MOBB DEEP ECSTATIC AFTER LOSING LABEL DEAL

Rap duo MOBB DEEP have been dropped by their record label - and they're "thrilled".

A few weeks ago, the hip-hop stars found out that their twoyear relationship with JIVE RECORDS had been abruptly terminated by the label - but they're perfectly happy.

Member PRODIGY tells MTV.COM, "We wasn't surprised - we was more thrilled. Jive is a good label but they're R+B'ed out. They sell millions of records with BRITNEY SPEARS, R KELLY and all the big ones.

"Mobb Deep is a street-rap group. We from off the streets. We gotta move with a label that knows how to handle that street s**t. We gonna move on to bigger and better things now."

Despite the recent success of their track GOT IT TWISTED, their album AMERICA'S NIGHTMARE, which was released last year (04), hasn't yet passed the 500,000-sales mark.

But the rappers are certain their high regard in the rap community will land them a new deal very soon.

HAVOC says, "There's definitely a bidding war going on. We both knew, once Jive released us, it wasn't going to be no problem getting another deal. We got five different labels - I'm talking about heavy hitters - talking to us. It's just making a decision of where we gonna go this time."