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Bobby Creekwater may be known more for his Shady Records affiliation than his actual music, but that should change soon.

According to published reports, the ATLien is prepping the release of two projects.

The first is an EP with Alchemist, Second Hand Smoke. The first single, “Fuckin Up My Cool” is circulating the net [click here to listen…], and the project will be offered as a free download on each of their web sites soon. Second Hand Smoke also serves as a precursor to Alchemist’s upcoming album, Chemical Warfare, as previously reported by HipHopDX [click here to read…].

Creekwater’s debut full-length, A Brilliant Mistake, should hit stores this summer. Executive produced by Eminem, the disc will feature production from Mr. Porter, Alchemist and Don Cannon.

Up until this point, Creekwater’s Shady discography was primarily limited to his five songs on 2006’s Eminem Presents The Re-Up, which was a compilation album released to introduce the newest signees to Shady Records. Still, last year did see him drop two mixtapes, Back To Briefcase and Anthem 2 Da Streetz II, on his own.

Alicia Keys, who scored the year’s second-highest debut with As I Am, slips just one spot to No. 2 this week according to Neilsen’s SoundScan. The songstresses’ third album pushed 348,500 copies for a two-week total of 1,092,200.

Teen sensation Chris Brown climbs one spot to No. 9 this week with 120,800 copies sold of his sophomore album, Exclusive. After three weeks, the album has scanned 525,400 discs with help from guests The Game, Big Boi, Lil’ Wayne, Kanye West and T-Pain.

Jay-Z slips 6 spots to No. 14, pushing 86,500 copies of the concept album American Gangster, which features production from Jermaine Dupri, The Neptunes, Just Blaze, DJ Toomp and Diddy as well as guest spots from Nas and Lil Wayne. After three weeks, the God MC’s sales total stands at 643,000.

Fresh off her performance on the American Music Awards with country duo Sugarland, Beyonce magically appears at No. 19 with 73,300 copies sold of B’Day. Released last September, the album’s sales total now stands at 2,983,300.

Former Black Eyed Pea Fergie continues to defy the odds after 62 weeks on the charts, climbing 12 spots to No. 26 this week. Her solo debut, The Dutchess, moved 56,300 copies for a total of 2,987,200 albums sold.

Keyshia Cole slumps one spot to No. 27 this week with 54,000 sold of her sophomore album, Just Like You. After 9 weeks, Cole’s sales total stands at 676,900.

Soulja Boy drops three spots this week to No. 32, selling 44,200 of his debut disc, Souljaboytellem.com. After eight weeks, the rapper/dance instructor has sold 381,200 copies.

Kanye West falls five spots to No. 39, selling 39,400 copies of his third disc, Graduation. After 11 weeks, the super producer and rapper has moved 1,714,000 units.

Bearded emcee Freeway debuted at No. 42 this week, selling 36,000 copies of Free At Last, his first CD since 2003’s Philadelphia Freeway. The disc features appearaces by Jay-Z, 50 Cent, Jadakiss, Busta Rhymes, Rick Ross and Scarface, among others.

Next week look for Pitbull to make an appearance on the Hip-Hop and R&B Charts.

“This record, I’m just pulling out my sword, dipping it in some melted vinyl, pulling it out and cutting everything in sight. Crazy!”

With talk like that, LL Cool J will have to deliver one of the most magnificent records of his career when Exit 13 finally drops next year.

“It’s an incredible feeling” said Cool J, who proclaims this is the best album he’s done in almost a decade. “And you know what? I have to give 50 props for that. If a guy calls you on the phone and says, ‘You know what? Your last record was kinda slow and this was a little weak.’ It was like, ‘Yo, I just thought the record was slow, man, don’t mess my LL up.’ It’s great. One of the most important things in making records, you can’t think you know everything in music. I’m humble. I’m confident, but I’m humble.

