MC Lady Sovereign has an unmistakably British delivery and style, but a string of singles showcasing her sly wit and brash charisma brought on a worldwide buzz. While "A Little Bit of Shhh!," "9 to 5," and "Ch Ching" were flying out of the record bins, Internet tracks like "Tango" and "Cheeky" were becoming just as popular. She began 2005 by appearing on the grime compilation Run the Road, then released the singles compilation Vertically Challenged. She capped off the year by meeting with Jay-Z, who asked for an on-the-spot freestyle before offering her a Def Jam contract. She released her full-length debut on the label, Public Warning, in 2006. ~ David Jeffries