Monica

A skilled songstress from Atlanta, Monica debuted in 1995 with her first album, Miss Thang. Though only 15 years old, her talent was undeniable, and she saw her first single, "Don't Take It Personal (Just One of Dem Days)," soar up both the pop and R&B charts. Her follow-up, 1998's The Boy Is Mine, was also a hit, fueled by the title track, a duet with Brandy. After that, however, Monica's rising star plateaued a bit, thanks to a long delay between albums. Her third album was initially released only in Japan after a lukewarm lead single and then revamped (including an in-studio overhaul) as 2003's After the Storm. Next album, 2006's The Makings of Me, also earned considerably less attention than her earlier efforts and featured her least successful singles to date. But the resilient singer came back again with a 2009 reality show called Still Standing and a 2010 album of the same name.