Kevin Rudolf

The name of guitarist, producer and pop juggernaut Kevin Rudolf might not ring a bell, but his resume was 10 feet long by the time he released his first single, "Let It Rock," in fall 2008. His behind-the-scenes work as a guitarist and producer has shaped tracks for a clutch of chart-dominating pop stars -- including heavy hitters like Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears, Nelly Furtado and Lil Wayne -- but Rudolf himself has been mostly relegated to the fine print. Though he maintained a low profile and sought to enshroud himself with a mysterious persona for his debut LP, In the City, it was riddled with high-caliber cameos, and it found a home on the gold-plated major label Cash Money.