Raheem Devaughn

Though Maryland native Raheem DeVaughn is the son of the noted cellist Abdul Wadud, he entered music accidentally. While a student at Baltimore's Coppin State University, he came across singers harmonizing and joined in. That raw, street-corner pedigree is evident in DeVaughn's work: He's not reinventing the wheel exactly, but his songs are among the most polished to bear the tag "neo-soul." DeVaughn has a smooth voice that occasionally breaks into a falsetto, and his productions lean toward nostalgic yet tight, break-driven fare. In 2008, the world took notice, and his single "Woman" was nominated for a Grammy for best male RnB vocal performance.