For aspiring Mary J.'s, crooning the hook on a hot hip-hop track is the fastest way to climb the R&B ladder. It worked for Kelis, who debuted with Ol' Dirty Bastard on 1999's ''Got Your Money,'' and Lil' Mo, who jammed on Ja Rule's 2000 ''Put It on Me.'' EW zeroes in on the latest batch of vocalists aiming to grab the mic for themselves. -- Malcolm Venable and ES
CHORUS GIRL JAGUAR WRIGHT
HOOKED UP WITH The Roots (''What You Want''; ''The Lesson, Pt. III''); Jay-Z (Unplugged album)
SOLO EXPEDITION The just-out Denials, Delusions, Decisions
ODDS FOR SUCCESS 5 to 1. Wright's boho style and versatile alto work as well in a hip-hop club as a jazz cafe.
[CHORUS GIRL]RES
[HOOKED UP WITH]GZA (''Beneath the Surface''); Talib Kweli (''Too Late'')
[SOLO EXPEDITION]Last year's How I Do
[ODDS FOR SUCCESS]20 to 1. Her eclectic debut didn't fly off shelves, but keep an eye on this talented singer-songwriter.
[CHORUS GIRL]NIVEA
[HOOKED UP WITH]Mystikal (''Danger [Been So Long]'')
[SOLO EXPEDITION]Her bangin' single, ''Don't Mess With the Radio,'' has us pumped for her March debut.
[ODDS FOR SUCCESS]10 to 1. The single gave us just enough of this smooth songstress to leave us itching for more.
[CHORUS GIRL]TWEET
[HOOKED UP WITH]Missy Elliott (''Take Away''); Timbaland (''All Y'all'')
[SOLO EXPEDITION]Southern Hummingbird, due April 2
[ODDS FOR SUCCESS]3 to 1. This songbird is ready to take off.
