Top Contemporary R&B Artists on Rhapsody Online

Michael Jackson

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:12:33 -0800

It doesn't really matter if Michael Jackson bullied the world's media into calling him the King of Pop in the early 1990s or if they just started using that sobriquet on their own. Either way, he earned it. Whether singing "I Want You Back" as the 11-year-old frontman of the Jackson 5, breaking the MTV color line with the explosive "Billie Jean" or defending the world's downtrodden and misunderstood (himself, that is), Jackson set the standard for pop singing, songwriting, dancing and, let's face it, weirdness for the better part of a quarter century. He came of age in the Jackson 5, then moonwalked out of the family's clutches and into his own universe with three groundbreaking albums made with producer Quincy Jones. Off the Wall, Thriller and Bad blended soul, funk and rock influences into a taut dance-pop that transformed the sound of radio for the rest of the century. Singers and producers from Madonna to Timbaland are still trying to catch up. Prosecutors and paparazzi have been playing catch-up, too, with some of Jackson's questionable life choices, and since the late 1990s, he has seemingly spent more time in the tabloids than on the pop charts. On June 25th, 2009, Michael Jackson passed away at the age of 50. - Matty Karas

Beyonce

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:12:38 -0800

Beyonce Knowles, the leader of Destiny's Child, always knew she wanted to be a star. She formed the first incarnation of Destiny's Child in 1990 -- when she was 9 years old. By 2001, the group began to dissolve. Knowles nabbed a lead role in Mike Myers' Austin Powers: Goldmember; an appearance in MTV's Carmen: A Hip Hopera cemented her reputation as a formidable entertainer. Her solo debut, Dangerously in Love, came out in 2003. The first single, "Crazy in Love," was a duet with beau Jay-Z that zoomed to the top of the charts. B'Day, her stunning 2006 sophomore turn, featured hits like "Deja Vu" and "Ring the Alarm." Later that year, Beyonce starred as Deena Jones in the Oscar-winning movie musical Dreamgirls. In 2007, Beyonce made a Latin-crossover attempt, dueting with Shakira on "Beautiful Liar" and releasing a deluxe edition of B'Day, featuring "Amor Gitano" with Mexican crooner Alejandro Fernandez and a Spanish version of the anthem "Irreplaceable." For her third studio album, I Am ... Sasha Fierce, Beyonce split herself into two personae -- the tender, traditional Beyonce and the club diva Sasha Fierce. - Linda Ryan

Mariah Carey

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:12:39 -0800

Say what you may about her fashion sense or "diva-tude," but there is no doubt that Mariah Carey defined 1990s urban pop music. Carey ruled the charts during the Clinton decade -- her 1990 self-titled debut album alone spawned four No. 1 hit singles, and she would have 11 more before the new millennium. Over the years, artists from Christina Aguilera to Ciara would name her as an influence. Her albums are always expertly crafted and performed, making her MTV Unplugged EP a surprisingly warm change of pace. Her dominance of the charts in the 1990s earned her the title of Billboard's Artist of the Decade. Despite heavily publicized personal trials in the early part of the new century, Carey returned to the forefront of modern music with The Emancipation of Mimi, which spawned her 16th and 17th No. 1 hits. In 2008, Mariah returned with the hit single "Touch My Body" and the subsequent album, E=MC2. The single pushed her past Elvis into second place (behind the Beatles) for the most No. 1 singles for an artist in the modern era. - Rachel Landy

Pink

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 10:09:53 -0800

If cultivating an iconoclast status is a career, then Pink is one serious go-getter. Since her 2000 debut, the husky-voiced singer has overhauled her sound several times, changed her hair color even more, married motocross star Carey Hart and taken George Bush to task. Then there's "Stupid Girls," the 2006 single in which Pink skewered tabloid perennials like Jessica Simpson and Paris Hilton. Born Alecia Moore, she started dancing and singing backup at club nights in Philadelphia at age 13 and eventually went solo with Can't Take Me Home. Pink recruited Linda Perry to co-write her second album, 2001's M!ssundaztood, a collection of soulful pop-rock that spawned the hit "Get the Party Started." She then collaborated with Rancid's Tim Armstrong on 2003's Try This. The album didn't do well, and Pink took some time off to regroup and get married, getting back to the business of spitfire sass with 2006's I'm Not Dead. She has produced many of her own albums, built side careers in both songwriting and horror-film acting, and won a pair of Grammy Awards -- experiences that all informed the outspoken Funhouse in 2008. - Rachel Devitt

Jordin Sparks

Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:05:11 -0700

You might call Jordin Sparks an amateur talent contest professional, although prodigy is perhaps more accurate. In 2007, the 17-year-old Sparks won American Idol. But before that, she appeared twice on America's Most Talented Kids, received two awards from the Gospel Music Association Academy and finished second at Music in the Rockies, a competition for aspiring contemporary Christian artists. The year before she won Idol, the multitalented Sparks also won Torrid's search for the "Next Plus Size Model" and appeared in a Seventeen magazine ad for the clothing line. So winning Idol was just the big, fat cherry on top of a talent show sundae -- and the culmination of a life spent working towards performance career.