“I don’t mind having a conversation with a guy who seems to have his finger on the pulse and having a conversation with him and talking with him and seeing if he can push me a little bit and get my mojo back,” he added. “I didn’t feel I fell off, but I felt I was a little bit out of touch with the things I should be thinking about. I needed to get a little more focused and close to my people and closer to the street.

“It’s more honest,” he continued. “We haven’t worked together for months now, but [50] helped me set the fun. I got loose, I’ve been really just in the lab, but he helped me set the tone. I had fun getting loose again. It was competitive, ’cause we made records together, records that may or may not make the album. All types of hidden records. He pushed me. Now my vertical is back and I can dunk on all of them. I’mma dunk on them so crazy.”

Mixtape Monday heard some of the records recently. There’s “Champion,” which he boastfully describes as being “the apex of eroticism.” He says the title is like “putting the pedal to the metal and escaping the nonsense and drama and going 100 miles an hour on the highway at night looking at the white lines as they blend together. It’s vicious.” On “Rock the Pole” he’s being taken to the brink by a dancer.

“New York Gangsters” is the first song leaked off the LP. L plans to shoot a video for it soon. In it, he speaks about his aspirations as a shorty to be a drug dealer, but being swayed in a different direction.

“I never chose to talk about that because it just didn’t strike me as something to talk about,” he explained. “To be honest with you, the guys I grew up with in that life, we’re quiet. Maybe they got caught and got famous later, but when it came to being around that type of society, it wasn’t something to talk about. … Now it’s a way to flip it and say, ‘Yes, I hung out with them, and yes, I even wanted to be involved,’ but ultimately my man went to jail, and him going to jail allowed me to continue to pursue my music more relentlessly and make a decision to really focus on my music and career. It is possible to make a decision to not be in the life of dope pushin’. You can escape that life, take the same energy they use and apply it to something positive. This record is a great reminder of that fact.

“Me, personally, I get sick of all the elitist stuff that goes on,” he continued of the album’s subject matter. “For me, although I’ve done it from time to time, I think we’re getting to the place where [some rappers feel] if I don’t say I’m better than you or richer than you then I’m not supposed to say nothing. I don’t think I have to look down on all my hip-hop fans. I would never see Mick Jagger onstage talking about, ‘I’m fabulously wealthy. More money, immediately.’ I think it’s time to connect with people on a more realistic level. People are blue-collar. Everybody is not rich. People get tired of you telling them you’re better than them. Overall, it’s too much now. Enough with the frontin’ and flossing — just make a hot record.” …

Curtis tells MTV about mentor Eminem, collaborating with Kanye West and reveals all about his next album…

50 Cent has spoken to MTV Base News while on tour in the UK and revealed all about life as the most controversial rapper on the planet.

Covering everything from his battle with Kanye West earlier this year to the sound of his new album Before I Self Destruct, we gave Curtis a good grilling.

“The tour is great I’m really enjoying myself,” he said while at the 02 Arena. “I’ve had to make some minor changes because I’ve been using a live band in parts… it’s a really different show to anything I’ve done before- There’s a lot more showmanship.”

When talking about playing concerts across the globe 50 turned to his mentor Eminem and revealed why Shady rarely tours:

“I’ve toured more than him because he has Hailey and he likes to physically be at the house,” he told MTV Base News. “A lot of people don’t know the reason behind him touring less- but Hailey would but boxes in front of the door thinking this would stop him going.”

“He (Eminem) would fly back on a private plane after the show so he could drive her to school in the morning so for him the tour was exhausting.”

50 Cent also told us about what could be his final studio album Before I Self Destruct. Rumour has it he’s collaborated with Kanye West on the album, so we had to ask…

“This album is more aggressive and darker- I’ll produce something that hands down will be the best record of that time period. There’s no duet with me and Kanye,” he said. “There was a track that I created and Kanye produced but it’s not made it to the album.”

