In 2007, Atlanta artists continue to prove their city's prowess as the Southern mecca of hip-hop, as they come through with more big hits than Alex Rodriguez. With new albums on the way from T.I., Joc and DJ Drama, MTV News decided to fill you in on the next invasion of ATLiens. Charts, beware.

Gorilla Zoe
With his gravelly voice and measured flow, Boyz N Da Hood's newest inductee, Gorilla Zoe, hopes to fill the shoes of departing member Young Jeezy and keep the movement moving, Menudo-style. Featured heavily on DJ Smallz and Block's mixtape Welcome to My Block 2, Zoe can also be found spitting alongside fellow Block Entertainment mate Yung Joc on his new single "Coffee Shop."
Next up: the video for "Coffee Shop" followed by BNDH's sophomore project, Back Up in Da Chevy, due August 7.

AllHipHop.com: Speaking of, have Diddy and Nas contacted you?

Royce da 5�9�: I talked with Diddy while I was [writing for his Play album]. He likes me as an artist, and expressed that when I�m ready. he is interested in listening, but I wasn�t ready at the time. And Nas has made public comments about me, but he hasn�t contacted me personally.

AHH: Do you want another major label record deal?

Royce da 5�9�: I�m going to get one. That�s the plan with this album. We are going to finish it, shop it and find the right place for me.

I always find it interesting when small personal projects, like my Biggie Smalls portraits, strike a chord with a public audience and go on to have life of their own. Being of a certain age I wouldn't exactly call myself a rap or hip hop aficionado - but I do know a great face when I see one and Biggie Smalls was one cool looking guy. I came across some photos of the Notorious B.I.G. when I was researching possible images for a mural project I was working on - a 30' x 15' wall of my album cover paintings. The mural, now located in Jacksonville, FL, needed to have a wide cross section of musical styles represented and I was looking for recording artists that were well known to most people. I found two vintage black and white promotional images of Biggie that reminded me of the kind of old school look that the jazz cats of the 1950s and the Blues guys of the 1930 used to have - "Cool" as they could possibly be. ...

Several days after the album came out I was very surprised to get a photo emailed to me by Mick Boogie of him and P Diddy holding the CD with my album cover artwork (see below). I have received several emails from folks who appeared on the album expressing their appreciation of the cover and Mick is having me do a very large version of the cover done that will be given to P Diddy to hang up in the offices of Bad Boy Entertainment."

The Choose Success Awards will honor and award students from Atlanta Public Schools and Dekalb County Schools who have made a difference through community service and who have also made significant improvements in school.