The child of NFL player Phillippi Sparks (formerly of the New York Giants and the Dallas Cowboys), the baby-faced belter grew up singing and doing children's theater. She got a string of gigs singing the national anthem at professional sporting events in her home state of Arizona, toured with CCM star Michael W. Smith and recorded an EP (2003's For Now) at age 13. Despite all her experience, Sparks did not initially make the cut when she auditioned for Idol in Los Angeles. She did, however, win the local Arizona Idol contest, which earned her the right to audition again in Seattle and, eventually, to become the youngest ever American Idol. Following her win, she toured with the other Idols and began work on her debut album. - Rachel Devitt

Maxwell

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:12:37 -0800

A solo vocalist from Brooklyn, N.Y., Maxwell found massive critical and commercial success with his 1996 debut album Urban Hang Suite. Preferring to focus on romance and true love rather than conquests and player bravado, his blend of heartfelt lyricism and hip-hop-infused production proved a surefire hit. The record went Platinum, and Maxwell received a Grammy nomination as well as awards from Soul Train and Rolling Stone. He returned with Embrya in '98, and is slated to release his third LP in early 2001. - Brolin Winning

Rihanna

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:12:56 -0800

Talent and a dose of good luck got Barbados-born Rihanna signed to Def Jam when she was 16 years old. She was discovered by producer Evan Rogers during his island visit in 2003, and went on to impress Def Jam CEO Jay-Z so much that he grabbed her for a multi-album contract. The singer's first single, "Pon de Replay," was released in June 2005, with the full album Music of the Sun dropping a month later. But her big break came in 2006 with the release of the single "S.O.S." and the subsequent album A Girl Like Me. The single, which sampled Soft Cell's "Tainted Love," was one of the most critically acclaimed and commercially popular songs of that year. Though Rihanna had basically moved away from dancehall, she was moving toward a new aesthetic that married R&B, synth-pop and hip-hop. She continued in this direction with 2007's Good Girl Gone Bad, which featured the infectious singles "Umbrella" and "Shut Up and Drive." In early 2009, she was assaulted by then-boyfriend Chris Brown en route to a pre-Grammys party; that November, she released Rated R, a highly personal album with an unmistakable darkness. - Sam Chennault

R. Kelly

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 10:09:37 -0800

Let's just put it this way: R. Kelly's voice is smooth. His songs are so sensual that he's turned into a virtual relationship soundtrack, from your first meeting to your first night together, to a broken heart and through a tearful breakup. He's got a song for each stage, touching the depths of your soul with his acrobatic voice that glides from a sultry whisper to a high falsetto wail. Hints of Marvin Gaye and Smokey Robinson peak through his soul-tinged voice, but his production and style are all his own, from bass-heavy hip-hop to crisp romantic ballads. Kelly is a talented multi-instrumentalist and arranger, not to mention a certified hit maker; see the chart-topping "Ignition (Remix)" and "I Believe I Can Fly" as well as his writing and production credits for other singers. Not many R&B singers could get away with "Trapped in the Closet," his 35-minute pop opera that defies dramatic structure, radio formatting and just plain good sense. Kels not only pulled it off, but he made it one of the biggest singles of that 2005 summer. After 15 years and 10 albums, including the 2007 offering Double Up and another thrilling (and equally bewildering) 10 chapters of "Trapped in the Closet," there is little doubt that R. Kelly is one of the most accomplished R&B singers of his generation. - Jessy Terry

Akon

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:12:33 -0800

An R&B singer originally from Senegal, Akon first came to America when he was seven years old. The son of well-known African percussionist Mor Thiam, he was exposed to lots of music at a young age, learning multiple instruments as a child before getting into hip-hop. His appreciation for rap music is evident on his self-titled debut album, especially in the overall production. And, unlike most of today's R&B vocalists, Akon eschews the shirtless bravado and bedroom scenarios and instead deals with inner-city strife. This focus, as well as his plaintive voice, led him to collaborate with hip-hop royalty such as Young Jeezy ("Soul Survivor"), Styles P ("Locked Up") and Eminem ("Smack That"). And while his gritty subject matter appeals to the streets, his hooks are so sweet that they may leave listeners toothless. Akon's sophomore album, 2006's Konvicted, cemented his spot as one of urban music's most important singers. Two years later, after a mix tape presciently titled Black President, he released his third official studio album, Freedom, which found him breaking out in search of broader pop accessibility. - Brolin Winning

Mary J. Blige

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 10:09:44 -0800

When What's the 411 dropped in 1992, critics and everyone else hailed Mary J. Blige as the voice of R&B's future. That's a pretty heavy reputation to live up to (Lauryn Hill might agree with that), but Mary J. has kept up her end of the bargain pretty well. While she could have rested on her laurels and kept the same pop-friendly sound from album to album, she branched out with Mary (1999), trying out some classier material that showed off her voice and turned her image radically around from her previous ghetto sister style. No More Drama (2001) may seem like another about-face, but it's not: the material's strong and Blige sounds as good as ever. - Sarah Bardeen

Prince

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 10:09:52 -0800

In this age of musical genre ghetto-ization, Prince stands alone. The Artist can get funky, he can rock up a storm, he can croon a soulful ballad, he can spin out webs of jazz piano, he can hip and he can hop. He can do it all, often brilliantly. Prince takes chances and often fails -- especially on the (hopefully abandoned) film front -- but every one of his albums is chock full of gems. Prince hasn't sustained the massive popularity he earned in the Purple Rain-crazed '80s, but that seems due more to bad publicity surrounding his tabloid lifestyle than his musical output. He can't hide the fact that he is an odd, fuzzy little man, but genius doesn't come in perfect packages. While legions of Prince's contemporaries crash and burn, he sits in his Minneapolis tower and continues to expand the boundaries of popular music. - Nick Dedina

Usher

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:12:33 -0800

By the time he entered puberty, Usher had a record deal and a gold album. By the time he graduated high school, he was one of the most visible artists in R&B. Armed with a smooth voice, Usher specializes in saccharine-sweet profusions of love and desire; pop melodramatic ballads; and floor-rattling club jams. Between 1994 and 2004, he released six albums, appeared in several films, earned multiple platinum records and collaborated with a wide variety of top-shelf artists. However, 2004 was the year he reached the upper echelons of superstardom, thanks to the infectious, chart-topping single "Yeah" produced by Lil' Jon. His subsequent album, Confessions, netted him three Grammys and sold 11 million copies worldwide. In the four years that followed Confessions' release, Usher found himself embroiled in a series of minor though widely publicized controversies surrounding his mother, who was also his manager until Usher "resigned her." This effectively kept the singer in the spotlight, and his 2008 single "Love in the Club," which promoted public sex, was a ubiquitous summer jam. The following album, Hear I Stand, didn't reflect much artistic growth, banking instead on the themes and sounds that have made Usher one of the world's biggest pop stars. - Kali Holloway

