Soul Stirring

From Jodeci and Anthony Hamilton to Fantasia, the Charlotte area has made significant contributions to R&B music. Now, a new crop of artists seeks to carry on the tradition

Ida Divine sings and raps equally well, which equates to a great live show. The Staten Island, New York, native, now a Charlotte resident, has opened up for big-name artists who’ve appeared in Charlotte. Her current single, "Grow Up," showcases her ability to inject social consciousness over head-nod- ding beats. y2mgmt.com

Jus K’s soulful lyrics are a blend of love and pain. He wrote and produced his own independent album, Futuristic Soul, featuring the well-received "Special," which he performed last year on The Monique Show on BET. myspace.comjuskmusic

Rock Hill native Rudy Currence’s years of hard work as an independent artist paid off when he signed a major-label record deal in 2009 with Disturbing Tha Peace/Island Def Jam. Now, his soulful, take-’em-to-church style of R&B is being heard nationwide, propelled by appearances last fall on BET’s 106 & Park (twice) and ABC’s The View. Currence, above, is currently recording his upcoming album, Black Keys and Blue Skies. rudycurrenceonline.com