In this week's Hip-Hop charts, Fabolous gallops to a personal best, Ja Rule projects a "wonderful" debut, Jay-Z and R. Kelly plummet and Ying Yang Twins debut quietly.

Fresh out the gate this Tuesday, new releases by Fabolous and Ja Rule are moving out the stores and racing to the top of the charts. With "Breathe" still spinning healthily, Fabolous is poised to surpass numbers set by his previous releases. According to early reports, Real Talk is on pace to move up to 200,000 units according to Hits. Meanwhile, Ja Rule is expected to sell up to 150,000 copies of R.U.L.E. behind the success of his "New York" and "Wonderful singles."

Meanwhile, Nelly's Suit continues to rise despite a 10% decline. In its 8th week, the record leaps two slots to #3 selling 118,000 copies according to Nielsen's Soundscan.

At #8, Trick Daddy is already halfway through his quest for gold. With a 44% hit, Thug Matrimony: Married To The Streets slips 6 positions to find 81,000 new custumers according to Soundscan.

After a #1 debut last week, Jay-Z and R. Kelly's Unfinished Business has lost nearly two thirds of its sales. With lawsuits and scandal surrounding it, the record free falls 67% and 9 slots to #10 selling 71,000 copies in its second week according to Soundscan.

Two slots behind, Ying Yang Twins have registered solid numbers despite a non existent promotional campaign. In its first week, My Brother And Me lands at #12 and sells 58,000 LP's according to Soundscan.

Further down the charts, Nelly's Sweat has slowed down its fall. With a 14% slide, the set drops two spots to #27 and pushes 32,540 copies according to the Hits charts.

Rounding out the Top 30, Black Eyed Peas have once again managed to boost their sales. In its 72nd week on the charts, Elephunk jumps 11% and 9 spots to #29 and sells 31,059 albums according to the Hits charts.

Two slots behind, Mos Def is persistently posting good numbers. In its 4th week, The New Danger slumps 30% and 14 positions to #31 selling 30,191 CD's according to the Hits charts.

Lastly, LL Cool J and Young Buck minimize their losses and Queen Latifah keeps moving off the shelves. Ten weeks into the charts, Uncle L has been reducing his deficit. With an 8% slip, DEFinition slides 5 spots to #33 selling 27,386 CD's while Young Buck's Straight Outta Cashville slips 4% and 3 slots to move 27,383 CD's according to the Hits charts. Rounding out the bottom of the charts, Queen Latifah is holding on in her 5th week with The Dana Owens album sliding 21% and 12 positions to #43 with 24,053 CD's according to the Hits charts.

Next week, look for Fabolous, Ja Rule to enter the charts while Eminem makes an 'encore' performance.

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The now retired Jay-Z once again set things straight on “Last Call with Carson Daly” Wednesday night (November 10), addressing rumors that he’s working with Producer Dr. Dre and why he took another chance on the Best of Both Worlds tour with R&B star R. Kelly.

According to Jay, after Kelly left Madison Square Garden the night of the pepper spray incident, multi-platinum R&B artist Usher, who was in the audience, eagerly offered his assistance.

“That was really a big thing for me to see him do that [because] he’s a superstar in his own right and he performed with no backing music, no anything,” said Jay. “He just grabbed the mic and sounded just like the record.”

Jay revealed he didn’t perceive the Best of Both Worlds tour as a competition with Kelly until things came to a halt.

“Everything was supposed to be, you do the best at what you do, I do the best at what I do,” said Jay. “Now that everything has come to fruition, I see it was a competition.”

According to Jay, Kelly’s legal troubles regarding child pornography tapes were the main reason the initial venture between the two superstars failed.

“I was like let’s fall back from this project because real life comes before entertainment,” said Jay of the first attempt.

Despite the collapse of the recent tour, the duo's album Unfinished Business was the number one record in the country last week.

Jay didn’t entirely dismiss a potential collaboration with Dr. Dre, who has worked with Universal label mates Eminem and 50 Cent on their multi-platinum albums.

“I [saw] Dre in L.A. one time and we just talked about how magical that would be,” said Jay. “I don’t know how that spread so far, but it really went a long way.”

Jay went on to chastise the recording industry for focusing too much on the business instead of the music.

The Brooklyn emcee discussed his incentive for possibly joining Def Jam as a top executive, a story that has been widely reported in the past weeks.

“My whole thing is to get in place where I can put the focus back on artistry, put the music first,” said Jay.

Regarding the release of his last album The Black Album, Jay explained that he originally wanted to put it out “under the radar” without singles or promotion.

The Black Album was released last year and Jay’s film "Fade to Black" was released in theatres November 5.

Jay is also reportedly in talks with Universal Music Group along with Roc-A-Fella co-founders Damon Dash and Kareem “ Biggs” Burke to sell Roc-A-Fella Records.

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On Sunday November 14th, Reverend Run of Run-DMC will celebrate a milestone in his life, his 40th birthday.

The retired rapper-turned Reverend said he will spend the entire day praising the lord.

“It really is an important milestone. It’s my 40th, I’m excited because it falls on a Sunday. I can spend all day in church praising God,” Run told AllHipHop.com.

When finished praising, Rev. Run said he would treat himself to a half-a-million dollar birthday present.

“Instead of throwing some big ol’ party, I am going to go pick up a platinum Phantom Rolls-Royce, 2005,” Run said.

Run, born Joseph Simmons, heads up Run Athletics. The company has sold over $100 million dollars worth of Phat Farm sneakers and clothing apparel, which Run attributes to his positive outlook on life and his focus on God.

The company hopes to duplicate the success of their previous footwear lines with the launch of their latest sneaker, named after African-American tennis legend, Arthur Ashe.

“At the end of the day, it’s all about celebrating life and prosperity,” Run said of turning 40. “You are always becoming that which you are conscious of being.”

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Tupac's 7th posthumous album, "Loyalty To The Game" will drop December 14, 2004 with production from Eminem, Scott Storch, Rapheal Saddiq and Red Spyda and guest appearances from Lloyd Banks, Young Buck, Obie Trice, Nate Dogg, and Eminem

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Dr. Dre's on again off again Detox project is once again on and rumored to be looking at a Fall 2005 release date.

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Look for another Roots project, Game Theory, to drop August 2005

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