Justin Timberlake

Next time you're having a bad day and struggling to keep your chin up, think about the poor characters in the new video from The Roots and John Legend for "The Fire". This mini-movie was created by director Rik Cordero, who used the amazing ode to survival and determination as inspiration.

The ritualistic executions in the video make us think of this as a five-minute, even-more-sadistic-take on Inglourious Basterds - only minus Nazis, plus cannibalism, plus vomiting. Yes, it's hardcore, so we advise against watching this if you're of a sensitive disposition or easily offended:

Beautifully shot, but très disturbing, isn't it? We're desperate to know what was in that box!

"The Fire" is taken from The Roots' immense new album, How I Got Over (available now through Def Jam), and we can't recommend it highly enough.

The fun doesn't stop there though, because John Legend and The Roots have an album - titled Wake Up! - coming out September 21st, through Columbia Records.

We love that, nine studio albums in, The Roots are still challenging us. Here's praying for a tour soon.

True, it's been a tough year. From the oil crisis to Nashville floods, from the banking crisis to unemployment woes, many US citizens have endured obstacle upon obstacle. And it's not over for many innocent victims. In a much appreciated effort to boast morale, newcomer Mark Russell, who shares the same music manager, Johnny Wright, with JT, has put a modern twist on this cover of Blessid Union of Souls' "I Believe." (Y'all know the words...) Said Mark, "i wanted to give away this song in hopes that those of you who have experienced tragedy this year might find some comfort in it, and perhaps the rest of us can be re-inspired to reach out and do something good. Everyone reacts right after a disaster, but its harder to find the time when its out of the news." Mark nails the vocals on this track and unearths its emotional core.

Play it long and loud, folks.

Mark Russell's website

Not so long ago, art critics would have scoffed at the idea of a tattoo artist to be celebrated as much as a painter or scultor. However these days, tattoo art is crossing over into the mainstream art world - and tattoo artists are being celebrated as, well, real artists. Just look at the popularity of Scott Campbell - who not only has become infamous for his uber-expensive tattoos and famous clients like Marc Jacobs, but has even been recruited to display his tattoo-friendly art displayed in art galleries.

Meanwhile, SF-based illustrator Jeremy Forson has been garnering major street cred for incorporating tattoos as a prominant element in some of his female portraits. His illustrations, eclectic and surreal, incorporate bright colors + wood grain + heavy black outlines. It's anime-esque pop art with major street sass.

How's THAT for tat art?

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