And when asked about double standards with swearing on records Fiddy said: “Matter a fact my next single I’m going the start it ‘It’s Britney Bitch.’”

SEE THIS INTERVIEW ON THE LICK THIS SUNDAY AT 7PM ON MTV BASE.

After endless talks, Jadakiss is now indeed, officially signed to Jay-Z’s Roc-A-Fella Records.

Though details of the deal have not been revealed yet, a rep for Def Jam - the parent label of the Roc - said that the Yonkers-born MC is “definitely signed” to the Roc-A-Fella fold. Even though there had been some talks that since leaving Interscope Kiss was mulling over the possibility of heading down South to link up with Cash Money Records, the signing is not a surprise.

Jay-Z publicly admitted to trying to lure the raspy-voiced lyricist over to the label. Fans started to anticipate the announcement even more so after Jada made appearances on spot dates of Jay-Z’s American Gangster tour as well as being seen throwing up the Roc hand sign in Jay’s “Roc Boys” video.

Jada has not released a full length LP since 2004’s Kiss Of Death.

Rapper runs through all his hits for star-filled Apollo Theater crowd, including LeBron James, Chamillionaire.

NEW YORK — A few weeks ago, the film “American Gangster” had its premiere at Harlem’s Apollo Theater. On Tuesday night, Jay-Z closed out his American Gangster there.

His mini-tour made its last stop in front of a sold-out audience that included Chamillionaire, Beyoncé and LeBron James. While waiting for Jay, a house DJ spun tunes, and later DJ Clue came on to play some records.

You could see James in the balcony sitting by Jay-Z’s family, dancing in his chair to “Crank That.” “Soulja Boy up in this, ohhhh!/ Watch me crank it, watch me roll.” Number 23 bounced to the beat and even tried the famous “Superman” dance.

Just before the real music came on, you could see other various music-biz pals filing into their seats, such as Diddy, Ed Lover, L.A. Reid and Warner Music Group President Kevin Liles.

The Apollo’s crimson curtain opened, and out strolled Jay, background singers and band behind him, showering the theater with the rock-hard opening of his latest LP, “Pray.”

“This is the genesis of a nemesis/ Mother America’s not witnessed since/ The Harlem renaissance birthed black businesses/ This is the tale of lost innocence/ As the incense burns and the turntables turn, and that Al Green plays.”

Jay delivered his rhymes with his usual swagger-drenched poise, while his fans rhymed in their seats with vigorous approval.

Hov moved his play list to “No Hook” before chants of “Broooook-lynnnnn, Broooook-lynnnnn” started filling the Apollo when Jay asked where everybody was from. He also warned those who weren’t giving off enough energy to “cut that cool sh– out. … If you ain’t here to see Hov, you might wanna leave.”

Jigga then hand-delivered the crowd some never-before-heard lyrics: “N—a, this sh– right herrre/ Make you wanna go throw on your fly gearrr,” he rapped a cappella. “Put fly girls in the mirror/ Double-checking their rearrr/ N—a, this sh– right herrre/ Make you wear your sunnies at night, no glarrre/ Nowhere in site, you act like I don’t carrre/ I’m so fly, y’all have no idearrr.”

“Blue Magic” and “99 Problems” preceded one of his time-tested concert show-stoppers, “You Don’t Know.” As always, the song ended with the audience putting up their Roc signs.

“Don’t f— around, that’s what I’m talking about,” Hov said to the theater when the enthusiasm went up a couple of levels.

Jay fluctuated between his various albums, performing American Gangster’s “I Know,” Vol. 2: Hard Knock Life’s “N—a What, N—a Who (Originator 99),” Kingdom Come’s title track, The Black Album’s “Public Service Announcement” and The Blueprint’s “Heart of the City (Ain’t No Love).”

Hov then circled back to his current LP. “Can I play something off there real quick?” he asked before the intro for the song “Success” started.

