With his knack for infectious hooks and by uncovering new angles to tried-and-true R&B tricks of the late-2000s, Florida vocalist Jason Derulo exploded into stardom while still in his teens. Born to Haitian parents in Miramar, FL, Derulo built his reputation as a prolific soul and rap songwriter, scribing tracks for artists ranging from Lil Wayne to Pitbull to Pleasure P. Signed to a subsidiary of Warner Brothers Records, Derulo scored a surprise late-summer 2009 jam as a singer when he wrapped an Imogen Heap sample (a hook made popular in the Saturday Night Live sketch "Dear Sister") around a sleek modern soul beat. "Whatcha Say" soared into the Billboard pop Top Ten in anticipation of his debut. ~ Jason Thurston, All Music Guide