Hip-hop has long been a therapeutic outlet for artists, allowing them to express themselves and voice issues, and work through those issues in the music. Now, scientists at Cambridge University in England are looking to prove that hip-hop — both listening to it and writing raps — can actually help treat mental illness.

“There is so much more to hip-hop than the public realizes,” Becky Inkster, a neuroscientist in the university’s department of psychiatry, told The Guardian. She and consultant psychiatrist Akeem Sule have teamed up to form Hip Hop Psych.

“I grew up in the ’90s during the golden era of hip-hop, when it exploded into mainstream culture. It is rich in references to psychiatric illnesses that have not been properly explored and which could be of enormous benefit to patients. We want to work with rappers, charities, medical groups and others to promote its real potential.”

Of course, hip-hop has been used as a teaching tool a number of times in the past. Bun B taught Religious Studies 331: Religion and Hip-Hop Culture at Rice University, The Textual Appeal of Tupac Shakur was offered at the University of Washington, and Georgia Regents University launched a class based on the work of Kendrick Lamar and his debut album this year.

But Hip Hop Psych believes that the music can not only be studied, but also used as an actual treatment for patients dealing with psychiatric problems.

“One technique we want to explore is ...

If we didn’t already think Lorde was the coolest girl in music (have you not seen our embarrassingly gushy articles on the teen?), the 17-year-old singer’s game acceptance of her “South Park” parody would have convinced us.

The latest evidence of her awesomeness? Ella sang the “I Am Lorde Ya Ya Ya” song from the first infamous episode during an interview. She shared the excerpt via a tweet this past weekend.

If you were hiding from the world of pop culture these past few weeks, Lorde appeared in two — count ‘em, two! — “South Park” episodes. In the first, the kids try to put together a charity concert featuring Lorde — and then there’s some stuff about gluten — only to find out that Lorde is just Stan’s dad in disguise. When she reappears in the next episode, we discover that Randy Marsh wasn’t just dressing up as Lorde — he is Lorde.

Lorde didn’t really speak up about the episodes until the second one had aired, posting clips from “her” second appearance to Instagram and applauding the show’s message of transgender acceptance. Coolest girl in the music world? We think yes.

this is actually surprisingly cute – and from what i can tell also has a message of transgender acceptance (i'm still very new with this type of humour so i'm not sure if was actually genuine but it seemed so to me)

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Brenna Ehrlich

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Wiz Khalifa may be dealing with the fallout from his wife, Amber Rose, recently filing for divorce, but if his new track is any indication, he’s still sounding like the same old Wiz.

The Pittsburgh rapper remixed ILOVEMAKONNEN’s bubbling single “I Don’t Sell Molly No More” over the weekend, and got back to doing what he does best: “I turned gin and juice dreams to the big screen/ The kid from the Burgh doing big things/ Not to mention, all of my n—as on, on they own buzz/ Smokin’ to the head, we all fed, everybody growin’ dreads,” he raps.

Related: Wiz Khalifa And Amber Rose Are Dealing With Divorce Differently: See The Proof

Last month, Amber filed for divorce from her husband of one year, citing irreconcilable differences.

For Makonnen, meanwhile, this is the second major remix he’s scored, coming on the heels of Drake putting his stamp of approval on “Tuesday.”

Adam Fleischer

With additional reporting by Janelle Myers

Don’t Mess With Olivia Benson’s Mama
After a photo of Taylor Swift‘s cat, Olivia Benson, appeared on the screen at the “The Graham Norton Show,” she was shocked when legendary comedian John Cleese asked her “When did it have the accident?” She seemed confused and then he proceeded to tell her, “It’s the weirdest cat I’ve ever seen in my life.” Not sure if he was just joking, but after that Taylor looked like she had something to say, but held back her words. Watch her full reaction below:

‘The Walking Dead’ Is Back
Relive all of the explosive moments from “The Walking Dead” season premiere. Don’t click though if you don’t want spoilers!

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#FergusonOctober
“Grey’s Anatomy” star Jesse Williams traveled to Ferguson, Missouri, with members of the Question Bridge: Black Males video project team to archive “the thoughts and concerns of the people and recording Black males asking and answering the questions that matter to them.” They’re doing this as part of #FergusonOctober, which is helping seek justice for the killing of 18-year-old Michael Brown.

This Selfie Is A Work Of Art
I Louvre love this selfie of Jay Z and Beyoncé in front of the Mona Lisa.

Beyonce.com

Must-See Video Of The Day
“Pumpkin Spice” in the style of “Shake It Off” is the Taylor Swift parody fall anthem every basic girl has been waiting for.

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“The Walking Dead” was finally back tonight (October 12) with what might be the biggest episode the show has ever done. It was packed with action, intensely emotional, and bodes well for what promises to be the best season of the zombie drama yet.

Here’s all the biggest, most shocking moments on “No Sanctuary:”

1. Lookin’ Up, Rick

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Those first four minutes. You guys. We’ve been waiting for months to see how Rick and company would get back at the Terminusians for trapping them in a train car. And then we see everyone preparing to kick serious butt… Only for a smoke bomb to get thrown through the roof, and most of the group dragged off to slaughter.

Hot tip: remember, train cars have six sides.

2. Batter Up

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Then we get a moment straight out of the comics, as the Terminus butchers (yup, they’re cannibals) proceed to knock nameless extras – and “Gotham” star Robin Lord Taylor! – in the head with a baseball bat, then bleed them out. You know, like cattle. Gross.

