Rookie Class of 2009

See BET.com's picks for "Rookie Class of 2009." View photos now!

Rookie Class Of '09 - Today's Rookies, Tomorrow's Legends<br><br><br> Sponsored By KFC

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Rookie Class Of '09 - Today's Rookies, Tomorrow's Legends<br><br><br> Sponsored By KFC

Charles Hamilton - &lt;b&gt;From Where?:&lt;/b&gt; Harlem, NY&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;Sounds Like:&lt;/b&gt; I'm DMX meets Dave Chappelle, 50 meets Marilyn Manson, and now you can add Big L meets Trent Reznor, Daft Punk meets MOP and Kanye meets Brandon Boyd. &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;Projects Released:&lt;/b&gt; The Hamiltonization Process and an 8 blog mixtape tour.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;Signed To:&lt;/b&gt; Interscope&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;’09 Plans:&lt;/b&gt; Album release TBD

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Charles Hamilton - <b>From Where?:</b> Harlem, NY<br><br><b>Sounds Like:</b> I'm DMX meets Dave Chappelle, 50 meets Marilyn Manson, and now you can add Big L meets Trent Reznor, Daft Punk meets MOP and Kanye meets Brandon Boyd. <br><br><b>Projects Released:</b> The Hamiltonization Process and an 8 blog mixtape tour.<br><br><b>Signed To:</b> Interscope<br><br><b>’09 Plans:</b> Album release TBD

Advantage: Drake - Drake's &quot;Best I Ever Had&quot; single from his third mixtape, &quot;So Far Gone&quot; earned the Toronto native numerous nominations including two Grammy nods in 2010.

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Drake - <b>From Where?:</b> Toronto, Canada<br><br><b>Sounds Like:</b> A little bit of Lil Wayne and a dash of Kanye West <br><br><b>Projects Released:</b> Room For Improvement, Comeback Season, Heartbreak Drake, So Far Gone<br><br><b>Signed To:</b> Unsigned<br><br><b>’09 Plans:</b> Debut album Thank Me Later.

Cory Gunz - &lt;b&gt;From Where?:&lt;/b&gt; Bronx, NY&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;Sounds Like:&lt;/b&gt; A lyrical wizard&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;Projects Released:&lt;/b&gt; The Apprentice Vol 1 & 2 mixtape&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;Signed To:&lt;/b&gt; Nobody&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;’09 Plans:&lt;/b&gt; Unknown

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Cory Gunz - <b>From Where?:</b> Bronx, NY<br><br><b>Sounds Like:</b> A lyrical wizard<br><br><b>Projects Released:</b> The Apprentice Vol 1 & 2 mixtape<br><br><b>Signed To:</b> Nobody<br><br><b>’09 Plans:</b> Unknown

Jay Electronica - &lt;b&gt;From Where?:&lt;/b&gt; New Orleans, LA&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;Sounds Like:&lt;/b&gt; Another planet altogether&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;Projects Released:&lt;/b&gt; Style Wars EP & Scratches & Demo Tape Vol 1&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;Signed To:&lt;/b&gt; Nobody&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;’09 Plans:&lt;/b&gt; More music

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Jay Electronica - <b>From Where?:</b> New Orleans, LA<br><br><b>Sounds Like:</b> Another planet altogether<br><br><b>Projects Released:</b> Style Wars EP & Scratches & Demo Tape Vol 1<br><br><b>Signed To:</b> Nobody<br><br><b>’09 Plans:</b> More music

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Jay Rock - &lt;b&gt;From Where?:&lt;/b&gt;Nickerson Gardens in Watts CA&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;Sounds Like:&lt;/b&gt; People say Shine & The Game&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;Projects Released:&lt;/b&gt;Watts Finest Mixtape vol 1,2 & 3, No Sleep 2 NYC&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;Signed To:&lt;/b&gt; Top dawg Ent./WBR &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;’09 Plans:&lt;/b&gt; “I'm planning on taking over the rap game the same way Obama took over the white house. 2009 is mines!”

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Jay Rock - <b>From Where?:</b>Nickerson Gardens in Watts CA<br><br><b>Sounds Like:</b> People say Shine & The Game<br><br><b>Projects Released:</b>Watts Finest Mixtape vol 1,2 & 3, No Sleep 2 NYC<br><br><b>Signed To:</b> Top dawg Ent./WBR <br><br><b>’09 Plans:</b> “I'm planning on taking over the rap game the same way Obama took over the white house. 2009 is mines!”

