He's hoping his talent won't be a &#8220secret” much longer.

Ironton native and hip-hop music artist &#8220Gyfted” is releasing his debut album, &#8220Best Kept Secret” on Oct. 30.

&#8220This album is a big step in my career and I think it's going to open a lot of doors for me,” Gyfted said.

&#8220Š The reason for the title is because a lot of my fans feel like my music is on the same level or better than the mainstream rappers who are out now. But the mainstream doesn't know about me yet, hence I'm the ‘best kept secret.'”

Gyfted, also known as Ironton graduate Matt Johnson, said the album is a mix of love songs, club songs and even some storytelling tunes, all with a positive/spiritual emphasis. Gyfted wrote or co-wrote nearly all of the music on the album.

&#8220I have a few songs that feature other rappers and, of course, they write their own verses but I write my verses, the choruses, bridges.

&#8220There's a song on the album where I have a female R&B singer and I wrote her part so yeah, I love writing,” he said. &#8220I collaborated with some really talented people on this album. The album will feature a New Jersey rapper named Prodigal, a pretty well known Virginia rapper named Fokissed, an amazing R&B singer named Soulful, and another great rapper, Skeptikal. Soulful and Skeptikal are both from Columbus. And I even have my little brother, J-RoK featured on the album, so it's definitely filled with a lot of talent.”

Much of the promotion for the album will be over the Internet and by personal contact with music outlets.

&#8220I'll also be going out into the city to pass out flyers, go to the clubs and talk to DJ's, and I'm actually supposed to meet with a DJ from Power 107.5, our hip-hop/R&B station in Columbus and discuss getting radio play up here,” he said.

&#8220I also want to get in touch with KISS FM back home as well as WKEE and see if I can get radio play there also. I'll have rotation on all the local college radio stations. I'm also getting in contact with all the newspapers and news teams to run the story. So yeah, if anybody can help me out in anyway, they can contact me at gyfted@gyfted.com.”

The album may also be obtained by sending requests to: Matt Johnson, ATTN: Gyfted Music, 2656 Prendergast Place, Reynoldsburg, Ohio 43068. The price of the album is $10 plus $2 shipping and handling.