It’s been a banner year for RiRi. Not only did she land one of the worst Vogue covers of all time a cover of Vogue, the pop tart just broke Madonna‘s record — thus wiping out the entirely heavenly host — for the fastest popstar to reach 20 Hot 100 top 10 singles — an awkward record, but a record nonetheless.

Racking up those top 10 hits in six years and four months, Rihanna beats Her Madgesty by a good five months. Luckily, she’s still behind the all-time record holder — The Beatles (duh) — who did it without breaking a sweat in two years and seven months.

Anyway, her musical accomplishments — or lack thereof —  aside, Rihanna gets down and dirty in a sexy photoshoot for Esquire, blah blah blah, she’s not wearing clothes what else is new? Photos and video below. I’m bored. [Esquire]

“I’ve been a huge fan of The Roots for years,” says Varvatos, “They are one of the most innovative musical forces on the planet.”

True story. Also, Black Thought, most underrated MC. There, I said it.

Danny Clinch shot The Roots at Republic Airport in New York right as they were getting off the plane — an homage to how rock stars traveled in the 70s. Creative director Stephen Niedzwiecki explains:

“The way The Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin and The Beatles traveled had a huge impact on the direction for this season’s campaign…Led Zeppelin’s plane had fireplaces built in. So that’s what inspired us to shoot them in that way.”

And that’s why Led Zeppelin is fucking awesome. Anyhoo, in addition to the airport scenario there are other “image-based” shots that will debut in the September issues of GQ, Esquire, Vanity Fair, Details and other fash mags.

And as a special treat, The Roots threw together a little impromptu number on the tarmac:

[WWD]

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And in one last ditch effort to save print, Esquire is launching an “Augmented Reality” issue featuring Robert Downey Jr. The issue is using the same technology used to produce the yellow first down line in football to produce an interactive issue. The codes (like the one shown on the cover) will display video or commentary from Robert Downey Jr. throughout the issue, and even include a Lexus ad.

Link

Kate Beckinsale is voted ‘Sexiest Women Alive’ (duh!) by Esquire Mag. Video of the cover shoot after the jump.

LINK LOVE

Not quite sure why Bar is naked and covered in writing, but she looks great, as usual.

LINKAGE: Egotastic

Cover Shot

Yesterday we showed you the cover, today we bring you the rest of the ‘Sexiest Woman Alive 2008′ photospread.

Thanks Superficial for the pics

In the November 2008 issue of Esquire, Sexiest Woman Alive, Halle Berry, recreats a classic Esquire cover from December 2000, featuring Bill Clinton. Click here to get an inside breakdown of how this image came together.