Shortly following Jennifer Hudson and her rendition of “America The Beautiful” was Alicia Keys. The multiple Grammy Award-winner appeared in a stunning red gown seated at her piano, performing “The Star-Spangled Banner.” The moment was an emotional one for those at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome as players from the San Francisco 49ers and Baltimore Ravens, specifically Ray Lewis, was seen with tears in their eyes.

Watch the A. Keys’ shining moment below….

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All eyes are on the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans on Sunday night for Super Bowl XLVII. Opening the evening, an emotional moment as Jennifer Hudson performed “America The Beautiful” alongside the Sandy Hook Elementary School Chorus. Hudson previously had the honor of singing the U.S. national anthem at the 2009 Super Bowl in Tampa, Florida.

Watch the heart-filled performance below…..

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Rick Ross’ 37th birthday celebrations hardly ended how he would have envisioned—he was reportedly targeted in a drive-by shooting and ended up in a minor car crash—but the Bawse is doing okay. That’s according to Pusha T, who, fresh off the release of his Wrath of Caine mixtape, gave MTV News an update on the welfare of Ross, who collaborated with Pusha on his mixtape cut, “Millions.” Pusha said he hit up a mutual friend who told him Ross was “layin’ back.”

I don’t wanna hear about that with anybody. I definitely hit him up like, ‘Yo just let me know you’re okay.’ He was just like, ‘Yeah, he’s just layin’ back.’ That was enough for me.

Watch the interview after the jump…

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Obama wasn’t lying when he told CBS this week that he “likes a good party.” As preparations get underway for the POSA’s second inauguration in Washington this Monday (Jan. 21), he’s shared his very own playlist for the occasion—and best believe it’ll get people moving. The selection includes tracks from Soul and R&B icons like Stevie Wonder, Alicia Keys and Beyoncé, as well as pop artists like Katy Perry, Kelly Clarkson and Mindless Behaviour. Even the cast of Glee get the nod!

Stream Obama’s playlist via Spotify after the jump…

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Re/Create New York, a charitable platform for Hurricane Sandy relief, is looking to rebuild through retail. On January 11, the organization will host an auction to raise relief funds for those still recovering from Sandy’s destruction well over two months ago. With help from Spotify, eBay, and Rackspace, Re/Create New York has gathered more than 50 designers and visionaries to donate high-end items to be bid on. One of pieces up for auction is a one-of-a-kind gold Louis Vuitton Arrow Pin designed an donated by Kim Jones. Other items include Kanye’s autographed Yeezys, a signed copy of Kate: The Kate Moss Book, and a customized Nicopanda NABOO bag by Mugler. Celebrity donators were also asked to create their own personalized Sandy relief playlist for the general public. Yeezy came up with a dynamic mix of Wu-Tang, The Sade, Jay-Z, Radiohead, and Kid Cudi for his.

Check out Kanye’s Sandy playlist, the rare items up for auction, and find out how you can place your bid, after the jump….

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We’re less than 24 hours away from the beginning of the new year, but we’re not quite done with content yet. We know a lot has happened on these crazy Internets over the last 12 months, and I’m sure you’re ready to get into 2013. However, we made time to count down the 10 best Internet videos of 2012. Complex, ItstheReal, and Miss Info recently looked back at all the viral clips that became online hits and also distracted you from your daily routine at some point this year. Before we get started, be clear, we would be here for days if we really wanted to go through every piece of web gold from this year, so these videos represent the most talked about in the rap blogosphere. Hilarious moments like the confused reporter and Weezy’s deposition video had to have made it… right?

Watch Complex x Miss Info’s video countdown after the jump…

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Today in Connecticut, there is a state-wide day of mourning as more of the child victims of the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting are laid to rest. As well as a teacher who died shielding her students. Bells throughout Connecticut are being run 26 times in honor of the 26 lives that were lost. Meanwhile, in a most insensitive display of tackiness, Wayne LaPierre, the head of the National Rifle Association, held a press conference (without any questions) where he blamed gun violence on the media, videogames, music, movies, celebrities, funding for foreign aid, attention to sports, law enforcement, possible hurricanes….and gun-free school zone. Said LaPierre, “The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun…” *scratches head*

Mayor Bloomberg’s reaction to the NRA speech: “Instead of offering solutions to a problem they have helped create, they offered a paranoid, dystopian vision of a more dangerous and violent America where everyone is armed and no place is safe.”

Some of music and Hollywood’s biggest stars filmed a PSA to denounce the gun-lobby’s status quo, and demand a change in the approach to gun control here in America. Everyone from Beyonce, Chris Rock, Aziz Ansari, Jeremy Renner, Michelle Williams, Jessica Alba, Jamie Foxx, Carmello Anthony, Victor Cruz, and more appear in the “Demand a Plan” campaign…

Watch the PSA, after the jump
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With the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut in all of our thoughts, Mike Posner pens a tribute to those lost in the horrific tragedy. Titled “Heaven,” the singer/songwriter offers an acoustic track in which he wants listeners to try and stay positive in a such a dark moment. He explains “I wanted to do SOMETHING for the victims’ families. I wrote this song because I didn’t know what else to do.”

The Detroit-native felt he with the position he’s been put by the man above that he had to share his thoughts through music. “Today makes no sense…God has blessed me with this gift and it felt wrong not to share it. I hope this song finds its way to proper ears.”

Listen to “Heaven” below…..

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I know this is random…but it really made me happy to find out tonight that Google has finally released their independent Google Maps app for iPhones. It was the sole reason why I refused to update my damn phone to iOS 6…I just didn’t want to lose Google Maps and be forced to use the universally hated Apple Maps. I know I would have been fine…but I actually use Google Maps all the time, and often to find the public transportation route to stores and restaurants and my pals’ addresses. Yes, I take the subway…even the bus.
So all this time, I’ve refused to update my phone. I suffered through not having improved battery life, and missing out on Passbook (whatever that is), and not being able to make Siri-restaurant reservations (by the way, I’ve never had a successful Siri experience yet. So fxck Siri). Hmm, am I really missing anything by not updating to iOS 6?

Well, either way….thank you and you’re welcome! Google Maps is back.
Google Maps App (Free on iTunes) via GoogleBlog

Nicki Minaj wasn’t the only one this week giving back to her community for the holidays. Some of hip-hop’s stars took the time to help those in need leading up to Thanksgiving. On Wednesday, 50 Cent partnered with Feeding America, the Food Network and SMS Audio to provide Thanksgiving meals for families in the NY area and victims of Hurricane Sandy. The event, “Our Table Is Yours” was held at Cipriani’s in Manhattan. 50 spoke with MTV News on the importance of giving back.

“I’m able to provide meals for victims of Sandy or other people in New York City that don’t actually have food. [Hunger,] it’s a world issue, it’s not a third-world issueOne in six Americans are actually going hungry. You got kids that’s surviving based on their school lunch and more than one out of five kids are experiencing hunger.

I don’t cook. I’ll go to my grandmother’s house; it’s always safe there to eat. You know the food is always decent. Sometimes she’ll allow my aunts and uncles to bring food there and I can tell when she didn’t do it. It doesn’t taste the same.”

Catch more footage of Young Jeezy, Birdman, and The Game giving back in their hometowns after the jump….

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