miss Piggy in Muppets Take Manhattan? And The Great Muppet Caper, for that matter?

Persia struggles with the challenge, ultimately coming in last (Jus Wins, John Brown gets second, $ham comes in third). She seems to be overheated. She goes to the bathroom and collapses. We see an image of her through a door and she's on the floor unresponsive. That's serious!

Seriously serious:

...or, uh, not so much, because soon after arriving at the hospital, she skips out.

She says that it was just dehydration and she figured that if she was well enough to pick up the papers they asked her to, she was well enough to leave. Leaving the hospital before you're supposed to is a sign that you're really in to win a reality show. Tyra Banks would be so proud.

Because Jus won the obstacle challenge, he gets a prize: a dinner with N.O.R.E.

He's allowed to bring a friend, and he chooses John Brown. Fire and desire for a night on the town!

N.O.R.E. is not impressed with Jus or John. Jus kind of makes a show out of the fact that he doesn't drink. He explains that it's because he works with kids. Apparently, that makes you a child. John Brown does his "Ghetto Revival" and "King of the 'burbs" shtick, which N.O.R.E. doesn't seem to understand. More pointedly, he doesn't seem to want to understand it. He looks around, seemingly before dinner is even ordered, and bounces.

Awkward! Dissed and dismissed!

And then: more dissing and dismissing as, back at the White House, $ham questions John Brown's sincerity and basically calls him a fraud to his face.

Put that in your rhyme and spit it.

Then, it's time for the final challenge. This week, the rappers will be given classic nursery rhymes to thug out base their raps around. What they are assigned is as follows:

$hamrock kills it, Persia flubs it, John Brown puts the "hump" in "Humpty", and Jus Rhyme delivers wackness, according to everyone asked. Still, his passion and love of the game are what put him through. Persia, who messed up many of her final raps, is eliminated. Serch says he's "so sorry" to let her go and then he even hugs her. It's really, really sad.

The only lesson you need to learn this week is: life isn't fair.

Be strong and kick ass, Persia.

Comments

[ace789nj]

Let me be the first to say...peace out Persia..hahahaha. Yo this chick is so "hood" she cries for every little thing. Shut yo face beeeotch, hahaha. Damn I sound like a hater but The sight and sound of Persia made me sick. When she was comin out her mouth at john brown a couple episodes back I couldn't understand why he didn't take her wig off! Either he's just as much a bicth ass or he was playing his cards letting that shit roll off his shoulders. Persia, go home and do your thing, just don't confuse being "hood" for being grimey cause thats how you came off...dirty, pig, grimey. Halelujah Hollaback hahahaha

[GChild Fan]

damn!

[BootyKissa]

So now you're going to hate on JB too? How original. Persia got one too many chances... JB never flubs. Bottom line.

[drummergroupie]

I think that if anyone was the next "great white hope" it was Persia. It's a shame that the show has a bunch of lame ass hood wanna-bes left. I'm so tired of white people trying to act like gangsters on TV and all the White Rapper show has done if show me a bunch of them and eliminate anyone who actually MIGHT be the next "great white hope." Nice going.

[Nicole]

BRING PERSIA BACK!!!

[ace789nj]

I'm not hatin on John Brown, like I said maybe he was just playing his cards making Persia look like trash letting her go on and on. Drummer, sorry I have to disagree, in no way would persia be the next "white hope". I don't think she had any skills. As far as who's left on the show, you might be right about jus rhyme and john b but I don't think Shamrock is trying to act like something he's not, he was the first to say he wasn't "gangsta"

[deeyou]

I bet Persia's peen is HUGE.

[Ana]

I thought John Brown and Persia were going to be in the finals.

Jus Rhyme, can't rhyme so its Shamrock and JB.

Shamrock is an ok rapper, but JB got him.

[serg]

you all suck.
persia, i think i love you.

[steph]

PLEASE OH PLEASE DO NOT LET JB WIN!!!!HIS WHOLE ENTITY AND GHETTO REVIVAL THING IS SHIT!!!WHO SAID THAT THE GHETTO IS DEAD?!PEEPS DAT LIVE IN THE GHETTO DON'T WANNA BE THERE,JB IS JUST TALKIN OUT OF HIS ASS.HE HAS GOT TO BE THE MOST IGNORANT PERSON ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH!

