Gorillaz

Gorillaz has been called the "first virtual hip-hop group" by Rolling Stone magazine. The band's cartoon characters perform tunes by a posse of real-life musicians, including Damon Albarn of Blur, former Talking Heads Tina Weymouth and Chris Frantz, mixmaster Kid Koala and others; the band's look was created by Tank Girl comic artist Jamie Hewlett. The group debuted in late 2000; its 2001 single "Clint Eastwood" (named for the popular movie cowboy) put them in the public eye. The tune was named best song at the 2001 MTV Europe awards. The second Gorillaz album, released in 2005, fared well also and included the hits "Dare" and "Feel Good, Inc.," the latter earning a Grammy nomination for Record of the Year.

Extra credit: In 2006 "Feel Good, Inc." won a Grammy award for Gorillaz as Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals (Gorillaz featuring De La Soul).