Who is Ester Dean?
She's a late 20-something woman who left Omaha to pursue a hip-hop music career in Atlanta.

Dean has been a ghost songwriter for some major hip-hop artists — including Mary J. Blige, the Pussycat Dolls, Trey Songz, Keyshia Cole, Ciara, Keri Hilson and T.I., to name a few. A major record label, Interscope, eventually picked her up. She released her first single “Drop It Low,” which features Chris Brown, about three weeks ago. She performed her club hit Friday on “Jimmy Kimmel Live.” And the Omaha buzz about her sounds more like a thunderous roar.

Why all the buzz?
Music bloggers have said she has the potential to be the female version of T-Pain because of her writing talents and vocal ability.

Omaha DJ Mista Soull disagrees. She's more talented than that, he said.

“She can sing like Whitney Houston,” Soull said.

Rapper Nelly calls her the truth. Rapper Gucci Mane and R&B singer Jeremih have featured her voice on their hit singles. She's appearing in the documentary, “More Than a Game,” about NBA player LeBron James. Soulja Boy, Teyana Taylor and Rich Boy brag about her.