Ak'Sent

It is becoming increasingly obvious that an entire generation exists that cannot imagine a world without hip-hop or rap in popular culture. The perfect example of this musical youth is 18-year-old female emcee Ak'Sent. The Los Angeles native spent her childhood immersed in gospel music, extensive dance training, and performing with several R&B girl groups before breaking out and recording her own demo--a demo that quickly caught the attention of Capitol Records. Enlisting an unknown Miami-based production team known as The Jugganauts, Ak'Sent applied her verbal acrobatics to slammin' club-friendly beats and recorded her forthcoming debut album International.

For her first single "Zingy," Ak'Sent recruited Dancehalls legend Beenie Man, who laces the Neptunes-inspired song with backing vocals and the track's hook. The single is a slice of confidence for a performer new to the airwaves, but Ak'Sent proves she's talented enough to hold her own and then some. And after watching the video, it becomes apparent that Ak'Sent is determined to set the pace for a fresh crop of hip-hoppers ready to take the torch and run.

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