mtvU

Brooklyn-based quintet The Drums became known for their 2009 EP Summertime! and continued to impress when they dropped the single, “Best Friend,” this past spring.

The London Souls have gained acclaim for reinventing and reworking the “classic rock n’ roll” sound from the likes of The Tripwire to Rolling Stone…

Featured on the tracks of artists such as Donnie Cross, Collective Efforts and Mike Hartnett, hip-hop artist Big K.R.I.T. has already made quite the name for himself.

A former patron of mtvU’s Ahead of the Curve, Dominique Young Unique returns as a Freshmen Five artist with her overtly confident single “Show My Ass.”

Signed to Hopeless Records when they were still in high school, Anarbor is releasing debut LP The Words You Don’t Swallow fresh off the success of their 2009 EP Free Your Mind. Anarbor writes collectively, collaborates continuously, and should be around for many years to come.

The Atlanta-born rapper Bobby Ray Simmons is known by his stage name B.o.B, and after learning to play a variety of musical instruments and producing most of the album on his own, he is now set to debut his first full-length LP; aptly titled The Adventures of B.o.B.

Drawing upon the influence of great soul artists such as Barry White and Issac Hayes, Mayer Hawthorne is becoming well known for the feel of his throw-back retro sound.

Formed over their mutual love of music and disdain for, ironically enough, the surf culture of their youth, Surfer Blood are currently riding a wave of much-deserved hype.

This trio of youngsters hail from Northern Ireland. On the brink of deciding between university or a career in music, the two guitarists and their bassist made the industry plunge and naturally a record: Tourist History.

San Diego noise-pop band Wavves hits the road this winter with L.A. based indie group Best Coast for a nationwide tour as a part of the mtvU Freshmen 5 presents tour.