Canadian pop sensation Justin Bieber is getting some street cred - courtesy of Harlem hip hop.
The floppy-haired Bieber released his first rap video on Wednesday, rhyming over a beat made popular by Harlem rappers Vado and Cam'ron.
"I was shocked! He killed it! He sounded like [Notorious] B.I.G.," Vado told the Daily News on Thursday night. "When I seen it on Twitter, I didn't believe it."
Vado already is talking about a remix for the popular track, "Speaking in Tungs," a big summer anthem that hit stores just this week.
"We need to keep his verse for the remix! We might finish the remix this weekend, and let Justin go first," said Vado, 24. "I'm definitely going to contact him."
Bieber made his hip-hop debut under the alias Shawty Mane - and within a day, the video posted on Twitvid.com already had drawn more than 300,000 viewers.
"speaking in tongues freestyle ... who knew i could rap lol ... my alter ego rap name is Shawty Mane ... hah," the 16-year-old star posted on Twitter.
But the authenticity of some of Bieber's rap is being questioned after a video surfaced of another rapper using the same lyrics.
Shawty Mane still wears Bieber's signature floppy hairstyle in his rap persona. But he tossed on a pair of glasses that closely resemble the specs of rap legend Darryl (DMC) McDaniels of Run DMC, and wasted no time before delivering his first rap diss. The target: New England Patriots' quarterback Tom Brady.
"Call up Mr. Brady. Tell 'em leave his hair to the guy who sings 'Baby,'" spits Shawty Mane, while pretending to throw a football and running his fingers through his hair.
After hearing Bieber, Vado is thinking of returning the favor.
"I'll do that ASAP ... I might gotta do a remix to one of his tracks," he said, after briefly singing the tune to Bieber's hit "Baby."
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