Miranda Pederson/Daily NewsTodd Claypool, also known as rapper Cleazy, is a Western Kentucky University senior on an academic scholarship and has a record deal with Universal Records. After graduating in the spring, Claypool says he'll go wherever his music career takes him.

Western Kentucky University student Todd Claypool is on a full academic scholarship pursuing a degree in business economics with a concentration in entrepreneurship.

Claypool graduates from Western Kentucky University in December 2007.

&#8220I’ll get there. Slow and steady wins the race,” Claypool said.

But his non-academic pursuits often have him in the spotlight.

As rapper Cleazy, Claypool already has an album and a mixtape record under his belt.

Cleazy received praise at the 2003 Billboard Music Awards from DMC of legendary rap group Run DMC and Big V of Kentucky-born Nappy Roots.

Cleazy’s &#8220Watch Ya Girl” video already rotates on MTV2 channel’s &#8220On the Rise” segment.

But Claypool will soon have a recording contract with Tony Draper’s Texas-based Suave House and Universal Records.

Draper is responsible for putting hit-makers 8Ball and MJG on the hip-hop scene, and launched a new label, Draper Inc., about four years ago.

The deal should be completed by the end of this week.

&#8220We were in talks with them for a few months,” Claypool said. &#8220That’s my first major deal.”

Claypool’s schooling came in handy when it came time to negotiate.

Claypool will own the rights to everything along with the digital rights – downloads, ringtones, merchandising for his music.

He has a lot on his plate, but school is his priority.

A comfortable and carefree person, Claypool will soon be on a hectic promotional tour, which will include a video, television and magazine advertisements and appearances.

Claypool is taking 15 credit hours this semester. One of his classes is a Web-based course.

&#8220Working around school isn’t an issue. There really aren’t enough hours in the day for me to do music,” Claypool said.

Professor Krist Schell, director of Western’s Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation, speaks highly of Claypool.

&#8220Working with him in meetings, he was always very practical and he understands management on an intuitive level and understands that management is about people and keeping your promises,” Schell said. &#8220He was one of the go-to-guys in the class meetings.”

Schell commented further on Claypool’s personality.

&#8220He’s very serious about what he’s doing. He’s very responsible. Very devout about what his commitments are, both to himself and his family. And I think that’s a terrific strength of his,” Schell said. &#8220He’s very careful and thoughtful. One of his tremendous strengths is his honesty. He knows where he’s going toward, he is thoughtful and conscientious.”

Claypool keeps up with several Web sites for his music career, including a Facebook.com page, Blackplanet.com, MP3.com and three Myspace.com profiles.

&#8220Myspace is what got me the deal,” Claypool said.

His own Web site is down at the moment, http://www.cleazy.com, until the release of his new album, &#8220the Gemini Project,” next year.

Claypool and manager Brian Walker of Walk With John Entertainment did everything themselves for Claypool’s initial records.

&#8220We’re just now starting to outsource and take some of that workload off,” Claypool said.

He said he has a variety of fans from all walks of life for what he calls a new sound for this part of the United States.

&#8220They’re calling Kentucky the mid-south. Our whole movement is a new sound,” Claypool said. &#8220My music is more influenced by East Coast more so than down south crunk.”

But don’t expect to be offended by his hip-hop music. Claypool has another approach – just being himself.

&#8220When I’m making music and working on a song, I look at it in a more intellectual way,” Claypool said. &#8220I’m in college. I’m not going to put myself out there like I’m ignorant. I’m doing me.”

Claypool is also planning to appear on a show that will be taped in Las Vegas called &#822016 bars.”

For now, information about the show and a profile of Cleazy is available at http://www.16bars.com.

&#8220I will be one of the artists on the show,” he said. No date is set yet for production.

Cleazy

Real name: Todd Claypool

Major: Business economics

School: WKU

Graduation: December ’07

Music: Mid-south, a mix of crunk and St. Louis style with an East Coast influence

Manager: Brian Walker, Walk with John Entertainment

Fanfare: http://www.16bars.com and http://www.myspace.com/cleazy