The Colossus is the first album on RJD2’s recently launched record label, RJ’s Electrical Connection. The album is out Jan. 19 with the tour kicking off 10 days before that.

The tour begins Jan. 9 at the 9:30 Club in Washington, D.C. and wraps up Feb. 20 at the Canopy Club in Urbana, Ill.

Additional dates include The Masquerade in Atlanta (Jan. 16), The Valarium in Knoxville, Tenn. (Jan. 19), Skully’s Music Diner in Columbus, Ohio (Feb. 5), Headliners Music Hall in Louisville, Ky. (Feb. 7), Tipitina’s Uptown in New Orleans (Feb. 11) and Emo’s in Austin, Texas (Feb. 13). More dates will be added soon.

The tour will mark RJD2’s first outing with a full band since 2008.

To get fans pumped about the new album, RJD2 is hosting “Monday Giveaway Madness” on RJD2’s website every Monday until the release of The Colossus.

Every Monday fans have the chance to win a giveaway, which RJD2 (born Ramble John “RJ” Krohn) explains “some weeks it might be a singular physical item, some weeks it might be an unreleased song in mp3 format. I really have no idea exactly what, but it’s not gonna be pocket lint-caliber, that’s for sure. Some weeks it will require participation, some weeks it won’t.”

Next Monday’s prize is a signed copy of an RJD2 45 record from the artist’s personal collection. “These are all WAAAAY out of print, limited edition in the first place, and some of them sell for 50-100 bucks on ebay, I’m told,” he said.

To win the record, RJD2 is bribing fans with a little writing assignment.

“You’ve heard a million times why you SHOULD vote. This time, I want you to provide the most compelling reason NOT to vote.”

RJD2 asks that fans keep their arguments under 200 words. Entries must be sent to [email protected] by Nov.14. That’s tomorrow!

The winning entry will be posted on RJD2’s website and the record will be shipped to the winner absolutely free.

The week before RJD2 gave away an unreleased mp3, the tune “The Perfect Occasion.”

Tonight R2D2 performs at Douglass College Center in New Brunswick, N.J., in support of Lemonade. Nov. 28 the act opens for Lotus at Terminal 5 in New York.

Click here for RJD2’s website.

Click here for RJD2’s MySpace page.