[$$$%%%]

thank god persia is GONE! she's fat and im alright with that but damn! she's got problems if she can't finish that little bit of physical activity with out collapsing. someone that out of shape and so stupid she can't remember a couple of lines (time and time again).............she needs to get a gym membership, go back to school and forget about this hip hop shit.

[tone]

man all these mc's(ha ha mc's ha ha) are lame. cat in the hat ass rappers. ok maybe shamrock is alright but still i'll eat 'em all up. this is a disgrace to true hip hop fans everywhere. i just don't understand why i still watch

[angel]

PERSIA'S THA SHIT...%$#@ ALL U HATERZ...JOHN BROWN IS WACK AS HELL...GHETTO REVIVAL MY A$$...NO ONE WANTS TO HEAR BOUT DAT MESS...PERSIA YOU'LL B MISSED...U SHOULD'VE GOTTEN BACK UP WHEN HE WAS TRYIN TO GIVE U A 2ND CHANCE...BUT MY BETS ON SHAMROCK NOW...JUS RHYME ISN'T HOOD ENOUGH OR ON TOP OF HIS SHIT...HE'S TOOO POLITICAL..N CORNEY...N JB WE ALL KNOW WAT HE IS..A POSER...

[Persia]

hahhahahaha i love it !

they made me look dead lmaoooooooooooo

r.i.p biggie,pac and persia *faints*

[Persia]

and P.S

Rappers choose to ryme, emcees are chosen.

P.

[Joseph Decker]

I'm just a by standert that can't spell. know this i can't tell if yalls people gots what it takes make it can't see no body on your show be rill but g and tha other cat from ny tell me
they all acter play a roll in yall game they just need some faness dess and fake brests G was the only cat i whochen john brown a joke wher ya git him from white whit no talent haller bake save it for when ya git bake to the to the brebs you soft candy whit a gouwy sinner gum drop whit a pen and pad you stand on stage ada ada a dam on the rill hes maken it harder on us as a people see thuo that act and tell him to STEEP OFF!!!!

[pete law]

yal can all kiss persias ass cause she got more skill in her left arm than shamrock and jb put together and ma if you reading this keep doing you ma you gone make it big and can i get a couple of pics cause im a big fan

[Jet-set Jane]

I just can't believe Jus choked like he did with the dinner with N.O.R.E., I expect that reaction from John Brown. Bottomline: He's very young, idealist and expressive with those two characteristics apparent. He'll be allowed plenty of time to develop tact.

But, with Jus Rhyme, I'm cloudy about how he came across at the dinner. Wow. Global minded people find more productive things to talk about, with legends than drinking. Jesus. White Rapper Rule #302,fifty-teen: If N.O.R.E. offers you ANYTHING (even if it's a stick of gum) - accept it. Jus didn't have to drink the shit, it could have sat in front of him while he learned more about the business or got to know about N.O.R.E.

Staying tuned. I still think Jus will win.

[mharrington8]

THANK YOU JESUS. For heavens sake that FAT PIG is gone, was it only me who say her pushing the shopping cart with her FAT ASS BELLY her hands could not even touch the cart and the helmet not even fitting on her FAT HEAD I mean she's so fat it's oozing out her ears the fat has no pleace else to go the pig has to wear sandals cause shoes dont even fit the fat triple EEE feet I can go on and on and on about her fatness but let's stop here I guess then the fainting part gee wiz what a SLOB and to show she really dont care about herself she comes back as if nothing happened and sham what the F is up with that nose and lip? you got issue's got back to HOTLANTA we dont need ya here in the big NYC OJ= NUTRIOUS r u serious LOL what a loser. PLEASE KILL ME NOW FOR EVEN WATCHING ANYMORE I have to be more of a loser them all them.

