Mariah Carey Projected To Sell Over 500K Discs In Debut Week

After making television appearances on "Oprah" and "American Idol," Mariah Carey is poised to make another #1 debut with her latest release E=MC².

Carey's promotional blitz for her eleventh studio album E=MC² appears to be working. Just a day after the project's release, trade publication HitsDailyDouble is already projecting that over 500,000 copies of the album will be sold in its first week; great news for Mariah, who recently made history by tying The Beatles record with eighteen #1 hits on the Billboard charts.

Taking their cue from one-day sales reports, experts are speculating that Carey may even reach 600,000 copies sold, making her the favorite for the #1 spot on the album sales charts by a wide margin. Mariah's success will upend British newcomer, Leona Lewis whose debut album Spirit was released last week.

While Lewis registered big in her debut, Carey is out to prove she's not nearly finished with her reign over the charts. The predicted sales success of Mariah's E=MC² comes after the project was leaked online two weeks ahead of its release date.

E=MC² is currently available in stores and at online retailers via Island Records.

"Janeé Bolden"

Carmelo Anthony Apologizes For DUI

Denver Nuggets forward Carmelo Anthony spoke out. Courtesy Of CBS

Uncle Murda Interview Confirms Jay-Z & Beyone Getting Marrried & Papoose Is Floppin "He Rhyme Too Long"

New Uncle Murda interview. Courtesy Of WhatsPoppin.Net

Freekey Zekey Recounts Brush W/ Death, "My Car Flew Up In The Air & Landed On A Hummer"

After getting into a near lethal car crash earlier this week, Dipset prez Freekey Zekey is out of the hospital, recovering at home. SOHH caught up with Zekey as he recounted the night's events, including the questionable treatment he said he received from police.

As previously reported by SOHH, Zeke was involved in a crash that left his 2007 white S550 Mercedes Benz totaled in a three car pile-up on Tuesday (April 15) at 115^th Street and 1^st Ave in Manhattan. Though the rapper managed to escape with relatively minor injuries, he says he feels like he could have easily been killed in the wreck.

"I was coming up 115^th and 1^st, and my driver was driving, I had three girls in the back and all of a sudden the n*gga runs the red light and hit my car," he explained. "People that witnessed it said that my car flew up in the air and landed on a Hummer, and the Hummer was parked."

Zeke, who said he was released from the hospital at around 8 a.m. yesterday, revealed that he did not see the driver of the other vehicle and does not know what kind of car hit him. He said that the experience was almost surreal for him and that he and the other passengers in the car suffered injuries from the crash.

"No homo, but my jaw's kind of f*cked up right now," he joked. "My neck, my back, my neck and my back, they both hurt. I mean, right now I can joke about it, but I'm really in pain."

"One of the girls had a seizure," he continued. "Another one's back is all f*cked up and the other one got 12 stitches in her face from her forehead to the top of her nose."

The Dipset MC says that he received what he feels was questionable treatment from the NYPD who were on the scene as well.

"I wasn't even driving and they had me take a breathalyzer test," he said. "Then, they put the neon lights all in my car to see if there were drugs or drug residue and all that. They brought the dogs...I mean, I'm a rapper. What are you doing this for?"

Though he has yet to get an estimate, Freekey says that the car suffered extensive damage and will take a hefty amount of cash to repair.

"The car, it ain't totaled, but the right side of the back seat is on the left side right now, the rear view mirror is in the trunk...I mean, it was f*cked up."

But in true hustler fashion, Zeke phoned in for the interview while writing rhymes, prepping his as-yet-untitled sophomore release on Big Cat Records - former home of Gucci Mane.

Zeke says that fans can expect appearances from Jim Jones, Juelz Santana, Hell Rell and Lil' Wayne on the LP which he says will be released by year's end. Feeling compelled to continue working, Zeke feels no need to dwell on the accident.

"I'm always good spirited, but for real, everybody needs to keep they seatbelts on," he added. "Oh, and them airbags, they feel like old school [Marvin] Haglar in his prime. They almost knocked me out. Shout out to Kanye West."

