QUESTION: How many times has Pharrell appeared on the cover of Complex Magazine?

Enter your contact info and answer below for a chance to win!

Now it seems Pharrell wants to do the same with N.E.R.D. Recently, a PYT has been seen accompanying P, Chad and Shay on stage at various tour stops, leaving people wondering who she was. Then Star Trak rapper Fam-Lay was kind enough to clear up the confusion via Twitter, letting the world know that the girl in question was named Rhea and that she was the newest member of N.E.R.D. Oh yeah, and that she’s dope! But just how dope is she? Is she good enough to make N.E.R.D. sell a milli and get Pharrell on MSNBC as a talking head? In other words, is she as good as Fergie? Keep reading for our comparison, then vote for your favorite token female…

SINGING
Fergie: Calling Fergie a singer would be akin to calling Sean Kingston a reggae artist. It’s a bit of a stretch. Maybe the crystal meth left her vocal chords burnt out or something, who knows. All we know is that she has the vocal range of a Mack Truck.

Rhea: We haven’t heard too much from this Berklee College of Music grad yet, but judging from her cover of Robin Thicke’s “Lost Without U” and “Choreographer”, the first single from her Clumanati Records debut , we’re gonna say she’s got Fergie beat.

WINNER: RHEA
————————————————————————————————————————————————————-

DANCING
Fergie: We can’t front, Fergie can get down. She’s no Shakira, but homegirl can move her hips something viscous. Too bad she’s wasting all that on Josh Douchemel.

Rhea: To be fair, we haven’t seen Rhea do much on stage besides jump around and look pretty. But she’s Guyanese, so we’re sure she can at least wine a likkle bit.

WINNER: FERGIE
————————————————————————————————————————————————————-

SEX APPEAL
Fergie: Despite having a face that, in the right (or wrong, rather) light, looks pretty haggard Fergie is somehow, undoubtedly sexy. Maybe it’s her style, her perfectly fit body, or her two’s. Or maybe it’s the fact that she gives off that “savage me” look. We can’t call it.

Rhea: Rhea is decidedly more attractive in the face, and has a sexy downtown chic steez—which is probably why Pharrell took a liking to her. But when she dresses up, it’s a wrap. No contest. Where as Fergie puts her freakiness on front street, Rhea has that lady in the streets, freak in the bed look going on. We like.

WINNER: RHEA
————————————————————————————————————————————————————-

POP POTENTIAL
Fergie: Seeing as how she’s already had three #1 singles and a triple platinum debut solo album, we think her pop potential has already been realized. It’s yet to be seen if she can recreate the success of The Dutchess, but we’re gonna go ahead and bet on white with this one.

Rhea: As talented as she is, there are two things working against her road to stardom. 1. She’s signed to DJ Clue’s Cluemanti label and 2. Pharrell’s track record when it comes to launching the careers of new artists is pretty damn horrible. She’d have an equal chance coming out on Tru Warrior records.

WINNER:TIE
————————————————————————————————————————————————————-

VALUE TO THE GROUP
Fergie: Being that we don’t know anyone in the group besides her and will.i.am, we’re gonna have to go out on a limb here and say she’s indispensable. Seriously, when was the last time you saw apl.de.ap or Taboo in the news? If one of them walked past you on the street would you know who they were? Didn’t think so.

Rhea: Since she just joined, it’s hard to say how important to the group she will be. But since Chad’s a mute, Pharrell can’t really sing (or rap) and we’re not sure what it is that Shay really does, it couldn’t hurt to have a talented vocalist in the group.

WINNER: TIE
————————————————————————————————————————————————————-
Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

These Vans Sk8-Hi “Animal Pack” would match nicely with Taz’s tights. [HighSnobiety]

Mauro Grifoni makes a blazer that that will lift you into a whole ‘nother style bracket. Classy! [Selectism]

Newly-crowned MVP LeBron James laced up his new exclusive sneaker last night, en route to scoring 34 points and bodying the Hawks. [Nice Kicks]

Now your kid can be as much of a douche as you, with this young’n Segway knock-off. [Oh Gizmo]

However, “Everyone Nose (Remix)” is just the latest in a long tradition of hip-hop videos dedicated to scandalous freaks who live on the third rail, but rarely take the subway (ifyousniffwhatwesizzle). Watch 5 noteworthy rap videos about cocaine queens, along with N.E.R.D.’s new clip, below.

