Frank Ocean
Who He Is: Frank Ocean is an R&B singer-songwriter who's originally from the New Orleans area and grew up with the name Christopher Breaux, but adopted his stage name after moving to Los Angeles after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. He's the R&B member of the LA hip-hop collective known as Odd Future and is signed to Def Jam Records. He released a brilliant, well-received mixtape titled Nostalgia, Ultra in February 2011, and since then he's worked with Beyonce, Jay-Z and Kanye West, among others.
What's Next for Frank: A commercial release of Nostalgia, Ultra never came about due to issues clearing the huge number of samples on it, but Frank's official debut album is due out sometime in 2012. In the meantime, a steady stream of unofficial and semi-official songs by him manage to leak on almost weekly basis.
Listen Up: Nostalgia, Ultra can be streamed and downloaded legally and for free at mixtape site datpiff.com.
The Weeknd
Who He Is: The Weeknd is the stage name of Abel Tesfaye, an R&B singer-songwriter from Toronto, Ontario. He's a friend and protege of another Canadian artist, hip-hop superstar Drake. Although the Weeknd released three full, original albums in 2011 -- House of Balloons, Thursday and Echoes of Silence -- all were actually free digital mixtapes, not commercially available releases.
What's Next: In late 2011, he said there are tentative plans to release his three mixtapes commercially this year, either separately or together as a package.
New, original material could also be included.
Listen Up: All three of his brooding, melancholy mixtapes, which push the boundaries of what's considered true R&B, can be streamed or downloaded via The Weeknd's official Soundcloud page.
Elle Varner
Who She Is: Elle Varner is an LA-based singer who's signed to RCA Records. Her sunny, upbeat debut single, "Only Wanna Give it to You," which features the rapper J. Cole, was released in August, 2011 and was a moderate hit.
What's Next: Elle's debut album, tentatively titled Perfectly Imperfect, is slated to drop sometime in 2012, although no official release date's been set yet, partially due to complications caused by her former label, J Records, being folded into RCA in October 2011.
Listen Up: Stream "Only Wanna Give it to You" here.
Mateo
Who He Is: Iman Jordan, who goes by the stage name of Mateo, is a California-based pop-R&B performer who's signed to Krucial Noise, the label of super-producer Kerry "Krucial" Brothers, who's best known for his work and close relationship with Alicia Keys. In 2011, Mateo released a free online mixtape, Love & Stadiums, and followed it up with a commercially-released seven-song EP called Love & Stadiums II.
What's Next: Love & Stadiums II was just released in December 2011, so 2012 should be a year of promoting the EP, as well as performing live and working on a full-length debut album for release in the second half of the year or 2013.
Listen Up: His Love & Stadiums mixtape, which was released in March 2011 and features songs with numerous other R&B and hip-hop acts, including Goapele, Kardinal Offishall, Pusha T (of the Clipse), can be downloaded for free.
Jacob Latimore
Who He Is: Jacob Latimore is a highly talented teenage singer-actor-dancer straight outta the ATL, Atlanta, Georgia. His current single, "Like 'Em All," is a catchy, uplifting tune with a positive message about how there's beauty in all females, no matter their size, shape, height or color. Jacob, who's originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, has music in his bloodline; his father and uncles are part of the inspirational music group the Latimore Brothers.
What's Next for Jacob: His currently-untitled debut album is due out sometime in 2012. He's also set to appear as the title character on the show "Young Man on Campus" in 2012.
Listen Up: Stream "Like 'Em All," which also features teen rapper Issa, on Jacob's Soundcloud page.
CJ Hilton
Who He Is: This is the third straight year that R&B/Soul singer CJ Hilton has appeared on the "Who's Next" list, and 2012 is probably the year he breaks through. album had been delayed due to record label drama, but it looks like that's mostly settled now. His latest single, "Cold Summer," dropped in October 2011, and his album of the same name is being readied by RCA Records.
What's Next: After being pushed back numerous times beginning in 2010, CJ's debut album is expected out later this year.
Listen Up: "Cold Summer" can be streamed here, and his 2010 mixtape, The Package, is still available for free, legal downloading.
Josh Xantus
Who He Is: Josh Xantus (zan-thus is a singer-songwriter of Haitian heritage who's signed to EMI/Capitol Records. From his official bio: Josh started playing classical piano at the age of six, but it was Brian McKnight’s 1997 hit, "Anytime," that would change the trajectory of his music. "That was the first song that really made me want to write a song," recalls Josh. "It was the first song I made a connection with and I wanted to pursue music."
What's Next for Him: His debut album, tentatively titled Can I Live?
, is still simmering and doesn't yet have a release date.
Listen Up: Josh has released numerous mixtapes over the past couple of years that are still available, including Josh X-Mas, which dropped in December 2010.
