Music hot list

She-RapperJean Grae

The daughter of South African jazz legend Abdul Ibrahim, Jean Grae will be performing in the country of her birth this weekend alongside US rapper Pharoahe Monch, supported by local acts Tumi, Reason and Maggz.

Rolling Stone has described Jean Grae as the "best-kept secret on New York's indie hip-hop scene".

Born in Cape Town but bred in New York, she left South Africa as a three-month-old in 1976 when her parents went into exile.

In 2002 she wrote, composed and produced her first solo album, Attack of the Attacking Thing, in her bedroom. This helped her get a deal with independent music label Babygrande the next year, which led to a second album, This Week.

In 2005 she was signed under Talib Kweli's Blacksmith Records and has released a total of nine albums and mixtapes. Her most recent work was a six-track EP, Jeannie , which came out earlier this year.

She is respected for her lyrical prowess and for not conforming to stereotypes.

Jean Grae is playing at Zone 6 in Soweto tomorrow night.

FKA Twigs

With her huge, heavily made-up eyes and ethereal voice, FKA Twigs is the new kid on the music block, making waves with her mellow, moody R&B-influenced sound.

FKA Twigs, whose name means Formally Known As Twigs, started off as a dancer for artists including Madonna, Jessie J and Kylie Minogue.

She has since moved on to writing and singing her own music, with her recent singles Pendulum and Video Girl leaked this week, ahead of the release of her debut album, LP1, next month.