Comic readers: were you as terrified as we were than Glenn was going to get one in the noggin?

3. Gareth By The Numbers

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We briefly met Gareth, the leader of Terminus last season, but here we find out that he’s methodical and calculated. He knows how to play all the angles, and how to survive when the chips are down. So chances that he actually went ...

“Once Upon A Time” hasn’t been too shy to reference every bit of “Frozen” this season, from a “Do You Want To Build A Snowman?” moment, to tonight’s (October 12) episode where one of the characters straight up said “Let It Go.” But so far, the show hasn’t added anything to the mythology… Until now.

Major Spoilers For “Once Upon A Time” Past This Point.

So turns out that Elizabeth Mitchell isn’t just playing the villainous Snow Queen: she’s also Elsa’s Aunt.

The revelation came late in the episode during a fairyback (the show’s parlance for fairytale based flashbacks) set in Arendelle. After freeing Mitchell’s Snow Queen from a magical urn (and possibly killing “Frozen” villain Hans), Elsa and Snowie McQ went back to the former’s castle, where SQ revealed she was Elsa – and therefore Anna’s – Mom’s sister.

A large part of the episode both in “modern” times and in the past dealt with where Elsa gets her powers from, and this certainly seems to be a large part of the puzzle. At least for now, the show pulled back from the reveal your faithful writer thought they were leading towards – that Snow Queen is Elsa’s real Mom, given their similar hair, powers and flashy way of dressing – but we’ll have to stay tuned to see if that particular theory pans out.

And for fans of the movie freaked out that we’re getting a major part of the mythology stuck on TV, rather than in the ...

We have to give major props to the American Sign Language interpreter Iggy Azalea hired for her Austin City Limits gig on Saturday (October 11).

Even though the quality of this video isn’t the best, you can tell that homegirl is going H.A.M. on this vintage Iggy track from 2012, “Pu$$y.”

Azalea posted the clip on Instagram Sunday afternoon, touting it as “awesome” thanks to her ASL interpreter’s “signing with sass.”

That interpreter is Amber Galloway Gallego, and her sweet sign language skills are nothing new: She kinda sorta killed it interpreting for Kendrick Lamar at Lollapalooza 2013. Watch her own the crap out of “F–kin’ Problems.”

You can check out more of Galloway Gallego’s work on her YouTube channel, which boasts tons of videos of her interpreting a variety of songs into ASL. Be sure to check out her rendition of Eminem’s “Rap God,” particularly that notoriously impossible-to-spit third verse.

Alicia Lutes

Too much exuberance for one person. Follow her on Twitter @alicialutes.

You might think that a human is writing these words, but actually: I am a ghost. Because I have died the sweetest of deaths after being slain by the cute overload that is this baby bulldog puppy trying to howl. Oh, the sweet, sweet feels of adorable preciousness. It was WORTH IT.

You can try and resist this pooch, but you’ll fail. Be it the brindle, the wrinkles, his bumbling attempts at walking and/or everything in between, there is no escaping this much cute. His ferocity — coupled with his sheer inability to howl because he’s a widdle iddle baby-waby-poo (I can only speak in baby talk now btw) — makes the whole thing more endearing and precious than any small animal has any right to be. Truly, this is peak pup.

Maybe you’ve believed yourself to have found such cuteness in the past, but you were wrong. I know this because I am a ghost now — I see and know and feel everything. This, my dear friends, this is the apex of adorability. There is no better baby than this.

Say goodbye to your loved ones, and enjoy.

Alicia Lutes

Too much exuberance for one person. Follow her on Twitter @alicialutes.

Some celebrities simply tweet about what moves them, while others, like “Grey’s Anatomy” star Jesse Williams, get right on the front lines.

Jesse, along with members of the Question Bridge: Black Males video project team, joined protesters from across the country who traveled to St. Louis, Missouri, this weekend for #FergusonOctober, which seeks justice for the killing of 18-year-old Michael Brown and victims of police brutality like him.

“We’ll be archiving the thoughts and concerns of the people and recording Black males asking and answering the questions that matter to them,” Jesse said in a Tumblr post on October 8. You can follow Jesse as he documents his time in St. Louis on his Twitter, Tumblr and Instagram accounts.

The shooting of Brown, an unarmed young black man, in Ferguson, Missouri, sparked demonstrations, protests, vigils and rallies across the country in August and September calling attention to acts of police brutality. This weekend’s protests also came on the heels of another controversial shooting death of an 18-year-old black man, Vonderrit Myers, Jr. of St. Louis.

Those who follow Jesse on social media (his Tumblr is a MUST!) should not be surprised by his trip down south. The actor ...

With “The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies” about to be unleashed upon us non-magical beings, it only makes sense that new posters should be unveiled in anticipation. Hey, director Peter Jackson doesn’t do small when it comes to his Middle Earth empire, folks.

We’ve already gotten one gigantic banner poster featuring the titular five armies going at it for Smaug’s treasure, and in recent days we’ve also been made privy to a series of solo shots highlighting the latest “Hobbit” installment’s cast. The newest one features Evangeline Lilly’s character, Tauriel, brooding in a “We’re not gonna take it!” sorta way.

Obviously this is one woodland Elf you don’t want to mess with — not unless you want an arrow between your eyes.

Blue steel, Tauriel! Blue steel!

Warner Bros.

“The Hobbit: The Battle Of The Five Armies” opens in theaters on December 17, 2014.

Alicia Lutes

Too much exuberance for one person. Follow her on Twitter @alicialutes.