Blu Cantrell

Blu Cantrell burst into the R&B scene in 2001 with her debut album, So Blu, fueled by the advance hit "Hit 'Em Up Style (Oops!)." The song details a jilted girlfriend spending all her ex's dough -- nothing too surprising. But what was surprising was the powerful neo-swing influence, which kicked the song into higher gear yet kept it on the charts. The rest of the album was similarly strong, infused with Cantrell's lovely, unadulterated voice and an impressive array of songs. She followed up in 2003 with the equally impressive Bittersweet.