Amanda Marsalis

POLOW DA DON
The Hit Man

AGE 28
WHY HIM After producing a string of hits for the Pussycat Dolls (''Buttons''), Fergie (''London Bridge''), and Ciara (''Promise''), this Atlanta-based trackmaster is earning a rep as hip-pop's hottest new kid on the block. ''My production sounds aggressive and different because I always want to prove people wrong,'' says the high school basketball star, who was born Polow-Freache Jamal Fincher Jones. ''What's already on the radio — it's been done.''

NEXT PCD frontwoman Nicole Scherzinger's solo debut single, along with contributions to upcoming CDs by Mariah Carey and Alicia Keys.