The Evolution of Alicia Keys

Celebrating the R&B singer/songwriter's 31st birthday.

Alicia Keys, Songs in A Minor - Alicia Keys' hugely successful first album had a huge impact on an increasingly stagnant R&B world in 2001. Though her vocal and songwriting abilities improved significantly in the years ahead, her way-ahead-of-her-years emphasis on understated musicality and classic R&B traditions refreshed the genre and birthed a superstar.  (Photo: Courtesy J Records)
16. "When You Really Love Someone"  - Here, Alicia resurrects "A Woman's Worth" — boom-clack drums, cloudy keys and lessons for suitors-to-be — but this time with another couple years' wisdom and her rapidly maturing vocal prowess backing her up for extra oomph.(Photo: Frank Micelotta/Getty Images)
5. "Diary" - In between the lush classic-soul epics that define much of her second album, this song recalled the sparse, piano-driven burners of her debut in the best way possible. (Photo: Vince Bucci/Getty Images)
The Diary of Alicia Keys - Alicia Keys follow-up album, The Diary of Alicia Keys, spawned the hits "Karma," "Diary" and the romantic hit single "You Don't Know My Name." Staying true to her sound, Alicia kept the album true to old school R&B with no fluff.  (Photo: J Records)Unplugged - In 2005, Alicia Keys recorded Unplugged as a part of the wildly successful MTV franchise. She performed her hits and exposed a few new ones, including the powerful "Unbreakable." She went on to release the session as a CD and DVD which went to No. 1 on the Billboard charts. (Photo: L. Busacca/WireImage for J Records)

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Holding the Keys - In 2001, Alicia Keys performed at the MTV Video Music Awards. Here she is at rehearsal at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City on September 4, 2001. (Photo: Frank Micelotta/Getty Images)

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