After appearing on Rick Ross's Rich Forever mixtape, "Stay Schemin" has emerged as the current beat everyone wants to jack. Much of the hype probably comes from the original version's role in the short-lived Common/Drake beef, but it the beat also has the perfect storm of elements that make it a perfect "everyone rhyme on this track" track for the Winter: midtempo, simple, and not about anything in particular. 

As the world continues to come to grips with the recent passing of Whitney Houston, artists are beginning to pay homage to her. The incredible Miri Ben-Ari recently took to her YouTube page to pay her respects. Check out her moving tribute here and let us know what you think.  

Emeli Sande loves a ballad and a good metaphor, but the lead singles from her debut album Our Version Of Events would lead you to believe otherwise. Both "Heaven" and "Daddy" are steeped in trip-hop - fast-paced drum-and-bass breakdowns matched solely by Sande's rich vocals that, while roaring, never manage to be overwrought or offensive to the ear. That's what may be the problem though; the album serves as a perfect canvas for Sande to show her songwriting ability - and she does to the nines - but it also fails to be the least bit provocative or unexpected. 

Who: Thebe Kgositsile aka Earl Sweatshirt

From: Los Angeles, CA

Why You Should Get To Know Him: Because Odd Future's most elusive member is finally home.  

Finally. Five longgg months after hitting the radio airwaves -- sorry, but we were growing tired of hearing what she ordered (FISH FILET!) -- Jay-Z and Kanye West have given a well-deserved video treatment to their Watch The Throne hit "Ni**as In Paris." Though this may inspire you to act like an anxious child who's been awaiting Christmas Day, most of those kids don't have to worry about receiving a seizure-inducing gift. You, on the other hand, do. 

This week, Theophilus London and Bing added another element to their ongoing collaboration in the form of a new short for Bing is Doing (watch it here), highlighting aspects of his creative process and, like others featured in the series, discussing a bit of what inspires him as an artist. You'll be able to see various versions of the spot over the next few weeks, but check out the first extended clip below: 

M.I.A. had a great week - one better than her entire year of 2010. You remember; that was when her third album, MAYA (and its dated & distorted digital-inspired imagery), completely bombed. That was when she and New York Times Magazine writer Lynn Hirschberg engaged in a full-fledged feud - after the publishing of a not-so-flattering article - that resulted in M.I.A. very maturely posting the journalist's phone number on Twitter. But that's all in the past.  

Who: G-Side

From: Huntsville (by way of Athens), Alabama

Why You Should Get To Know Them: Because they paid their dues more than most.