During the years that DJBooth.net has been in operation, we’ve already helped to launch the careers of quite a few up-and-coming rappers who now seem destined to write their names on the pages of history. Hoping to become the next in that illustrious line is Big K.R.I.T., a multi-talented Meridian, Mississippi native (and exclusive freestyle series contributor) with aspirations of taking his place among Southern legends like Outkast and UGK as a musical “King Remembered in Time.”

Released yesterday and available for free streaming and download, DJBooth.net-sponsored street album (and the artist’s Cinematic Music Group debut) K.R.I.T. Wuz Here does just as the title suggests, marking the 23-year-old emcee/beatsmith’s arrival as a major player on the national scene. Produced entirely by the artist himself, the project comes complete with reader-acclaimed leaks “No Wheaties,” “2000 and Beyond,” “They Got Us” and the Devin the Dude-assisted “Moon & Stars,” and includes guest contribution from several of K.R.I.T.‘s CMG labelmates.

In an exclusive interview with our own DJ “Z,” Big K.R.I.T. steps into the Booth to discuss the transition from small-town life to the major leagues, how a PlayStation game (along with the guidance of friends) helped him make his entrance into the production game, and the cereal he considers his “Breakfast of Champions.” (No, it isn’t Wheaties).

Set to hit stores and online retailers May 4, via BTNH Worldwide/Asylum/Warner Bros, Uni-5 comes complete with official singles “See Me Shine,” “Rebirth” and “Meet Me in the Sky,” as well as leaked tracks “Vegas,” “Gone,” “Pay What You Owe” and the reader-acclaimed “Gangsta’s Glory.” Fans can currently catch four-fifths of BTNH (Layzie, Krayzie, Wish and Flesh) on their ongoing national tour, which began in late March and will run until May 2.

In an exclusive interview with our own DJ “Z,” Layzie, Krayzie, Wish and Flesh step into the Booth to discuss the ways in which their struggles have shaped their musical output, why Bizzy‘s absence from the tour shouldn’t stop fans from purchasing a ticket, and what it will take for Z to finally get all five members on the phone.

Already a favorite among our readers for tracks like “Number One” and exclusive freestyle “Daytona 500,” the rising star took his game to the next level in early March, when he hooked up with DJBooth.net to drop his sophomore street release, 4:57 (available for streaming and download here). Featuring such acclaimed cuts as “We Like It,” “Hold You Down,” and “Shining.” the project has, to date, proven a massive success, even managing to crash our download server during its first night on our front page.

In an exclusive interview with our own DJ “Z,” Laws steps into the Booth to discuss the differences and similarities between the nine-to-five grind and his new life as a major-label rapper, the inspiration behind his forthcoming “virtual duet project” with Sir Paul McCartney, and just how deeply his lifelong passion for the the written word – particularly that of bestselling horror novelist Stephen King – has influenced his lyrical style.

Since making his Booth debut with “Another Late Night” back in summer of 2008, Outasight has been a fixture on our front page, bringing us numerous mixtape tracks as well as Booth-exclusive freestyle “Rehearsal Tape.” Fresh off the late-2009 release of breakthrough mixtape Further (which he re-released in digital EP form today), the artist is hard at work on his debut studio album, scheduled to hit record store shelves and online retailers this summer.

In an exclusive interview with our own DJ “Z,” Outasight steps into the Booth to discuss how his time on the NYC drum and bass scene influenced his current sound, whether a collaboration with OJ Da Juiceman is in his future, and why those looking to imitate his stylish sunglass game should look somewhere other than Walgreens for their shades.

Since introducing himself with the aptly-named “Me” way back in fall 2008, the Inglewood, California up-and-comer has brought us a whopping 19 features, including reader-acclaimed, Booth-exclusive freestyle “Do It For You.” Now, Chrystopher’s getting ready to take his game to the next level with The Audition , the follow-up to last year’s much-buzzed-about A City With No Seasons LP (available for free streaming and download at the artist’s official site). Heralded by leaked cut “Can’t Take That From Me” and the Booth-premiered “Like a Kid Again,” the project is scheduled to hit stores and online retailers next Tuesday, March 23.

