Ryan Leslie

Harlem-raised and Harvard-educated, Ryan Leslie has been an equal threat as a producer, musician, and savvy self-marketer. He's contributed tracks behind the scenes for artists across the R&B and hip-hop section, from legends like LL Cool J and Snoop Dogg to contemporary superstars such as Beyonce. He also discovered successful R&B vocalist Cassie, signing her to his Next Selection label, a subsidiary of Puff Daddy's Bad Boy empire. In 2005, Leslie released his solo debut, JUST RIGHT, and found great success overseas. But he came to visible celebrity in the U.S. upon launching his RyanLeslieTV YouTube channel, which seized on the viral-marketing trend and drew widespread attention to his 2009 self-titled effort.

• r&b/soul