Ne Yo

Fresh from his performance as an opening act for LL Cool J's Custom Concert aired via Oxygen by March 18, 2006, Ne-Yo probably could become one of the most frequent-faces-to-appear-on-TV of the year as he really has such a hectic broadcasting schedule to undergo for at least the next two months. Not only slated to pop up on NBC's long-running "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" by March 27, this gifted performer also has been set to greet his fans through "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" and "Showtime at the Apollo" together withGhostface Killah in April followed by that on "Teen People's 25 Under 25" special by May. As if it was still not enough, he furthermore has confirmed to take part in "Steppin' Up: Save the Last Dance 2" (2006) of which soundtrack he has worked on persistently. 

Raised solely by his mother, Ne-Yo was born Shaffer Chimere Smith on October 18, 1982 in Arkansas and later was taken to Las Vegas, Nevada where he began to develop his skills in writing songs. For some years, he kept standing behind the scene to compose great lyrics for R&B artists like Christina Milian, Faith Evans, and B2K, even helped launching Mario's career through his work on the younger guy's single, "Let Me Love You", in 2004. Actually, the desire of being a singer had also taken roots within his heart as he once signed a record deal with Columbia Records only to find his album project being disappointingly shelved for more than a year, prompting him to leave the company empty-handed. 

In his effort to find another label, Ne-Yo managed to impress Tina Davis of Def Jam Records who immediately brought him to the Island Def Jam Music Group chairman, Antonio 'L.A.' Reid and within a short time, a recording contract was offered. Collaborated with Peedi Crakk, he then released debut single "Stay" in 2005 followed by another entitled "So Sick" in late January 2006. The former did quite well in Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop chart, but it was the latter one that truly catapulted the versatile artist to widespread popularity as it wonderfully topped three Billboard charts of Hot 100, Pop 100, and Hot Digital Songs. 

Riding on the success of "So Sick", Ne-Yo confidently launched his studio album, "In My Own Words", on February 28, 2006 and quickly saw the satisfying result when it amazingly debuted on number one in The Billboard 200 with over 300,000 copies sold a week after its release. Also gained rave reviews from USA Today and People Magazine, this first effort subsequently became the biggest sales week for a rookie act since The Game made it on January 23 of the previous year, unquestionably creating a solid base for Ne-Yo in his singing career. The fantastic achievement inevitably led him to such a wide exposure, enabling the singer to proudly appear on some notable TV shows, like "The Tyra Banks Show" plus "Live with Regis & Kelly" in early March. 

Not waiting so long, Ne-Yo was back in the studio in 2006 for sophomore effort which he tentatively titled "Outta This World". The name was later changed to "Know Me" as he wanted people to recognize his 'actual self'. However as the process flowing, he felt that the name wasn't right for this album that he decided to alter it again to "Because of You", the same title for his first single. "It makes the most sense," he said in a statement. "It's because of the people that inspire me to make music. Because of the love of the music. Because of the fans. Because of you, that I do what I do." The album was completed in early 2007 and released on May 1 whereby its arrival was greatly accepted. The album peaked at #1 in Billboard Hot 100, making it his second No. 1 record. Soon after that, he spread his wing by opening a studio named Carrington House that accommodated new artists to launch their career. 

Rihanna

Synopsis

Born Robyn Rihanna Fenty, on February 20, 1988 in Barbados, Rihanna signed with Def Jam records at age 16 and released her first album, which sold more than 2 million copies worldwide, in 2005. She went on to release more albums and hit songs, including "Unfaithful," "Disturbia," and "Umbrella." Rihanna has also won multiple awards including Grammys, MTV Video Music Awards, and Billboard awards.

Profile

Singer. Robyn Rihanna Fenty was born on February 20, 1988, in St. Michael Parish on the Caribbean island of Barbados. She is the eldest of three children born to Monica Fenty, an accountant, and Ronald Fenty, a warehouse supervisor. Rihanna's childhood was marred by her father's struggles with addictions to alcohol and crack cocaine and her parents' marital problems—they divorced when she was 14 years old. However, since that time, Rihanna's father has managed to conquer his addictions and the pair are now very close. "Now my dad is like the coolest person on the planet," Rihanna says. "He doesn't smother me. He lets me live my life. And he's been like that a lot, even when I was younger. He would watch me making a mistake and he wouldn't stop me. My dad, he lets me make it and then I learn." Rihanna also struggled with crippling headaches for several years during her childhood, a condition she attempted to hide from her friends and classmates so that they would not think she was abnormal. "I never expressed how I felt," she remembers. "I always kept it in. I would go to school ... you would never know there was something wrong with me."

