After stepping away from the mic for a spell, Southern hip-hop artist and former Timbaland protégé Bubba Sparxxx is back, having signed a new label deal with Koch Records.

Sparxxx recently inked a deal with Koch Records for his New South Entertainment imprint and is planning a re-entry into the game with an as-yet-untitled fourth solo album slated for a summer '08. Along with the new release, Sparxxx is also prepping releases for his stable of artists on his New South label, which are scheduled to be released after Sparxxx's CD.

"Bubba Sparxxx is the rapper's rapper," Koch general manager Alan Grunblatt said via statement. "He continually surprises his fans with his diversity and comes out with hit after hit. We're thrilled to be working with him."

The rapper has reportedly sold a combined 1.3 million records from his three previous releases. Since Sparxxx' 2001 gold-selling debut album Dark Days, Bright Nights which produced the single "Ugly," the rapper has gone on to release 2003'scritically acclaimed album Deliverance also via Interscope and 2006's The Charm on Big Boi from OutKast's label, Purple Ribbon. The hit single "Ms. New Booty" spawned from The Charm and went on to become a large seller in the ringtone market.