Many rappers can't go a minute without telling you how long they've been in prison-or what they've done that should have landed them there. Chester Jennings has put that part of his life in his past.

Born and raised in Toledo, OH, Jennings grew up loving to sing, whether in his church choir or with a group of friends organized under the name of the Dotsons. But he made some very wrong turns in life, earning an arson conviction that landed him in jail. In 1997, he acquired a copy of Erykah Badu's Baduism while still in prison. The record changed his perspective on life as well as music, and prompted Jennings to do some soul-searching.

When he left the joint, he had made up his mind to reform his life and become a full-time musician, going by the name of "Lyfe"-an appropriate moniker considering the turn-around. Within a few days he was recording a demo and performing live on stage. Just a month after his release, he was playing at the Apollo-where the crowd booed him when he walked on stage with an acoustic guitar on his shoulder. By the end of the performance, he had a crowd full of fans cheering him on.

His breathy, smooth vocals resemble D'Angelo's, but his music looks at the hard-knock life he leads without glorifying it. Since debuting in 2004 with Lyfe 268-192--Jennings' inmate number while in prison--he's impressed critics and fans with music that comes from the head and the heart. He's also seen his success on the Billboard charts, with his debut album reaching number one on the Top Heatseekers chart, while his 2006 and 2008 follow-ups were number ones on the Top R&B/Hip-hop Albums charts in their respective years.