ARTIST TO WATCH

::IF you haven't already heard of KARINA PASIAN, you soon will. This Dominicana from The Heights was the first Dominican to ever perform at the White House last June. Her album First Love, was just nominated for a Grammy in the Contemporary R&B category against heavy hitters Mary J. Blige, J. Holiday, Neyo and Jazmine Sullivan. Not bad for a girl still in high school.

Miss Pasian sings in 5 languages, plays the piano. No wonder she caused a label war- with Def Jam ultimately signing her. Check out the video for her song 16 at War and her music on Myspace and buy the album if you haven't already. 

I'm rooting hard for this girl... how could I not?