Sean Kingston

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 10:09:56 -0800

One of the newest generation of celebrities to generate buzz before their first single is even released, Sean Kingston (born Kisean Anderson) got his first break on MySpace. The 17-year-old was visiting Dr. Dre's page one day and saw that American producer J.R. Rotem had started a new label and was looking to sign artists. Several instances of online harassment later, Kinsgston had secured an audition with Rotem, who found himself impressed by Kingston's croon and his heartfelt, G-rated lyrics. He signed him on the spot. Kingston's bicultural upbringing informs his sound: born in Miami and raised both there and in Jamaica, the singer is equally versed in mainstream rap and dancehall, though his first hit owes a debt, amazingly, to doo-wop. But Kingston, for all his fresh-faced appearance, isn't without connections: his grandfather was Jamaican producer Jack Ruby. Despite his pedigree, Kingston has seen his share of difficulties as well: his mother and sister were thrown in jail for tax evasion when he was just 14-years-old, leaving the boy temporarily homeless. - Sarah Bardeen

Ne-Yo

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:12:34 -0800

Considering his gorgeous voice and boyish good looks, it's surprising that Ne-Yo started his career as a songwriter for some of the biggest names in R&B. But after years of paying his dues under Mary J. Blige, Faith Evans and B2K, the Las Vegas singer finally branched out on his own in late 2005 with the single "Stay," featuring Peedi Peedi. In early 2006 he dropped his subsequent Def Jam debut, In My Own Words, yielding three Top 40 singles, the most popular of which was "So Sick." In 2006 Ne-Yo was R&B's King Midas, writing songs for Beyonce (the smash hit "Irreplaceable") as well as working on new projects by Usher, Michael Jackson, Britney Spears, Chris Brown and Whitney Houston. It's amazing that he found time to work on his sophomore solo album, but 2007's Because of You was every bit as irresistible as his freshman effort. His success granted him license to get melancholy on 2008's Year of the Gentleman -- it was his party, after all, and he could cry if he wanted to. - Sam Chennault

Pussycat Dolls

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 10:09:56 -0800

Pussycat Dolls began as the stars of a burlesque show in Los Angeles and Las Vegas, swelling their ranks and polishing their rep with guest appearances from the likes of Christina Aguilera, Carmen Electra and Gwen Stefani. They burst onto the national scene in 2005, after recruiting ex-Eden's Crush member Nicole Scherzinger and unleashing the instantly ubiquitous single "Don't Cha" (previously recorded by Cee-Lo and Tori Alamaze), featuring a verse from Busta Rhymes. They kept up the sassy, saucy act with their full-length debut, PCD, produced by industry heavyweights Timbaland and will.i.am. After Scherzinger flirted with a solo career that never quite took off, the Dolls regrouped for 2008's Doll Domination. - Philip Sherburne

Keri Hilson

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:12:35 -0800

Keri Hilson may be a new name to most of us, but this Atlanta native has been working her way up to being a key player behind the scenes in R&B, pop and hip-hop for years. A member of the Clutch collective of writers and producers, Hilson has been racking up songwriting credits for other artists since 2001, including Ciara ("Ooh Baby"), Usher ("Love in this Club, Part II") and Mary J. Blige ("Take Me as I Am"). Along the way, she also got quite a reputation as a backup singer, finally breaking out from the background in 2004 with a featured guest spot on Xzibit's "Hey Now (Mean Muggin)." Hilson had a banner year in 2006-2007: She appeared in the video for Nelly Furtado's "Promiscuous," co-wrote and sang backup on most of Britney Spears's Blackout, appeared on and helped write Timbaland's Shock Value and signed with Timbaland's Mosley Music Group. Hilson released her debut album on Interscope in December 2008. - Rachel Devitt

Lily Allen

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 10:09:47 -0800

Lily Allen is the precocious daughter of actor/comedian Keith Allen and film producer mom, Alison Owen. Despite a privileged background, Allen was somewhat of a handful growing up, often running away and getting expelled from various schools. By 15, Allen knew school wasn't for her, so she dropped out and eventually started working on music. Lily's sound draws on her parent's music collection, which included such groundbreaking, female-fronted acts as Rip, Rig and Panic, the Slits and Blondie. But her fondness for hip-hop and urban storytellers also shines through both in her style of delivery and in her rock steady beats. Allen's reputation as a formidable voice from the street grew via her myspace page, and that led to her deal with Parlaphone. In late 2006, Allen's single "Smile" hit No. 1 on the UK charts. In 2007, Allen's debut album, Alright, Still, was released in the U.S., followed by It's Not Me, It's You in February 2009. - Linda Ryan

John Legend

Thu, 5 Nov 2009 16:49:01 -0800

An accomplished singer, musician, songwriter and producer, John Legend (ne Stephens) has been making music since his early childhood. Influenced by a musical family, the young Legend embraced gospel, classic soul and hip-hop, and the fusion of all three epitomizes his unique sound. His first major break came from erstwhile Fugee Lauryn Hill, when he played piano on her mega-hit single "Everything Is Everything." But it was Kanye West who really put him on the map, recruiting him to play and sing on the multiplatinum album The College Dropout. After releasing several self-made CDs, Legend dropped his highly anticipated major label debut Get Lifted in early 2005. The single "Ordinary People" is the sort of sweet lovers' lullaby that will haunt Valentine's Day for years to come, and it solidified Legend's status as one of R&B's most promising young talents. For his next project, 2006's Once Again, Legend refined his brand of martini soul, plucking elements of classic pop and '70s soul for an album that was every bit as popular and as satisfying as its predecessor. The 2008 release Evolver found the singer employing a more modern sound. - Sam Chennault

