While Killer Mike’s gravelly voice is one of the more distinctive in rap, it is far from the most heard.  Realistically, he is far better associated with his work with OutKast as opposed to anything he did on his own.

We don’t think that anyone who was listening to N*Sync really thought of them as Rock and Roll Hall of Famers, but those that heard them knew that Justin Timberlake was the real talent.  As it turns out, he might be one of the greatest musical talents of his generation.

From the San Diego coffee houses to the mainstream pop world, Jason Mraz utilizes a slew of influences from Folk, Alt Rock, Reggae and Blue Eyed Soul to crate his own style of melodic pop music.  Mraz is often lumped in with John Mayer) though his body of work differs from him greatly.   He did have respectable album sales and love from the Grammys but is he considered influential enough to really be considered?

Beloved in his circle, Iron and Wine (essentially the one man Folk Band, of Samuel Bean) put out some of the sweetest and soothing sounding Indie Folk music in years.  The critics have gushed over Bean (as they should have) and commercially he has not done badly, but Folk music may have reached a certain quota in Cleveland and has a long line ahead of him.