As a teenager, Rihanna turned to singing as a release from her troubles at home. She formed a girl group with two classmates; when they were 15 years old, they scored an audition with music producer Evan Rodgers, who was visiting the island with his Barbadian wife. Rogers was awed by the precociously beautiful and phenomenally talented Rihanna, to the unfortunate detriment of her two friends. "The minute Rihanna walked into the room, it was like the other two girls didn't exist," he admitted. Less than a year later, when Rihanna was only 16 years old, she left Barbados to move in with Rogers and his wife in Connecticut and work on recording a demo album. "When I left Barbados, I didn't look back," Rihanna recalled. "I wanted to do what I had to do, even if it meant moving to America."

In January 2005, Rogers landed Rihanna an audition for Def Jam Records and its newly minted president, the legendary rapper Jay-Z. "I was in the lobby just shaking," she recalled. However, once Rihanna opened her voice to sing she regained her composure. "I remember staring into everybody's eyes in the room while I was singing, and at that point, I was fearless," she said. "But the minute I stopped singing, I was like, 'oh my God, Jay-Z is sitting right in front of me.'" The hip-hop icon was every bit as wowed by Rihanna's stunning voice and commanding presence as Rogers had been two years earlier, and he signed her on the spot. "We made a little Godfather joke," Jay-Z remembered.

"We said the only way she could leave was through the window." Only eight months later, in August 2005, Rihanna released her first single, "Pon de Replay," a reggae-influenced club track that skyrocketed to No. 2 on the Billboard singles chart and announced Rihanna as the next big up-and-coming pop star. Her first album, Music of the Sun, released later that month,reached No. 10 on the Billboard albums chart and also featured the single "If It's Lovin' That You Want." Rihanna released her second album, A Girl Like Me, the next year, spawning two major hits in "Unfaithful" and "SOS," Rihanna's first No. 1 single.

In 2007, Rihanna effected a transformation from cute teen pop princess to fully fledged superstar and sex symbol with her third album, Good Girl Gone Bad, fueled by its smash hit lead single "Umbrella," featuring Jay-Z. "It shows such growth for her as an artist," Jay-Z said about the track. "If you listen to the lyrics to that song, you know the depth and how far she's come." "Umbrella" topped the Billboard singles chart and earned Rihanna her first Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration. The album reached No. 2 on the charts and also featured the singles "Don't Stop the Music" and "Shut Up and Drive." Good Girl Gone Bad: The Remixes, released the following year, scored two new further hits in "Disturbia" and "Take a Bow."

Continuing her onslaught of hit albums, Rihanna released Rated R in 2009 with the singles "Hard" and "Rude Boy." Her most recent album, 2010's Loud, was once again an enormous commercial and critical success behind the songs "What's My Name," "Only Girl (In the World)" and "S&M." Besides her own laundry list of hit songs, Rihanna is also featured on a host of mega hits by other artists, including Jay-Z's "Run this Town," Eminem's "Love the Way You Lie" and Kanye West's "All of the Lights."

Rihanna has also made headlines in her personal life, although often for circumstances beyond her control. Rihanna first made gossip column headlines in 2006 when rumors swirled that she was having an affair with her mentor, Jay-Z. Both she and Jay-Z have always dismissed such allegations as ridiculous. "At first I was like, 'Ha ha, it's funny,'" Rihanna said. "Now I just ignore it and I'm numb to it. You cannot stop people from saying what they want to say."

In 2009, Rihanna again made headlines again, becoming the center of a media firestorm after a domestic violence incident in which her then-boyfriend Chris Brown assaulted her before an awards show. The incident sparked a huge public outpouring of support for Rihanna, and she has since become a spokesperson against domestic violence. "This happened to me," she said in an interview with Diane Sawyer. "It can happen to anyone."

Rihanna was later romantically involved with Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp, but the pair have since split ways.

