55 Behind-The-Scenes Photos Black Musicians

1.

Will Smith (aka the Fresh Prince) and DJ Jazzy Jeff posing together on the balcony of a Holiday Inn in London in 1986.

2.

Lauryn Hill behind the scenes of her music video “Everything Is Everything” in the late 1990s.

3.

Mariah Carey in the verrrry beginning of her career, doing a photo shoot in Chicago in 1990.

4.

Diana Ross in her glamorous Los Angeles home during the height of her solo career in 1974.

5.

Prince performing at one of his first gigs at The Roxy in Los Angeles in 1979.

6.

Whitney Houston in front of her childhood home in New Jersey after she released her debut album in 1985.

7.

Lenny Kravitz looking cool as heck at his house in Malibu in 1991.

8.

Marvin Gaye posing in his legendary red beanie and denim outfit at Golden West Studios in 1973.

9.

Tina Turner looking at a variety of wigs on the street in 1985.

10.

A 3-year-old Jimi Hendrix posing for a portrait along with his father, Al Hendrix, in 1945.

11.

Young Jay-Z in the beginning stages of his career in the early 1990s.

12.

Chilli, T-Boz, and Left Eye of TLC hanging out together in a dressing room in the early 1990s.

13.

Snoop Dogg smoking a joint while giving the middle finger like the icon he is during a photo shoot in 1999.

14.

Nina Simone happily eating breakfast in bed at a French hotel in 2003.

15.

Billie Holiday hanging out with her doggo backstage, looking beautiful as heck, in the 1940s.

16.

Bob Marley signing autographs for fans at Los Angeles’ Tower Records in 1979.

17.

A very young Alicia Keys wearing an ultimate 2000s outfit in 2001.

18.

Queen Latifah in front of the Empire State Building in New York City in 1989.

19.

Aretha Franklin embracing a lovely day in a London park in 1972.

20.

LL Cool J rocking his infamous Kangol hat during a photo shoot in Chicago in 1987.

21.

Missy Elliott most likely creating one of her many masterpieces in a studio in New York City in 1998.

22.

Janet Jackson glowing with pure beauty in a pool in Los Angeles in 1985.

23.

A very chic Dionne Warwick standing in front of a hotel in London in 1964.

24.

Lionel Richie getting his makeup done backstage before a concert in New York City in 1980.

25.

The Supremes and the Temptations looking ’60s as heck promoting their song “I’m Gonna Make You Love Me” in 1968.

26.

Boyz II Men wearing matching outfits for a photo shoot in the streets of Los Angeles in 1996.

27.

Ella Fitzgerald signing dozens of concert brochures after a show in Vienna in 1954.

28.

Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye playing the harmonica at Hitsville U.S.A. (Motown’s studio) in 1965.

29.

Etta James singing her heart out in the studio in Alabama in 1967.

30.

Salt-N-Pepa being the queens of rap they are in 1988.

31.

A Tribe Called Quest posting up in front of apartment buildings in New York City in 1991.

32.

Erykah Badu around the release of her second album, Mama’s Gun, in New York City in 2000.

33.

Labelle posing in their ever-iconic futuristic outfits in 1974.

34.

Chaka Khan posing in the streets of Los Angeles in the mid-1970s.

35.

Biggie Smalls, Tupac, and Redman hanging out together at a club in New York City in 1993.

36.

The Jackson 5 lined up in front of a fence at their home in Los Angeles in 1972.

37.

Grace Jones partying it up at Studio 54 like only she could in 1978.

38.

André 3000 around the height of Outkast’s popularity with Speakerboxxx/The Love Below in 2004.

39.

Destiny’s Child glowing while hanging out with Aaliyah backstage at the MTV Movie Awards in 2001.

40.

Sade glowing in all her glory on a couch at the Ambassador East Hotel in Chicago in 1985.

41.

Baby Tracy Chapman posing in all of her denim glory in 1988.

42.

Nat King Cole teaching Natalie Cole how to play the piano in Hollywood in 1956.

43.

Baby Rihanna posing for a portrait in Germany in 2005.

44.

The Roots backstage at the House of Blues before a gig in 2000.

45.

Folk singer Odetta rehearsing before a show at the Prince Charles Theatre in London in 1963.

46.

The iconic Brandy rocking a true ’90s outfit backstage at a club in Chicago in 1994.

47.

Ray Charles and Aretha Franklin after a show in Chicago in 1980.

48.

Little Richard throwing up the peace sign at Wembley Stadium in 1972.

50.

Sister Rosetta Tharpe playing her classic guitar during a portrait session in 1940.

51.

Brittany Howard of Alabama Shakes showing off her guitar backstage in London in 2012.

52.

Sam Cooke recording a song in the studio, accompanied by Muhammad Ali, in 1964.

53.

Pharrell Williams looking 2000s as ever with his group N.E.R.D. in 2002.

54.

Darlene Love with the Blossoms and Marvin Gaye rehearsing a song with Leon Russell at the piano in 1964.

55.

And Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston embracing lovingly at an Oscars party in 1999.

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