“Let Your Soul Sing,” XXL‘s Article on the Top 5 Hip-Hop Soul Artists to Watch in 2011 [April 2011 Magazine Excerpt]

THIS TEXT ORIGINALLY APPEARS IN THE STORY “LET YOUR SOUL SING” FROM APRIL 2011 ISSUE OF XXL. ON SALE NOW

Bei Maejor

Gov't Name: Bei Maejor
Age: 23
Reppin': Detroit
Notable For: Appearing on Ciara's "Ride" RMX alongside Andre 3000
Currently Working On: Untitled debut album.
Label: Jive Records

"Powerless"

"Drunk in the Club"

"She Ain't You"

Bridget Kelly

Gov’t Name: Bridget Kelly
Age: 24
Reppin’: New York
Notable For: Singing vocals for “Empire State of Mind” in place of Alicia Keys on tour with Jay-Z
Currently Working On: Untitled debut album, set to be released later this year
Label: Roc Nation

"Stuck"

"Fall In Love"

"Empire State of Mind" (Live" with Jay-Z

Masspike Miles

Gov’t Name: Miles Wheeler
Age: 30
Reppin’: Boston
Notable Releases: Mixtapes: The Pursuit of Happiness, 2009, Superfly, 2010; Singles: “Get It Together,” featuring Rick Ross, 2008, “Nasty,” featuring Rick Ross, 2010
Currently Working On: Untitled EP, due spring 2011; collaborating with Wiz Khalifa, Rick Ross and Fred the Godson
Label: Maybach Music Group

"Love Drunk" featuring Rick Ross

"Nasty" featuring Rick Ross

"Never a Flaw"

Leon Timbo

Gov’t Name: Leon Seymore
Age: 34
Reppin’: Jacksonville, Florida (Duval County)
Notable Releases: Singles: “Don’t Call, Come Get Me,” 2005, “Thousand Songs,” 2009; Independent Albums: Soul Sessions, 2005, Hidden, 2009
Currently Working On: Love Revolution LP, due summer 2011
Label: Soda Pop/Def Jam (Babyface’s label, Soda Pop, under Def Jam)

"Thousand Songs"

"Don't Call"

"The Other Side" with Tyrese

Wynter Gordon

Gov’t Name: Diana Gordon
Age: 25
Reppin’: New York
Notable Releases: Single: “Dirty Talk,” 2010;
Guest Appearance: Flo Rida’s “Sugar,” 2009
Currently Working On: Recording her debut album, With the Music I Die,
due later this year, and songwriting for Jennifer Lopez’s upcoming album
Label: Big Beat/Atlantic Records

"Dirty Talk"

"Frustrated"

"Insomnia"