Four of the most celebrated voices in gospel history–The Clark Sisters: Jacky, Twinkie, Dorinda and Karen–have spent three decades singing, preaching, evangelizing and teaching the Word at home and abroad. With three Grammys under their belt and twelve full-length records to date, they are credited as cornerstone performers in the mainstream, contemporary gospel style.

Kierra “Kiki” Sheard is the latest generation of a legendary Gospel music family. The daughter of Karen Clark-Sheard of The Clark Sisters, she continues the family legacy of spiritual encouragement with a sound and perspective that is all her own. Inspired by her personal experiences, her latest release, Bold Right Life, features cutting-edge music that could be at home in churches and clubs alike, bringing her open declaration of the love for Gospel to the forefront.

The xx are making a quick ascension to pop fame with their dreamy, post-punk songs. The British band’s 2009 debut, simply titled xx, caught the attention of music critics and fans alike, which lead to sold out tour dates around the globe, as well as wide-spread acclaim. NPR says, “Both casually cool and absolutely magnetic, this young London (band) makes music that’s simple and raw, but utterly captivating.”

Chairlift formed in 2006 to make music for haunted houses (!), but has since abandoned that mission to make cleverly seductive psych-pop instead. Best known for their song “Bruises,” Chairlift is part of a collaborative circle of Brooklyn experimental pop magicians including MGMT, Yeasayer, Telepathe, and Class Actress.

UK singer/songwriter Jack Peñate pieces together a collage of up-tempo sounds from a myriad of influences. Rolling Stone describes Peñate’s sophomore release, 2009’s Everything is New, as “a more mature album… that jumps from classic soul to Afropop to Tropicalia with a rock undercurrent. As advertised, everything is new this time around for the twenty-four year old soul-singing Brit rocker.”

Dominican singer Andy Andy has emerged as one of a handful of musicians on the cutting edge of the bachata craze. Andy began his music career as a merenguero before making the switch to the increasingly popular bachata style. With 5 solo chart-topping bachata albums to his credit, Andy Andy has consistently maintained himself on Billboard’s Top Tropical album charts .

Luis Miguel de la Amargue, known as the “King of Bachata” has taken his music worldwide and is one of the most respected artists in the genre. The multi-award winner and recipient of 2009’s “Bachatero of the Year” and “Bachata Song of the Year” is a genre favorite not to be missed.

Elvis Mart&iacutenez, a.k.a. El Camarón, is one of the most popular bachata performers around. He got his start in the 1990s, and has been on the fast track ever since. Mart&iacutenez has the distinction of being not only a singer but also a songwriter and guitarist as well.

Alexandra is best known as half of the hugely successful Monchy y Alexandra who began singing together in 1999. They have been often credited with being instrumental in popularizing bachata music outside of the Dominican Republic. Alexandra is now embarking on a highly anticipated solo career, and is certain not to disappoint.

Public Enemy rewrote the rules of hip-hop, becoming the most influential and controversial rap groups of all time. Public Enemy pioneered a variation of rap that was revolutionary. With his powerful, authoritative baritone, co-founder Chuck D rhymed about all kinds of social problems, particularly those plaguing the Black community, often condoning revolutionary tactics and social activism. In the process, he directed hip-hop toward an explicitly self-aware, Pro-Black consciousness. Musically, Public Enemy were just as revolutionary, creating dense soundscapes that relied on avant-garde cut-and-paste techniques, unrecognizable samples, piercing sirens, relentless beats, and deep funk. It was chaotic and invigorating music, made all the more intoxicating by Chuck D’s forceful vocals and the absurdist raps of his comic foil Flavor Flav. Today, PE celebrates the twentieth anniversary of their classic, influential album Fear of A Black Planet.

Ghanaian hip-hop artist Blitz the Ambassador uses rousing horns and clever beats that make him impossible to take lightly. Alongside his band, The Embassy Ensemble, Blitz tests the limits of hip-hop with live instruments and heavily complex, cross-cultural musical exploration.

In an age of disposable, cookie cutter acts, The 7th Octave offers up a different musical and lyrical perspective, combining metal riffs and blistering instrumentation with fiery, socially aware lyrics to provoke the minds of the new millennium generation.