Drake soared to fame with his performance as Jimmy Brooks in the series Degrassi: The Next Generation. He then became a rap sensation with his platinum album Thank Me Later and his Grammy-winning quadruple platinum album Take Care. His track In My Feelings went viral with the global Kiki Challenge.
A name that has found a place in the Forbes list of highest-earning women in music continuously for 9 years in a row, Katy Perry is a one of America’s most beloved pop singers. An inspiration to upcoming singers, Perry has established herself in the music industry through her edgy tunes and empowering tracks.
Two-time Grammy-winning country singer Miranda Lambert is known for her hit album Platinum and the track Automatic. She was placed third in the singing contest Nashville Star. She has won more Academy of Country Music Awards than any artist. Her organization MuttNation Foundation works for rehabilitation of rescue animals.
One of rock and roll’s greatest songwriters and performers of all time, Neil Young has worked both solo as well with bands like Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. The Grammy award winning musician’s notable albums include After the Gold Rush, Harvest, Harvest Moon and Ragged Glory. He strongly backs environmental and disability issues too.
Hailed as the leading figure of the emo rap scene of the mid-late 2010s, Lil Peep went on to inspire many youth subcultures. Peep achieved tremendous success in less than three years' time. In his personal life though, he struggled with mental health conditions. He died at the age of 21 due to an accidental overdose of drugs.
Future is an American rapper, record producer, singer, and songwriter. He is credited with founding a record label named Freebandz. Having released many gold-certified singles and albums, Future is a popular rapper and his music is often characterized as trap music.
Lorde is a New Zealand singer-songwriter best known for contributing to the soundtrack of the popular American sci-fi adventure film The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1. Her song Yellow Flicker Beat was released as the lead single from the film's successful soundtrack. In 2013 and 2014, she was featured in Time magazine's most influential teenagers list.
Four-time Grammy-winner Keith Urban had already tasted success in Australia, before making his American debut with a platinum-certified solo album. He knows how to play a variety of instruments, including the sitar, guitar, piano, and mandolin. His track Somebody Like You was named Billboard’s greatest country hit of the 2000s.
Regarded as one of the most acclaimed musical artists of his generation, Frank Ocean is recognized for his unconventional production techniques and wide vocal range. He is credited with revitalizing and popularizing jazz and funk-influenced R&B. He is also regarded as a representative of alternative R&B. He was named in Time magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world list.
Ciara is an American singer-songwriter whose debut single, Goodies, earned her the title Princess of Crunk&B. Her songs, Goodies and Yeah!, are credited with introducing the substyle of contemporary R&B and crunk music called crunk&B to music lovers. Also a dancer and model, Ciara has had a major impact on the American entertainment industry for the past 10 years.
Bjork is an Icelandic singer, record producer, songwriter, DJ, and actress. She is best known for her association with the now-defunct yet popular band, The Sugarcubes. The bestselling Icelandic singer-songwriter of all time, Bjork was named in Time magazine's most influential people in the world list in 2015. Over the course of her illustrious career, Bjork has received several awards.
American singer, songwriter and vocalist, Glen Frey was the co-founder of the extremely famous rock band of the 1970s—Eagles. The band delivered hit albums like Hotel California before disbanding after a decade. The six time Grammy award winner then enjoyed a successful solo career with hit songs like Smuggler’s Blues and The Heat Is On before re-joining his band.
Musician, singer, and songwriter Kevin Jonas rose to fame as a member of the pop-rock band, the Jonas Brothers, with his younger brothers, Joe and Nick. Also an actor, he has appeared in many Disney Channel productions. He is involved in business ventures as well and is the founder of a construction company, JonasWerner.
Tyga is a singer-songwriter, rapper, television personality, and actor. Although Tyga had a promising start to his music career, he faced a setback when he had to endure a long period of negative reviews and poor sales. He was also troubled by a series of legal issues. Despite his struggles, Tyga proved his mettle by releasing his hit album Legendary.
Grammy-winning hip-hop/rap artist Nelly began his career with St. Lunatics. He became a household name after the release of his debut solo album, Country Grammar, in 2000. He ranked third on Billboard’s list of the Top Artist of the Decade and has sold 21 million albums in the U.S.
Red Hot Chili Peppers co-founder and vocalist Anthony Kiedis released 11 rock albums with his band, focusing on issues such as sex, drugs, and loss. The Rock and Roll Hall of Famer has struggled with drug issues but has been drug-free since 2000. His memoir, Scar Tissue, became a bestseller.
