2. Def Jam Recordings is an American record
label, focused predominantly on hip hop and
urban music, owned by Universal Music
Group, and operates as part of The Island Def
Jam Music Group. In the UK, the label takes on
the name Def Jam UK and is operated through
Virgin EMI.

3. Frank Ocean has character. He's rare. In a world that divvies up art by genre, that constantly seeks to quantify
cool, he is impossible to miss, like a panda bear in a pine forest. And over the past year or so, he's become
harder and harder to ignore. Frank had long labored behind the curtain—writing for Brandy, Justin Bieber, and
John Legend—but after hooking up with L.A.'s Odd Future collective, he self-released 2011's nostalgia, ULTRA.
mixtape, and his own star quickly rose. Original songs like "Novacane" and "Swim Good" showcased his knack
for riveting storytelling and arrangement, climbed the R&B charts, and led to collaborations with Beyoncé, and
Kanye West and Jay-Z. But Frank isn't about accolades and accomplishments. He's a less-is-more kind of guy, the
quiet type who saves his words because his songs tell us as much about him as they do ourselves. His live show
emphasizes that intimacy, closes that razor-thin gap between the man and his fans. Because as rare as he
is, Frank Ocean is also familiar, both in the way he moves among us, undeniably a product of this post-
everything, hustle-hard, DIY musical moment, and in the way he conveys that quality that we're all always
seeking: utter timelessness.

4. Kanye West has proven time and time again
that as a soloist, he can single-handedly shift
rap’s sonic focus, but over the past year Yeezy
made sure that there wasn’t anybody messin’
with his clique. So even during a period when
he put out G.O.O.D. Music’s Cruel
Summercompilation, ‘Ye was enough of a force
to land him at #7 on the ”Hottest MCs in the
Game VIII,” MTV’s hip-hop power rankin.

5. Shaffer Chimere Smith better known by his
stage name Ne-Yo, is a Grammy Award winning
American R&B recording artist, record
producer, dancer and actor. Beginning his
career as a songwriter, Ne-Yo penned the hit
"Let Me Love You" for singer Mario.

6. Shawn Corey Carter, better known by his stage
name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record
producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He
is one of the most financially successful hip-hop
artists and entrepreneurs in America.

7. Sean Michael Anderson, better known
by his stage name Big Sean, is an
American rapper. Big Sean signed with
Kanye West's GOOD Music in
2007, and then in 2008 signed with
Def Jam Recordings