Justin Timberlake

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:12:35 -0800

From his adolescence on Disney's The Mickey Mouse Club through his coming of age in the hugely popular boy band *NSYNC, Justin Timberlake became one of the 1990s' biggest heartthrobs, and everything from his romance with Britney Spears to his love of fast cars turned into headline fodder. Unlike so many ex-boy band boys before (and after) him, *NSYNC's most popular member managed to parlay his teen-idol status into credible adult stardom. And how: Two phenomenally successful albums and four Grammys into his solo career, Justin Timberlake is arguably the world's most celebrated pop star; his frequent collaborations with super-producers like the Neptunes and Timbaland and his undeniable knack for white-hot blue-eyed soul-pop have earned the respect of the hip-hop community, while his dreamy looks and wounded-puppy falsetto still make the little girls ... and their sisters ... and their mothers swoon. Wardrobe malfunctions? Messy breakups? JT skates past them all, a designer fedora cocked to one side. Not too shabby for a former child star from Millington, Tennessee, who got his start singing country (and losing) on Star Search. - Rachel Devitt

Alicia Keys

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:12:37 -0800

Alicia Keys seemingly came out of nowhere in the summer of 2001, storming up the charts with her braids and heaping servings of soul. But Keys is no pre-fab diva; she's been studying music since age five and began writing songs at age 14. She wrote (or co-wrote) and produced most of the songs on her debut, Songs in a Minor, and subsequent singles have proven she's no one-hit wonder. She took home five Grammy Awards in 2002 (including Best New Artist and Song of the Year), and returned triumphantly with The Diary of Alicia Keys the following year, racking up more hit singles ("You Don't Know My Name," "If I Ain't Got You"), and winning four more Grammys. 2007's As I Am spawned the unstoppable "No One" and the Prince-infused "Like You'll Never See Me Again." One of the most talented and likeable R&B superstars in the game today, Keys shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon.

Whitney Houston

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:12:33 -0800

Although she mostly makes news these days for the drama in her private life, Whitney Houston was the first of the modern R&B divas, one of the most successful singers in the history of popular music. Houston got her start singing gospel with her mother, Cissy, while her pop chops were influenced by cousin Dionne Warwick. Whitney began her professional music career with the experimental jazz ensemble Material. When Clive Davis offered her a contract in 1983, the woman who would become the first artist to have seven consecutive No. 1 singles finally launched her pop career. By 1987's Whitney, Houston was a full-fledged star. After 1990's I'm Your Baby Tonight, she virtually abandoned an album career in favor of phenomenally successful singles, some (like the Dolly Parton cover "I Will Always Love You") attached to films in which Houston starred and some the kind of stuff only she could pull off (who else could make "The Star-Spangled Banner" a hit single?). By the end of the '90s, Houston had gotten together with (and split from) husband Bobby Brown several times, stopped showing up for gigs and spent time in rehab. But fans still hold out hope for a comeback. - Rachel Devitt

Janet Jackson

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 12:38:14 -0800

While the rest of her illustrious family was making music history, Janet Jackson spent her childhood on sitcoms. Under her father Joe's supervision, she released two unsuccessful albums in the early '80s. At 18, she eloped with James DeDarge, but annulled the marriage the next year. She called on producer/writer team Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis to record her true debut, the phenomenally successful Control. By the time she followed that up with Rhythm Nation 1814 in 1989, Michael's little sister had recreated herself as a sexy (but sweet), self-sufficient pop success in her own right. A bracing combination of dance pop, modern R&B and hip-hop that buoyed Jackson's thin voice, it set the stage for the rest of her career. With her 1993 self-titled album, she properly introduced the world to Janet the romantic sex kitten, a persona she's brought back with each subsequent album. Since then, other facets of Janet's life (her physique, breakdowns and, yes, wardrobe malfunctions) have often earned more notice than her music, but a steady flow of successful, diverse singles shows Janet continuing to explore her musical identity while her siblings continue to get more eccentric. - Rachel Devitt

Adele

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:05:22 -0800

British soul-pop chanteuse Adele (nee Adele Laurie Blue Adkins) is a stunning young talent with a huge voice. After she recorded a few songs, a friend set up a MySpace page for her in early 2005; record execs discovered her there in their hunt for the "next Lily Allen." After signing to XL, she suffered from a terribly ill-timed case of writer's block -- that is until she fell in and out of love. A breakup opened the floodgates of emotion and creativity, resulting in her debut album 19. Inspired by great soul dames like Etta James and Billie Holiday and other singers such as Bjork, Jeff Buckley, Dusty Springfield and Jill Scott, Adele's sense of staggering, heartbreaking honesty and artistry are evidence of her superwoman resilience and everywoman experiences. - Angela Bruno

Ray LaMontagne

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:05:58 -0800

Musical epiphanies often happen to people at the most random moments. Dave Matthews once confessed that his came when he was eating a hot dog at the legendary Pink's in Hollywood when a Paul Williams song came on the radio and from then on he knew what he was going to do with the rest of his life. Roger McGuinn of the Byrds admits that after watching George Harrison play an electric 12-string guitar in A Hard Day's Night, that he suddenly knew that the magic sounding, jangly chime was gong to be his trademark sound. For Ray LaMontagne, the calling came over the speakers of a shoe factory he was working in. More specifically, it was "Tree Top Flyer" by Stephen Stills that stopped him dead in his tracks when he knew that he had to leave his job and pursue a singing/songwriting career. Having grown up in a nomadic family, it wasn't too unfamiliar for LaMontagne to suddenly pick up and start over, which is exactly what he did. Ten recorded demo songs later, he was inking a deal with Chrysalis Music Publishing before teaming up with Hollywood producer Ethan Johns to cut his debut album Trouble which was almost instantly nabbed by RCA Records in 2004. Although LaMontagne is often compared to Tim Buckley, his voice sounds not unlike a young Van Morrison or even Ryan Adams. - Eric Shea

