1) Wildchild (Hip Hop) - As an MC for the indie hip-hop group Lootpack, Wildchild gained a lot of attention when they dropped their first record in 1999 for his verbose, articulate rhymes and positive message. This was quite an accomplishment for the rapper, a California native who had started rhyming with fellow Lootpack members DJ Romes and Madlib in college. After the group proved to be a hit on the West Coast live circuit, Stones Throw Records offered the trio a contract, which they signed in late 1998.