5 Rappers Who Should Sign To Cash Money Records

ARTIST: De La Soul
CASH MONEY DEBUT: 3 Stacks High and Rising
THE PITCH: For two decades, these Native Tongue pioneers have made a career out of going against the grain, at times directly criticizing hip-hop's paper-chasing, materialistic mentality. But after 5 years with no album or record deal, Pos, Mase and Trugoy are finally ready to get paid. Back the money truck up!
STANDOUT TRACKS: "A Milli is the Magic Number," "Bling Bling Bling (Ha Ha Hey)," "Stacks Is High," "De La Orgee Pt. 2" (f/ Baby, Wayne, Mack Maine & Nikki Minaj)

ARTIST: El-P
CASH MONEY DEBUT: Chopper City In Carroll Gardens
THE PITCH: The backpack rap hero's independent label has been pretty quiet since '07, when he released his last album. What better way to bring some new excitement to the fickle underground rap scene than by signing a joint venture between Def Jux and CMR? First up, an album that brings his Brooklyn neighbohood to life like B.G.'s 'hood classic.
STANDOUT TRACKS: "Gentri-Fire Man," "8 Steps To the F Train (Bergen St Anthem)" (f/ Cage, Aesop Rock & Mr. Eon), "Def Jux Is An Army," "I Miss My Dawgs" (f/ Big Jus, J-Treds, & Mr. Len), "Welcome 2 The 'Nolia Bakery," "Back That Pancake Azz Up" (f/ Cage, Shia Labeouf & Teena Marie)

ARTIST: Nas
CASH MONEY DEBUT: The Bridge Is Hot
THE PITCH: Let's face it, the whole pseudo-conscious image Nas has developed over the last 10 years hasn't really worked for him. So what's next? A return to the more thugged-out tendencies of his youth with a new Southern flair.
STANDOUT TRACKS: "Bling-???? (Kelis Took Half)," "The Autobiography of Turk," "Go DJ... Premier," "What Happened To That Boy? (Shared Custody Anthem)," "Pillmatic"