Last week we brought you a list of the most anticipate albums of the year. This week, we thought we’d introduce you to some of the artists we’re keeping an eye on this year.
While this is far from a comprehensive list of all the hot new (and not-so-new) artists making waves this year, it does include some of our favorites. The list was based not only on these artists’ current industry buzz, but also the likelihood that they will capture the attention of audiences outside the entertainment business this year.
Flip through and check them out.
J. Cole
We caught some flack for not including J. Cole in our “Most Anticipated Albums” list. So we had to give the young man his dues. In case you’ve been under a rock, and aren’t familiar with Jay-Z’s first Roc Nation protege, check out a bit of his journey.
Download his latest mixtape Friday Night Lights here
Jasmine Solano – The next hot female rapper
Check out Jasmine’s first single “That’s Not It” with a little throwback sample from Spinderella.
Kendrick Lamar – Dr. Dre’s latest co-sign
We love his single “Cut You Off”!
Jessie J – What Winehouse could’ve been without the drugs & crazy and a little more flava
We love her single “Do It Like A Dude,” but we wanted you to know she can BLOW.
Elle Varner – Alicia Keys’ protege, the next voice in R&B
Elle Varner, born of two published songwriters, spent most of her childhood sleeping on studio couches, running around green rooms, and watching her parents struggle to make a name in the industry. With music running through her veins, Elle was singing as soon as she could speak, playing the flute at 6 and the piano at 9. But it wasn’t until her attendance at AGC (Amazing Grace Conservatory) that her ear for harmony, melody and complex rhythm truly developed.
Currently, Elle Varner is signed to MBK/J Records, a team that recognizes her many talents; from her unique voice complimented by her guitar strum to her potential of becoming one of music’s greatest songwriters. A little girl whose deepest comfort was once found in the vibration of the human voice will soon be comforting this world with her highly anticipated debut album.
Behind the scenes of the “Valentine” video
Yelawolf – Alabama Representer, Shady Records 2.0
Check out “Pop The Trunk”
Dev – What Ke$ha coulda been… to us. The inspiration for “Like A G6”
And the actual “Base Down Low” clip
Cyhi Da Prynce – Yeezy says he’s got next
“The first time I actually spoke to Kanye was in Hawaii,” recalls Cyhi on his first meeting with Kanye. “He reached out through different people. No ID hit me and said he was very interested in meeting me. It was also great that we were both on Def Jam, it made the transition easier.
“L.A. Reid and Bu Thiam were down in Hawaii, too, and worked everything out with me,” he continues. “‘Ye screamed out ‘Cyhiii!’ as soon as I saw him. I’m excited because I have someone that understands everything that I want to do with my career. He’s not in the box, Ye really understands what I’m trying to accomplish.”
Wynter Gordon – What a lot of these R&B singers think will save their career… she actually does. And she writes for some of the best
For the past two years, Wynter has tirelessly traveled the globe, collaborating with some of the biggest names in electronic music and picking up a few tricks along the way. She’s stepped into the studio with David Guetta and Rhythm Masters, performed in front of thousands at the Winter Music Conference. All of these incredible experiences have gone into the making of her debut. As Wynter explains, “I’m not the same girl anymore. I’m more confident. I’m more me.” Her songs reflect this new self-confidence—she and her collaborators have given themselves license to play, reveling in a new sound that is a blend of European house, bold beats, and purely emotive songwriting. “I feel so comfortable with myself now. I’m really in that place where I’ve just let go.
Life these days is a living fantasy. As she’s bounced from Ibiza to Amsterdam, London to Paris, Wynter explains that she fell in love with “the energy in Europe. I picked up a little of the culture from everywhere I’ve been.” For a girl from South Jamaica, Queens, who was raised in a two-room house with “my mother and six brothers and sisters,” she’s aware of how far she has come. Her childhood was difficult, shaped by poverty and a largely absent father. “My only escape was art,” she remembers. As a teenager, she was accepted to the famous LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts (known as the Fame school). There, her natural talent was nurtured. “You could really be yourself and focus on your talent,” remembers Wynter
Her first single, “Dirty Talk”
Jarvis – DJ Khaled’s handpicked crooner
It takes a combination of several factors to make a star. Talent and charisma, while being the most important of these factors, won’t get you to superstardom without drive, a strong support system and the right timing. For Tulsa, Oklahoma native Jarvis Shaffer, those factors have been coming together for years. And now, at the age of 21, and as the first R&B artist signed to DJ Khaled’s We The Best Music imprint, Jarvis, as he is simply known to his fans, is on the verge of superstardom.
With the guidance and support of his new team, Jarvis is currently putting the finishing touches on his debut album Cardiology, due out in 2010. And in an era when many of his peers are strictly concerned with superstar looks and “swag,” Jarvis is out to make an impression on the world through great music. Gifted with a voice rich and controlled beyond his years, Jarvis is working with some of the biggest names in urban music – including The Runners, Adonis Shopshire, Dre & Vidal, Rock City, and Tha Bizness, to name a few – to craft the new R&B classics: incorporating all that this generation has been exposed to culturally and musically, while honoring the greats who paved the way. “I want to create a legacy, become a great entertainer and be known as a great person,” Jarvis says. “I strive to become legendary, not just for my talent, but for what I’ve given back.”
