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Since its release late last year, much has been written about X-Factor 2010 runner-up Rebecca Ferguson's debut album Heaven. Some critics have hailed it as the greatest X-Factor export of all-time, lavishing the 25 year old with praise and crowning her the first credible star to emerge from reality television. Riding the vintage wave that's been in vogue for the best part of a decade, the album's commercial performance has thus far reflected its critical success, selling close to 500,000 copies in just over two months - and in the process turning Ferguson into a disarmingly legitimate homegrown soul voice.

Kandi Burruss first rose to prominance as a member of moderately successful '90s r&b female group Xscape. Best known for debut single Just Kickin' It (and personal favourite My Little Secret), the So So Def collective also featured on Lil Bow Wow's debut album 'Beware of Dog' alongside Da Bratt on Bounce Wit' Me. Following the group's split, Kandi released a solo album entitled 'Eye Kandi' lead by well-received single 'Don't Think I'm Not'. Although the album underperformed, the absolute opposite can be said of her multiaward winning songwriting credentials. Kandi along with her pen crafted a string of genuine smash-hits that helped launch hugely successful careers via female-empowering R&B anthems including Pink's "There You Go" and Destiny's Child's first number 1 "Bills, Bills, Bills", as well as TLC's record-breaking comeback "No Scrubs". She introduced slang terms such as "scrub", "trifilin'" & "bug-a-boo" to the world causing males to question their swagg' as evidenced by response songs from Sporty Thieves namely the unforgettable 'No Pigeons'. Nowadays, Kandi can be viewed on hit US reality show The Real Housewives of Atlanta and released Kandi Koated - her first album since 2001's Eye Kandi. SoulCulture spoke with Kandi to discuss her hiatus, the lack of girl groups in R&B, why she'd enter shows like X-Factor and American Idol, the impact her ex-fiance's murder had on her latest album Kandi Koated and becoming disillusioned with music. Oh and "No Scrubs", obviously.

In every school, college or university, there’s always that guy who does it all. They play sports, run the student council, get the highest grades and have been tipped for great success at the end of term. That same motif applies within the the music business as one artist will always push past the competition due to their numerous talents. In 2010, that crown of glory/pressure sits on the head of Timothy McKenzie, better known as Labrinth. At first being merely recognised as the vocalist on Tinie Tempah’s smash “Pass Out”, Labrinth now stands as one of the most influential figures in popular music today. With various production, songwriting and singing talents on his CV, the 21 year old finds himself signed to Simon Cowell’s SyCo label and at the start of etching out a musical legacy set to dominate the charts for years. Soul Culture sat down with the ‘Head Boy’ of the new school of artists to discuss the future, Team UK and being Simon Cowell’s latest investment…