Since she first appeared on the pop music scene in 2005, this Barbadian pop star has enjoyed a nearly uninterrupted run at the top of the music industry. For nearly six years,it has been virtually impossible to listen to the radio or enter a dance club without hearing one of Rihanna's infectiously catchy songs. But beyond the constant stream of hits and her unflappable public image, Rihanna acknowledges that she is still just a vulnerable young woman who has experienced much adversity in recent years, and often struggles to keep it together. "I put my guard up so hard," she said of the aftermath of her domestic violence incident with Chris Brown in 2009. "I didn't want people to see me cry. I didn't want people to feel bad for me. It was a very vulnerable time in my life, and I refused to let that be the image. I wanted them to see me as, 'I'm fine, I'm tough.' I put that up until it felt real."

In 2012, Rihanna appeared to be reconnecting with Brown. The pair worked together on the song "Birthday Cake" released that year. Rihanna also spoke very candidly with Oprah Winfrey about her relationship with Brown that August. She told Winfrey that Brown may have been the love of her life and she has developed "a very close friendship" with him.

Chris Brown

Chris Brown (b. May 5, 1989) is an American recording artist. He made his recording debut in late 2005 with the self-titled album Chris Brown at the age of 16. The album featured the hit single "Run It!", which topped the Billboard Hot 100, making Brown the first male artist to have his debut single top the chart since Montell Jordan in 1995.

Young Star

Singer, songwriter, actor. Born on May 5, 1989, in Tappahannock, Virginia. Chris Brown is already on his way to music superstardom with his smooth voice, amazing dance moves, and boy-next-door charm. Growing up in a small town of roughly 2,000 people, he was a born entertainer. Brown enjoyed singing in his church choir and was inspired by such musical artists as Sam Cooke, Stevie Wonder, and Michael Jackson. He also showed off his dance prowess by imitating the dance moves of another one of his idols, Usher.

Brown was discovered by Tina Davis, who was working for Def Jam Recordings at the time. "The first thing that hit me was his unique voice," Davis told Billboard magazine. "I thought 'This kid is a star.'" Davis eventually became his manager and helped him land a deal with Jive Records, which had developed other young acts such as Britney Spears and 'N Sync and is home to other hip-hop and R & B stars such as R. Kelly, Usher, and Kanye West. At the time of deal, Brown was only 15 years old.

Brown's self-titled album was released in November 2005 and quickly found its way into the charts. Working with established producers and songwriters, he had a number one hit with "Run It!," which was co-written by Scott Storch and Sean Garrett. The track also featured a guest appearance by rapper Juelz Santana. More hits followed, including "Yo (Excuse Me Miss)" and "Gimme That," which was written by Garrett and Storch. While many of the songs have a hip-hop influence, Brown's voice has a classic R&B sound. And just like many other teenagers, dating and girls figure prominently in his songs. He has sometimes been compared toMichael Jackson because of his dual talents as a singer and dancer. 

The album brought Brown two Grammy Award nominations for Best New Artist and Best R&B Contemporary Album. While he did not win, he showed the audience at the Grammy Awards just how talented he was by holding his own while performing with two R&B legends, Lionel Richie and Smokey Robinson. Brown went on to receive a number of other awards, including an NAACP Image Award for Outstanding New Artist. With a large following of young fans, it was no surprise when he won a Teen Choice Award for Choice Music Breakout Artist Male. 

In 2006, Brown went out on the road for his Up Close & Personal tour. He played more than 30 concerts in cities across the country. While he enjoyed playing live, it was not without its hazards. "Once during a show, I reached out to touch these girls' hands, and they pulled me off the stage," Brown told CosmoGirl magazine.

Acting Turn

Expanding his career as an entertainer, Brown has branched out into acting. He had a small role in the box office hit Stomp in the Yard(2007), which centered around a step dance competition. The film also featured another popular R&B performer, Ne-Yo. On the small screen,

Brown played against type as a high school band geek on The O.C. for several episodes.

The final months of 2007 brought a wave of new projects for Brown. He released his second album,Exclusive, in November. On this latest project, Brown became more hands on behind the scenes. He helped write several tracks, including the hit single "Kiss Kiss" with T-Pain. In addition to T-Pain, Brown worked with Sean Garrett on "Wall to Wall" and will.i.am and Tank on "Picture Perfect" among others. He also came up the concepts for his music videos and served as co-director on them.

Around the same time, Brown returned to the big screen with a more substantial role in the holiday-themed dramatic comedy, This Christmas (2007). As Michael "Baby" Whitfield, he played a young man wanting to pursue a musical career despite opposition from his family. The film also featured Delroy Lindo, Loretta Devine, Regina King, and Mekhi Phifer. Next up for the budding actor is reportedly the lead role in the sports drama Phenom.

