Michael Jackson could very well be the greatest entertainer of all time. He has influenced so many talents of this generation, including Usher and Chris Brown. As one of the first Black musicians to gain crossover appeal, he paved the way for future artists and created a lasting legacy.
The late great Luther Vandross is one of the most well known crooners of the past two decades; with a collection of classics so vast it’d be hard to ever pick one favorite. Never needing anything more than just his voice to wow a crowd, Luther paved the way for romantic crooners like Anthony Hamilton, Jaheim, and Musiq Soulchild.
The smooth, sultry sounds of this band of pretty boys echoes to this day. Crooners like The Dream have tried to emulate the silky sound, but with less success. With hits like “Shout” and “Contagious,” the Isley Brothers were at the forefront of creating the sound we call modern R&B.
The Queen of Hip Hop-Soul debuted in 1992 and ever since she’s been the one women depend on to sing their lives with the song. Mary’s work has always moved us. From her musical lessons on self-love to her out-of-this world delivery of her heartfelt heartbreak, women all over will forever be singing Mary’s praises.
Beyoncé is in a league of her own when it comes to setting trends in music. Reggae, hip-hop, soul, techno – you name it, she’s done it. We also have to give Bey props for starting some of the hottest dance trends of the decade. Admit it – you’ve done the moves to “Crazy in Love,” and “Single Ladies” on the dance floor at least once or twice.
Although these two Philadelphia musicians never gained notoriety behind the mic, we’re pretty sure you’ve heard at least one of their hits. They have written and produced over 170 platinum and gold records for successful artists such as The O’Jays, Teddy Pendergrass, and Patti LaBelle. Iconic indeed.
When Michael Jackson stepped off the scene the world needed an entertainer who could sing and dance their way into right our hearts. In stepped the ever-so-talented Usher Raymond. With great moves and looks, over 30 million albums sold, and millions of young men trying to copy his style and swagger, it’s safe to say Usher’s left his mark.
Barbados born beauty Rihanna has a habit of starting fashion frenzies and surpassing sales records. It takes an unbelievable amount of talent and star power to sell more than 20 million albums and 60 million singles before the age of 23. We can credit her hits for bringing reggae infused hip-hop into the mainstream pop scene.
When Sean Combs burst on the scene as Puff Daddy, P. Diddy and finally just as Diddy, he always turned heads and set trends in the world of music. His influence on hip-hop today is unmatched and his pockets can attest to that- he’s been ranked by Forbes as the wealthiest figure in hip-hop with a net worth of $475 million.
Barbados born beauty Rihanna has a habit of starting fashion frenzies and surpassing sales records. It takes an unbelievable amount of talent and star power to sell more than 20 million albums and 60 million singles before the age of 23. We can credit her hits for bringing reggae infused hip-hop into the mainstream pop scene.
The mega-talented Will Smith made great strides in the world of music before launching his career as an actor. He started off as an MC in the group DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince and made history when they won the first Grammy awarded to a rap artist. We still blast “Summertime” on a hot June afternoon!
When Michael Jackson stepped off the scene the world needed an entertainer who could sing and dance their way into right our hearts. In steps the ever-so-talented Usher Raymond. With great moves and looks, over 30 million albums sold, and millions of young men trying to copy his style and swagger, it’s safe to say Usher’s left his mark.
Beyonce is in a league of her own when it comes to setting trends in music. Reggae, hip-hop, soul, techno – you name it, she’s done it. We also have to give Bey props for starting some of the hottest dance trends of the decade. Admit it- you’ve done the moves to “Crazy in Love,” and “Single Ladies” on the dance floor at least once or twice.
Forty years after the release of ’What’s Going On,’ Marvin Gaye’s iconic album still stirs up the soul and warms the heart. He’s been named as one of the Greatest Singers of All Time and one of the Greatest Artists of All Time by “Rolling Stone.” You can’t get any more influential than that.
When Michael Jackson stepped off the scene the world needed an entertainer who could sing and dance their way into right our hearts. In steps the ever-so-talented Usher Raymond. With great moves and looks, over 30 million albums sold, and millions of young men trying to copy his style and swagger, it’s safe to say Usher’s left his mark.
The Queen of Hip Hop-Soul debuted in 1992 and ever since she’s been the one women depend on to sing their lives with the song. Mary’s work has always moved us. From her musical lessons on self-love to her out-of-this world delivery of her heartfelt heartbreak, women all over will forever be singing Mary’s praises.