[J. Estrada]

What’s up this is Que Calor from the real dirty south MIAMI BABY
The white rapper show is off the chain, so sad Persia had to go it should of been jus rhymes he's wack Shamrock is ok he has that southern flow, Jon brown needs to go back to the burbs...what a herb
Hip hop is dieing and he and Jus Rhymes just nailed the coffin shut. that night out on the town with nore was embarrassing and should of never happened Jus rhymes if you're reading this I want you to know you are a fairy and should stick to working at Kinko’s or what ever you did before they accidentally cast you for this show to the producer’s of this show I give you props its a great show funny but great keep up the good job and big ups to Shamrock holla
Que CALOR

[dee]

Rich, your blog is brilliant. Unfortunately, the people commenting are barely intelligible.

[ace789nj]

So you equate opinion with intelligence? Don't include me in your labeling, I can spell. Pete Law, I think Persia's got more than just skill in her left arm......maye some gravy, or a cheesecake..hahahaha

[RB]

What I found disturbing, is that the 4 top rappers could not freestyle off the top of their heads. My cousin and I be joking around and freestyling and we do waaaaaaaay better than that, but we're not getting paid $100,000. Specially Persia. JB was right: Persia must have only 2 or 3 rhymes. I think that if the're getting paid all that money, they should be able to spit like Jin or Wyclef or any successful rapper; you give them any topic and they will kill it off the top of their heads. The ones that I noticed have real skils from day one are John Brown and Shamrock. No gimmicks

[DonkeYpuncH]

Hey BOOTYKISSA...if you think those f*cking clowns you watch in videos are not "acting gangsta on tv"...you need to check your head. Like 50cent..so hardcore. Just not enough to take on a "real" NYC dealer McGriff and had to run to F.B.I for protection, Tupac? studied "dance and ballet" at Baltimore School of the arts..hood?gangsta? how many hood thugs you know right now doing a ballet dance?..ok...... "LEARN AND STUDY YOUR IDOLS!".

[Jet-set Jane]

J. Estrada, got a chance to hear your demo. I'll e-mail you the rest of my comment. Post script, stop hatin' on Jus. Don't let the negative press influence your gut feeling about the rappers.

You're right. Shamrock hasn't been in the lime light too much, and I think that's because we're still trying to find out if he has a sound of his own (meaning does he have ANYTHING to offer the "hip-hop" industry, other than being from the south). The "hip-hop" southern rap empire is latent with accents and aesthetic/cosmetic deformities, the rhymes, the experiences, these people's impact on America and their plain old p.o.v (point of view) are what separates them from ALL of the other areas of the US.

So, the question really becomes have we seen what Shamrock has to offer? We both have to stay tuned.
Although, I haven't seen significant exposure on him in challenges. To top it all off, if he wins, could he compete or even work with the likes of southern hip-hop royalty? To name a few:
Outkast, Rich Boy, Cunninlynguists, Lil Rok Playaz, Bubba Sparxx, Ludacris, Lil Jon & The East Side Boyz, Grits, Chamillionaire, Mystikal, Scarface, Soulja Boy, Paul Wall, Ying Yang Twins, Jermaine Dupri, Boyz N Da Hood, Lil Scrappy, Project Pat, T.I., Stat Quo, David Banner, Mike Jones, Lil Flip, Yung Joc, Young Dro, Majesty, Lil' South, Bun B, Pimp C, Rick Ross, Pitbull, Trick Daddy, Slim Thug, Lil Keke, YoungBloodz, Young Capone, Big Boi, Bone Crusher, Da Backwudz, D4L, Dem Franchise Boyz, SouthuNoyz, B.G., Lil Wayne, Baby, Baby Boy da Prince, Master P, Juvenile, Mannie Fresh, Curren$y, Chyna Whyte, Romeo, Young Jeezy, Fat Pat, Bobby, Creek, Crime Mob, Nappy Roots, P$C, Three 6 Mafia, Smitty, Trillville, TRU, C-Murder, Lil Boosie, Webbie, Young Trump, C-Loc, Young Buck, Dem Ganja, KoKo Petway, Pastor Troy, Boondox, Z-Ro

Whew! OK, OK. I went a little too far, but I still think Jus Rhyme is the best candidate.

Be real.