“I got watches I ain’t seen in months/ Apartment at the Trump I only slept in once,” he rapped. “N—as said Hova was over, such dummies/ Even if I fell, I’ll land on a bunch of money/ Y’all ain’t got nothing for me.”

Jay then signaled for Nas and started looking to his right for him to come out. But Nas came up behind him, holding a huge cigar and bottle of champagne. It was a huge moment, but the giddiness of seeing the two New York giants together lasted only momentarily, because Nas could not remember the lines to his verse.

Hov did his best to cover him with ad-libs, but it wasn’t quite the same impact as if Nas would have remembered his chilling rhymes. God’s Son did quickly recover on “Black Republican,” another show-stopper.

The old regime of Roc-A-Fella records — Memphis Bleek, Beanie Sigel (who wore a State Property T-shirt), Freeway and the Young Gunz — came out minutes later for a flurry of the teams’ classics, including “Change the Game,” “You, Me, Him, Her,” “What We Do,” and “Can’t Stop, Won’t Stop.”

Some guys in the front started chanting “Ignorant Sh–,” pleading for Jay and Sig to do their collaboration from American Gangster.

The lights went out, and you could see shadows of Jay and Beans conferring in front of the drummer. They were obviously throwing a hip-hop audible. The two then walked to the front of the stage, and the song started. The duo even did a unified two-step before the verses started.

“I got you,” Sigel said, letting Jay know he knew the lyrics, even though they may not have practiced. Hov knew his rhymes as well.

“Party Life,” “Give It to Me” and “Show Me What You Got” followed the collabo.

“I got a lot of records,” Jay smiled. “I got a lot of f—in’ records.”

Later, Diddy came out and acted as Jay’s hypeman for “Encore.”

“Now can I get an encore, do you want more?/ Cookin’ raw with the Brooklyn boy/ So for one last time I need y’all to roar,” Jay and the crowd chanted while Diddy spun in circles.

“They love you Jigga,” Puff said when the song ended.

Jay confirmed the crowd’s by telling everyone that American Gangster opened at #1, tying him with Elvis for the most solo #1 debuts of any artists.

“Without a #1 record, I’m the number-one man,” he began rapping. ” … I’m so cool, I’m my number-one fan/ … Now I’m standing on Elvis’ blue suede shoes, ’cause I’m #1 again.”

The celebration ended with a song Jay described as being the height of revelry: “Roc Boys (And The Winner Is …).”

Jay’s whole team, including LeBron, who was wearing a Roc-A-Fella chain, came onstage as the record played. Diddy even gave James the mic, and he began rapping some of the words along with Jay.

“Rich n—as, black Bar Mitzvahs/ Mazel tav, it’s a celebration, bitches/ La cheim/ I wish for you a hundred years of success, but it’s my time.”

Rapper Clifford “T.I.” Harris is working on a new studio album while under house arrest on pending gun charges, EW has exclusively learned.

A representative for the Grammy-winning artist, 27, says he has already completed six new tracks in a studio inside his Georgia home. T.I. hopes to release the disc, which he’s calling Paper Trail, in September 2008. The album’s title refers to the fact that T.I. is writing his new lyrics down — a practice he abandoned after his 2001 debut, I’m Serious. Each of his four subsequent albums, including this year’s T.I. vs. T.I.P., was composed without the aid of pen or paper. “He wanted to take more time to really put something down [this time],” explains his rep.

T.I. was arrested last month in Atlanta after allegedly trying to purchase several unregistered machine guns and silencers. (A federal search of his home also allegedly turned up other firearms, which the law prohibits him from owning as a previously convicted felon.) The terms of his bail currently require him to remain inside his house at all times while awaiting trial, and strictly limit the number of guests who can visit him; this week, his attorneys withdrew their request to allow additional guests for a family meal on Thanksgiving. (Additional reporting by Margeaux Watson)

If Chris Brown had his way, his latest album — the recently released Exclusive — would’ve been named Graduation instead. But according to the fleet-footed dancer, once Kanye West caught wind of the potentially overlapping LP titles, he … er … politely requested Brown consider renaming his project.

