Colby O'Donis

• Genre: Contemporary R&B

About

This young and hungry R&B singer signed to Akon's Konvict Muzik label in 2007, when he was just 19 years old. But early as it seemed, the break had actually been long in the making: Colby O'Donis had been singing since he was a kid and had his first proto-success as the tender age of nine, when he wrote and recorded "Mouse in the House" for the Stuart Little soundtrack. Years of sharpening his skills -- which include playing piano and guitar, singing and dancing -- followed, as well as a string of self-produced albums that paid implicit homage to his influences: Michael Jackson and Justin Timberlake. The releases didn't lead to a recording deal, however, until he linked up with Akon in 2007. Akon dug O'Donis' buttery singing voice, and took to calling him "my secret weapon." O'Donis dropped his debut single "What You Got" (featuring Akon) in early 2008.

- Sarah Bardeen