Rita Ora

WHO Born in Kosovo and raised in West London, the pop starlet has a powerful mentor in Jay-Z. "I was really, really nervous to meet Jay," says Ora, 21, who signed with the rap giant's Roc Nation label in 2009. "But at the same time I was so excited."

SOUND Her Rihanna-ish summer blast "How We Do (Party)" samples the Notorious B.I.G., and her U.K. charttopper "R.I.P." was written for her by Drake. "I really connected to the song," she says. "It made me feel hot!"

ROCK OUT Growing up, Ora idolized Janis Joplin. "Janis didn't really care about how she looked onstage," she says. "People really loved her for what she was like. I loved anyone who was confident in their skin."