Alicia Augello Cook, known professionally as Alicia Keys, is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. A classically trained pianist, Keys started composing songs when she was 12 and was signed at 15 years old by Columbia Records. After disputes with the label, she signed with Arista Records and later released her debut album, Songs in A Minor, with J Records in 2001. The album was critically and commercially successful, selling over 12 million copies worldwide. It spawned the Billboard Hot 100 number-one single "Fallin'", and earned Keys five Grammy Awards in 2002. Her second album, The Diary of Alicia Keys (2003), was also a critical and commercial success, selling eight million copies worldwide, and producing the singles "You Don't Know My Name", "If I Ain't Got You", and "Diary". The album garnered her an additional four Grammy Awards.
Omari Ishmael Grandberry, better known by his stage name Omarion, is an American R&B singer, songwriter, actor and dancer. He rose to prominence as the lead singer of the boy band B2K. The group achieved success in the early 2000s with their singles "Gots ta Be", "Uh Huh", "Girlfriend", and the number-one hit "Bump, Bump, Bump".
SWV is an American R&B vocal trio from New York City whose members are Cheryl (Coko) Gamble, Tamara (Taj) Johnson, and Leanne (Lelee) Lyons. Formed in 1988 as a gospel group, SWV became one of the most successful R&B groups of the 1990s. They had a series of hits, including "Weak", "Right Here ", "I'm So into You", and "You're the One". The group disbanded in 1998 to pursue solo projects and reunited in 2005. SWV has sold more than 25 million records worldwide, making them one of the best-selling girl groups of all time.
Marques Barrett Houston is an American R&B singer, songwriter, dancer, model and actor. A member of the R&B group Immature/IMx from 1990 until 2002, Houston went solo in 2003. As an actor, he is best known for his role as Roger Evans in the television comedy Sister, Sister. As a solo artist, Houston has released a number of successful studio albums that went platinum in the United States.
Stephen Ellis Garrett, Jr., known professionally as Static Major, was an American singer, songwriter, and record producer from Louisville, Kentucky. He was a member of the R&B trio Playa, and a songwriter for several artists, including Aaliyah, Ginuwine, Pretty Ricky, and Destiny's Child.
Maurice White was an American singer, band leader, musician, songwriter, and record producer. He was best known as the founder, leader, main songwriter, and producer of the band Earth, Wind & Fire, and served as the band's co-lead singer with Philip Bailey.
Tamar Estine Braxton is an American singer and television personality.
Joseph Anthony Budden II is an American media personality and former rapper. He first gained recognition as a rapper with his 2003 top 40 single "Pump It Up" and as a member of the hip hop supergroup Slaughterhouse. In 2018, he retired from rap, and found success as a broadcaster, having a much publicized run as a co-host on Everyday Struggle for Complex. He currently hosts The Joe Budden Podcast, released twice a week on Patreon and YouTube, and State of the Culture on Revolt. He has been described as "the Howard Stern of hip-hop".
Next is an American R&B musical trio, popular during the late 1990s and early 2000s. They are best known for their Billboard Hot 100 number-one hit single "Too Close". They are also known for "Wifey", "Butta Love" and "I Still Love You", all of which still receive frequent airplay on Urban Adult Contemporary radio stations in the U.S. and internationally.
"Dancing Machine" is a song recorded by American R&B group the Jackson 5, and was the title track of their ninth studio album. The song was originally recorded for the group's 1973 album G.I.T.: Get It Together and was released as a remix for a response to the success of the single.
Shaffer Chimere Smith, known professionally as Ne-Yo, is an American singer, songwriter, actor, dancer, and record producer. He gained fame for his songwriting abilities when he penned Mario's 2004 hit "Let Me Love You". The single's successful release prompted a meeting between Ne-Yo and Def Jam's then-president Jay-Z, resulting in a long-tenured recording contract. He is a recipient of several awards including three Grammy Awards.
Mint Condition is an American R&B band from Minneapolis, Minnesota. The band is focused on diverse genres such as jazz, hip hop, funk and dance. Mint Condition has also been nominated for one Grammy and 3 Soul Train Awards. The group is credited with being one of the last major funk bands to chart before hip hop and new jack swing dominated black music in the 1990s.
Solo is an American R&B musical group from New York, New York. The original members were Robert Anderson, Darnell Chavis, Eunique Mack and Dan Stokes.
Tramar Lacel Dillard, better known by his stage name Flo Rida, is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter. His 2007 breakout single "Low" was number one for 10 weeks in the United States and broke the record for digital download sales at the time of its release.
Jazmine Marie Sullivan is an American R&B and soul singer. Born and raised in Philadelphia, her debut album, Fearless was released in 2008. The record topped Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It spawned four singles, including "Need U Bad" and "Bust Your Windows", both of which were in the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart; the former became Sullivan's first and only number one on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
A Different Me is the third studio album by American singer Keyshia Cole. It was released by Geffen Records in association with Imani Entertainment and Interscope Records on December 16, 2008 in the United States. Cole reteamed with producers Toxic, Ron Fair and The Runners to work on A Different Me, but also worked with a variety of additional collaborators on new material, including Polow da Don, The Outsyders, Kwamé, Carvin & Ivan, Tank, Theron Feemster, and Poke & Tone. Guest appearances include Amina, Nas, Monica and 2Pac.
Brothers to Brutha is an American reality show on BET that was premiered on November 18, 2008. It follows five brothers who have a record deal on Island Def Jam Music Group as the R&B group Brutha. It was shown on Tuesday nights at 10:30pm. The first season consisted of six episodes. A second season has been confirmed by Brutha on YouTube. The group released their first album, Brutha, on December 23, 2008.
Brutha was an American R&B and soul group consisted of five brothers: Anthony Harrell, Cheyenne Harrell, Grady Harrell III, Jacob Harrell and Jared Overton. The group was formed in 2002 and Brian McKnight first introduced them on the 2003 Soul Train Holiday Special. The brothers were subsequently signed to Def Jam Records. The group's first album Brutha was released in December 2008. Their reality show, Brothers to Brutha, documented their rise to fame. In 2011, the three eldest brothers Grady, Anthony and Jared left the group to pursue solo careers, leaving the remaining two brothers Jacob and Cheyenne to form the duo Jake & Papa.
"I Can't Hear the Music" is a song by American R&B group Brutha, released September 30, 2008 by The Island Def Jam Music Group, as the lead single from their self-titled debut album, Brutha (2008). The song, which also serves as their debut single, was produced by Blac Elvis and features a guest verse from American rapper Fabolous.
4 Bruthas & a Bass is the second studio album by American R&B group Solo, released September 22, 1998. Like the group's previous album, this album was also released on Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis' record label, Perspective Records; however, Jam and Lewis did not produce the album and production was instead handled by Henley "Jr." Regisford. The album peaked at #123 on the Billboard 200; and its only single was "Touch Me", which peaked at #59 on the Billboard Hot 100.
