Rihanna

2007 was the Chinese year of the pig, but it will also be remembered as the worldwide year of Rihanna. The Barbados-born star first fluttered her wings after being signed by Jay-Z to Def Jam Records when she was 16. That was in 2004, and since then she's released an album a year, with 2007's Good Girl Gone Bad firing Rihanna into the global pop stratosphere, and single of the year Umbrella raining on everyone else's parade.

She followed that up with "Shut Up And Drive" and "Hate That I Love You", cluttering up charts around the world, and with the likes of Justin Timberlake, Ne-Yo and Timbaland collaborating, you can't help thinking that she has a lot more to give. Slick, hook-filled R&B and a sultry pop image, Rihanna's third album is a true statement of intent.