BUJU BANTON: Jamaica's Banton got the dance halls of his hometown, Kingston - and elsewhere - fired up in the 1990s. Banton's early hits, the safe-sex anthem Willy (Don't Be Silly) and the more serious Murderer, are steeped in the roots of reggae, although Banton's 2003 disc, Friends for Life, embraces more pop and R&B sounds.
YOUNGBLOODZ: Atlanta's YoungBloodZ, featuring rapper Sean Paul and DJ J-Bo, rap about having a good time together, as evidenced on Drinkin' Patnaz, a disc of dirty south crunk beats and rhymes celebrating the duo's friendship, featuring the club hit Damn.
T.I.: Also from Atlanta, rapper T.I., or Tip, has scored some success with Trap Muzik, his second album, featuring club hits 24s and Rubberband Man.
T.O.K.: Short for Touch of Klass, the Jamaican quartet, who are all 23, liken themselves to Boyz II Men.
JOJO: From Boston, JoJo grew up on the sounds of Ella, Aretha and Etta. Now this lady interprets pop and blues tunes in her own unique way. She also writes her own tunes, featured on her self-titled debut.
