Here's the Top 10 Countdown of the Best New Artists of 2006.Do you agree? Who should be here?
10. LUPE FIASCOLupe's penchant for everything from skateboarding to politics made the AOL Music Breaker, and his bootleg CDs, the most talked-about thing in hip-hop. Now, with his Jay-Z and Pharrell-assisted debut 'Food & Liquor' nominated for three Grammys, all of his hype seems very well deserved.
9. KT TUNSTALLIntroduced to music through her brother's hair-metal collection, KT (not-short-for-anything) Tunstall began writing her own songs at age 16. The Scottish singer turned out more Fiona Apple than Twisted Sister and scored a hit with her critically lauded 'Eye to the Telescope' CD. 'Black Horse and the Cherry Tree' became an anthem for single women everywhere and got nominated for a Grammy.
8. DANITY KANEAfter three seasons of MTV's 'Making the Band,' the pressure was on for Aubrey, Dawn, Aundrea, D. Woods and Shannon to deliver. Diddy's girls did just that when their album debuted at No. 1 in August -- something Da Band could only dream of. Platinum sales lie in their future.
7. DAUGHTRYWhile most 'Idol' contenders got by on sugary pop confections, North Carolina's Chris Daughtry bombarded viewers with scorching rock anthems week after week. The fruits of his labors? A record deal fronting his own band and a hi-octane debut album that sold nearly 500,000 copies in two weeks. Take that, Simon!
6. LETOYAJust as Destiny's Child announced their retirement, original member LeToya Luckett burst back on the scene with the breakup ballad 'Torn' from her self-titled solo debut. With that hit and its follow-up, 'She Don't,' under her belt, this H-Town chick effectively shut up the haters once and for all.
5. YUNG JOCBad Boy's two-year dry spell ended as soon as this Georgia MC's debut single, 'It's Goin' Down,' hit the airwaves. And his platinum CD, 'New Joc City,' was just the start; his second album, 'The Jocumentary,' is scheduled for release in 2007.
4. CORINNE BAILEY RAEThe way she drips her breathy, smooth-as-silk vocals over soulful, feel-good pop melodies, it's hard to not fall head-over-heels for Rae's music. The British siren's self-titled debut reached the Top 20 and earned her three Grammy nominations, including Record of the Year for her single 'Put Your Records On.'
3. THE FRAYAfter a chance meeting in a Denver record store, singer Issac Slade and guitarist Joe King formed the Fray from the ashes of their respective bands. A few jam sessions and live shows later, they had the entire city enchanted by their infectious, melodic pop. A major-label record deal, two chart-topping singles, a push from 'Grey's Anatomy' and two Grammy nominations were soon to come.
2. GNARLS BARKLEYCeee-Lo and Danger Mouse both cut impressive tunes with other acts before '06, but their Gnarls Barkley collaboration was a match made in musical heaven. 'Crazy' was the year's most irresistible anthem, with rockers, rappers, toddlers and grandparents all hooked on its inescapable chorus.
1. NE-YOFew artists -- new or old -- hit harder than Schaffer "Ne-Yo" Smith this year. The 23-year-old's debut CD, 'In My Own Words,' sold over three million copies worldwide and spawned four hit singles, including the irresistible ballad 'So Sick.' He also wrote huge hits for other acts -- including Beyonce's 'Irreplacable,' Rihanna's 'Unfaithful' and Mario Vazquez's 'Gallery' -- and shared the mic with Ghostface on 'Back Like That.'In case you were wondering where Paris Hilton is, she topped the list at #23. Frankly, I believe she doesn't belong on the list at all.
