NEWS: 2-9-06 :: Frankie J new LP :: Toby on tour :: Papoose inks deal

On October 17 Frankie J will issue his third album Priceless, via Columbia. The set features guest appearances from Bone Thugs-N-Harmony and Slim of 112, and production by Bryan Michael Cox and StarGate, among others. Frankie J wrote or co-wrote every track on the album, including lead single That Girl, which was produced by Mannie Fresh and features Chamillionaire.

Ryan Toby is touring with Claudette Ortiz. They will perform at the THEATRE OF LIVING ARTS, 334 South St, Philadelphia, 19147 (215) 922-1011 - Tuesday September 12; at the NOKIA THEATRE 1515 Broadway at W44th Street, New York, NY - Monday October 2; and at LOVE 1350 OKIE ST. WDC 20002 - Friday October 20

Ryan Toby has finally decided to make his next project a solo effort. Ryan's debut offering Soul Of A Songwriter, released through Mass Appeal Entertainment and his own independent label (Overflow Entertainment), delivers an album destined to rejuvenate the lost R&B singer tradition of smoothly sensitive urban music.

Eminem has teamed up with Nike to create a limited edition set of the company's Air Max series shoe. The effort will go towards raising money for the lyricist's Marshall Mathers Foundation and ninemillion.org. Eminem designed limited-edition uppers of eight different shoes in the series, from the Air Max '87 to Air Max 360. The shoes are numbered and autographed by the rapper and are being auctioned off over the next four-weeks at Nike stores worldwide and on eBay.

New York MC, Papoose, has finally inked a deal. The rapper has signed a deal with Jive Records, for a reported $1.5 million. According to an announcement posted on his management Violator's website, the deal is official, but no further specifics were mentioned.

Pitbull is gearing up to release his sophomore album, El Mariel on TVT Records. Pitbull is now more preoccupied with preserving the image of his isla bonita, Cuba, and unmasking President George W. Bush's misguided war. With the new album, named after the infamous Cuban boatlift that relocated almost 125,000 cubanos to Florida, Pitbull is determined to make the biggest impact a Latino has made in hip-hop since Big Pun.

Talib Kweli's next solo album, Ear Drum, will be the first release under his newly formed Blacksmith Music/Warner Bros. imprint. Due later this year, the set features guests including Hi-Tek, UGK's Bun B and Pimp C and Raheem DeVaughn. The first single is Listen.

E-40's latest album, My Ghetto Report Card, has been certified gold with sales upwards of 500,000. Executive produced by Lil' Jon, the album debuted at #1 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Charts and #3 on Billboard 200 Chart, with the help of the lead single Tell Me When 2 Go, featuring Keak Da Sneak.

Chicago MC, Common, has been tapped to participate in a new ad campaign fom the Gap. The artist will join fellow celebrities Aaron Eckhart, Jeremy Piven, Mia Farrow and Natasha Bedingfield for the store's 'T-Shirt Shop' ad campaign. The recently launched venture will focus on the Gap's new line of T-shirt's as the company celebrates its heritage in self-expression and individuality.

Fat Joe has left Atlantic Records, for Virgin Records, where he will release his new album, Me, Myself & I, in a joint venture with Imperial Records, a new urban label development unit of Caroline Distribution. The rapper said previously that he would release the album through his own Terror Squad imprint.

Singer Stevie Wonder has performed at a New Orleans concert to mark one year since Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf coast of the US. The Motown star and local musicians, including jazz trumpeter Winton Marsalis, took part in the Rebuilding the Soul of America gig.

Following his recent stand-out performances and classic quotable verses media, DJs, fans and the Hip-Hop community as a whole have been anxiously awaiting the debut solo album from Kenn Starr. This time has finally come, and the first single off of his debut album Starr Status hit airwaves and record stores in July, receiving widespread praise and attention and becoming an instant DJ favorite. Against The Grain, the first single off of Starr Status, is produced by beatmaker extraordinaire, Illmind.

UK R&B singer, Jamelia is unhappy with her record label's decision to release her comeback single on September 11. The R&B singer has complained that she will feel uncomfortable promoting her song Something About You on the anniversary of the New York terror attacks.

K-os returns with his most personal album yet, Atlantis - Hymns for Disco, to be released in October. To kick things off before the summer ends the first track entitled, ElectriK Heat - the seekwiLL, makes it's debut exclusively at iTunes on Tuesday, August 15, as the 'Single of the Week.'