Born in Dallas and raised in Chattanooga and Atlanta, R&B singer, songwriter, and dancer Usher is best known for multi-platinum albums like My Way and the diamond-certified Confessions. A multi-Grammy winner, he has scored numerous chart-topping hits including Yeah! and My Boo.
Philadelphia-born rapper Eve rose to fame in the late 1990s as part of the Ruff Ryders posse. Her chart-topping 1999 debut made history as the first number one album by a female rapper. She won a Grammy Award for the hit single Let Me Blow Ya Mind featuring Gwen Stefani.
Born in Brooklyn, rapper Talib Kweli is known for his insightful lyrics and technical skill. He rose to fame in the late 1990s as part of Black Star with Mos Def and Reflection Eternal with DJ Hi-Tek. He later launched a successful solo career, releasing gold-certified albums like Quality.
Grammy-nominated adult contemporary R&B duo Kindred the Family Soul consists of Philadelphia husband and wife Fatin Dantzler and Aja Graydon. Rooted in traditional soul and gospel, the duo debuted in 2003 with Surrender to Love and released albums including The Arrival and Legacy of Love.
Formed in Philadelphia by rapper Black Thought and drummer Questlove, the Roots are a progressive hip-hop band known for live instrumentation and acclaimed albums like Things Fall Apart. They earned a Grammy for You Got Me and became a prominent late-night television house band.
Native New Yorker Andrew Schulz is a comedian known for his unapologetic style and crowd work. He starred in the Netflix special Schulz Saves America and released the chart-topping debut album 551. He also hosts the popular podcasts The Brilliant Idiots and Flagrant 2.
East Flatbush, Brooklyn rapper known for an idiosyncratic, ragga-inspired style. Rose with Leaders of the New School, then broke solo with 1996 hit Woo-Hah!! Got You All in Check. His 2006 album The Big Bang debuted at No. 1.
Philly-born DJ/producer Drama, Gangsta Grillz mixtape king; co-founded Atlantic’s Generation Now (Lil Uzi Vert, Jack Harlow); narrated Tyler’s CMIYGL; collab’d w/ T.I., Wayne, Jeezy.
Washington, D.C.-born R&B singer Ari Lennox broke out with 2019 debut Shea Butter Baby, featuring platinum hits “Shea Butter Baby” and “BMO.” Her work earned GRAMMY, Soul Train and NAACP noms; “Pressure” made her first solo Hot 100 entry.
South London-raised producer, composer and drummer. He co-founded Yussef Kamaal with Kamaal Williams; their acclaimed album Black Focus (2016, Brownswood) became influential. Launched Cashmere Thoughts Recordings in 2018; co-made What Kinda Music with Tom Misch, UK Top 5.
Saucy Santana, born Rashad Michael Harris, is a Florida rapper raised in Bridgeport, Connecticut. Known for sharp, vulgar bars with pop catchiness, he broke out in 2019 with "Walk Em Like a Dog" and "Material Girl," later on 2020 mixtape Imma Celebrity. Debut album Keep It Playa (2021). Worked as a makeup artist for City Girls; collaborated with Latto and Madonna.
Philly-born Roots MC Black Thought: incisive ’90s street poet (“What They Do”). Grammy winner (“You Got Me” w/ Erykah Badu); LPs Things Fall Apart+. Worked w/ Danger Mouse.
Maverick City is a groundbreaking CCM and gospel collective known for uniting diverse creatives and reshaping church music with vibrant, inclusive worship sounds.
North Carolina rap trio Little Brother, known for soulful, thoughtful hip-hop, rose with Phonte, Big Pooh, and producer 9th Wonder, acclaimed for The Listening and The Minstrel Show.
Tina Dunham, aka Diamond Kuts, was born in Philadelphia and became the first woman DJ on Philly radio. Known for trap-EDM and pop-R&B tracks like "Dribble" and "Hella Sauce," she has spun for artists like Nicki Minaj and Lil Mama.
Nigerian DJ/producer/songwriter known for his African cap; hit “Power” w/ Summer Walker, DJ Snake, Ayanna & Nasty; played Coachella, Glasto.
