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He also reveals that Hov wasn't in his iPod as a Hip Hop fan in the early years. In fact, he didn't give Jigga a listen until the new millenium kicked off, around the time he began to take his craft serious. Take a listen to the exclusive interview.

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Photo: MTV

"We were working on restructuring and we worked down to the final deal. There's things that change when other people get involved.  For me, I choose my involvement with Tip because that's my family over other things, so I'm thankful that I have him and he can kinda get me out of that situation; now it's just strictly Grand Hustle.”

News of her signing to Interscope was announced earlier this year when Iggy went on Twitter to talk about inking a deal with the legendary label. Regardless of the label confusion, Azalea is still going forward with new music. Her Glory EP, drops this month, while her The New Classic debut is due out sometime this year.

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Photo: Global Grind

According to TDE founder  Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith, Kendrick's as yet untitled major label debut will be released on TDE/Interscope/Aftermath, while solo album's from the rest of the TDE roster will be released jointly with Interscope. With added major label muscle, Kendrick Lamar will surely find spots in all those best of lists he didn't happen to make in 2011 by the time 2012 is a wrap. 

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Photo: The Fader

The late 80's spawned the birth of Dre's seminal group N.W.A, with MC Ren joining Eazy E and Ice Cube along with Yella assuming DJ duties. Their debut, Straight Outta Compton, exploded onto the scene and became a success despite a lack of commercial and radio support. With Eazy-E's Ruthless Records becoming a powerhouse in the industry by way of N.W.A's high sales, Dre went on to produce for other acts on the label such as the D.O.C. and Above The Law.

1992 saw the reemergence of Dr. Dre after left Ruthless to join Suge Knight's Death Row Records. His debut solo album, The Chronic, still remains as one of the most influential releases of all time. It also marked the beginning of the relationship between Dre and Long Beach rapper Snoop Dogg (their first song was "Deep Cover" from the Deep Cover soundtrack). The West Coast G-Funk sound was mimicked by many afterwards, cementing Dre's place amongst the greatest producers ever. During his time on Death Row, Dre also helmed the production of Snoop Dogg's debut Doggystyleas well.

Leaving Death Row in 1995, Dre formed his own label Aftermath, releasing the compilation Dr. Dre Presents The Aftermath in 1996. In 1998, Interscope head Jimmy Iovine suggested to Dre that he sign a rising white rapper out of Michigan. Eminem's debut, The Slim Shady LP, was Aftermath's biggest smash to date and once again affirmed Dr. Dre as part of the cultural landscape.

Dre's second solo album, The Chronic 2001 (actually released in 1999) was one of the most anticipated records of the time. With Snoop returning along with rappers Xzibit, Devin The Dude and Tha Dogg Pound featured heavily on the album, 2001 was another hit and went on to sell over six million copies.

Dre's focus on production led him to work with a bevy of artist such as Mary J. Blige, Eve, Gwen Stefani and he continued to work with Eminem as well. 2003 ushered in a new level of success for Aftermath after a joint collaboration between Dre's label, Em's Shady Records and Interscope helped propel the release of 50 Cent's Get Rich Or Die Tryin'which catapulted the Queens rapper to stardom. Dre produced the album's lead single “In Da Club” as well other songs on the debut.

Although fans have been waiting on Dre's final opus Detox for well over a decade, Dre has since taken a well-deserved leave from music. He has shifted his focus on his successful Beats By Dre audio line and enjoyed the trappings of his fame with his family. While the details behind the delay didn't satisfy salivating for Detox, Dr. Dre should be saluted for not only his influence, but also his longevity. Dre's contributions to music are invaluable and if he never returns to making tunes, he has left behind an impressive body of work.

Happy Birthday, Dr. Dre!

MTV News caught up with Iggy on a recent promo run in NYC and the rapper revealed that the Kang himself requested to be a part of her project. "T.I.'s gonna be helping me with it, kind of A&R-ing, kind of executive producing," said Iggy. "He called me up like, 'Please?' and I was like, 'Definitely. You're Tip; I love you—of course.' So he's gonna be helping me out, just reaching out to people and helping me find production and pointing me in the direction of things that I might like."

