Karina Pasian

In just five years, Karina Pasian, a 16-year-old Dominicana with serious piano skills, went from competing on Star Search to performing for President Bush at The White House.

A Washington Heights native, Pasian had the support of two industry heavyweights early in her career: her "godfather" Quincy Jones and Emilio Estefan. When she was only 13, she became the subject of a bidding war between Def Jam's Jay-Z (Def Jam), Bad Boy's Diddy and Interscope's Jimmy Iovine. The R&B singer eventually signed a reported seven-figure deal with Def Jam in 2006.

Pasian's debut single, 16 @ War, is shades of A Woman's Worth by Alicia Keys, as the bilingual teen sings about resisting peer pressure from friends – and boyfriends. "I don’t like to go beyond my years and feel like I’m too old. I still have to cherish the fact that I’m a kid, because I know I’m gonna be wanting to have these days back."

Her debut album, First Love, is scheduled for releases later this year and includes collaborations with Ne-Yo, John Legend and Lil Mama. Pasian's second single, Can’t Find The Words, is currently the Free Weekly Download on iTunes.