You's a Rock Star, Baby

When every rapper on Earth decided to start calling themselves a "Rock Star," it raised many questions. For example...

1) Is it "Rock Star" or "Rockstar?"

2) Can you be a Rock Star if you don't play rock music?

3) Does calling yourself a Rock Star automatically make you not a Rock Star?

And most importantly,

4) What makes someone a Rock Star?

With each new "Rock Star" song that was released, the questions only multiplied. However, we may finally have some clarity, courtesy of R. Kelly.

Kels just released a new single called "Rock Star," featuring Ludacris and Kid Rock. The video can be seen below. If R. Kelly is to be believed, then here is what we can gather from the song/video...

1) It's "Rock Star." It seemed like "Rockstar" was a more appropriate spelling, but if R. Kelly says it's "Rock Star," then it's "Rock Star." Now, you might notice the intro of the video has it spelled as one word, but don't be fooled, the song title on the album is "Rock Star" (two words).

2) Anyone has the potential to be a Rock Star. In this video, R. Kelly and Ludacris, who both do hip hop music, are as big of Rock Stars as Kid Rock, who plays rock music.

3) You can call yourself a Rock Star, but you damn well better back it up. It's best if you only use the term when referring to others.

4) What is a Rock Star? Well, it really has nothing to do with the music. It's an attitude. It's about displaying confidence at all times, but also backing it up. It's about being the man (or woman). It's about living without fear. It's about evoking a positive reaction from others. It's about "makin' the club go crazy." It's about "throwin' dat ass." When it comes down to it, being a Rock Star is like being cool; you can't define it, but you know it when you see it.

Bottom line, being called a Rock Star was once an exclusive honor, but it was gradually adopted by the masses and no longer holds much meaning. Kinda like wearing a CBGB's t-shirt. Nowadays, with every 14-year old girl claiming to be a Rock Star when she lip-synchs an Avril Lavigne song into a hairbrush, the term is borderline irrelevant. But every so often, an extraordinary man comes along and reminds us all what it really means to be a Rock Star.

Today, that man is R. Kelly.

(It's important to note that "Partying Like a Rockstar" is not the same thing as being a Rock Star. "Partying Like a Rockstar" is just a more socially-acceptable way of saying you're a binge drinker. Being a Rock Star is a round-the-clock task.)