She has never worked with T.I. before but there is an obvious admiration factor in place with the Grand Hustle CEO. Azalea plans to visit Tip's kingdom to link up on the project, joking about both of the artists' recent traveling handicaps (The Australian rapper has immigration obstacles which have hampered her from doing U.S. shows in the past).

"I'll probably fly out to Atlanta and we'll do it there because he's weird with traveling and stuff. I understand. See we're in touch with each other. I have legal issues; he has legal issues. I get it," she jested.

The neophyte rapper sounded optimistic that the recording process will go smoothly on her major label debut. "If all goes to plan, my album will be out in June and I'll have it recorded by the end of the month," she added. "Hopefully, [the collaboration with T.I.] will be really dynamic and it'll help speed things along.”

Rumors had been swirling that she would join the Def Jam roster, but Azalea took to Twitter to set the record straight. "Interscope, if you were wondering," she tweeted. Azalea also revealed the title of her highly anticipated debut. "Album in june entitled 'Fawk your life' nah.... not realllyyyy its called 'The New Classic'.'

Never one to downplay her talents, Azalea praised her music, while giving a shout out to her new boss, label head Jimmy Iovine. "Get used to me + jimmy smashing Shyte, cause thats the plan."

We spoke with the 21-year-old about her nomination for a spot on the coveted XXL 2012 Freshman Class, where she revealed that the opening of this year would bring a record deal. Azalea recently had dinner with Def Jam VP Bu Thiam, furthering speculation that a Def Jam deal was imminent, but it appears that Interscope was the victor in a possible bidding war.

The industry has been buzzing about Azalea for everything from her eclectic fashion sense, her romance with fellow newcomer A$AP Rocky, and even minting her as competition for the game's current top-selling female rapper, Nicki Minaj. The Hip-Hop world will have to wait for the June release of The New Classic to see if she can translate her online popularity into album sales.

50 Cent spoke with Spike TV live from the International Consumer Electronics Show (CES). The rapper/actor/entrepreneur was promoting his Sleek headphones and also mentioned some of his tribulations with Interscope Records.

As for why he started selling headphones, 50 told Spike, "It's an extension to my passion for music. 'Cause I spend more time in the studio actually mixing material, making sure that the sound quality is right than the actual creating the idea. The song writing process is faster for me than actually finishing the song, the mixing."

Fif went on to say that his were the best wireless headphones, going as far to say they're better than Dr. Dre's Beats By Dre wireless models. Although the "In The Club" rapper has dropped plenty of music to be heard on his headphones lately, such as The Big 10 mixtape, music via his Interscope Record label has been sporadic. When asked about his recent tweets about his career, first lambasting Interscope and then later apologizing to Jimmy Iovine, Fif expressed frustration.

"I wrote this album," he said. "I went through the process of writing it and it's been discouraging at points to not see the same effort from everyone."

Interscope denied taking part in any drug-related operations.

"The information being reported in the press regarding Interscope Records' involvement with the ongoing criminal prosecution of James Rosemond is both erroneous and completely unsupported."

"Interscope Records has been informed by the United States Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of New York that there is no evidence that any employee of UMG or Interscope Records had any involvement in the drug trafficking ring being prosecuted by that office, nor any knowledge of the contents of any of the packages that were purportedly shipped to its offices."

The statement goes on to say,

"Further, neither UMG nor Interscope Record are a subject or target of the investigation. UMG and Interscope will continue to cooperate with the United States Attorney's Office regarding this matter."

Jimmy Henchman Used To Ship Cocaine, Cash At Interscope Records

The office of Interscope Records is coming under scrutiny now that the Smoking Gun reports that it was at one time, a helm for drugs and cash.

As previously reported  James "Jimmy Henchman" Rosemond was arrested following a month long manhunt and charged with intentionally conspiring to distribute and possess with intent to distribute five kilograms or more of cocaine, witness tampering and obstruction of justice.

According to The Smoking Gun, Department of Justice prosecutors revealed shipping records detailing “pickups and deliveries” made at Interscope's Los Angeles office that was used to transport music cases stuffed with kilos of cocaine and upwards of $1 million in cash.

Rosemond is ultimately facing 18 felony charges which could result in a sentence of life in prison for the 46-year-old rap music manager.

He is currently being held without bail in Manhattan's Metropolitan Correctional Center.