5. “White Lines” Grandmaster Flash

Fun, baby! That’s what women who blow coke are, according to this 1981 classic. To be fair, Flash and co. seem to love doing cocaine with their homeboys more than they love women (things to make you go hmmm… but that’s a whole ‘nother blog post), but it’s probably fair to assume that the ‘baby’ they’re rap-singing to is a chick. Don’t ever come down'FREE BASS!

4. “Sally’s Got A One Track Mind” Diamond D & The Psychotic Neurotics

Half lament, half sales pitch, this delectable Diamond classic details the woes of poor Sally, 19-year-old queen of the stunts. If only she could wake up and smell the blunts! If only! Oh well, consider yourself advised, if you’re getting dough and you want to get with her, yeah, you could hit her!

3. “Sometimes I Rhyme Slow” Nice & Smooth

Here, Greg Nice raps about nothing of consequence (as per his usual M.O.) then Smooth B tells the tale of a love interest, Jane Doe, who rides the white horse in and out of rehab, and then back on to the streets. Maybe he should have just licked her with his nine mili-meee-ter. Pause.

2. “Slow Down” Brand Nubian

With its Edie Brickell boosted bassline, “Slow Down” finds Grand Puba, Sadat X and Lord Jamar frustrated by strung out women they’ve wived. Good thing Sadat hit his with a hose filled with sand.

1. “Dear Mama” 2Pac

Yeah, we said it. The Greatest Rapper Of All-Time’s ode to his mother is at the same time the most profound expression of maternal love and the greatest rap song honoring a dope-fiend broad. Talk about Oedipus complex.

BONUS: “Everyone Nose” N.E.R.D. f/ Kanye, Lupe & Pusha T

Despite Kanye’s purposely cornbucket first line, the four horsemen of the apocalypse ride out on this one. Close your eyes and imagine Complex holding it’s breath waiting on the CRS full-length album'muthaf*ckas don’t bullsh*t me!

This year for Complex’s annual “Style & Design” collector’s edition issue, we set out to fuse the worlds of music and art in a way that had never been done. On one cover, we paired N.E.R.D. with KAWS, the graffiti icon-turned-art world darling who also happens to be one of Pharrell’s favorite designers. And on the other cover, Lupe Fiasco teamed up with another graf God'Todd “REAS” James'to create an outrageous image of the Chi-Town superstar sitting on the sun.

In addition to the covers, KAWS and REAS painted over even more photos of the musicians for the features inside the book. CLICK HERE to see the full story with N.E.R.D. and HERE for the full Lupe story. Check back on Monday for the other side of our August/September issue'two sexy-ass covers with Cassie (that’s 4 total, if you’re counting), along with a titillating series of videos from her shoot that are sure to have the 'net going nuts. After the jump, check out four videos from the N.E.R.D./Lupe shoots, including an interview with KAWS.

N.E.R.D. Cover: Behind The Scenes Video:

KAWS Talks N.E.R.D. Collabo:

Lupe Cover: Behind The Scenes Video:

Lupe Talks Style & Design (w/ REAS):

Save some paper and go with the “poor man's” Porsche. [Double Viking]

Check out N.E.R.D's new video for Spazz. [Nah Right]

Not surprisingly, Hugh Hefner's new girlfriend can swallow. [Flisted]

Incase taps KRINK for a limited laptop sleeve. [Daily Drop]

In the last few years, we’ve seen a surge in corporate-backed collaborations, from Smirnoff’s Signature Mix Series to Boost Mobile’s “Whole City Behind Us” campaign with Kanye, The Game and Ludacris. Now Converse has brought N.E.R.D., Santogold and The Strokes’ lead singer Julian Casablancas together to record a new song for their Century celebration. Called “My Drive Thru,” the song will be available for free download tomorrow at the company’s website. Throughout the summer, the trio will be seen together in a music video for the song and will appear in advertising that bears the slogan “Three Artists, One Song.” Listen to the collabo below.

N.E.R.D. f/ Santogold & Julian Casablancas “My Drive Thru” (2008)

[2dopeboyz & HighSnobiety via Nah Right]

Check out N.E.R.D's video for “Everybody Nose.” [Nah Right]

The IVs are re-dropping in July. Money in the bank. [Nice Kicks]

Steven Colbert parodies Bill O' Reilly's meltdown. [Double Viking]

Although you may think these items make you look cool, they really don't. [HolyTaco]