Special Features

While Estelle's debut LP, 'The 18th Day,' introduced to the public, it wasn't until 'Shine,' her sophomore album, that not only gained her recognition in her native U.K. but also across the Atlantic. When the second single, 'American Boy,' featuring Kanye West, came in 2008, she skyrocketed to fame and broke the top 10 in numerous countries including Canada and the U...

With eight albums under her belt, Deborah Cox is a bonafide songstress who knows how to make music people like. In 1998, she proved that she was a hit maker with the release of 'Nobody's Supposed to Be Here.' The single stayed at the top of the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart for 14 weeks -- making it the longest running number-one song on that list ever. It was... Read Mo

Shirley Bassey may not necessarily fall under the R&B category, but her musical styles in the 1950s have lent themselves to influence how R&B music is done today. With 36 studio albums and six live LPs, her career is beyond impressive and shows that an artist can last in the business. Des...

The first time we heard about Shontelle, she was singing about lounging in her boyfriend's clothes when she misses him in the 2008 tune, 'T-Shirt.' After gaining some success with that track, she joined New Kids on the Block and Beyonce on their respective tours...

Gladys Knight & the Pips made waves with 'I Heard It Through the Grapevine,' 'Neither One of Us (Wants to Be the First to Say Goodbye)' and 'Midnight Train to Georgia.' With seven Grammy awards and an induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1996, the group was very successful. Ho...

After being a part of Patti LaBelle and the Bluebelles for over a decade, the songstress released her solo debut in 1977. The album received positive reviews and labeled her as a dance music artist. Over the course of LaBelle's 55-year (and growing) career, she has released 18 studio albums that spawned 47 singles and sold 50 million units worldwide...

Not to be confused with the 1974 film icon, Foxy Brown has been bringing her no-holds-barred attitude and sharp rhymes since her debut in 1996. After signing with Def Jam Records, she released 'Ill Na Na,' which not only received raving reviews but also broke the top 10 on the Billboard 200 chart...

When Da Brat released her debut album, 'Funkdafied,' in 1994, she quickly soared to the top of the charts, which made her the first female rapper to sell one million albums -- the project was certified platinum. Following the success of her first album, Brat released 'Anuthatantrum' in 1996...

Ever since the release of her debut LP, 'Miss Thang,' Monica was set to be a star. Not only did the album produce three hit singles that charted in the top 10, but 'Don't Take It Personal (Just One of Dem Days)' and 'Before You Walk out of My Life' also made the singer the youngest artist to have back-to-back songs top the Billboard R&B Singles chart. ...

Trina's first break in hip-hop was working with fellow Miami rapper Trick Daddy on 'Nann' from his sophomore LP, 'www.thug.com,' in 1998. With the success of that track, the previously unsigned Trina landed a deal with Slip-n-Slide Records/Atlantic Records and started working on her debut LP...