DeZign Intervention: The Voice presents the third chapter of our 5 part series, “25 Music Acts You Need To Know.” Part 3 covers musicians from North America to Europe to East Africa, and diverse musical styles ranging from hip hop to R&B/soul to pop. Find out who made today’s list, and check out our earlier selections from Part 1 and Part 2.

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K’naan

genre: Hip Hop/Spoken Word/World Music

description: The Somali-Canadian had already addressed the UN and performed on a world tour before releasing a single song, but once the recordings started to drop the guest appearance requests, industry awards, and marketing campaigns started to pile up.   

hometown: Mogadishu, Somalia

connect: www.knaanmusic.com; @knaan

key projects: “Wavin Flag” single; The Dusty Foot Philosopher album

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Melanie Fiona

genre: R&B/Soul

description:  Having Whitney Houston, Lauryn Hill, and Sade as you musical influences is a good blueprint for success in the R&B world, so it’s no surprise the Grammy nominee’s latest album is receiving stellar reviews.

hometown: Toronto, Canada

connect: www.melaniefiona.com; @melaniefiona

key projects: “It Kills Me” single; The MF Life album

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The Men

genre: Indie Rock

description: While the BK boys earlier work didn’t make a major mark, their triumphant 2011 album, Leave Home, saw them successfully branch out into punk and psych rock territories, and 2012’s Open Your Heart has gleaned widespread acclaim.

hometown: Brooklyn, New York

connect: www.wearethemen.blogspot.com

key projects: Leave Home album; Open Your Heart album

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Miike Snow

genre: Electro Pop

description: The producer-vocalist collective has graduated from providing tracks for pop royalty like Madonna and Britney Spears to releasing their own signature brand of 1980’s new wave meets 21st Century electronic club music.        

hometown: Stockholm, Sweden

connect: www.miikesnow.co.uk; @miikesnow

key projects: “Black and Blue” single; Happy to You album

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Nitty Scott, MC

genre: Hip Hop

description: This half black, half Puerto Rican femcee made a name for herself from a freestyle during the 2011 BET Hip Hop Awards ciphers and since then has avoided a turn toward pop like other female rappers by keeping her sound rooted in the hip hop tradition of MC Lyte and Jean Grea. 

hometown: Brooklyn, New York

connect: http://www.facebook.com/Nitty-Scott-MC/;  @nittyscottmc

key projects: “Pop A Bottle (Remix)” single; The Cassette Chronicles mixtape

Previous: 25 Music Acts You Need to Know Part 1 & Part 2

Next: 25 Music Acts You Need to Know: Part 4