Kelis

For all the futuristic trappings of her production and visual aesthetic, Kelis' persona is retrograde in that it exudes the sort of personality and power that has largely been missing from RnB in the past two decades. Blessed with a unique style and one of the sexiest voices in the industry, the Harlem siren usually sings on top of an array of ear-tickling beats, many produced by the Neptunes. Her first two albums ('99's Kaleidoscope and 2001's U.K.-only Wanderland) made her a star overseas, but Kelis didn't blow up stateside until her third album, Tasty, was released in 2003. Featuring the smash hit "Milkshake" and collaborations with Nas and Outkast's Andre 3000, the album was a revelation for American pop audiences. While 2006's Kelis Was Here didn't sell as many copies and was greeted with critical indifference, it did feature the smash hit "Bossy."