Domestic Abuse Scandal

In February 2009, the young performer made headlines after being arrested for allegedly assaulting then-girlfriend, singer Rihannaduring an argument. "Words cannot begin to express how sorry and saddened I am over what transpired," Brown said in a statement shortly after the incident. He was charged with two felony counts related to the incident. 

In June, Brown pled guilty to the charges and was sentenced to 180 days of community labor and five years of probation. He was also ordered to stay away from Rihanna. The following month, Brown fully acknowledged and apologized for his actions, saying in a video statement that "I have told Rihanna countless times, and I am telling you today, that I am truly sorry and that I wasn't able to handle the situation both differently and better." At this point, it is unclear what impact his legal woes will have on his career.

Nate Dogg

Name: Nathaniel Dawayne Hale
Age: 33
Father: Daniel Lee Hale
Mother: Ruth Holmes
Brothers: Daniel, Samuel and Manuel Hale
Sisters: Latonya and Pamela Hale
Sons: Niajel and Nate Junior Hale
Daughter: Whitney Hale

Timeline:

Born in the late 1970s as Nathaniel Dawayne Hale. Son of Ruth Holmes and Daniel Lee Hale.

Born in Long Beach, California and moved with his parents to Clarksdale, Mississipi early in his childhood.

Nate's mother got him to sing in the New Hope Trinity Baptist Church gospel choir every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, where his father was the pastor.

Moved back to Cali at the end of ninth grade and hooked up with his cousin Calvin Broadus (Snoop Dogg) and his friend Warren Griffin III (Warren G).

Went to Jordan High in Long Beach California with Warren G & Snoop Dogg.

Dropped out of school at 16, got kicked out of his house and joined the Marines.

Served in the Marines for 3 years before being dishonorably discharged.

Came back to Long Beach and hooked up with Snoop and Warren again to make a musical group called "Three The Hard Way". The name was derived from a blaxploitation film. Their name got changed to 213, after the Long Beach area code at the time. The code later got changed.

After constantly trying to get Dr. Dre (Warren G's step-brother and the co-founder of Death Row Records) to hear them out, 213 finally got a break when he heard one of their demo tapes at a party.

After making his first professional appearance on Dr. Dre's multi-platinum "The Chronic", Nate was signed by Death Row in 1993.

When he got signed to Death Row, he began working on a solo album, which constantly kept getting pushed back.

In 1994, Nate teamed up with Warren G for the smash hit "Regulate". That song garnered a Grammy nomination for the two of them in the "Best Song By A Duo Or Group" category. It also reached #2 on the Billboard charts.

Death Row told Nate that his first album would not be out until at least 1995, so Warren G took "Regulate" and put it on his debut album since Nate's album wasn't going to be out anytime soon.

In mid-1996, Nate Dogg went on trial for two accounts of armed robbery. Nate was accused of robbing a Taco Bell. The trial was 3 weeks long and the jury acquitted Nate on the first charge and couldn't reach a decision on the second, the case was later dropped. It was determined that it was just a case of mistaken identity and that Nate had nothing to do with the robberies.

Nate completed his first album "G-Funk Classics Vol.1" in 1996 and the first single, "Never Leave Me Alone", reached #40 on the Billboard charts.
As the Death Row empire began crumbiling they finally managed to release "G-Funk Classics Vol.1" but the album lasted only 3 weeks on the market before being pulled.

Nate left Death Row in 1997 and formed his own label, The Dogg Foundation in 1998 with a distribution deal from Celestial Breakaway Entertainment.

Originally, Nate was going to make a brand new album, but he also wanted to release G-Funk Classics Vol. 1. However, Death Row would not give up G-Funk Classics Vol. 1. In early 1998, Nate finally got the rights to the album and finished up his new album. He decided to put together both albums into a double album and he titled it G-Funk Classics Vol.1 & 2. The first single off of the new album was "Nobody Does It Better" which featured Nate's old buddy Warren G. This single hit stores on June 23, 1998. The album sold about 110,000 copies.

Nate's label, Dogg Foundation Records, came to an end after his buisness partner passed away in late 1999.

He finally decided to give mainstream success another shot and signed with Elektra Records in 2001. His album "Music & Me" was released on December 4, 2001 and sold 500,000 copies, making it the first gold album by Nate Dogg.

