Ms. Thing

At age 17, fresh out of cosmetology school, Ms. Thing watched her debut single climb the Jamaican charts. Although she briefly weighed continuing as a hair braider and stylist, nonstop radio airplay for her sharp-tongued, quick-witted style forced her into dancehall prominence instead. Producer Dave Kelly first noticed her during a performance at Baby Cham’s album-release party. After she laid down a pair of modest tracks for him, Kelly paired the newcomer with Beenie Man on the breakout single “Dude.” Follow-up releases “Get That Money” and “Regular” both reached the Jamaican Top 10, allowing Ms. Thing to abandon her day job. Dancehall publications promptly labeled her the new Lady Saw, raising the stakes for her first full-length project, Miss Jamaica, which arrived in August 2004.