Quddus (MTV)

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Since being hired by MTV in May of 2001, Quddus became one of the top VJ's for Total Request Live and even got nominated in the favorite personality category at the 2003 Teen Choice Awards. He's often been a part of MTV's biggest events, the annual Video Music Awards and New Year's Eve Bash. Quddus is so renowned for his interviews that when multi-platinum selling artist Usher did a concert special for Showtime, he specifically requested that Quddus host the show. The widely-respected, Grammy-nominated rapper Common stated, "Quddus helped keep TRL important to artists like me while giving it more credibility in the hip hop community."

Of course, Quddus' talent hasn't been the only reason for his success. TV Guide named him one of the "Hottest New Stars' in 2005, USA Today included him among their 26 "Sizzling young hunks worth watching in 2004," and Teen People called him one of the "50 Sexiest Men Ever." Ebony also tapped his understanding of pop culture to explain Kanye West's influence but even though Quddus has the kind of notoriety that led to him to cameos on major network shows such as CBS's CSI: Miami (2003) he's more than simply a celebrity, Quddus is a true role model. He's mediated forums for AIDS awareness, spoken at summits to promote literacy and visited schools in underprivileged areas like Compton to read to kids for the cause. He helped Hurricane Katrina victims by building houses with Habitat for Humanity and recently served as the spokesperson for Keep the Drive.

His career actually started behind the turntables. While he was studying philosophy at the University of Ottawa, he co-hosted and spun for the campus radio station, CHUO 89.1 FM on a show called Breakdown that gave exposure to underground hip hop. In 1999, Quddus left school to sign with Elite Model Management which brought him back to his birthplace of Toronto. Within a year of moving, he got his first break in television as a co-host and writer of TV Ontario's youth culture program VOX which would go on to win a Gemini award (the Canadian equivalent of an Emmy). He's currently making progress as an actor and just shot a supporting role in 'Life is Hot in Cracktown' starring Kerry Washington. He also still hosts the TRL Weekend Countdown, a radio show that's syndicated in over 30 markets in the United States.