When today's hottest rapper is lost for words on hearing a new soulstress, she must be a future superstar. But it's an even bigger deal if that divette is Australian. Flo Rida was stunned by Jessica Mauboy's crunk 'n' B hit Running Back. "He couldn't believe it," Mauboy relates with a bashful laugh. "He was just like, 'What! She's an Australian artist? Where is she? What is she doing? Is she bringing out an album?' He was basically asking all the questions. He was really keen to know." The in-demand US MC not only agreed to a guest spot, but also appeared in the video, filmed in Melbourne during his Australian tour last year. Flo Rida subsequently raved about Jessica in interviews, "She has a great voice!" For her part, Mauboy found Flo Rida nothing like the typical flossin' rapper. "He was a pleasure to work with," she says. "It's amazing for him to want to work with me." The response to Running Back was so fervent that its release, as well as the release of Jessica's album, Been Waiting, was brought forward. Released in November 2008, Been Waiting has been a huge success for Jessica ? racking up platinum sales and now featuring four hit singles! Mauboy hasn't stopped since being proclaimed runner-up to Damien Leith on 2006's tightly contested fourth season of Australian Idol. Those years of hard work and dedication have culminated in Jessica's boldest enterprise yet ? her amazing debut album.

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