Chris Brown

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:12:35 -0800

Coming from a small town in Virginia, underage R&B crooner Chris Brown hit the scene in the summer of 2005, teaming up with Scott Storch and Juelz Santana for the club-friendly single "Run It!" Flexing a vocal style akin to Usher (or a young Michael Jackson), he released his debut self-titled LP later that year. - Brolin Winning

Christina Aguilera

Wed, 4 Nov 2009 12:14:28 -0800

A former star of The New Mickey Mouse Club who hit it big with an innuendo-laden single, then traded in her implicitly not-so-good-girl image for an explicitly not-so-good-girl image. Where have we heard this one before? The child of an Ecuadorian-American father and a Caucasian mother, Christina Aguilera started her career as a professional performer at age ten with a 1990 appearance on Star Search. Her subsequent Mickey Mouse Club stint led to Disney using her "Reflection" on the 1998 Mulan soundtrack, and RCA released her self-titled debut in 1999. Dance-pop smashes like "Genie in a Bottle" and "What a Girl Wants" showcased her big voice, which, along with her Spanish-language version of the album (Mi Reflejo), set her apart from the late-'90s crowd of pop-star ingenues.

Yet Aguilera was still coming in second to Britney. Her appearance on the sexy 2001 remake of "Lady Marmalade" suggested a way into the spotlight. She radically altered her image for 2002's Stripped and became Xtina, widely mocked for her look even as her voice proved soulful and mature. But in 2006 she released the acclaimed Back to Basics, a tribute to the jazz and soul she says inspires her, and cemented her status as a grown-up diva. - Rachel Devitt

Kristinia DeBarge

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 11:03:43 -0800

Everything is in place for Kristinia Debarge to be a huge pop star. She's got the pedigree: her dad (James DeBarge) and his siblings made up hit '80s R&B outfit DeBarge. She's got the right formula for a sizzling debut: Babyface (who discovered the young singer and helped her win a Def Jam contract) wrote and produced much of it. And most of all, if her debut single is any indication, she's got the talent: "Goodbye" is a burning hot, dance-pop kiss-off that borrows from Steam's 1969 classic "Na Na Hey Hey Kiss Him Goodbye." - Rachel Devitt

Amy Winehouse

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:42:38 -0800

If you like your chanteuses liberally doused in Chartreuse, Amy Winehouse is someone to raise a salutatory snifter to. As renowned for her boozing exploits and plunging dress sizes as for her marked musical abilities, the Londoner has risen to prominence on the back of gritty, often bleak autobiographical work. Winehouse readily admits that she writes from direct experience, and with songs that revolve around doomed relationships ("Stronger than Me"), drink ("Rehab") and recreational drugs ("Addicted"), you soon get the picture. But that aside, it's Winehouse's voice -- which saw her welcomed with open arms by Britain's two premier performance schools -- that forms the foundation of her appeal. By turns as knowing and vulnerable as Billie Holiday's and as streetwise as Ms Dynamite's, it reflects her fluctuating musical fixations (jazz, hip-hop and latterly Motown) and is a perfect tool to deliver her wry and affecting observations on the pratfalls and pain inherent in the pursuit of love. As Winehouse puts it: "I told you I was trouble/ You know that I'm no good" ("You Know I'm No Good"). - Jamie Dolling

Luther Vandross

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:12:32 -0800

The 1980s were a period of unchecked greed and decadence, when the world donned rose-colored glasses that filtered out the homeless and made the hole in the ozone layer seem patched. All those good feelings and denial of social woes meant that romance was back in style, and while the glasses clinked and millionaires' bankrolls flourished, so too did music to love by. Luther Vandross was the primary voice who provided the soundtrack for romantic rendezvous in the Reagan era, and by the mid-1980s, merely mentioning his name conjured up images of happy couples sipping Merlot in dimly lit rooms and chuckling at inside jokes -- and, alternately, jilted lovers consoling themselves. Blessed with a voice that was warm and soulful, Vandross' songs dripped with romance, promised love on the horizon, or turned a teary eye towards duos fading into solitude. When things came crashing in and bleak reality reared its ugly head in the mid-1990s, florid R&B gave way to less sentimental music . Even so, Vandross could always be counted on as the perfect complement to a night spent with a "friend" or the first few nights spent sleeping alone. He passed away on July 2, 2005, at the age of 54.

T-Pain

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:12:34 -0800

Coming out of Tallahassee, Fla., T-Pain started recording four-track keyboard beats and rhyming over them beginning at the age of 10. As a teenager, he rolled with a crew called Nappy Headz, finding local success with rowdy street records like "Robbery" and "F.L.A." After the group's shine began to dim, T-Pain switched his focus to singing. In 2004, he reworked Akon's hit single "Locked Up" into his own tune entitled "F*ck*d Up," and the song took off regionally. Akon himself was so impressed by the cut that he signed the young singer to his Konvict Records imprint. In the fall of 2005, T-Pain dropped his first major label single, the Zapp-flavored "I'm Sprung," in anticipation of his debut album Rappa Ternt Sanga. In 2007, T-Pain staked his claim on hip-hop and R&B with Epiphany, spawning the ubiquitous club joints "Buy U a Drank (Shawty Snappin')" and "Bartender." With vocoder in tow, T-Pain himself became ubiquitous, collaborating with Chris Brown, R. Kelly, Huey, DJ Khaled and every Florida rapper in existence. In 2008, he released his third album, the circus-themed Thr33 Ringz, which featured the hit single "Can't Believe It." - Brolin Winning