A year after Music & Me was released, Elektra gave the world a new Nate Dogg tracklist which was set to be released in Feburary 2003. The album was never released with failure from Elektra to notify the fans about the future release date of the album.

With still no word from Elektra, Nate Dogg has hooked up with his old friends Warren G & Snoop Dogg to once again form 213 and create a reunion album which is set to be released in 2004.

Other Facts

The first part of his name (Nate) is short for Nathaniel. He added the "Dogg" to it after he caught his cousin doggystyling his girl one day.

Music that he listened to while growing up: The Whispers, Heatwave, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson, The Fat Boys, Run DMC and Whodini.

Says that his favorite hook was for "Oh No" with Mos Def and Pharoahe Monch.

Has a song with his sister, Pamela Hale, on his G-Funk Classics Vol. 1 entitled "Where Are You Going", This is Pamela's only known singing appearence.

Biography:

Some say the highly sought after Nate Dogg was born with the Midas touch. Born in Long Beach CA, but groomed in the legendary flood plains of Clarksdale, Mississippi, you can also bet he was schooled on the importance of another kind of power, eminating from the church where his father preached. Choir skilles may not necessarily be a prerequisite for shaping and redifining The West Coast rap sound (Nate's role in West Coast Hip hop lore has been duly logged and categorised), but those memories served him well as he prepared his much-anticipated solo journey for Elektra. A quick read of the lyrics of the new album's pivotal title track "Music and me" reveals a more reflective Nate Dogg paying homage to the deep, rich roots of his past:

/Without my music, where would i be, you taught me how to cry and still remain a G.../

Make no mistake about it, Nate Dogg is still the embodiment of G-funk flash and finesse, from the top of his emblematic bowler to the soles of his silver-tipped gator shoes. "I'm not saying i invented the shit, " he purrs, "but when you think of it, there's no mistaking that I've always held my own. " The new album, if nothing else, is a testament to the influence Nate Dogg now wields. Armed with a signature voice and as always - impeccable timing, he now steps into the arena waiting on him, with the charasmatic superstar ready, willing, and able to cast his own giant shadow throughout the R&B and Hip hop universe.

The disc is jam packed with a host of superstar guests who are eager to pay him back for countless cameo contributions on an amazing array of hits. Backed by a diverse production team on the new one, and exhibitng multi-regional influences that showcase Nate Dogg's indestructable voice, Music and Me, features the production talents of Dr.Dre, Jermaine Dupri, Bink, Mike City, Megahertz, Damizza and many more.

Nate Also collaborates with a slew of top-notch hip hop stars, including Ludacris, Dr.Dre, Snoop Dogg, and labelmates Lil Mo and Fabulous, among others. "I didn't want guest shots just to have them, " says Nate Dogg. " I wanted to call on some people that could contribute what i needed, but at the same time, you hear this album and you know I'm my own artist with my own vision. " Songs like "Keep It G.A.N.G.S.T.A" (featuring Lil' Mo and Xzibit), "Your Wife" (featuring Dr.Dre), "Ditty Dum Ditty Doo" (featuring Snoop Dogg and Tha Eastsidaz), and "Another Short Story," confirm Nate's growing stature as a songwriter. But as someone who has always lent his own hooks to new school rappers, the challenge was to fill his own album with just as many contagious songs. "Going in the studio, my goal was to make fifteen singles and that's what I did," he says proudly. "The album is a reflection of what's been going on in my life, and i dont ever run out of material when it comes to that."

The unflappable performer has indeed sparked many inspired 'moments' along the way. Nate Dogg - aka Nathaniel Hale - moved early from Long Beach to Mississippi where the rambunctious Nate would be surrounded by religion. But a return to Long Beach when he was a teenager would soon find Nate in the company of another potential superstar, Snoop Dogg. He hooked up with Snoop and Dr.Dre's half-brother, Warren G, to form the group 213. They became a staple at the local block parties and clubs. Meanwhile Dr.Dre would go on to change the face of music forever with the contraversial group NWA.

Dr.Dre and his label home, Death Row Records, kept their eye on 213. But it was Nate Dogg's debut on Dre's first solo release, The Chronic, that it turned the rap world's attention to Nate Dogg. His appearance on Warren G's breakthrough hit, "Regulate," furthered his growing rep. But Nate was still eager to shine on his own. After Death Row Records failed to ignite Nate's solo career, he left the infamous label and went on to release the acclaimed G-Funk Classics Vol.1 & 2 on Breakaway Records. Though now considered a cult classic, its lack of major lebel support would mean that mainstream success would still elude the dedicated vocalist.

