Jay-Z announces fall dates, releases new album

Jay-Z has moved up the release of his forthcoming new studio set, "The Blueprint 3," while announcing a fall North American tour in support of the album.

Originally scheduled to drop this Friday (9/11), "The Blueprint 3" hits stores today (9/8), pushing the set into the public gaze ahead of Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter's Sept. 11 benefit appearance at New York's Madison Square Garden.

Following the concert--which will also serve as a 9/11 tribute, with proceeds going to New York Police and Fire Widows' and Children's Benefit Fund, a charity that benefits the families of fallen police, fire fighters and other first responders--Jay-Z will head overseas for a few dates before launching a North American outing Oct. 9 in University Park, PA. The 19-city trek stretches through late November.

Dates for the US and Canada portions of the outing are shown below; the rapper's international tour schedule is posted at his MySpace