1. Tinashe
LA bred singer Tinashe is just 21-years-old and already off to a solid start in the game. With two successful mixtapes under her belt, (“In Case We Die” and “Reverie”), the RCA Records signee has teamed up with Schoolboy Q for the summer smash “2 On” and is currently working on her debut album set for release later this year. Keep an eye out for this beauty, she’s going to be big!
Check out “2 On” right here.
2. Jade Alston
Philadelphia’s own, Jade Alston, exploded on the scene with her debut mixtape, “Single On A Saturday Night” almost two years ago and followed up with her second project the next year. Her style and heavy vocals have been compared to those of Jazmine Sullivan but Alston is proving that she’s one of a kind. Still unsigned, the songstress is working on her debut album, We Will Live, which is due for release in 2014.
3. SZA
In 2013, New Jersey native SZA released her EP “S” and caught the eyes of Top Dawg Entertainment, the record label featuring rappers Kendrick Lamar, Schoolboy Q and the rest of their Black Hippy crew. Now, SZA holds the title of the TDE First Lady and this year she plans to release her follow-up EP, “Z.” With K.Dot and Schoolboy Q in her corner, SZA is sure to become a legend.
4. George Tandy, Jr.
George Tandy, Jr.’s rise to stardom is quite the interesting story. The Virginia native moved to Florida to pursue music and found work as a Starbucks barista where he gave a copy of his demo to Cima Georgevich, the CEO of RedStar Entertainment and a frequent Starbucks customer. It was his lucky day because the label signed Tandy. He released his debut single “March” in September 2013 and the rest is history!
5. Eric Bellinger
As the grandson of Jackson 5 songwriter Bobby Day, Eric Bellinger’s destiny precedes him. After turning down college to pursue music full time, he signed to Epic Records and found a new passion in songwriting. His songs have been recorded by UK’s Chipmunk, Nickelodeon’s Big Time Rush, Selena Gomez and more. It’s clear that Eric Bellinger is an all star talent with many hats and is sure to go far in the industry!
6. Sampha
British producer, singer and songwriter, Sampha, is known for his collaborative work with Drake (“Too Much”- Nothing Was The Same), Solange, Katy B, SBTRKT and many others. He’s released two solo EPs: Sundanza (2010) and Dual (2013), both of which achieved great success. His distinctive soft voice is what sets him apart in the music industry and I’m sure we’ll be hearing more of Sampha this summer.
7. Candice Glover
As the 12th winner of American Idol, Candice Glover is a force to be reckoned with. After auditioning for the show three times, she finally landed a spot on the live episodes of American Idol and went on to beat her opponent, Kree Harrison, in the final round. Her debut album, Music Speaks, was released earlier this year with the album’s second single, “Cried” reaching number one on the R&B charts.
