Having not released a new studio album since 2001, Michael Jackson was mostly ignored on these forums over the last decade. But his untimely death in summer 2009 -- arguably one of the biggest media events of all time -- brought a renewed appreciation for his great music and his massive impact on an entire generation of performers. "His smooth blend of pop and R&B musical elements with skillful dancing abilities has served as a direct influence over artists like Chris Brown, Justin Timberlake and Usher," says Patrick. "His contributions to performance (particularly choreography) have forever changed the stage work of female musicians in the pop music industry."
Essential track: Again, with so many hits over the course of his decades-long career, this seems an impossible task. But "Thriller" forever changed the art of making music videos and remains a perennial Halloween favorite.
Most of us had never even heard of Nicki Minaj before her featured appearance on Mariah Carey's "Up Out My Face" last January. But what a year it's been for the New York emcee: immense buzz, an astounding twenty appearances on the Billboard charts and culminating in first-week sales of 375,000 for her debut album, Pink Friday. Already, her outlandish fashion choices and eccentric personality have won her some hardcore fans among ATRL's diva-loving members -- even those usually averse to rap. "Nicki is so superb that she can influence those who don't listen to her genre and still make a huge impact," says -mUsIcLoVeR-.
Is no one besides me surprised to see Nicki up this high? I love her, but that was truly unexpected in my book.
It's not really a shock to me at all, she has a hardcore group of stans in general and she is loved on ATRL to death, so I knew she would be high on the list.
But this list is supposed to represent the most essential artists of ATRL. I know Nicki has made a huge impact in just one year, but does has she really had more influence on this site than, say, Shakira or Avril Lavigne?