Jeff Buckley was an American guitarist and singer-songwriter. His only studio album, Grace, was included in Rolling Stone magazine's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list. Since his untimely death at the age of 30, Jeff Buckley has been the subject of several documentaries. His death also inspired several artists to record songs in tribute to his life and career.
NLE Choppa is one of the youngest male rappers to make a name for himself in the American rapping scene. Also a well-known Internet personality, NLE Choppa has posted several videos on his YouTube channel Awakened Choppa, inspiring many of his followers to fall back on spirituality and veganism.
Mary Travers was an American singer and songwriter. She was part of Peter, Paul and Mary, one of the most successful and popular folk music groups of the 1960s. Apart from working with the music group, Travers released five solo albums. In 1999, she was inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame as part of the group.
Big Pun was an American songwriter and rapper. Well-known for his heavy use of alliteration and exceptional breath control, Pun was also widely regarded as one of the best MCs ever. He struggled with weight issues and obesity throughout his life, which eventually led to his death caused by respiratory failure and a heart attack at the age of 28.
The daughter of popular American actors, Jada Pinkett Smith and Will Smith, Willow Smith has established herself as a singer-songwriter and rapper. Mentored by rapper Jay-Z, Smith became the youngest artist to be signed to the former's label Roc Nation in 2010. In 2019, she came out as bisexual and expressed her desire to be in a polyamorous relationship.
Canadian singer, songwriter, and actress Carly Rae Jepsen has been active in show business since 2007. Interested in music from an early age, she pursued musical theatre at the Canadian College of Performing Arts. She held a series of odd jobs before getting a break as a singer and actress. She is the winner of three Juno Awards.
Scott Weiland was an American singer and songwriter. He is credited with co-creating the popular rock band Stone Temple Pilots where he served as the lead singer. He was also part of two supergroups, namely Velvet Revolver and Art of Anarchy. Known for his chaotic and flamboyant onstage persona, Weiland is widely viewed as a versatile vocalist.
Moroccan-American rapper French Montana is best known for his tracks Unforgettable and Choppa Choppa Down. He was initially an independent artist and founded Coke Boys Records and Cocaine City Records. He later joined the labels of Puff Daddy and Rick Ross. He is also known for dating Khloe Kardashian.
Brad Douglas Paisley is an American singer-songwriter. One of the most decorated male country music singers of the current generation, Paisley has won multiple American Music Awards, Grammy Awards, Country Music Association Awards, and Academy of Country Music Awards. Brad Paisley is also known for his skills as a guitarist and one particular model of guitar is named after him.
Anni-Frid Lyngstad is a Norwegian-Swedish environmentalist, singer, and songwriter. She is credited with co-founding the popular Swedish pop band ABBA and popularizing the band by serving as its lead singer. In 2010, Anni-Frid Lyngstad was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 2014, she received the Eskilstuna Music Prize for her contribution as an "icon."
Delta Goodrem is an Australian actress, singer, and songwriter. Many of her albums have topped the ARIA Albums Chart, with her debut album Innocent Eyes staying at the top for 29 consecutive weeks. Also known for her charity work, Goodrem established the Delta Goodrem Foundation in an attempt to raise money for blood cancer research.
Better known by his stage name Boosie Badazz, rapper, singer, and songwriter Torrence Hatch first became popular as a member of the hip hop collective, Concentration Camp, in the 1990s. In the ensuing years, he became a key figure in the Southern hip hop scene. His career has been marred by frequent legal hassles and drug issues.
English singer, Ella Mai, was one of the contestants on the TV show, The X Factor, in which she auditioned as part of a trio. Even though she didn’t last long on the show, she went ahead to create her own music and became a sensation following the release of her eponymous album that topped the US R&B chart.
Navraj Singh Goraya, popularly known as Nav, is a Canadian singer, songwriter, rapper, and record producer. He achieved recognition when his song Myself went viral in 2016. Bad Habits, his second studio album, debuted at the top position on the US Billboard 200. He has also received criticism for using the word nigga in some of his songs like TTD.
Solána Imani Rowe, popularly known as SZA, is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter. While SZA's music incorporates elements of hip hop, soul, cloud rap, and chillwave, her songs revolve around themes of abandonment, nostalgia, and sexuality. A recipient of BMI Awards and NAACP Image Awards, SZA has also received nominations for an Academy Award and nine Grammy Awards.
Singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, Charlie Daniels, is remembered for his contributions to Southern rock, country, and bluegrass music. He had an extensive career that spanned over half a century and was inducted into the Cheyenne Frontier Days Hall of Fame and the Country Music Hall of Fame. He had also appeared in a few films.