The Road to Stardom with Missy Elliott, Episode 2: Mona Knows

Last week on The Road to Stardom with Missy Elliott we met the thirteen contestants vying for the chance to win a chance for Missy to produce their first single and $100,000. They gave an impromptu performance for the judges and Frank B. and Heather were selected to go to Missy, where Heather was the first to go because she wasn't believable.

We start out this week reflecting on Heather's boot. Akil says that not seeing her reminds him of his mortality. I think that's taking it a little too far but I like him so I'll let it slide. Frank B. is a little less upset, shall we say, saying that if he went instead of Heather then he would've given up rap.

They stop at Electric Lady Studios, which was the studio where Jimi Hendrix recorded. They go into a studio where Dallas plays an instrumental track. They all sort of stand there for a moment while the track is played until Matt starts singing to it. He makes a Justin Timberlake reference which is funny because Jessica said that he reminded her of him. Others perform as well. When Akil raps, Dallas says that he's his boy. Cori says that raps for the first time and Nilyne sings a love song to Nic, who says that caught him by surprise. Nic is still wearing the towel that the judges hated, and frankly it's starting to bug me too. Dallas tells them that they will have to make up their own lyrics to this track. It could potentially become their first hit single. They all get a copy of the track on a CD.

There are two different challenges on the show - performance, which we saw last week, and road challenges. Missy says that the road challenges will keep them on their toes. This week's road challenge is on the New York streets. They will divide into four teams of three where they will have to collect as much money as they can in thirty minutes. They can use anything they have, their looks, their talents - anything. The winners get to split everybody's cash and get to spend some time with Missy. The losers will have to do some bus chores. The first team is Nic, Akil, and Frank B. Matt, Yelawolf, and Marcus are the second group. Jessica, Eddie, and Deltrice are group three; and the rest of the girls, Nilyne, Cori, and Melissa, make up group four.

When everyone gets to their respective corners they all start singing or rapping. In group one, we see Nic trying to charm some women. Frank B. states that he thinks that Nic relies a lot on his looks. He thinks that the pretty boy routine is fake and will only get him so far. In group two Yelawolf and Matt are dancing and basically begging for money. Matt bitches that they have the worst corner because there is no shop by theirs. In group three Eddie finds a random guy named Joe and freestyles about him. He's really good and Joe gives them $20!

The results are in. All four groups made a collective $229.64. In last is group two with $47.45. Third place goes to group one with $47.55. Group four is the runner up with $52.45. That means that group three wins! They had $82.59 and when the final money is split up they all receive $76.54. Not too bad for a half hour. They all go and see Missy. The losers have to load suitcases onto a truck.

Eddie, Deltrice, and Jessica all meet Missy at a bowling alley where we see Missy bowl a gutter ball. Missy jokes that it's the shoes because someone else has worn them before. Jessica says that it's an honor to meet Missy. Eddie asks if swagger is important and Missy says that they need for their personality and character to show when they perform, and that's the most important thing. In an interview Deltrice says she came here to win and is not there to make friends. Uh-oh, you know who usually says that? The token bitch. Omarosa said it. Tonya elaborated on it on The Battle of the Sexes 2. She said that she was willing to break a few friendships for $60,000. And we all know that there's a very little chance of the women winning that in the end. I'm just hoping Deltrice doesn't become the next Omarosa or Tonya.

The bus leaves New York and arrives in Crisfield, Maryland. Road Manger Steve tells them that they have an hour here. They can eat or they can work on their song. That wasn't too much of a hint, right? Marcus and Jessica are among those eating. Cori is working on her song but she says that she is having trouble putting her rock edge into the beats. Nic says that he's confident but Frank B. disagrees saying that he's not confident, he's cocky. In an interview Nic says that Frank B. is the most intimidated by him. Oh, shut up. Out of nowhere it seems Frank B. starts freestyling, battle style (think 8 Mile). It's good and Nic is smirking the entire time and when he's finished Nic yells at him. Nic says that he just made an enemy now. Jessica and Nilyne try to calm them down. In an interview Frank B. says that Nic is garbage.

They leave Crisfield and park at a random parking garage in Pokemoke, Maryland. The judges are waiting outside. Mona says that they want to see how good their tracks are. There is a microphone in the middle of the garage and they have to perform for the judges who are sitting on cars. Nilyne says that some people didn't even listen to the track yet and that they didn't think that this would happen so fast. Mona says that whoever is ready can go first.

Frank B. wisely goes first. His rap is about ten times better than his rap last week even though he does tries to sing. Mona likes it saying that he had no hesitation. Teena says that it was very up. Dallas says that he was trying hard and it showed. Stepping up first was a great decision for Frank B. Not only did he have to prove himself because he was on the chopping block last week, he got respect for stepping up which always impresses people. Look at Troy and Pamela on The Apprentice, they did a bad job when they stepped up the first week, but they got the respect for stepping up. Luckily for Frank B. he had the talent to impress the judges even further. Maybe last week was a fluke. Nic, obviously still bitter, says in an interview that Frank B. is not a triple threat. He may not be, but he's still better than you Nic.