Kid Cudi - &lt;b&gt;From Where?:&lt;/b&gt;Cleveland, OH&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;Sounds Like:&lt;/b&gt; Magnificence&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;Projects Released:&lt;/b&gt; A Kid Named Cudi Mixtape & Featured on Kanye West's 808's & Heartbreak&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;Signed To:&lt;/b&gt; Dream On/G.O.O.D. Music&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;’09 Plans:&lt;/b&gt; Day N Nite video coming soon, debut album coming Summer '09. Lead role on new HBO series: How To Make it in America

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Kid Cudi - <b>From Where?:</b>Cleveland, OH<br><br><b>Sounds Like:</b> Magnificence<br><br><b>Projects Released:</b> A Kid Named Cudi Mixtape & Featured on Kanye West's 808's & Heartbreak<br><br><b>Signed To:</b> Dream On/G.O.O.D. Music<br><br><b>’09 Plans:</b> Day N Nite video coming soon, debut album coming Summer '09. Lead role on new HBO series: How To Make it in America

Mickey Factz - &lt;b&gt;From Where?:&lt;/b&gt;The Boogie Down Bronx! Nyc! &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;Sounds Like:&lt;/b&gt; Big Daddy Kane mixed with Michael Jackson.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;Projects Released:&lt;/b&gt;In Search Of The N.E.R.D., Flashback Vol. 1, Heavens Fallout, The Leak Vol. 1 & The Leak Vol. 2 &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;Signed To:&lt;/b&gt; I'll let the secret out soon. But for now GFCnewyork &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;’09 Plans:&lt;/b&gt; To take over every aspect of media for 09

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Mickey Factz - <b>From Where?:</b>The Boogie Down Bronx! Nyc! <br><br><b>Sounds Like:</b> Big Daddy Kane mixed with Michael Jackson.<br><br><b>Projects Released:</b>In Search Of The N.E.R.D., Flashback Vol. 1, Heavens Fallout, The Leak Vol. 1 & The Leak Vol. 2 <br><br><b>Signed To:</b> I'll let the secret out soon. But for now GFCnewyork <br><br><b>’09 Plans:</b> To take over every aspect of media for 09

Pac Div - These West Coasters dedicated an entire song to one of college basketball's most storied rivalries, &quot;Duke Vs. North Carolina.&quot;

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Pacific Division (BeYoung, Like & Mibbs) - <b>From Where?:</b> Los Angeles<br><br><b>Sounds Like:</b> Everything you love but nothing you heard before.<br><br><b>Projects Released:</b> The Blendtape:Sealed For Freshness (2006)<br><br><b>Signed To:</b> Universal Motown<br><br><b>’09 Plans:</b> To release our debut album "Grown Kids Syndrome" and prove everyone wrong.

Tiron - &lt;b&gt;From Where?:&lt;/b&gt; Los Angeles&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;Sounds Like:&lt;/b&gt; All of his influences wrapped up in one mixed with the life of a black kid that grew up in a melting pot. &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;Projects Released:&lt;/b&gt; Handshakes & Pounds Vol. 1 Mixtape&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;Signed To:&lt;/b&gt; Unsigned&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;’09 Plans:&lt;/b&gt; Releasing the Ketchup mixtape early Feb, working on Pac Div's debut album.

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Tiron - <b>From Where?:</b> Los Angeles<br><br><b>Sounds Like:</b> All of his influences wrapped up in one mixed with the life of a black kid that grew up in a melting pot. <br><br><b>Projects Released:</b> Handshakes & Pounds Vol. 1 Mixtape<br><br><b>Signed To:</b> Unsigned<br><br><b>’09 Plans:</b> Releasing the Ketchup mixtape early Feb, working on Pac Div's debut album.

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U-N-I (Y-O & Thurzday) - &lt;b&gt;From Where?:&lt;/b&gt;Inglewood (Thurzday) & Inglewood via Seattle (Y-O) &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;Sounds Like:&lt;/b&gt;Progressive Hip-Hop/Honest Music/Substance over Style/Never-Cloned&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;Projects Released:&lt;/b&gt;Fried Chicken & Watermelon (2007)&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;Signed To:&lt;/b&gt; Honor Roll&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;’09 Plans:&lt;/b&gt; Release A Love Supreme (Spring 2009)