Soon, Nate began to build a solid rep doing guest shots for other artists. His legend began to grow, with underground and aboveground record industry movers and shakers taking note that his presence on record often meant the difference between a brick and a hit. Over the last couple of years, his resume has included collaborations on songs such as Ludacris' "Area Codes," Dr.Dre's "Next Episode," Snoop Dogg's "Lay Low," and Fabolous' "Cant Deny It," among others. "It never bothered me that i got known for appearing on other songs, because it was always my goal to let people know what I could do as my own artist," says Nate Dogg. "I've been building for this moment all my life. Anyone who knew me knows I've always been ready."

A recent fact-check shows that Nate Dogg's collaborations with the hip hop elite have totaled close to 60 million records sold over the past decade. From the Delta, to Death Row, and now to the front row of the hip hop and R&B landscape, Nate dogg has always been able to seamlessly link the often desperate worlds of urban music. His first single, the mesmerizing "I Got Love," just might be the ultimate ode to a career that seems to be finally getting its due. "I've matured a bit, grown a lot," says Nate Dogg philosophically. "In the end, everything happens for a reason. I'm just happy to be in the position where i can sit back, relax, and produce my music. "

D12 pics

Eminem And Hailie

Will Smith

Will Smith was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on September 25, 1968. At 16, Smith met a DJ at a party. The pair became friends, and the rapping duo DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince was born. In 1990, Smith moved into acting with his role in the TV show The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air. in 1992 Smith crossed over into movies. He has been starring in popular films ever since.

Early Life

Actor, musician. Born Willard Christopher Smith Jr., to mother Caroline, a school board employee, and father Willard C. Smith, the owner of a refrigeration company. His middle class upbringing saw him attend the strict—and Catholic—Overbrook High School, despite his family's observation of the Baptist faith.

His West Philadelphia neighborhood was a melting pot of cultures where Orthodox Jews co-existed with a large Muslim population. Smith was a good student whose charming personality and quick tongue were renowned for getting him out of trouble, a trait for which he soon gained the nickname "Prince.''

Smith began rapping at age 12, emulating heroes like Grandmaster Flash but tingeing his rhymes with a comedic element that would later become his trademark. At 16, Smith met a DJ at a party by the name of Jeff Townes. The pair became friends, and the duo DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince was born.

Rap Success

The pair began producing music, but steered clear of the Gangsta Rap sound that was emerging on the West Coast in groups like Public Enemy and NWA. The Fresh Prince rapped about teenage preoccupations in a clean, curse-free style that middle America found safe and entertaining. The pair's first single, "Girls Ain't Nothing But Trouble," was a hit in 1986. Their debut album Rock the House (1990) hit the Billboard Top 200, and made Smith a millionaire before the age of 18. His early success put any thoughts of attending college out of Smith's mind.

Early on it was reported that Smith had turned down a scholarship to Boston's elite Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), but Smith later dispelled the rumor when he told an interviewer: "My mother, who worked for the School Board of Philadelphia, had a friend who was the admissions officer at MIT. I had pretty high SAT scores and they needed black kids, so I probably could have gotten in. But I had no intention of going to college."

In 1988, DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince continued their success with the album He's The DJ, I'm The Rapper featuring the radio-friendly singles "Parents Just Don't Understand," "Brand New Funk," and "Nightmare on My Street." The album won the first ever Grammy Award for a Rap Performance. That album was followed by And In This Corner... which continued the pair's rise to stardom.

Crossover into Acting

Two years later, Smith began his remarkable crossover into acting. Drawing on his experiences with fledgling stardom, NBC signed Smith to star in a sitcom about a street-smart kid from Philadelphia. On the show, the character is shipped off to California to live with wealthy relatives in Bel-Air, California. Playing on his rapper persona, and at times featuring his friend Towne, The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air was a huge success that ran for six seasons.

Meanwhile, Smith and Towne kept producing music. The 1991 album Homebase produced the hits "Summertime" and "Ring My Bell." Their final album together, 1993's Code Red, was notable for "Boom! Shake the Room."

