Justin Timberlake

Though he first came to fame as a member of the definitive boy band N Sync, Justin Timberlake gained superstar status after stepping out on his own with his first solo album in 2002. JUSTIFIED showed that there was more to the then-21-year-old Timberlake than teen pop, highlighting the young singer's pronounced R&B influences and positioning him as the Michael Jackson of the early 21st century. However, it was on FUTURESEX/LOVESOUNDS that J.T. proved himself a true artist, bringing "sexy" back as well as intelligent, well-crafted pop music aimed at a universal audience. The seemingly unstoppable star was able to forge a legitimate film career, brush off controversies that appeared to immobilized his contemporaries, and go on to become on of the most popular and ubiquitous artists of his generation.

• pop