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Eminem Scores Fourth #1 Bow With Curtain Call

After a Detroit paper reported in July that Eminem was bowing out of the rap game for good, he spoke out to clarify the future of his music career, explaining that he'd take a break from recording his own rhymes to focus his creative efforts on producing other artists' material. Nearly four months later, the rapper has released a retrospective collection featuring a handful of fresh tracks, slapped with the ominous title Curtain Call.

If this is the last we'll hear from Eminem for a while, at least he's going out on a high note. Curtain Call: The Hits racked up first-week sales of nearly 441,000, earning Em the #1 spot on Billboard's albums chart — the fourth straight chart-topping debut of his career. 2004's Encore achieved week-one sales of 711,000 for a #1 debut, while 2002's The Eminem Show and 2000's The Marshall Mathers LP both sold over 1 million copies to open on top.

According to SoundScan figures, Eminem's latest Billboard conquest came during a rather robust week at retail, likely triggered by last week's Grammy nominations as well as the vigorous spending habits of holiday shoppers. Curtain Call claimed Billboard's crown handily, outselling its two closest competitors by more than 200,000 copies. Lil' Wayne's Tha Carter II debuts at #2 with more than 238,000 scans while Korn's first studio LP without former guitarist Brian "Head" Welch, See You on the Other Side, opens in the #3 slot with sales of close to 221,000.

One of the week's more disappointing debuts belongs to Lindsay Lohan's sophomore outing, A Little More Personal (Raw). While 2004's Speak cracked the chart at #4 with sales of 261,000 plus, More Personal just barely made the top 20, selling fewer than 82,000 copies. Lohan's wasn't the only new LP that failed to live up to expectations: Collectables by Ashanti debuts at #59 with 35,000 scans while labelmate Ja Rule comes in at #107 with 19,000 copies of his Exodus sold.

Other newcomers to chart include former Nappy Headz member T-Pain's Rappa Ternt Sanga, which opens at #40 with 47,000 in sales, and reggaetén artist Don Omar's Da Hitman Presents Reggaetén Latino, which debuts at #61 with 32,000 discs sold.

Several artists, fresh from celebrating Grammy recognition, enjoyed a boost this week. Sales of Mariah Carey's The Emancipation of Mimi, which scored eight nominations in all, surged 38 percent to finish at #8 with 151,000 copies sold. Gwen Stefani's Love, Angel, Music, Baby experienced a 76 percent increase in retail interest, for a total of 53,000 plus scans and a #38 finish. Likewise, sales of Kelly Clarkson's Breakaway, Fall Out Boy's From Under the Cork Tree, Black Eyed Peas' Monkey Business, Coldplay's X&Y and Gorillaz's Demon Days all shot up significant percentages.

One of the week's biggest gainers was James Blunt's Back to Bedlam, which jumps ahead 29 positions on to take #47 on the chart with sales nearing 41,000. The debut album from the British songwriter, who recently appeared on "Saturday Night Live," experienced a 109 percent spike after 10 weeks in stores.

[Comments: 6] Posted By: Porky

50 Cent Ready To Shoot... Again

Not content with dominating the music industry, 50 Cent is moving full speed ahead in yet another medium. Now that he's made his acting debut in Get Rich or Die Tryin', 50 is looking to produce films.

After successful ventures into video games, fashion and acting, the rapper also known as Curtis "Interscope" Jackson recently completed a development deal with Sony to produce films.

"When I come across a screenplay that's as exciting as my life story, then I will commit to it," 50 recently told MTV Europe.

This won't be 50's first experience with production. The rapper previously worked with Digital Sin and G-Unit Adult Films to produce Groupie Love, an award-winning interactive DVD offering a peek into the X-rated lifestyle of a rapper.

Although 50 does not currently have any works in queue for production, he has voiced plans to turn his forthcoming G-Unit series of fiction books into DVD films, if not theatrical releases. The G-Unit books are slated for publication in 2007.

[Comments: 6] Posted By: Porky

Lil' Flip Launching Watch Collection

Houston, Texas rapper Lil’ Flip is entering into the jewelry business and launching his own line of luxury time pieces called Clover G. Watches, with Houston area jeweler, Johnny the Jeweler.

“I got three different prices for the three different type of classes, the hood class, the middle class and the ni***s who just go money,” Lil’ Flip told us.

According to Flip, fans that purchase his upcoming album I Need Mine will have the chance to win one of the watches, as well as several other valuable prizes.

“I'm giving away five Clover G chains and five watches; there are ten tickets, so you will win a watch or a Clover G chain,” Flip said. “My whole career, I've been given the fans s**t. I am probably one of the few artists that's still taking show money and goes and prints up his own t-shirts, bandannas to give 'em away.”

Flip will continue his generous ways with his upcoming album, which also comes with a limited edition companion DVD.

The album will also be available in a chopped and screwed version and features appearances from MJG, Lyfe Jennings, Yukmouth, Nate Dogg, ZRO and others.

“Some ni***s think they too cool to give they fans s**t,” Flip continued. “I been doing that from day one. I gave out a hundred bikes for Steve Harvey in L.A.; I gave out 50 bikes in Houston, we still giving out s**t man.”

The Clover G. Watches will retail for $800, $1500, $2500. Flip’s album I Need Mine hits stores Feb. 28.

[Comments: 5] Posted By: Porky

Snoop Dogg Gets In The Game With Sports Advisory Company

Snoop Dogg is hoping to test his hustler's spirit in the world of sports advisory. The rapper recently teamed up with New England Patriots linebacker Willie McGinest to form Icon Sports & Entertainment.

The firm, which is also co-owned by McGinest's agent, Gary Uberstine, is said to focus on aiding college football stars in breaking into the world of entertainment.

The firm's first project is rumored to be casting athletes in "Coach Snoop," an upcoming film that will be produced by Snoop and will be loosely based on his experience as a football coach for his son's little league team.

Snoop and McGinest's friendship began back at Long Beach Polytechnic High School, where the two were classmates.

The joint venture is the latest of Snoop's forays outside of the world of music. He was also recently named as executive producer of XM Satellite Radio's Hip-Hop channel The Rhyme. In his new role, the rapper will be responsible for providing creative direction for the channel and assisting in the development of new programming. He also currently hosts "Welcome to Da Chuuch," which debuted on the satellite network over a year ago.

[Comments: 6] Posted By: Porky

Kanye, Ludacris & Others Team Up For Christmas With MTV

Kanye West, Rev. Run, Young Jeezy, and Common will be joining Shakira, Fall Out Boy, All-American Rejects, and Adam Levine to ring in the New Year with MTV.

“For years, New Year’s Eve on MTV has always meant showcasing the best new music for our viewers,” said Dave Sirulnick, Executive VP, MTV News and Production. “2005 is no different. With amazing performances by some of the biggest artists from the past year, we will feature wall-to-wall music straight through to 2006.”

The show will be hosted by the MTV VJs Damien Fahey, Vanessa Minnillo, Quddus Phillippe, LA La Vasquez, and Susie Castillio. The sponsors
for the show are Warner Bros. Pictures, GM (Pontiac) and Skechers.

Multi-platinum rapper/actor Ludacris will also be joining in on the festivities.

The MTV crew followed Ludacris to Mississippi, where he surprised some high school students devastated by Hurricane Katrina with some early Christmas gifts.

A gift of $57,000 worth of band equipment was donated to the school from the Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation and the Grammy Foundation, MTV donated $10,000 for much needed school supplies that were lost during the hurricane and $10,000 in scholarships came from The Ludacris Foundation.

“MTV’s New Year of Music” airs on December 31, 2005 at 10:30pm ET, live from Times Square.