President Elect Barack Obama in No. 1

Two thousand and eight was definitely a year of change. African American culture reached an all time high, thanks in part to the 8 GIANTs of ’08 listed here. Check out the movers and shakers who elevated, remixed and redefined “celebrity + style + culture” in ’08.

Barack Obama

1. Barack Obama flipped the script on humanity. The first African American President in the United States is “extraordinary.” His integrity, idealism, and fearlessness helped Obama rise above and realize his own dream for a better country….he just happens to be black. Like MLK, Gandhi and JFK, Obama is a leader with grace, conviction and a dream. This is a GIANT step for mankind. Let freedom ring…

Beyonce and Jay-Z

2. Jayonce, The Carters, or just J&B. Call them what you want, but Jay-Z (Shawn Carter) and Beyonce Knowles had a GIANT year. First, the hottest rapper and the hottest pop star get secretly married. Then Jay tours the country with Mary J. Blige. Next, Beyonce released the hit single “Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)” and the rock ‘n’ soul bio pic “Cadillac Records.” They are both scheduled to perform at the Obama Inauguration. Both have clothing deals and other businesses. If that is not enough, Forbes named the duo the riches on their “Hollywood Power Couples List” with earnings of $162 million.

Sean Combs

3. Diddy once said: “Can’t stop; won’t stop.” In 2008, he proved that was his mantra. Combs did this: Executive produced and starred in the film adaptation of “Raisin In The Sun”, produced the hit reality TV shows “Making of the Band” and “I Want To Work For Diddy,” the fashion documentary “If I Were King”, held the 10th Anniversary Sean John fashion show with all Black models, released his new Estee Lauder fragrance “I Am King”, promotes Circo Vodka and helped campaign for Obama (with a little help from his friends MJB, Jay Z, and Kevin Liles.) GIANT, indeed.

Will Smith

4. Big Willy!!! Is anybody bigger in Hollywood than Will Smith? Nope! Smith had another amazing year doing what he does best, making movies that people want to see. From “Hancock” which grossed over $624 million world wide and his recent release “Seven Pounds” has recently grossed $16 million in three weeks. What makes him really GIANT is that he’s a positive role model and a family man. Jaden Smith, his son was just taped to play in the remake of “The Karate Kid.” His wife Jada Pinkett-Smith is also pretty hot. Now that’s a leading man or is that a fresh Prince.

Courtesy of Vogue/Conde Nast

5. Witness LeBron James become an icon. The 24 year-old basketball wunderkind turned King James lead the Cleveland Cavaliers to the NBA Eastern Conference only to loose to the Boston Celtics. James then served as Co-Captain of the Team U.S.A. Basketball and helped win the Gold at the 2008 Beijing Summer Olympics. LeBron made history (and a bit a controversy) when he appeared on the cover of American Vogue with model Giselle Bundchen. He was the first African American man to appear on the publications cover, ever. His LeBron James Family Foundation continues to help single mothers and their kids nationwide. James even hosted a fundraiser for his foundation at Ralph Lauren’s Mansion Flagship in Manhattan in 2008. Oh yeah, and he has that huge deal with Nike, Coke, and Bubblicious. Big things.

Lil Wayne and T.I.

6. Southernplaylistics. They always said the South would rise again, but in 2008 the prophecy came true. In fact, if it wasn’t for Southern rap music, hip hip might have had an early retirement. No fears, Lil’ Wayne, T.I., T-Pain, Timbaland and Flo-Rida helped keep hope alive. Weezy sold over a million copies of “Tha Carter III” it’s first week. T.I. stayed at the top of the charts for three months with “Paper Trail.” T-Pain and Flo-Rida had hip hop jams all over the radio, music videos and the Internet. Southern GIANTs keeping it crunk.

7. Tyler Perry is a GIANT. WIth the success of his Madea franchise, Perry, the actor, writer, director, producer, released “The Family That Preys Together” which grossed $129 million and had another successful year with the hit TV series “Tyler Perry’s The House of Payne.” With all that money, Perry opened the first African American owned film studio in the United States (located outside of Atlanta). Among the luminaries to come out and celebrate this historic occasion were Oprah Winfrey, Sindey Portier, Cicely Tyson, Will Smith, Hank Aaron and many others. Now that is the big picture.

Rihanna by Ellen Von Unwerth

8. Rihanna, the native of Barbados, has given “It-Girl” status a whole new meaning in 2008. She re-released her album “Good Girls Gone Bad: Reloaded” and exploded. Collaborations with Maroon 5, T.I. and Justin Timberlake kept Rihanna’s audience broad and wanting more. Creative and dramatic videos by Anthony Mandler like “Disturbia” and “Live Your Life” made her a modern day muse. Her cutting edge style kept her all over the blogs, covers of fashion magazines and the tabloids. Her “secret” relationship with R&B triple threat Chris Brown peaked the media and fan’s alike. Then Rihanna appeared in the new Gucci ad campaign. As she sings: “Take A Bow.”