Bidding Wars
The rap names that drew big interest from the major labels.
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Bidding Wars - Diddy and Jay Electronica were BFF's until the New Orleans MC decided to sign with Jay-Z's Roc Nation in November 2010 instead of Bad Boy. Obviously hurt, Diddy tweeted about the "Exhibit C" rapper's decision and hasn't spoken to him since, despite the olive branch Elect recently extended the two haven't made up yet. Jay wasn't the first uber-talented lyricist to slip through someone's fingers and he won't be the last. Take at look at some of the other highly contended breakout artists who were in the middle of label bidding wars of late. (Photos from left: Phil McCarten/PictureGroup, Ollie Millington/Redferns)
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Drake - Heavily buzzing off his "So Far Gone" mixtape, Drizzy Drake sparked perhaps the biggest bidding war in history with labels like Interscope and Universal looking to sign him. He eventually signed to Young Money/Universal for $2 million in 2009.(Photo: Sean O'Kane/BET Digital)
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50 Cent - Once blackballed, every label began bidding on 50 Cent when his mixtape buzz reached deafening proportions. He ended up signing with Dr. Dre and Eminem through Shady/Aftermath for a reported $1 million in 2002. (Photo: Scott Gries/Getty Images)
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Shyne - Fresh off a decade long prison sentence, Shyne inked a $1.5 million deal with Def Jam. (Photo: Robert Mecea / Newsmakers)
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Kid CuDi - With "Day 'N Nite" heating up the charts, CuDi built enough interest to get a $1.5 million deal from Universal Records back in 2008. (Photo: Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Bacardi)
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Nicki Minaj - The first female MC to make mainstream noise in years, Ms. Minaj had labels courting her prior to officially joining the Young Money family in 2009. (Photo: Radcliffe Roye/www.royephotography.com)
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Papoose - The lyricist behind one of the most impressive mixtape runs in recent hip hop history, Papoose inked a $1.5 million deal with Jive Records back in 2006. (Photo: Ray Tamarra/Getty Images)
Photo By Photo: Ray Tamarra/Getty Images
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T.I. - Undaunted after being dropped by Arista Records, T.I. took to the mixtape circuit and piqued the interest of several labels. In the end, he signed with Atlantic Records in 2003. (Photo: Vince Bucci/PictureGroup)
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Nas - Seemingly tired of being a longtime Columbia signee, Nas entertained joining The Inc. back in 2002. Four years later, Nas signed a lucrative contract with Def Jam. (Photo: Rick Diamond/Getty Images for BET)
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Ludacris - Legend has it that quite a few labels, including Bad Boy Records, courted Luda in the late '90s. The mouf of the South eventually signed with Def Jam. (Photos: Adrian Sidney/ PictureGroup)
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