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Given the high marks of recent neo-soul sirens like Jill Scott, Sunshine Anderson, and current chart topper Alicia Keys, labels are falling all over themselves to find the R&B songstress with the best earning potential. Need a little schooling in the class of 2001? Here's our cheat sheet.
BLU CANTRELL
Album: So Blu (Arista) Cliffs Notes: She's the saucy R&B diva
with the swing-laced top 5 single ''Hit 'Em Up Style (Oops).''
Extracurricular Activities: Singing backup for Sean ''Puffy'' Combs
and Faith Evans. Favorite Teachers: Billie Holiday, Sade, and
Sting. Female Empowerment Lesson: The ballsy ''Oops'' tells a woman
scorned to take revenge via a shopping spree on her cheating
man's plastic. Voted: Best Dressed. Most likely to: Wind up with
a bad credit report.
RES
Album: How I Do (MCA) Cliffs Notes: This young Philadelphian
passed on joining Groove Theory to record her own
rock-pop-roots-R&B-acid-jazz solo joint. Extracurricular
Activities: Res (pronounced Reese) sang the hook on GZA's
''Beneath the Surface.'' Favorite Teachers: Marvin Gaye, Stevie
Wonder, Teddy Pendergrass. F.E.L.: Res outlines the pitfalls of
doing a drug dealer in ''Ice King.'' Voted: Most Versatile. Most
likely to: Be mistaken for Lauryn Hill in the class yearbook.
LIL' MO
Album: Based on a True Story (Elektra) Cliffs Notes: She's Missy
Elliott's seriously tattooed 4'11'' protegee -- and not to be
confused with Lil' Bow Wow, Lil' Romeo, or Lil' Zane.
Extracurricular Activities: The big female voice on Ja Rule's
smash ''Put It on Me.'' Favorite Teachers: Patti LaBelle, Mary J.
Blige, Cyndi Lauper! F.E.L.: ''Superwoman Part 2'' advises girls
to use their brains, not their booties. Voted: Class Rebel. Most
likely to: Be a mogul (she writes, arranges, and produces others'
tracks).
OLIVIA
Album: Olivia (J) Cliffs Notes: Yes, she's named after Olivia
Newton-John, but her word is a lot dirtier than ''grease,'' with
lyrics like ''...kiss me below the border while I run the
camcorder.'' Extracurricular Activities: Currently writing a song
for Luther Vandross. Favorite Teachers: Jay-Z, Whitney Houston,
Anita Baker, Rakim. F.E.L.: On the searing ''Silly Bitch in Love,''
Olivia tells a two-timed woman to wise up. Voted: Class Toughie.
Most likely to: Land in detention for talking trash.
LINA
Album: Stranger on Earth (Atlantic) Cliffs Notes:
Her jazzy soul is as inspired by the Roaring '20s as by the
hip-hop present. Extracurricular Activities: Lina's toured with
Craig David, Joan Osborne, and Guru. Favorite Teachers: Dinah
Washington (she covers her tune), Billie Holiday, Bessie Smith,
Erykah Badu. F.E.L.: On ''Step Up,'' she displays self-reliance by
being unimpressed with a guy's bank account. Voted: Most
Sophisticated. Most likely to: Earn an A in music ed.
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