MTV’s Behind the Music is back! The groundbreaking music documentary series returns with the best of the vault, updated and remastered for audio. Each episode p...
This artist became a rapper at the age of 9. Lil Wayne came from a tough childhood before exploring his talent for rapping as a member of the Hot Boys. With growing popularity, he pursued his solo career and released Tha Carter in 2004 and Tha Carter II in 2005. He was ready to take on the mantle of "Best Rapper Alive" and collaborated with artists such as Fall Out Boy and Fat Joe. Lil Wayne found success in 2008 with Tha Carter III, which included hit singles "A Milli" and "Lollipop", earning him 4 Grammys that year. Following Tha Carter III, he released IV and V, along with mixtapes. Even during his prison sentence in 2010, he released the album "I Am Not a Human Being", which debuted at #2 on the Billboard 200. Lil Wayne has sold over 120 million records worldwide and introduced a new generation of rappers, including Drake, Nicki Minaj, and Tyga through his record label, Young Money Entertainment. Over his career Lil Wayne won numerous awards — from the Grammys, BET, Billboard, VMAs, and NAACP — cementing his legacy as one of hip-hop’s greatest. Watch Behind the Music now on Paramount+.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
--------
33:50
Mary J. Blige
She is known to be the “Queen of Hip-Hop Soul.” Mary J. Blige came from a tough childhood before becoming a singing sensation. Blige found an escape from her life through music and eventually dropped out of school before working with Puff Daddy. Her first album, “What’s the 411?”, was a hit, followed by her second album “My Life”, which explored her emotional struggles. By her fourth album, Blige was finally finding herself and learning to forgive. She realized that it’s never too late to pursue her dreams, and years later came out with her seventh album, “The Breakthrough”, earning her 8 Grammy Awards. Blige continues to earn her legacy, performing for Barack Obama and collaborating across genres with artists like The Roots, U2, Drake and more. In 2022, Blige performed in the Super Bowl and was named as one of TIME’s 100 most influential people in the world. Although she was faced with heartbreak and setbacks, Mary J. Blige continues to define and expand the world of R&B music. Watch Behind the Music now on Paramount+.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
--------
34:43
T-Pain
This artist is known for his use of Auto-Tune and pushing the boundaries of music. As a child, T-Pain knew he wanted to leave his hometown of Tallahassee to pursue his musical talents. He eventually discovered Auto-Tune and created a remix of Akon’s “Locked Up”, dubbed “F***ed Up”, which led to Akon recognizing T-Pain’s potential. T-Pain pursued his music career and came out with his first single, “I’m Sprung” which became a #1 hit. Critics thought that T-Pain’s signature Auto-Tune sound was a gimmick, however they were proved wrong when the single “Buy You a Drank” shot to #1. T-Pain marched to his own tune and what felt good to him, a genre he calls “Hard & B”. Now, he’s a star with four Billboard top 10 singles and his own show “T-Pain’s School of Business”. He even proved his natural singing ability by winning The Masked Singer and performing an NPR Tiny Desk Concert. T-Pain continues to represent his genre defining sound and has shaped the direction of pop music, all while building his legacy. Watch Behind the Music now on Paramount+.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
--------
34:35
Ludacris
He is a radio DJ turned Hip-Hop superstar. Ludacris built his career in music and acting by writing about his life and rapping on Atlanta radio stations, leading him to become a founding member of record label Disturbing tha Peace. Although he was a radio DJ under the name of Chris Lova Lova, Ludacris was ready to build his own name as a recording artist. One of his first singles, “What’s Your Fantasy”, proved that he had a trademark flow. In 2009, six studio albums later, Ludacris was met with idolization as he collaborated with Justin Bieber on the hit single “Baby”, and proved that everything comes down to the music. Now, Ludacris is a businessman, restaurateur, philanthropist, and he finds success as a Fast and Furious star and founder of the Ludacris Foundation. Through hard work tracing back to his first radio show, Ludacris continues to be a trailblazer who wants to be the best man he can be. Watch Behind the Music now on Paramount+.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
--------
31:17
Elton John
This Rocket Man is known for his flamboyant costumes and musical oeuvre. Elton John began his career as a talented pianist in the London suburbs where he created his debut album, “Empty Sky”, which began the course for Elton’s 7 consecutive #1 albums. The rock ‘n roll legend’s rush of superstardom soared in the 70s with money and fame, however he also struggled with burnout, drug use, and personal crises. While navigating tabloids and scandals in the 80s, Elton reached sobriety and supported his loved ones during the AIDS epidemic. With new music and a newfound outlook in the 90s, Elton was inducted into the Rock’ N Roll Hall of Fame, won an Academy Award, and found love with his husband, David Furnish. Now, Elton continues to build his legacy with musical collaborations and another world tour. Although he’s had a great ride in the last 30 years, Elton knows he’ll keep on rockin’. Watch Behind the Music now on Paramount+.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
MTV’s Behind the Music is back! The groundbreaking music documentary series returns with the best of the vault, updated and remastered for audio. Each episode profiles one of music’s most influential icons from 50 Cent to AC/DC, Courtney Love to Madonna, and more. Experience their unfiltered journeys to success and their personal stories of hardships and triumphs in this audio companion to the Paramount+ Behind the Music series.
Ireland