rap

Das Racist is a hip hop group, formed in 2008 and based in Brooklyn, New York, comprised of Queens-born Himanshu Suri and San Francisco-born Victor Vazquez. Suri and Vazquez met in 2003 at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut where Victor was Himanshu's resident advisor in a "Students of Color for Social Justice" theme dormitory. Suri was a member of the Eclectic Society and is also an alumnus of School of Oriental and African Studies.

Bone Thugs-N-Harmony is a U.S. rap group formed in Cleveland, Ohio, United States in 1991. It consists of rappers Krayzie Bone, Wish Bone, Flesh-N-Bone, Layzie Bone, and Bizzy Bone. Perhaps the group's most important contribution to rap is their speedy, harmonizing flow. While fast rapping has always had a niche in the culture, Bone certainly brought the style to the forefront. In addition, the group's ability to harmonize whilst flowing at top speeds is truly remarkable. Not before nor since has a rapper or rap group sung an a cappella tune without loss of street cred.

Cher Lloyd, 17, is a student from Malvern, Worcestershire, United Kingdom. She is of Romany ancestry through her mother. She studied performing arts at Dyson Perrins CE Sports College in 2009. She auditioned for The X Factor twice before (when the minimum age was lower) singing ballads but it was only after reinventing herself in 2010 that she got through to see the judges. Lloyd has previously performed at holiday camps and said she gets a mixed reaction to her music. She auditioned singing the Keri Hilson version of Turn My Swag On.

William Braunstein (born 1972), better known as ILL BILL, is a political minded MC from Brooklyn, New York. He is also a producer, and the man behind Uncle Howie Records. In 2003, Ill Bill declared himself to be the future. The truth is, Ill Bill is the past, the present AND the future. The cult leader is most definitely back. After several years of blood, sweat and no tears, the prophecy has been fulfilled with the breakout album The Hour of Reprisal.