Jermaine Riley
Who He Is: Up-and-coming vocalist Jermaine Riley was formerly one-third of the R&B group RDM. He burned up the Internet in 2011, releasing what he calls 'refixes;' songs that are a combination of new vocals and lyrics sung over music that was previously recorded by Drake, Beyonce, Jay-Z and Kanye West, among others.
What's Next for Him: Jermaine's Superman-themed debut album, Hello Earth, is expected to drop sometime during the first few weeks of 2012.
Listen Up: His free Nine Ten Eleven mixtape can be streamed or downloaded through his Bandcamp page.
Luke James
Who He Is: Singer-songwriter Luke James, a New Orleans native, went to high school with Frank Ocean. He was also formerly half of the R&B duo Luke & Q, but turned to songwriting after he and childhood friend Quinten "Q" Spears went their separate ways. After after playing the background for awhile and co-penning songs for the likes of Chris Brown, Britney Spears and Justin Bieber over the past few years, he's making his own bid for the spotlight.
What's Next: He dropped a mixtape called #Luke in late-2011; his debut solo album, Made to Love, is slated to drop sometime in 2012; no official release date has been set.
: His #Luke mixtape features nine tracks, including the previously released "I Want You" and the upcoming album's title track. #Luke can be streamed or downloaded exclusively at free mixtape website datpiff.com.
Antoine Dunn
Who She Is: The up-and-coming vocalist known as JoiStaRR is a Los Angeles native who's performed and recorded with Raphael Saadiq to Estelle and Musiq Soulchild, to name a few. She released numerous songs independently throughout 2011.
What's Next for Her: For months in late 2011, she released a new song each Monday to build excitement for her upcoming mixtape Magic Monday, which she put out in early January.
A full album by her is expected to drop by the summer.
Listen Up: Her latest mixtape, Magic Monday, and her debut mixtape, the very tasty Broccoli & Noodles, can both be streamed or downloaded at JoiStaRR's official Soundcloud page.
Who He Is: Antoine Dunn, the nephew of professional Gospel singer Veronica Dunn, got his break in the music industry behind the scenes as a songwriter and vocal producer before stepping into the spotlight by opening live shows for the likes of Avant and Musiq Soulchild. He was signed to Elite Music Group in August 2011.
What's Next: Antoine's working on his debut album, which is due out in 2012.
Listen Up: His first single is a track called "Can't Forget," which blends classic Soul with a modern-day outlook and contemporary attitude, resulting in a familiar, yet timeless sound.
Who He Is: Frank Ocean is an R&B singer-songwriter who's originally from the New Orleans area and grew up with the name Christopher Breaux, but adopted his stage name after moving to Los Angeles after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. He's the R&B member of the LA hip-hop collective known as Odd Future and is signed to Def Jam Records. He released a brilliant, well-received mixtape titled Nostalgia, Ultra in February 2011, and since then he's worked with Beyonce, Jay-Z and Kanye West, among others.
What's Next for Frank: A commercial release of Nostalgia, Ultra never came about due to issues clearing the huge number of samples on it, but Frank's official debut album is due out sometime in 2012. In the meantime, a steady stream of unofficial and semi-official songs by him manage to leak on almost weekly basis.
Listen Up: Nostalgia, Ultra can be streamed and downloaded legally and for free at mixtape site datpiff.com.
The Weeknd
Who He Is: The Weeknd is the stage name of Abel Tesfaye, an R&B singer-songwriter from Toronto, Ontario. He's a friend and protege of another Canadian artist, hip-hop superstar Drake. Although the Weeknd released three full, original albums in 2011 -- House of Balloons, Thursday and Echoes of Silence -- all were actually free digital mixtapes, not commercially available releases.
What's Next: In late 2011, he said there are tentative plans to release his three mixtapes commercially this year, either separately or together as a package.
New, original material could also be included.
Listen Up: All three of his brooding, melancholy mixtapes, which push the boundaries of what's considered true R&B, can be streamed or downloaded via The Weeknd's official Soundcloud page.
Elle Varner
Who She Is: Elle Varner is an LA-based singer who's signed to RCA Records. Her sunny, upbeat debut single, "Only Wanna Give it to You," which features the rapper J. Cole, was released in August, 2011 and was a moderate hit.
What's Next: Elle's debut album, tentatively titled Perfectly Imperfect, is slated to drop sometime in 2012, although no official release date's been set yet, partially due to complications caused by her former label, J Records, being folded into RCA in October 2011.
Listen Up: Stream "Only Wanna Give it to You" here.
Mateo
Who He Is: Iman Jordan, who goes by the stage name of Mateo, is a California-based pop-R&B performer who's signed to Krucial Noise, the label of super-producer Kerry "Krucial" Brothers, who's best known for his work and close relationship with Alicia Keys. In 2011, Mateo released a free online mixtape, Love & Stadiums, and followed it up with a commercially-released seven-song EP called Love & Stadiums II.
