Tamar Braxton

Tamar Braxton was born in Severn Maryland to Michael and Evelyn Braxton, the youngest of six children. Tamar started singing as a young opera singer, but would eventually enter the church choir, where Michael Braxton was pastor. Her voice was in sharp contrast to her older sister's. The sisters released a single on Atlantic Records in 1990 as 'The Braxtons" and attracted the attention of producer Antonio "LA" Reid and Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds.

Lianne La Havas

The daughter of a Greek father and Jamaican mother, La Havas fell in love with music at a young age and cites her parents' tastes as a huge influence. Her dad, who played accordion, piano and guitar, favored jazz artists like Louis Armstrong and Charlie Parker, while her mother loved female soul-R&B singers like Jill Scott, Erykah Badu and Mary J. Blige. La Havas wrote her first song at age 11 but didn't sing in public until joining the school choir at age 13.

Solange

Solange Piaget Knowles may be best known as the younger sister of Beyonce, but she is a singer, songwriter and actress in her own right. At just 14, she wrote her debut album, Solo Star, but soon after followed up this career breakthrough when she married and bore son, Daniel Julez Smith Jr. at 17. Her sophomore effort, Solange and The Hadley Street Dreams, released in 2008 to wide acclaim, adding to the rising star's notoriety. Her 2012 digital release, True, channeled funk, neo soul and indie pop , carving out her unique, genre-bending lane.

The Weeknd

The Ethiopian, Toronto Canada-based R&B singer Abel Tesfaye gained popularity in March 2011 after releasing his first album, House of Balloons. The debut effort caught the attention of fellow Toronto artist Drake, leading to the emo-singer's brief associate with the rapper's OVOXO ensemble. Currently, the genre-bending breakout star is signed to his own imprint, XO, under Republic Records.

Aloe Blacc

Although compared to the likes of Gil Scott-Heron, Andy Bey and Bill Withers, artist Aloe Blacc is a true modern original. His 2012 single "I Need a Dollar" became his breakout hit after selected to score the opening credits of HBO's original series, 'How To Make It In America.' Blacc broke into the music scene in '95 as a rapper in hip-hop duo Emanon, later launching his solo career with his first hip-hop soul LP, Shine Through (2006) and later, Good Things (2010).

BJ "The Chicago Kid"

Born, raised and nurtured on the South Side of Chicago in the early 80s, BJ's childhood was a fusion of elements from both the streets and the church. With his choir-director parents and brother, singer Aaron Sledge alongside him, his passion and gift for creating soulful R&B music was inevitable.

Marsha Ambrosius

After achieving success as one half of neo-soul dup Floetry, six-time Grammy award nominee Marsha Ambrosius broke out as a solo artist with the release of 2011's 'Late Nights & Early Mornings." The singer-songwriter and producer's unique sound fuses soul, hip-hop and R&B.

Bridget Kelly

When asked that she would like her audience to take away from her music, the Roc Nation singer-songwriter confidently replied, "I hope to touch someone's life through my writing or my voice, even if it's just one person... I sing about things women thing and feel, but don't always say because they'er afraid of being judged. I want to be that voice for women by saying what I really feel."

V.Bozeman

Born and raised in South Central, LA, V left her home in 2006 and relocated to Atlanta, where she performed in a succession of short-lived R&B girl groups, including one she sang lead in that caught the attention of revered singer-songwriter Kenneth 'Babyface' Edmonds, who later signed the group to his SodaPop Entertainment label in 2008; a year later without an album release, the group disbanded. At the top of 2012, the soulful singer partnered with mentor Cee Lo Green's Eight Entertainment.

Emeli Sande

Influenced by Nina Simone, Massive Attack and Joni Mitchell, jazz-soul artist Emeli Sande regularly provided guest vocals for several of the U.K's most successful grime artists and before eventually embarking on her own solo career in 2010. After being encouraged to hone her own talents, including playing the clarinet and piano, the Aberdeen native began writing and performing her own original music.