While still making The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Smith began a second crossover into movies. Small roles in the drama Where The Day Takes You (1992) and the comedy Made In America (1993) were followed by a critically acclaimed lead in the drama Six Degrees of Separation (1993). Smith played a charming street-wise kid moving among the wealthy elite, who was also a psychologically complex gay hustler. The film enjoyed moderate success, but its title idea has become a household term for the closeness of human society.

Smith's first steps into super-stardom came with his next film, Bad Boys (1995). The high-budget cop movie saw him team up with comic Martin Lawrence, breaking away from the black-cop-white-cop formula that had been so successful for Beverly Hills Cop and the Lethal Weapon series. The two black leads proved an instant success and Smith—playing the smooth, serious, cop to Lawrence's clown—was established as leading man material.

Hollywood Star

The 1996, epic sci-fi disaster movie Independence Day was his next assignment. The role confirmed Smith as a major player in Hollywood and the go-to guy for summer blockbusters. Smith played an air force pilot leading the counter-attack against the invading alien forces, and his comedic talents effortlessly transformed into the pithy one-liners all action heroes need to be able to drop while dispatching their enemies.

Smith fought aliens again in his next blockbuster, the comic sci-fi action film, Men In Black (1997). Playing opposite Tommy Lee Jones, Smith chewed up the screen as the new recruit to Jones's old hand. Smith sang the theme song, and its inclusion on his solo album, Big Willie Style (1997) brought the multi-talented actor another success. Another Jerry Bruckheimer blockbuster followed with the slick conspiracy thriller Enemy of the State (1998), which earned Smith an NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture.

The string of hits came to an end in 1999 with Wild Wild West, a sci-fi cowboy Western co-starring Kevin Kline. Despite the film's lackluster box-office performance, the track Smith cut for the film became a hit on his album, Willennium (1999). The golf movie The Legend of Bagger Vance was his next big film, with Smith playing the caddie to Matt Damon's out-of-sorts swinger.

In 2001 the biopic Ali, based on boxing legend Muhammad Ali, saw Smith return to critical acclaim. His turn as the charismatic boxing great saw Smith put in the performance of his life, training and disciplining himself to extraordinary lengths to do justice to the athleticism, and ego, of the films main character. The film under-performed at the box-office despite a record-breaking opening day. Smith's performance, however, was good enough to be nominated for a Best Actor Oscar.

Film Roles

A number of sequels were next, with Smith reprising his roles inMen In Black and Bad Boys. Neither were flops, but they were both nowhere near as successful as their predecessors. Staying with the sci-fi action theme, Smith moved on to I, Robot in 2004. The Isaac Asimov adaptation saw Smith playing a cop in 2035 investigating a murder by a robot and then battling a robot insurgency. The film performed well, grossing more than $144 million in U.S. box offices.

Smith's smooth-talking charmer persona was put to use in the 2005 romantic comedy, Hitch. Smith played a ladies' man and dating consultant who helps luckless guys with their romantic moves. Smith penned the theme song, and included it on his album Lost and Found (2005). Hitch was a massive success, and was followed by another critical and financial hit, the 2006 rags-to-riches tale, The Pursuit of Happyness. Starring alongside his real-life son Jaden, Smith captivated audiences with the story of a single father who has to build a life from scratch. He received his second Academy Award nomination for Best Actor for his performance.

In 2007, Smith starred in I Am Legend, a remake of the Charlton Heston film Omega Man, where he battled blood-thirstyvampires. The film became a national and international hit.

The talented actor and musician has recently entered yet another arena, working as a film producer. Smith worked both sides of the camera for the filmHancock, in which he plays an alcoholic anti-superhero, and for Seven Pounds, about a man who sets out to change the lives of seven people. He also helped produce the 2008 films Lakeview Terrace and The Secret Life of Bees. His most recent project, The Mark, is slated for release in 2009.

Personal Life

Smith has been married twice. His first marriage in 1992 lasted only three years but produced a son, Willard Smith III, who is also known as Trey. He has been married to actress Jada Pinkett Smithsince 1997. The couple has a son, Jaden, who was born in 1998 and a daughter, Willow, born in 2000.

The Smith family has homes in Florida, Sweden and Philadelphia. Like many in Hollywood, Smith is politically liberal and has made donations to the presidential campaign of Senator Barack Obama. He is a fan of chess and video games and is known to take his mother on vacation every year, usually to the Canyon Ranch spa in Tucson, Arizona.

