5. Jason Derulo (Haiti)
If the Billboard charts are any indication, pop phenom Jason Derulo knows how to write a hit—and he’s been churning them out since he was 16. Derulo (who writes under his given name Jason Desrouleaux) grew up in Miami, not far from his family’s native Haiti. By the time he hit high school, his knack for creating club-ready tracks was recognized by prolific producer J.R. Rotem and he was writing for artists like Pitbull, Cassie, and fellow island pop pureveyor Sean Kingston. It wasn’t until the release of 2009’s “Whatcha Say” (his debut single) however, that Derulo became a household name. Between his dance moves, his radio-friendly tenor, and his six-pack, Derulo has been able to secure a consistent place on the Top 40. His latest album, 2013’s Talk Dirty, features a slightly raunchier Derulo and a slew of pop and hip-hop’s biggest names, from DJ Mustard to 2 Chainz to Timbaland. We haven’t heard him drop any lyrics in Kreyol yet, but he stays connected to the island through his philanthropic work (and the occasional Caribbean collab). Here’s his video for tubiquitous mega-hit “Talk Dirty” (New York to Haiti, ayyy):