Update: Aries Spears Escapes Jail Time For Molesting Woman

Aries Spears will get a slap on the wrist for his wandering hands.

As SOHH previously reported, The "MADtv" comic was charged with "forcible touching" and admitted to "high-fiving" a woman's breast during his stand-up routine at the Comix comedy club in Manhattan's Meatpacking District in February.

He pleaded guilty yesterday (April 16) for hitting the woman in the front row, but won't do jail time as long as he stays out of trouble for the next year, according to New York's Daily News. If he molests another woman within the next 12 months, he'll have to do 15 days in the slammer.

"You can't high-five a woman's breast," Assistant District Attorney Elizabeth Pederson told the comedian yesterday.

Spears has gained popularity as a regular on "MADtv" for his impressions of James Brown, Jay-Z, LL Cool J, DMX and Eddie Murphy.

"Brandi Hopper"

Akon Lied About Criminal Past, Singer Barely A Con At All Says Reports

Though his 2004 break out hit, "Locked Up," resonated with fans for its gritty real-life lyrics, R&B star Akon reportedly wasn't locked up for as long as he claimed.

In previous interviews Akon (born Aliaune Thiam) said he headed an infamous car-theft ring and claimed to have spent more than four years in prison.

Investigative news outlet The Smoking Gun revealed the singer's rap sheet, in an expose yesterday (April 16), that discounted the singer's claims. They reported that among the Grammy award winning artist's six arrests, the only felony conviction he had was for gun possession, and for that charge, the rapper got off on three years probation.

TSG also reported that in 1998 Akon was in fact jailed for possession of a stolen BMW, but for months, not years. All charges were later dropped and the rapper was released - a far cry from the tale he tells on wax in his sophomore set Konvicted.

Akon's representatives at his label Universal Motown had no comment when contacted.

"Brandi Hopper"

Hip Hop Album Sales: Week Ending 4/13/08

It's a slow week on the charts for Hip Hop and R&B as the highest selling artist, R&B crooner Ray-J [click to read feature], sold just under 39,000 with his fourth release, All I Feel, and landed the #7 spot on the chart. The #1 spot was granted to UK sensation Leona Lewis and her US debut of Spirit. Following after Ray-J, Rick Ross's Trilla comes in at #8 selling 34,000 units while the ladies of Danity Kane round out the top 10 with about 28,000 copies sold of Welcome to the Dollhouse. It seems as if the buzz has been wearing off for Danity Kane's male counterparts, Day 26, as they come in at #18 and experience a 53% sales decline, selling under 24,000 copies of their self-titled debut. Top 200 Album Sales (Top 5 Hip Hop/R&B) Rank Artist Album This Week Total 7 Ray-J All I Feel 38816 39179 8 Rick Ross Trilla 34239 416379 10 Danity Kane Welcome To The Dollhouse 27662 399370 18 Day 26 Day 26 23881 265020 22 Flo Rida Mail On Sunday 20997 168720 Flo Rida finally falls out of the top 20 with Mail on Sunday selling just under 21,000 and landing him the #22 spot this week. Gnarls Barkley's The Odd Couple still struggles to gain recognition despite rave reviews. The duo sold about 18,000 and took the #27 spot on the charts. Trina's Still Da Baddest takes a significant drop from #6 to #28 selling roughly 18k as well. Snoop Dogg's Ego Trippin was met with mediocre reviews that seems to be reflecting on the charts as well. The veteran rapper sold just over 18k and landed the #30 spot. Meanwhile, Living Legends dropped their 10th album since 1999 selling about 2,600 copies of Gathering. Other Notables... Rank Artist Album This Week Total 27 Gnarls Barkley The Odd Couple 18311 101372 28 Trina Still Da Baddest 18231 65034 30 Snoop Dogg Ego Trippin 18077 263933 -- Living Legends Gathering 2674 2711 Stay tuned as later this month Prodigy, Atmosphere and The Roots all try to make noise on the charts. Can indie favorites, Kidz In The Hall, find room in the Top 200?