Usher

Born on October 14, 1978, in Chattanooga, Tennessee, Usher entered the fame game at the age of 14, two years after he moved with his mother and brother to Atlanta. After performing onStar Search, Usher landed a recording contract with LaFace Records. He released his first album in 1994, at age 15. For more than a decade, Usher has dominated the airwaves, releasing such albums as Confessions (2004), which sold more than 1 million copies in its first week. In June 2012,he produced the album Looking 4 Myself, which found a No. 1 spot on Billboard's albums chart. Usher's songs have repeatedly landed at No. 1 on the charts, earning him several Grammy and People's Choice awards, among other honors.

Early Years

Usher Terry Raymond IV was born on October 14, 1978, in Chattanooga, Tennessee. He began singing in his church choir when he was six years old. Two years after moving with his mother and brother to Atlanta, Usher performed on the hit show Star Search, and landed a recording contract with LaFace Records soon after. He released his first, self-titled album in 1994, at age 15. Usher soon became known for his polished vocals, broad vocal range, chic style, sexy dance moves and sensual ballads.

Musical Career

For more than 15 years, Usher has been a dominant player in the music industry. He's moved across several different musical genres, including R&B, blues and pop. Following Usher (1994), he released his second album, My Way, in 1997. The album—including singles "Nice & Slow" and "You Make Me Wanna?"—skyrocketed the young artist to fame, selling more than 7 million copies. Usher was quickly lauded for his fluid vocals and addictive melodies. He also became known for incorporating sexual undertones into his songs, performances and music videos.

Usher released Usher Live in 1999, followed by 2001's incredibly successful 8701, which included the No. 1 song "U Got It Bad," as well as two Grammy Award–winning singles, "U Remind Me" and "U Don't Have to Call." More than 4 million copies of 8701 were sold in the United States alone.

Nearly a decade after making his first album, Usher releasedConfessions (2004), which was extremely well-received. More than 1 million copies of the album were sold in its first week, and sales accumulated to nearly 20 million copies worldwide. The album included the songs  "Burn," "Confessions Part II" and "Yeah!," a collaboration with with Ludacris and Lil Jon. By this time, Usher had an incredibly impressive track record: He had achieved 13 Top 20 hits—seven of which were No. 1 singles. In 2004, he was named "Artist of the Year" at the Billboard Music Awards. A year later, he received two People's Choice Awards and three Grammy Awards (best contemporary R&B album, best R&B performance by a duo or group and best rap/sung collaboration).

Following the release of Raymond v. Raymond (2010), Usher won two more Grammys, for best contemporary R&B album (Raymond v. Raymond) and best male R&B performance ("There Goes My Baby"). In all, the singer has won 17 Billboard Music Awards; eight Soul Train Music Awards; five Grammys; and nine awards from the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers, among other honors.

Usher hasn't missed a beat over his more than 15-year career, and it doesn't look like he'll be slowing down any time soon. In June 2012, he produced the album Looking 4 Myself, which found a No. 1 spot on Billboard's albums chart.

Other Projects

Outside of music, Usher has worked as a film and stage actor. One of his earliest roles was in the teen horror film The Faculty (1998). He went on to make guest appearances on several television shows, including a role as Marvin Gaye on the program American Dreams(2002). In 2005, Usher played a disc jockey in the film In the Mix, and a year later, he landed the lead role of Billy Flynn the Broadway play Chicago (2006).

Usher also stays busy with his charity, New Look Foundation, which was founded in 1999 and works to provide funding for children in foster care and service programs; holds conferencesand camps for at-risk youth; and, ultimately, works to promote leadership skills for kids in impoverished communities. For his work with the nonprofit, Usher has received honors from such groups as the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Trumpet Foundation and National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

Additionally, Usher has invested in several entrepreneurial endeavors. He owns the record label US Records and a men's cologne line,nd is a co-owner of the Cleveland Cavaliers basketball team.

Personal Life

In the early 2000s, Usher dated Chili, a former member of the all-female group TLC. In 2007, he married Tameka Foster. Usher and Foster have two children together, Usher Raymond V (born in 2007) and Naviyd Ely Raymond (2008).

In July 2012, Foster's 11-year-old son from a previous relationship (Usher's stepson), Kyle Glover, suffered a severe brain injury in a water accident. According to several media reports, Glover had been riding on an inflatable tube on Lake Lanier in Atlanta, Georgia, when a jet ski struck him in the head and knocked him unconscious. After being rushed to a local hospital, Glover was declared brain dead by doctors.