(AllHipHop News) Sha Money XL, VP of A&R for Def Jam Records, unveiled his latest signing to AllHipHop.com today (June 21st) with the signing of Meridian, Mississippi rapper Big K.R.I.T. Big Krit has steadily gained traction and buzz and as an independent southern artist and budding producer from Mississippi since his first release See Me on Top 1 in 2005. Mixtape’s like The Last King and K.R.I.T. Wuz Here helped solidify the deal between the rapper and Island/Def Jam, although several major label’s passed on him before Sha Money XL signed him. “After meeting Big K.R.I.T. and hearing his mixtape K.R.I.T Wuz Here in the studio I knew without a doubt that this kid was a star and hitmaker,” Sha Money XL told AllHipHop.com. “I knew hands down that he will provide Hip-Hop a sound really needed right now.”K.R.I.T, who has been featured in Ozone Magazine on several occasions based of his 2007 single “Just Touched Down,” is influenced by artists like Pimp C., T.I., Silkk The Shocker and others. On June 30th, Big K.R.I.T. will headline a concert hosted by DJ Envy in New York at S.O.B.’s, alongside Curren$y, Smoke DZA, Yonas and YC The Cynic. Big K.R.I.T.’s latest song “Now or Neva” is the first song off his new mixtape JonnyShipes GoodTalk Vol.9: Curve your Enthusiasm” edition hosted by Big K.R.I.T.To download the mixtape, click here.