Jamie Foxx

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:07:25 -0800

Born in small town Texas and raised by his grandparents, Jamie Foxx found early success on the comedy club circuit, before joining the cast of the Wayans brothers' sketch TV show In Living Color. He then starred in his own self-titled sitcom for several years before making the switch to feature films. Despite being known primarily as an actor/comedian, his first love was always music, and he actually released a little-heard debut album entitled Peep This back in 1994. In 2004, he sang the hook on Twista's smash hit "Slow Jamz," and people everywhere took note of his smooth vocal abilities. That same year he dazzled audiences with his turn as Ray Charles in the biopic Ray, where he flexed his pipes again, singing all of the songs in the film and taking home a Best Actor Oscar for his performance. One of his tunes from the film was sampled by Kanye West as the basis for "Gold Digger," another No. 1 hit. In late 2005, he released Unpredictable, a collection of glossy R&B tracks featuring collabos with Kanye West and Ludacris among others. The album debuted at No. 2 on the charts, and soon rose to the top spot. - Brolin Winning

Leona Lewis

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:12:35 -0800

The age when televised talent contests were popular kingmakers has no better poster child than Leona Lewis, an English neo-soul singer and songwriter who won the third series of a British TV talent show called The X Factor and became a huge international pop star nearly overnight. Lewis began writing songs at 12 and winning local talent contests around London a few years later. Her big pipes earned her an instant following in the UK (here toothsome good looks probably didn't hurt either) before she even released her first single, "A Moment Like This," in December of 2006. That single set records by being downloaded over 50,000 times in 30 minutes and was followed the next year by her debut LP, Spirit, which had its songs and producers selected jointly by record moguls Simon Cowell and Clive Davis. - Nate Cavalieri

Keyshia Cole

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:12:35 -0800

Hailing from Oakland, California, Keyshia Cole fell in love with music at a young age. Talented and determined, she recorded with a diverse group of local artists (MC Hammer, Messy Marv, Dwayne Wiggins) as a teenager, before leaving the Bay Area and relocating to Los Angeles. Once in L.A., she was quickly signed to a major label, and hasn't looked back since. She contributed songs to several movie soundtracks, then released her debut solo album The Way It Is in 2005. The record was a hit thanks to popular singles like "I Changed My Mind" and "I Should've Cheated," setting Cole on the path to R&B stardom. Her sophomore album Just Like You (2007) finds Cole's heart and mind in the same contemplative tug of war on love, but this time around, she mixes lachrymose balladry with some "I'm-so-over-you" dance-floor heat (i.e. "Let It Go"). - Brolin Winning

Seal

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:07:24 -0800

In this age when marketers prefer to direct music at narrow audiences, Seal combines pop, R&B, hip-hop and moody rock with a down-tempo dance vibe. The wide appeal and wide range of his sound is, in many ways, a product of the British singer's multifaceted background. Born Seal Henry Olusegun Olumide Ongowe' Bongota Adelo Samuel to a Nigerian father and Brazilian mother, Seal earned a degree in architecture and worked as a leather clothing designer before joining the English funk band Push in the 1980s and, later, a blues band in Thailand. His most fortuitous collaboration was with house and techno producer Adamski, with whom Seal created 1990's "Killer." The No. 1 hit earned him a solo record contract. His eponymous 1991 debut produced the smash hit "Crazy," as well as a fruitful partnership between Seal and famed producer Trevor Horn. Over the next 16 years, Seal released four more albums, including his (also eponymous) 1994 sophomore effort (which featured Batman Forever hit "Kiss from a Rose") and 2007's System (which featured a duet with wife Heidi Klum). Like Sade, his fellow uni-named Brit, Seal takes long breaks between recordings, letting his hits build over time. - Rachel Devitt

Zero 7

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 10:09:54 -0800

Studio assistants turned superstars, London's Henry Bins and Sam Hardaker are now finding their cool and sexy tunes played all over the world. Prior to their highly acclaimed debut album, Simple Things, Zero 7 started making waves with a series of EPs and remixes, including Radiohead's "Climbing Up The Walls" and Lenny Kravitz's "If You Can't Say No." Soul vocalists Mozez, Sia Fuller, and Sophie Barker take their downtempo sound into the mainstream, yet their music shows no inclination to sell out. - Nicholas Baker

Mario

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:22:59 -0800

Akin to other teenaged artists like Bow Wow, Lil' Romeo, and B2K, Mario seemed to come out of nowhere, scoring a huge hit with his debut single, "Just A Friend 2002" (Biz Markie recorded the original "Just A Friend" back in 1989 -- when Mario was 3). Signed to powerhouse label J Records (Alicia Keys) at the age of 15, his self-titled LP was a must-have for thousands of adoring female fans. In late 2004, he released his second LP, Turning Point, flaunting a noticeable maturity in both his voice and lyricism, and scoring another hit with the single "Let Me Love You." - Brolin Winning

Boyz II Men

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 11:04:05 -0800

With their early 1990s hit "Motownphilly," Boyz II Men assured their status as big-time chart-toppers, able to control the No. 1 spot for weeks at a time (often only to be replaced by another one of their singles). Their tight harmonies give a nod to the Doo-Wop artists of the 1950s, while crisp production assures a distinctly modern sound. They've had success with smoking R&B dance tracks, but their true talent lies in their rendering of syrupy romantic ballads that can drive just about anyone to tears. Their perfect A Cappella songs can melt your heart like butter, moving through open chords with exacting precision. Scores of weak imitations later, Boyz II Men continue to sell millions of records as they work with hot producers like Babyface and superstar singers such as Mariah Carey. - Jessy Terry

