Dead Prez, Joseph Israel, Ironmonk and the Band of Brotherz, Triple Cobra

Joseph Israel
It isn't often that an Oklahoma-born white musician earns praise for his approach to roots reggae in Jamaica, but singer and songwriter Joseph Israel is a pretty singular guy, and his blend of soul, jazz, folk, world, and reggae, while not exactly innovative, is certainly infectious.

Dead Prez
The Florida-based political rap duo Dead Prez consists of Stic.man and M-1, a pair of rappers inspired by revolutionaries from Malcolm X to Public Enemy. They immersed themselves in political and social studies as they forged their own style of hip-hop.

Triple Cobra
Remember when Rock n' Roll kicked ass? Triple Cobra does. No longer do you need to apologize for gaudy solos, karate kicks and stage splits. Audacity is the name of the game, and bravado knows no shame.