Neo Soul

If there is a face to the independent soul music movement, it is probably Eric Roberson. The respect he receives from other artists has been driven by his uncompromising success as well as from the unselfishness he has shown in support of other up-and-coming singers and musicians. That peer love appears to only be exceeded by the near fanatical following he has among a surprisingly large fanbase, making him a sort of indie soul royalty.

Hollie Smith (born 1983) is a female soul singer from New Zealand. In 1999, as a 16 year old, Smith recorded her album Light From a Distant Shore after winning Best Female Vocalist at the National Jazz Festival of New Zealand. The album of Celtic music was produced by her stepfather who was a well-known musician in New Zealand. In 2003, Smith moved to Wellington (New Zealand) singing with Trinityroots. She recorded an album Home, Land and Sea and toured with the band.

Kindred the Family Soul, also referred to as Kindred, is an American R&B/neo soul duo comprised of Fatin Dantzler and his wife, Aja Graydon. Signed to Hidden Beach Records, Kindred emerged from the Philadelphia neo-soul movement that also includes Jill Scott, who discovered them. After two years of work on the CD, Hidden Beach issued their debut album "Surrender to Love" which included, among others, the songs "Stars" and "Far Away."

Wasalu Muhammad Jaco (born February 16, 1982 in Chicago, Illinois), better known by his stage name Lupe Fiasco, is a Grammy Award-winning American hip-hop artist and producer. He first became known to the mainstream hip-hop community in 2005 when he appeared on Kanye West's album Late Registration on the track "Touch the Sky." In 2006 Lupe released his debut album, Lupe Fiasco's Food & Liquor on Atlantic Records, and in December 2007 he released his second full length album, Lupe Fiasco's The Cool.