For all the preparation that goes into a new release from an artist- writing, production, promotion, press- it's audience reception that remains the unknown variable. Fickle listeners have to be factored into any artist's plan for longevity, and the major labels are masters of manipulating this to their advantage- there's a reason Crazy Frog moved more albums than Spoon in 2005. It strikes me then, that the one thing no act can prepare for is parody. People making fun of them. Sometimes reverent (Belushi's Joe Cocker), sometimes scathing (South Park's take on the Jonas Brothers comes to mind), there's a few ways artists can deal with the satirical backlash inherent to celebrity. Citing precedent, we prove that Lil' Jon is still badass by testing which "rubber/glue" method is most effective:

1. The Vanilla Ice. In a nutshell: Change your sound entirely. When the masses began to suspect that a Floridian named Rob Van Winkle wasn't the most authentic voice of the streets available for their dollar, Ice's credibility and record sales fell in tandem like a child's science experiment with a penny and a rock. In latching on to the late 90's rise of nu-metal, Ice somehow became all the more cruel a punchline, his last grasp at authenticity deemed so transparent dude didn't even get a Vh1 show of his own in the last decade. Strategy not recommended.

2. The Lady Gaga. In a nutshell: Get famous for being so strange as to forestall any attempts at parody. If 2009 pop culture had a prom, Lady Gaga would be it's queen; Carrie White pouring pig's blood over her own head. With a multi platinum debut and a never ending parade of "OMG DIDJA SEE?" public appearances in tow, Gaga somehow remains weirdly untouchable a pop star, precisely because she's so chameleonic that it's tough to nail down any strong satiric take on her. Fresh faced enough that she ducks the claims of bullshit self-importance volleyed at fellow she-changeling Madonna, THAT BITCH'LL GET HERS IN TIME. Strategy recommended? Eh.

3. The Lil' Jon. In a nutshell: Get weirder. Post Chappelle, Lil' Jon began manufacturing energy drinks, wine, and a line of sunglasses with built in mp3 players. And he started blogging for NHL.com. These are not the actions of a man who takes himself seriously. All this while holding true to his hyper-referenced catchphrases ("what", "yeah", "okay") and still building an ever impressive production resume. Strategy strongly recommended.

The am.fm.pm approved and adored The White Panda agree, making a resounding case for Lil' Jon's continued relevancy by way of a fresh Oceanlab/Gareth Emery mash. Crunk's formal heyday may well be past, but even the champion of a fading genre is still a fucking champion. Ups.

The White Panda "What Lonely Girls Do" (Lil' Jon vs. Oceanlab)