NEWS: 8-8-06 :: Gnarls Barkley climb :: T.I. in flick :: Supernat breaks record

Gnarls Barkley's Smiley Faces moved 9 spots up this week to #9 in the UK radio airplay charts. Gnarls are ex-Goodie Mob soul eccentric, Cee-Lo and underground master-masher, Danger Mouse. While the latter is no stranger to infamy, being the man responsible for the legendary Grey Album bootleg, this is essentially Cee-Lo's first real taste of the mainstream, and it’s about time too.

Three 6 Mafia has signed a three-year deal with Warner Bros. Records for its production company Hypnotize Minds Productions. Warner Bros. will market, promote, and distribute new HMP artists as well as work together on movies and video games. Additionally, Hypnotize Minds will produce for Warner Bros. artists. They are eyeing a December release for their next studio album.

R&B songstress Monica is preparing to releaseher fourth album, The Makings of Me, due September 26 via J. The set is led by the single Everytime Tha Beat Drop, which was produced by Jermaine Dupri and features Dem Franchize Boyz. Other producers include Missy Elliott, Bryan Michael Cox, Sean Garrett and the Underdogs.

Former No Limit soldier, Magic, has just signed a deal with TVT Records, where he will release his tentatively titled Before & After. He's been creating a buzz locally since the late 90s, when he grabbed the attention of C-Murder, who immediately signed him to Tru Records. With his buzz high, C-Murder's brother Master P took notice and moved the rapper over to his own No Limit Records. Now, after finding a home at TVT, the rapper feels its time to come back full force.

Ex-Destiny's Child member Letoya Luckett's solo debut LeToya is set to feature well on Billboard's Top 200 Pop chart, based off the strength of her hit single Torn. The Hip-Hop heavy album features cameos from Houston rappers Slim Thug, Mike Jones, Bun B, Killa Kyleon and Paul Wall, as well as production by Just Blaze, Jermaine Dupri, Scott Storch and others.

T.I. is adding more acting to his resume as he stars in the film American Gangster. The Atlanta-bred MC will work alongside veterans Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe, which is being directed by Ridley Scott. American Gangster tells the story of a 1970's drug lord who smuggles heroin into Harlem inside of Vietnam soldiers coffins. T.I. has signed on to play the nephew of Denzel Washington's character Frank Lucas, while Crowe will star in the film as Detective Richie Roberts. American Gangster is slated to hit theaters in 2007.

Lil' Kim is developing a prisoner outreach initiative through her Lil' Kim Cares foundation, searching for a record deal, getting business training and editing footage of the second season of her reality series, Lil' Kim: Countdown to Lockdown.

Kanye West will open for the Rolling Stones on the legendary rock group's A Bigger Bang North American tour. West will team with the Stones on their stop at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro, Mass. on Sept 20. The rapper will then head to Halifax, Nova Scotia for a date at Halifax Commons on Sept. 23. On Sept. 27, West and the Stones will head back to the United States for a performance at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ. In November, West will hit the road with Irish rock group U2, for a series of rescheduled dates in Australia and New Zealand.

Formerly signed to The Inc./Def Jam, R&B singer Lloyd has joined producer Jazze Pha's Sho'Nuff/Atlantic base and is working on the follow-up to his 2004 debut, Southside. The new set is preceded by the single You.

Cash Money Records CEO Bryan "Birdman" Williams, along with his brother and co-CEO Ronald "Slim" Williams just donated $3,000 to the Morningside Park Soccer Program in New York City. The donation, made on behalf of the label's foundation, Cash Money For Kids, was sent directly to the program to purchase new equipment.

At the Rock the Bells concert in Southern Cali, Supernatural came through and raised the art of emceeing to new heights by shattering the freestyle record held by Canadian rapper DO.