Chilee Powdah

If hip-hop's all about the handle, the hooks, and the homies, then local wordsmith Chilee Powdah's got the full package. His name (complete with a double "e" for easy rhymes) has thug appeal, and his album Code of Loyaltyboasts a combination of thumping club beats, catchy choruses, genre-pimpin' from reggae to R&B, and a slew of guest appearances, including collaborations with Akon, Baby Bash, C-Note, Black Mike, and NB Ridaz. He's no limp lip on lyrical flows, either: "I'm like Nick at Nite/'Cause I'm in the bedroom with your chick at night/Wit yo' ass over here ma, flick the light/I'm tryin' ta get green like kryptonite" ("The Business"). As an original member of Master P's T.R.U., Powdah was poised to become a breakout star on the No Limit roster, but left the label after a dispute over money. Now he's trying to get bling with his own thing, and if Code of Loyaltydoesn't make him some money, it should at least earn him some respect.