We caught up with the judges during the final moments before the Top Pop finale taping, and Brian Friedman was out for blood! With America's expectations set high, he was well aware that it would be an intense night at the judges' table. None of them felt the need to hold anything back, and they didn't. Tune in tonight to see for yourself, or just watch the exclusive video below to get an idea...

Long rehearsals got the best of S1's Shay Dot this morning -- here he is dozing while two of the Jazmin sisters pose for the shot.

With the Top Pop competition coming to an early close, all of the groups are completely immersed in perfecting their performances for Thursday night. Talita of Las Caprice put it this way, "We haven't gotten a lot of sleep, but we just keep going. The clock is counting down and we want to show it all. We're in it to win it!"

So, who do YOU think will win it all, including bragging rights?

Thursday marks the finale of Top Pop, and the tracks these groups were given to master are hotter than ever! Here's what they've got in store for you:

Jazmin: "Say It Right" by Nelly Furtado
S1: "Dangerous" by Kardinall Official
Mosaic: "Kiss Kiss" by Chris Brown
Las Caprice: "No One" by Alicia Keys
NJ5ive: "When You Look Me In The Eyes" by the Jonas Brothers
Ju-Taun: "Leavin" by Jesse McCartney

Tune in to see how your favorite group performs in the sizzling finale this Thursday, October 2 at 10pm ET!

With so much at stake now, Concrete Rose took the initial news of their departure hard. Fortunately, these girls are no stranger to overcoming obstacles.

Meanwhile, the boys of S1 are feeling the pressure as they dodged the bullet in their second elimination round of the season. Will they be the next to get booted off MTV's Top Pop Group?

The sweet girls of Jazmin hosted a little pot luck dinner party for the ladies the other night. Turned out that Traxx from S1 and Destyn from NJ5ive had plans of their own... Gentlemen, watch and learn just how much women enjoy video games...

MTV's Top Pop Group was poppin' at last night's show taping. While some groups soared to new heights, others fell flat. I can't give too much away, but let's just say that the judges seriously let it rip this week!

Backstage the air was positively buzzing as the artists darted around for hair touchups, bathroom breaks, group hugs and prayer circles to kick off what was to be a rollercoaster of a night.

Tune in Thursday night at 10pm to see the judges s-p-e-l-l it out.

Betcha Didn't Know: Shay Dot from S1 is Belizean. Beliziano. From Belize. I know, whaaat? I didn't belize it when I heard it either. Shay spent the first 12 years of his life in this Central American paradise on the Caribbean.

Seems S1have got some secret Latin flava they've been keeping under wraps! Well, hold out no longer, S1: It's holla back time for our maestro en el mic, estilo Centro Americano! In other words... bring it.

It's only Week Three and we've already seen some standout performances as these Top Pop Groups "Defined" and "Refined" themselves on the big stage. Now it looks like everyone's ready to turn it up a notch in this week's "Make it Your Own" challenge.

Stay tuned to watch your favorite groups add their own heat to these hot tracks:

Ju-Taun: "Let Me Love You" by Mario
S1: "Put On" by Young Jeezy
Jazmin: "Bleeding Love" by Leona Lewis
NJ5ive: "Confessions" by Usher
Mosaic: "Let's Get it Started in Here" by Black Eyed Peas
Las Caprice: "SOS" by Rihanna
Concrete Rose: "Big Girls Don't Cry" by Fergie

MTV's Top Pop Group is just that -- a pop singing group competition, and the guys in S1 are feeling the pressure. As they pointed out to me, "We're a rap group with a singer, not a pop act that also raps." Truth be told, all three can sing well, but they rely a lot on "Kjae" to bring home the high notes. Still, can a self-proclaimed 'rap group' win the title of Top Pop Group? You tell us!

Jazmin and S1 had the sobering experience of being in the Bottom Three of MTV's Top Pop Group competition last week -- and it shook them to their core. Can you imagine just how humbling it is to barely squeak by the judges? These groups are quickly learning a thing or two about about the highs and lows of show biz, Tinseltown style...