Janelle Monáe

Without any hesitation, I proclaim that Janelle Monáe is the top emerging artist of 2010. Her single 'Tightrope' (featuring also Outkast's Big Boi) will probably be placed on any list of top new tracks of 2010. The music video for 'Tightrope', if you haven't seen it yet, is a must. It is quite possibly the best video of 2010. Monáe's stage persona wears a black suit, string tie and saddle shoes and moves faster than James Brown. Apparently, Miss Monáe is a believer in, and a proponent of, time travel and she dates only androids.