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U-N-I (Y-O & Thurzday) - <b>From Where?:</b>Inglewood (Thurzday) & Inglewood via Seattle (Y-O) <br><br><b>Sounds Like:</b>Progressive Hip-Hop/Honest Music/Substance over Style/Never-Cloned<br><br><b>Projects Released:</b>Fried Chicken & Watermelon (2007)<br><br><b>Signed To:</b> Honor Roll<br><br><b>’09 Plans:</b> Release A Love Supreme (Spring 2009)

Blu - &lt;b&gt;From Where?:&lt;/b&gt; AllOfSouthernCalifornia&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;Sounds Like:&lt;/b&gt; PlanetAsiaAndDresFromBlackSheepWithCommonSense.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;Projects Released:&lt;/b&gt; Blu&Exile &quot;BelowTheHeavens,&quot; C.R.A.C. &quot;thePieceTalks,&quot; Blu&Mainframe &quot;Johnson&Jonson&quot;&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;Signed To:&lt;/b&gt; NoOne &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;’09 Plans:&lt;/b&gt; MakeMoreMoney, ReleaseMoreMusic, AndBeSeenOnBET!

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Blu - <b>From Where?:</b> AllOfSouthernCalifornia<br><br><b>Sounds Like:</b> PlanetAsiaAndDresFromBlackSheepWithCommonSense.<br><br><b>Projects Released:</b> Blu&Exile "BelowTheHeavens," C.R.A.C. "thePieceTalks," Blu&Mainframe "Johnson&Jonson"<br><br><b>Signed To:</b> NoOne <br><br><b>’09 Plans:</b> MakeMoreMoney, ReleaseMoreMusic, AndBeSeenOnBET!

Wale - &lt;b&gt;From Where?:&lt;/b&gt; Washington D.C.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;Sounds Like:&lt;/b&gt; Hip-Hop and some Go-Go home cooking. &lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;Projects Released:&lt;/b&gt; Mixtape About Nothing, 100 Miles & Running, Paint A Picture, Hate Is The New Love&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;Signed To:&lt;/b&gt; Allido Records/Interscope&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;’09 Plans:&lt;/b&gt; Debut album on Allido/Interscope in 2009 & Back To The Feature mixtape.

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Wale - <b>From Where?:</b> Washington D.C.<br><br><b>Sounds Like:</b> Hip-Hop and some Go-Go home cooking. <br><br><b>Projects Released:</b> Mixtape About Nothing, 100 Miles & Running, Paint A Picture, Hate Is The New Love<br><br><b>Signed To:</b> Allido Records/Interscope<br><br><b>’09 Plans:</b> Debut album on Allido/Interscope in 2009 & Back To The Feature mixtape.

Asher Roth - &lt;b&gt;From Where?:&lt;/b&gt; Morrisville, PA&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;Sounds Like:&lt;/b&gt; The second coming of Eminem with frat boy flavor&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;Projects Released:&lt;/b&gt; Don Cannon, DJ Drama & Asher Roth present The Greenhouse Effect&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;Signed To:&lt;/b&gt; Universal&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;’09 Plans:&lt;/b&gt; As-yet-titled debut album in March

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Asher Roth - <b>From Where?:</b> Morrisville, PA<br><br><b>Sounds Like:</b> The second coming of Eminem with frat boy flavor<br><br><b>Projects Released:</b> Don Cannon, DJ Drama & Asher Roth present The Greenhouse Effect<br><br><b>Signed To:</b> Universal<br><br><b>’09 Plans:</b> As-yet-titled debut album in March

B.o.B. - &lt;b&gt;From Where?:&lt;/b&gt; Atlanta, GA&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;Sounds Like:&lt;/b&gt; A spaceship ripping through the atmosphere as it deploys its landing gear.&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;Projects Released:&lt;/b&gt; Hi My Name Is BoB, Who The F**k is BoB Mixtape, etc&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;Signed To:&lt;/b&gt; Rebel Rock/Grand Hustle/Atlantic&lt;br&gt;&lt;br&gt;&lt;b&gt;’09 Plans:&lt;/b&gt; To assist the evolution of human consciousness. Look for the Adventures of Bobby Ray in 09.

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B.o.B. - <b>From Where?:</b> Atlanta, GA<br><br><b>Sounds Like:</b> A spaceship ripping through the atmosphere as it deploys its landing gear.<br><br><b>Projects Released:</b> Hi My Name Is BoB, Who The F**k is BoB Mixtape, etc<br><br><b>Signed To:</b> Rebel Rock/Grand Hustle/Atlantic<br><br><b>’09 Plans:</b> To assist the evolution of human consciousness. Look for the Adventures of Bobby Ray in 09.