Teairra Marí

Detroit native Teairra Marí broke out nationally in 2005 with a single titled "Make Her Feel Good." Marí's first release was an EP issued through the independent K.I.S.S. Productions. The disc made its way into the hands of Island Def Jam chairman Antonio "L.A." Reid, and once he heard Marí sing in person, he offered a contract. Marí released her debut album on Roc-a-Fella in 2005. Though it reached number five on the Billboard 200 chart -- despite little in the way of promotion -- the singer was subsequently dropped from her label. She was informed the night of her high-school prom. Later picked up by the Warner-affiliated Asylum label, Marí returned to the charts in 2010 with "Sponsor." ~ Andy Kellman