“At first I was naming it Graduation because I was 18,” Brown explained to MTV News. “But then Kanye was like, ‘I heard Chris is naming his album Graduation. I’m naming mine … .’ [He laughs.] I was like, I’ll change mine because I respect his reason more with [The] College Dropout and Late Registration, all that, so it kind of went with his. So I was like, I don’t need mine to be Graduation, you know, I’ll change mine to Exclusive, because I’ll make an album exclusively for my fans.”

Brown wasn’t so exclusive when it came to putting the project together — the Virginia native worked with Lil Wayne, T-Pain, Will.I.Am and other guests to make it happen. But the singer’s next single, the Stargate-produced “With You,” features Brown solo. According to him, the matching video — which he has already shot — also showcases Brown more singularly than his previous clips.

“I co-directed it as well,” he said of the video. “And it shows me more solo. Like, it shows the grown side of Chris — it doesn’t show the kiddie side. ‘Cause with this album, I wanted to blend, I wanted to do all different visuals of me. The first [video] ‘Wall to Wall,’ the acting, the vampires, the spookiness, then you go to ‘Kiss, Kiss,’ that had the little goofy part, now this one is solo, the main [performer] is me. Me freestyle dancing — just showing people me naturally, not a choreographed routine, just me dancing and showing you what I’m capable of. But at the same time, just having fun with the camera, and just one-on-one time with me and my audience.”

Brown’s label, Jive Records, recently announced plans for the singer to head out on a co-headlining tour with Bow Wow beginning December 6. The tour — which will also feature Soulja Boy, Lil Mama, Shop Boyz and Sean Kingston on select dates — is slated to run through Christmas and end two weeks into the new year. But Brown said to expect the tour to extend beyond the holiday season and the States as well.

“We doing it for the down South side [with the lineup], but me and Sean Kingston, he got it for like the south, south, in Jamaica,” Brown joked. “And then I got it for Virginia, so we gonna go crazy. It’s like a holiday tour, but I’m taking it worldwide. It was just fortunate that it started on the holiday, but once it starts, it’s gonna go worldwide.”

In a recent interview with music magazine Rolling Stone, Nas spoke about the controversy surrounding his new album title and Universal Music Group’s decision to stick with the name.
Nas said that his previous album, ‘Hip-Hop is Dead’ was supposed to have the name ‘Nigger’ but “the climate wasn’t right, and Hip Hop Is Dead is also what I was feeling. That went first, and now I’ve got to get this one off my chest,” he explains, also speaking about the wave of hate crimes involving nooses around the country. “It’s the new act of hate, and probably because of Barack Obama, people’s ignorance and fear and jealousy is creating an outrage throughout the country, and people are reacting by putting nooses up. It’s been a really serious year,” the rapper explained.

Regarding the controversy surrounding the name, Nas said “It’s like talking to your child about sex. It’s hard, but it’s important,” he says. “It’s probably going to make people uncomfortable. I don’t expect a lot of people to sell a record called Nigger. Hopefully, people can open their minds up and lose some of their fear and deal with it. It’s just an album. It’s one piece of the many things I do, and this will be one of my favorite pieces.” “It will be certain record stores that will be scared to deal with it. The record label is gung ho, and it’s ready to go.”

50 Cent is finally platinum after 6 weeks in stores, his Curtis LP has finally cracked the 1,000,000 units sold mark! Of course, since the RIAA awards plaques for albums shipped rather than sold, he already has a plaque, but at least now he can look at it with some actual sense of accomplishment.

(In case you’re wondering, to-date sales of Kanye’s Graduation are currently at 1,534,190, and he’s still in the Top 10 on Billboard. Curtis however, has sunk all the way to #21 with a total of 1,025,460)