In an exclusive interview with our own DJ “Z,” Shawn Chrystopher steps into the Booth to discuss his colorful approach to tracklist selection, why higher education is worth much more than a diploma, and what activity never fails to make him feel just “Like a Kid Again.”

A regular fixture in the Booth since introducing himself with “Black Starz” in November ‘08, Chery has brought us old-school, lyrically-driven cuts, club-ready joints, and everything in between (including an exclusive freestyle!). Now, the emcee is finally getting ready to drop the DJBooth.net-sponsored “mix-album” album fans have been looking forward to for more than a year. Including “Zone Out,” “Milf” and the Booth-premiered “Fearless,” GAtG is scheduled to hit our front page March 23.

In an exclusive interview with our own DJ “Z,” Jeff Chery steps into the Booth to discuss his reaction to the tragic events that devastated his birth country in January, how he judges his own growth as an artist, and who gives the best interviews in the game (hint: his name starts with “DJ” and ends with “Z”).

What do you get when you cross Mos Def, El-P and the Roots with The Beatles, Led Zep and Radiohead? Well, you get one of the most versatile and unconventional up-and-comers to hit the scene in a good, long while. Incorporating these disparate influences (and many more) into his distinctive, genre-defying sound, singer/songwriter/emcee/producer Jared Evan is one of those rare recording artists who can do it all – and do it well, as evidenced by the rave reader reviews garnered by his Booth features to date.

Signed to Interscope and Polow da Don‘s Zone 4 Entertainment, the 21-year-old Long Island native (and exclusive freestyle series participant!) is currently preparing to drop a deluxe, expanded version of his debut mixtape, Radio in My Head. Featuring the original tracklist (including the artist’s Booth debut, “What I Want”) along with bonus cuts like “They Don’t Look at Me the Same,” the re-release is scheduled to hit stores and online retailers sometime this spring, paving the way for the arrival of Evan’s debut studio album later this year.

In an exclusive interview with our own DJ “Z,” Jared Evan steps into the Booth to discuss how his eclectic musical tastes (along with his experiences playing percussion in school band) converged to form his signature style, the power of music to help listeners through tough times (or, potentially, hurt them), and why he’ll never sell his soul in exchange for security in the game.

Though the Midwest representative (and exclusive freestyle series participant!) remains unsigned following his departure from Interscope, ‘09 mixtape releases The Mideducation of Freddie Gibbs and midwestgangstaboxframecadillacmuzik have stoked his buzz to a fever pitch, earning him acclaim from The New Yorker, MTV, and just about everyone in between. Now, Gibbs is preparing to make 2010 his biggest year yet with the mid-to-late summer arrival of his hotly-anticipated, Alchemist-produced The Devil’s Palace EP, as well as a new street album entitled Str8 Killa No Filla.

In an exclusive interview with our own DJ “Z,” Freddie Gibbs steps into the Booth to discuss his reasons for putting so much of his personal life into his music, why he considers most of today’s hip-hop to be absolute “bullsh*t,” and just how far he and Z go back.

It’s been less than a year since Posner introduced his unmistakable, scratchy vocal style and equally unique production sensibility to Booth readers with mixtape cut “Smoke ‘n’ Drive,” but a lot has happened in that time. He’s released an acclaimed sophomore street album (One Foot Out the Door), collaborated with the likes of Kid CuDi and Wale (“Drug Dealer Girl (Remix)”) and, most notably, scored the all-important major deal. Now signed to J Records, Posner is getting ready to take his career to the next level with the summer release of his yet-untitled debut studio album.

In an exclusive interview with our own DJ “Z,” Mike Posner steps into the Booth to discuss the superhuman feat of balancing college finals with a demanding touring schedule, his increasingly raucous (and sometimes destructive) live performances, and why his forthcoming full-length is like his mixtapes “on steroids.”