Fergie

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 10:09:51 -0800

Born Stacy Ferguson in 1975, the woman now simply known as Fergie rose to fame as essentially a set-piece for one of the most popular pop-rap bands of the new millennium. But things weren't always so rosy for the California native. Her first go around in the music industry, with group the Wild Orchid, left her confused and depressed. After Orchid was dropped from their recording contract in the late-'90s, Fergie struggled with addiction and mental instability. But then she landed a role as a temporary background singer for up-and-coming hip-hop act the Black Eyed Peas. In 2003, she was offered a permanent position. And when their songs "Where Is the Love" and "Let's Get It Started" rocketed up the charts, she quickly became a star, appearing in music-related journals such as Blender and FMH. The runaway success of 2005's "My Humps" -- Fergie's meditation on female anatomy -- led to a solo career. Her 2006 album, The Duchess of York, was her debut. - Sam Chennault

Barry White

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 11:03:44 -0800

An icon of the disco era, Barry White turned a behind the scenes career in the music idustry into a highly succesful career as a performer and hitmaker. Strip away the lush strings and you'll see that White followed in the footsteps of such creamy R&B baritones as Lou Rawls, Isaac Hayes, and even the politically charged Gil Scott Heron. Not really a singer, White used his voice well, employing pillow talk interludes like an amorous Orson Welles doused in Brut 33. Barry White used a heady brew of disco sheen and his bedroom voice to score hit after hit in the '70s. His "Love's Theme" in 1974 pretty much sums up White's mojo, but the hits kept coming until 1979 (perhaps corresponding to the moral backlash against the sexual revolution?). But even chaste monks can't help but be tickled by Barry White, who passed away on July 4, 2003 - Nick Dedina

Duffy

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:05:24 -0800

When little Aimee Anne Duffy's father cued up a VHS tape with archaic episodes of the Brit music showcase program Ready Steady Go!, the grainy performances of the Beatles and Stones left an indelible impression. By the time she was 15, she was singing in bands herself, and at 23 she had truncated her name, buddied up to Suede guitarist Bernard Butler and signed to A&M. She instantly captured the manic adoration of the British media, who heralded the Welsh singer as the most recent in a line of playful, soul-inspired pop singers like Amy Winehouse. Her music certainly hitches itself to the Winehouse wagon with its ice-cold '60s grooves and Dusty Springfield influence, but Duffy's squeaky-clean image makes her a curious foil. - Nate Cavalieri

Ginuwine

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:12:37 -0800

Ginuwine sings just like his name, bringing some seriously earnest crooning that occasionally falls into a pleading whine. It's okay with the ladies, though; Missy Elliot loves him and so do a lot of people looking for contemporary candlelight crooning.

Jay Sean

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 15:23:52 -0800

Though few in the U.S. knew the name Jay Sean before the May 2009 release of his hit collaboration with Lil Wayne, "Down," the singer had already found substantial success on two continents. His debut, 2004's Me Against Myself, fused modern R&B with Bollywood and was a big hit in Sean's parents' home country of India. The album also had a substantial impact in the U.K. (where Sean was born), thanks to hit singles "Stolen" and "Eyes on You." His follow-up, 2008's My Own Way, was equally successful, and Sean was dubbed the U.K.'s answer to Ne-Yo. He soon caught the attention of the American record industry and in late 2008 was signed to Lil Wayne's label, Cash Money. Sean and Lil Wayne quickly recorded their duet, which shot to the top of the American charts. He recorded five additional songs for 2009's re-release of My Own Way. - Sam Chennault

Anthony Hamilton

Sun, 22 Nov 2009 10:09:56 -0800

Hailing from Charlotte, N.C., Anthony Hamilton began singing in church and local talent shows before moving to New York in the early 1990s and signing with Uptown Records. After the label folded, he bounced to MCA and released his debut album, XTC, in 1996. Sporting a classic vocal style different from the neo-soul crooners who were then coming into vogue, the LP got good reviews but failed to generate much hype. Hamilton soon started writing songs for artists like Donell Jones, toured with D'Angelo and sang on records by Eve and Tupac, among others. He finally hit the big-time in 2002 after teaming up with Nappy Roots for their single "Po' Folks" and earning a Grammy nomination in the process. Hamilton then hooked up with Jermaine Dupri, who signed him to So So Def and produced Comin' From Where I'm From in 2003. A steady stream of records followed, including the archival collections Soulife and Southern Comfort, and 2008's The Point of It All. - Brolin Winning

Toni Braxton

Sat, 21 Nov 2009 13:42:49 -0800

Few artists start off on such a good foot as Toni Braxton, whose eponymous first album stealthily climbed the charts after it was released in 1993, KO'ing more established acts along the way and reaching the uppermost rungs. Unlike those she left lying on the mat, Braxton's success couldn't be attributed to a catchy hook or groovy beat. Instead, her songs rely on her husky vocals, which take jazz's heated inflections and map them over sauntering RnB rhythms. With a voice that so convincingly conveys sadness, remorse and occasionally joy, Braxton became the soundtrack for couples rediscovering love and lonely listeners nursing broken hearts alike. Her vocal abilities led to top 10 hits (such as "Another Sad Love Song" and "Unbreak My Heart"), Grammies, a starring role in Broadway's Beauty and the Beast and a headlining gig in Vegas. At times, Braxton's career seems to have been fraught with almost as much struggle as success (she's battled with labels twice and has filed for bankruptcy). But this veteran performer (she got her start in 1989 with the Braxtons, a group she formed with her four sisters) has continuously prevailed over setbacks, thanks at least in part to her unique, evocative voice. - Rachel Devitt

The-Dream

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:12:34 -0800

Atlanta singer-songwriter The-Dream (born Terius Nash) became a household name in late 2007 with his smash hit "Shawty Is a 10." With a drooping melody, light synth embellishments and a piano line that dances around the downbeat, the song -- off his December 2007 debut, Lovehate -- is the equivalent of R&B cotton candy. But Nash's story begins before then. Among many other credits, he wrote Rihanna's smash hit "Umbrella," as well as J. Holiday's "Bed." In addition to "Shawty Is a 10," The-Dream also scored big with Lovehate's "Falsetto" and "I Luv Your Girl." In 2009, he released sophomore effort Love Vs Money. The album channels the lite electro-funk of Prince, while also echoing R. Kelly's arrogant sexuality. Add The-Dream's uncanny ear for melody and ability to sculpt instantly memorable hooks, and you have one of the biggest new stars in R&B. - Sam Chennault

