Such hip-hop luminaries as Usher, Kanye West and that name-changing dope Diddy may still dominate red carpets and mainstream press, but their fight for the spotlight is about to get a whole lot tougher.
There's a new crew of smooth stars hitting the scene with impact, style and smarts. And in a slick move aimed at pure domination, five of the hottest up-and-comers are touring together this summer.
Leader of the pack? That would be the pride of Tappahannock, Va., pop-minded R&B vocalist Chris Brown. He's just 17, but he's already putting up big numbers. With 2005's Scott Storch-produced smash Run It, Brown became the first male solo artist whose debut song went straight to the top of the charts.
Brown's tour mates are fairly sizzling as well: R&B crooner Ne-Yo, New Orleans rapper Lil' Wayne, New York MC Juelz Santana and "snap music" leaders Dem Franchize Boyz, the Atlanta-based quartet whose hit Lean Wit It, Rock Wit It can still be heard pumping out of Jeeps in 7-Elevens across the land.
If you want a booty-shaking tutorial on the hottest new names in hip-hop, this is the show to see. Chris Brown, Ne-Yo, Lil' Wayne, Dem Franchize Boyz and Juelz Santana will all perform at 7 p.m. Friday (9/8) at Ford Amphitheatre, Interstate 4 at U.S. 301 N, Tampa. $25.50-$55.50. (813) 740-2446.