What's Next: Love & Stadiums II was just released in December 2011, so 2012 should be a year of promoting the EP, as well as performing live and working on a full-length debut album for release in the second half of the year or 2013.
Listen Up: His Love & Stadiums mixtape, which was released in March 2011 and features songs with numerous other R&B and hip-hop acts, including Goapele, Kardinal Offishall, Pusha T (of the Clipse), can be downloaded for free.
Jacob Latimore
Who He Is: Jacob Latimore is a highly talented teenage singer-actor-dancer straight outta the ATL, Atlanta, Georgia. His current single, "Like 'Em All," is a catchy, uplifting tune with a positive message about how there's beauty in all females, no matter their size, shape, height or color. Jacob, who's originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, has music in his bloodline; his father and uncles are part of the inspirational music group the Latimore Brothers.
What's Next for Jacob: His currently-untitled debut album is due out sometime in 2012. He's also set to appear as the title character on the show "Young Man on Campus" in 2012.
Listen Up: Stream "Like 'Em All," which also features teen rapper Issa, on Jacob's Soundcloud page.
CJ Hilton
Who He Is: This is the third straight year that R&B/Soul singer CJ Hilton has appeared on the "Who's Next" list, and 2012 is probably the year he breaks through. album had been delayed due to record label drama, but it looks like that's mostly settled now. His latest single, "Cold Summer," dropped in October 2011, and his album of the same name is being readied by RCA Records.
What's Next: After being pushed back numerous times beginning in 2010, CJ's debut album is expected out later this year.
Listen Up: "Cold Summer" can be streamed here, and his 2010 mixtape, The Package, is still available for free, legal downloading.
Josh Xantus
Who He Is: Josh Xantus (zan-thus is a singer-songwriter of Haitian heritage who's signed to EMI/Capitol Records. From his official bio: Josh started playing classical piano at the age of six, but it was Brian McKnight’s 1997 hit, "Anytime," that would change the trajectory of his music. "That was the first song that really made me want to write a song," recalls Josh. "It was the first song I made a connection with and I wanted to pursue music."
What's Next for Him: His debut album, tentatively titled Can I Live?
, is still simmering and doesn't yet have a release date.
Listen Up: Josh has released numerous mixtapes over the past couple of years that are still available, including Josh X-Mas, which dropped in December 2010.
Jermaine Riley
Who He Is: Up-and-coming vocalist Jermaine Riley was formerly one-third of the R&B group RDM. He burned up the Internet in 2011, releasing what he calls 'refixes;' songs that are a combination of new vocals and lyrics sung over music that was previously recorded by Drake, Beyonce, Jay-Z and Kanye West, among others.
What's Next for Him: Jermaine's Superman-themed debut album, Hello Earth, is expected to drop sometime during the first few weeks of 2012.
Listen Up: His free Nine Ten Eleven mixtape can be streamed or downloaded through his Bandcamp page.
Luke James
Who He Is: Singer-songwriter Luke James, a New Orleans native, went to high school with Frank Ocean. He was also formerly half of the R&B duo Luke & Q, but turned to songwriting after he and childhood friend Quinten "Q" Spears went their separate ways. After after playing the background for awhile and co-penning songs for the likes of Chris Brown, Britney Spears and Justin Bieber over the past few years, he's making his own bid for the spotlight.
What's Next: He dropped a mixtape called #Luke in late-2011; his debut solo album, Made to Love, is slated to drop sometime in 2012; no official release date has been set.
: His #Luke mixtape features nine tracks, including the previously released "I Want You" and the upcoming album's title track. #Luke can be streamed or downloaded exclusively at free mixtape website datpiff.com.
Antoine Dunn
Who She Is: The up-and-coming vocalist known as JoiStaRR is a Los Angeles native who's performed and recorded with Raphael Saadiq to Estelle and Musiq Soulchild, to name a few. She released numerous songs independently throughout 2011.
What's Next for Her: For months in late 2011, she released a new song each Monday to build excitement for her upcoming mixtape Magic Monday, which she put out in early January.
A full album by her is expected to drop by the summer.
Listen Up: Her latest mixtape, Magic Monday, and her debut mixtape, the very tasty Broccoli & Noodles, can both be streamed or downloaded at JoiStaRR's official Soundcloud page.
Who He Is: Antoine Dunn, the nephew of professional Gospel singer Veronica Dunn, got his break in the music industry behind the scenes as a songwriter and vocal producer before stepping into the spotlight by opening live shows for the likes of Avant and Musiq Soulchild. He was signed to Elite Music Group in August 2011.
What's Next: Antoine's working on his debut album, which is due out in 2012.
Listen Up: His first single is a track called "Can't Forget," which blends classic Soul with a modern-day outlook and contemporary attitude, resulting in a familiar, yet timeless sound.