The Atlanta-based el Pus (pronounced "el Poose") first married their N.W.A and Led Zeppelin influences in the late '90s. Led by vocalists and producers Cufi and Cosmo, the five-man band with its hip-hop-meets-punk rock attitudes first caught the ears of Arrested Development's Speech, who got the group into a studio for demo work. Their unique rap-rock sound landed them a deal with Virgin, who released their debut, Hoodlum Rock, Vol. 1, in early 2005. ~ David Jeffries