Ciara

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:12:39 -0800

An R&B singer out of Atlanta, Ciara hit the scene in the summer of 2004, hooking up with Lil Jon and Petey Pablo for her debut single "Goodies." Set to a synth-powered beat very similar to the one in Pablo's hit "Freek-A-Leek," the song (which she described as "Crunk&B") raced up the charts, setting the stage for her debut album of the same name. Goodies, the LP, was released in the fall of 2004. In 2006, Ciara returned with The Evolution, a more grown-up effort that bangs from the moment you press play. The singer/songwriter/producer/performer once again skyrocketed to the top, with hits like the symphonic "Like a Boy," the sultry-sweet "Can't Leaven 'Em Alone" featuring 50 Cent, and the sexy Polow Da Don-produced hit "Promise." - Brolin Winning

India.Arie

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:12:36 -0800

India.Arie made waves in 2001 with her debut release on Motown Records, Acoustic Soul. The album was not a blockbuster but it did produce some singles with considerable staying power, including "Video" and "Brown Skin." Arie also garnered a few Grammy nominations out of the deal. More importantly, Arie has become the darling little sister of the Neo-Soul set, garnering comparisons to artists like Jill Scott and Macy Gray for her conscious lyrics and vibrant, organic sound.

Chrisette Michele

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 10:12:31 -0800

Simply put, Chrisette Michele has one of the most beautiful voices in modern R&B. Her restrained phrasing and sweet tenor points towards bygone eras, allowing her to carve out a niche within pop music. It's a distinctly retro sound, but unlike Joss Stone or even Amy Winehouse, Michele doesn't seem content to simply relive the old days. The production work on her 2007 debut, I Am, is distinctly modern. That album was greeted with widespread critical acclaim, and though it didn't have a large commercial impact, it did seemingly reach the right people, and the New York singer was nominated for two Grammys in 2008. Michele has also lent her beautiful voice to tracks by hip-hop stars such as Jay-Z and Nas. - Sam Chennault

Erykah Badu

Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:09:52 -0800

Erykah Badu's sound echoes with strains of lush 1970s soul, cucumber-cool jazz and modern-day hip-hop -- a blend that made her music a noteworthy standout in a sea of Xeroxed sound-alikes when Baduizm, her debut album, dropped in 1997. Although her unflappable, purring vocals garnered well-deserved comparisons to the legendary Billie Holiday, Badu, who was born Erica Wright, got her start with some of today's hottest acts, beginning with D'Angelo, whom she opened for in her hometown of Dallas in 1994. That show led to a record contract, collaborations with artists such as the Roots, and Baduizm, written almost entirely by Badu. She followed her triple-platinum, Grammy-winning debut with a successful 1998 live album (which included the hit song "Tyrone") and Mama's Gun, which Badu released in 2000 after taking some time off to raise the son she had with Outkast's Andre 3000. Badu worked through the writer's block that followed by organizing the Frustrated Artist Tour and releasing EP Worldwide Underground in 2003. Five years passed (during which she reportedly completed three albums' worth of material) before Badu put out her next studio album, 2008's New Amerykah. - Rachel Devitt

Destiny's Child

Fri, 20 Nov 2009 12:50:58 -0800

Amongst the most commercially successful female groups in the music industry, Destiny's Child has been cranking out multi-platinum crossover R&B for many years. Founded in Houston, Texas in 1990, they were originally put together by Mathew Knowles (Beyonce's dad) when the members were still in their preteens. They paid dues performing on Star Search (rapping, not singing) in the early nineties and eventually went on the road, touring as an opening act for Dru Hill and SWV among others. Their first official release came about in 1997, with the song "Killing Time" off the soundtrack for Will Smith's summer blockbuster Men In Black. The group released their self-titled debut album the following year, scoring a huge hit with "No, No, No," produced by Wyclef. In 1998 they returned with The Writing On The Wall, which featured two more smash singles, "Bills, Bills, Bills" and "Say My Name." Though they were now bona fide chart-topping superstars, internal strife and financial grievances led to the departure of LaTavia Robertson and LeToya Luckett, who were replaced by LaTavia Robertson and Farrah Franklin. Bad press and a lawsuit ensued, but when the smoke cleared, the album had sold over eight million copies. In the summer of 2000, Franklin left the group, and later that year they released their first single as a trio, finding another hit with "Independent Woman, Pt. 1" (the theme song to Charlie's Angels). Soon after, Destiny's Child dropped their third LP Survivor, which debuted at number one and featured two more hugely popular singles, "Bootylicious" and the title track. A Christmas collection and remix album followed, after which all three members released solo albums. Beyonce, who had long been the star of the group, became bigger than ever thanks to her wildly successful LP Dangerously In Love as well as a starring role in Goldmember, six-figure endorsement deals, and high-profile relationship with Jay-Z. Though rumors swirled that their life as a group had come to a close, the ladies reunited for Destiny Fulfilled, which was released in late 2004. After a highly successful tour, the group announced their permanent break-up to pursue solo projects in 2005, performing their last official show together in Vancouver, Canada, and releasing a greatest hits album that same year. A few pseudo-reunions followed, most of them involving Beyonce's solo career, but for now, the trio seems to be set on remaining just friends. Regardless, Destiny's Child will forever be revered and remembered as a group that overcame numerous obstacles to reshape the sound of pop music, in the process becoming the most popular girl group since TLC. - Brolin Winning