Music Stars Who Started in Groups You Never Heard Of

Artists who found solo success after being in an ensemble.

Kanye West - Sure his rants make headlines, but Kanye West is still one of music's elite showman. There's no doubting how much passion 'Ye delivers live in concert, spitting his rhymes with absolute conviction. This category wouldn't be complete without him. Yeezus!(Photo: Peter Kramer/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)
R. Kelly - R. Kelly first sang his smooth vocals as part of the Chicago-based group M.G.M. (Mentally Gifted Men) and had minor success with the single "Why U Wanna Play Me." Rob and the group signed with Jive in 1991 but after finding out R was being paid more, they balked and were replaced with Public Announcement. It's actually M.G.M. that sang on the debut, Born Into the '90s, and their name was replaced on the album cover with P.A.(Photos from left: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images, Tavdash Records)
Destiny's Child - Beyoncé was destined to be a star and her pops Mathew Knowles saw to that. But before Mrs. Carter and Destiny's Child had you saying their name, they were a singing/rapping bunch of young ladies called Girls Tyme. Latavia and Kelly made the cut but Matthew's knife was even sharp back then as Nina, Nicky and Ashley didn't. Girls Tyme did appear together, however, on Star Search back in the day (as seen at the beginning of Bey's "Flawless" video).(Photo: Nicky J. Sims/Redferns)
Meek Mill - Meek Mill ran the streets of Philadelphia with his lyrical crew the Bloodhoundz and often spits about his former squad in his rhymes. The crew also consisted of Young Pooh, Mel Luv, and Dat N--- Lil and they had the City of Brotherly Love on fire at one point with their mixtapes and freestyles. (Photos from left: Rick Diamond/BET/Getty Images for BET, Headshot Records)Nicole Scherzinger - Eden's Crush, an ensemble assembled through a talent competition, was Nicole Scherzinger's first group before taking off with the Pussycat Dolls. They released one album called Popstars in 2001. (Photo: Gregg DeGuire/WireImage)

Next Gallery

12 Powerful Quotes from Black Women Athletes to Inspire Greatness

12 Photos

8 / 14

R. Kelly - R. Kelly first sang his smooth vocals as part of the Chicago-based group M.G.M. (Mentally Gifted Men) and had minor success with the single "Why U Wanna Play Me." Rob and the group signed with Jive in 1991 but after finding out R was being paid more, they balked and were replaced with Public Announcement. It's actually M.G.M. that sang on the debut, Born Into the '90s, and their name was replaced on the album cover with P.A.(Photos from left: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images, Tavdash Records)

ADVERTISEMENT