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10 Rappers to Watch in 2012

Action Bronson

Out with the old, in with the new. Pop the hood for the 10 MCs teetering on the brink of stardom this year.

10 Rappers to Watch: Rewind
Rap / Hip-Hop Spotlight10

Iggy Azalea Signs to Interscope

Friday January 27, 2012

If you haven't heard of Iggy Azalea, you soon will. Iggy has signed a multi-album deal with Interscope Records. She spoke to Billboard shortly after the signing, saying that it took her a minute to decide which label to go with.

"I went around to every label," she tells Billboard.com. "I was like, 'Okay I want to meet your A&R, president, vice president, and marketing [team]. Who would do my marketing?' I wanted to know who'd be working on my project and I wanted to meet them."

"It's a family and it's a long-term commitment," Iggy adds. "People aren't just asking you to sign for one album. They're asking you to sign for like three or four, sometimes five. That's like a marriage."

Interscope head honcho Jimmy Iovine compared the rising rapper to 2Pac. Her response? "You're absolutely insane."

10 Rappers to Watch in 2012: And the No. 1 is...

Thursday January 26, 2012

All right boys and gals, we've finally reached the mountain top. I give you the #1 hip-hop artist to watch in 2012.

Chart Check: Drake on Top Again

Wednesday January 25, 2012

Drake has reason to celebrate this weekend, as his sophomore LP is still the best-selling rap album in the country. Take Care added 29,156 copies to his tally to retain its #4 spot on the Billboard 200 chart. Take Care has sold 1.3 million records since it first docked 11 weeks ago. Drizzy is followed closely by Jeezy who moved 19,373 units of TM 103: Hustlerz Ambition, bringing his sales-to-date total to 380,230.

Here's a breakdown of this week's 10 best-selling rap albums:

1. Drake, Take Care - 29k (1.3 million)
2. Young Jeezy, TM 103: Hustlerz Ambition - 19k (380k)
3. LMFAO, Sorry for Party Rocking - 16k (582k)
4. Jay-Z & Kanye West, Watch the Throne - 12k (1.2 million)
5. Lil Wayne, Carter IV - 10k (1.9 million)
6. J. Cole, Cole World: The Sideline Story - 6k (521k)
7. Common, The Dreamer/The Believer - 5k (111k)
8. Wale, Ambition - 5k (344k)
9. Pitbull, Planet Pit - 5k (324k)
10. Yo Gotti, Live from the Kitchen - 5k (21k)

10 Rappers to Watch in 2012: #2

Wednesday January 25, 2012

Eight down, two to go. At #2 is a Philly rapper with a penchant for metaphors. Any guesses? Give up? Here you go.

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