Joaquin's 'Young Pheezy' Act a Big Hoax?

PopEater
posted: 187 DAYS 20 HOURS AGO
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(Jan. 28) - Joaquin Phoenix's rap career is about as legit as his rhyming skills.
The actor, who in recent weeks has attempted to convince the world he's quit acting for a shot at hip-hop stardom, is actually staging the bizarre meltdown for a documentary-style film about pompous actors and the media that covers them, Entertainment Weekly has learned.
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Young Pheezy on the Mic
Joaquin's Rap Debut
Joaquin Fall Down

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A pair of insiders tell EW that the 'Walk the Line' star is working with brother-in-law Casey Affleck to film his staged exploits, which included a disastrous three-song performance at a Las Vegas nightclub earlier this month.
"He said, 'It's a put-on. I'm going to pretend to have a meltdown and change careers, and Casey is going to film it,'" said one source who has worked with Phoenix.
It's unclear whether his new look -- unwashed hair, unruly beard -- is part of the hoax, but Phoenix has fully committed to the so-called "art project," as another EW source describes it.
"He's going full out. He probably has told his reps that he's quit acting. Joaquin is very smart. This is very conscious. He has a huge degree of control."
Before his debut in Vegas, Phoenix told PEOPLE, "This is me saying this is who I am. This is my story."
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Actors Turned Singers

    Joaquin Phoenix
    Album: None yet
    The newly bearded but always interesting Phoenix announced in late 2008 that he'd be quitting the movie biz in order to become a musician. Now we find out his bro-in-law Casey Affleck is filming a documentary on the transition.

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    Ed Westwick
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    Robert Downey, Jr.
    Album(s): The Futurist
    Iron Man wrote 8 of the tracks on his debut album, which was released in 2004. Reviews were wildly mixed, but it's certainly not the most embarrassing art project ever made. (Sorry, Hulk Hogan.)

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    Alyssa Milano
    Album(s): Look In My Heart, Alyssa, etc.
    In the late '80s and early '90s, Alyssa Milano made a tidy sum selling albums only available in Japan.

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    Scarlett Johansson
    Album(s): Anywhere I Lay My Head
    The lovely Scarlett released an album consisting mostly of Tom Waits songs. We're not sure we liked the end result, but we applaud her verve.

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    Hayden Panettiere
    Album(s): Falling Down
    She can walk through flames, regenerate missing digits... and sing! Claire Bennet - er, Hayden Panettiere released her first single 'Wake Up Call' in August. Her full album is due in 2009.

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    Kevin Bacon
    Album(s): Forosoco, Getting There, Can't Complain, White Knuckles
    In 1995, Bacon and his brother Michael formed a band called, creatively, The Bacon Brothers.

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    Julianne Hough
    Album(s): Julianne Hough
    The 'Dancing With the Stars' personality won an Emmy nom for her choreography - and her first album debuted at #1 on the Top Country Albums chart. 2007 was a good year for Julianne.

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    Paris Hilton
    Album(s): Paris
    The star of 'The Simple Life,' a gazillion paparazzi shots and one special home movie, Paris Hilton released her first album in 2006. The sales were disappointed, but we had 'Stars Are Blind' stuck in our heads for days.

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    David Hasselhoff
    Album(s): Too numerous to list
    We're not trying to hassle the Hoff's acting, but at this point, he might be more famous for his renditions of 'Hooked on a Feeling' and the insane come-on anthem 'Jump In My Car' than his turn on 'Baywatch.'

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"When I was young I liked punk rock music but then I discovered rap. I love the storytelling aspect of hip-hop," Phoenix explained.
Phoenix knows the sudden change in career will leave many scratching their heads and thinking the worst.
"Are there people out there who think I'm a joke? I'm sure there will be. Are there people who think it's going to suck? Probably, but I can?t worry about that."
Last week, PopEater asked its readership what Phoenix's rap name should be. A whopping 32% chose "Young Pheezy," which we've honored in the above headline. Tied for second was "MC Joaquin" and "Quin Money." Last place went to Lil' Jo, with 18%.
Incidentally, 91% of those polled had already decided the rap career change was a joke.
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2009-01-28 11:09:08
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