Mario Dewar Barrett (born August 27, 1986), known mononymously as Mario, is an American R&B singer. Born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, he signed a record deal with J Records at the age of 14 and released his self-titled debut studio album (2002) to commercial success

Ne-Yo, born Shaffer Chimere Smith on October 18, 1979, in Camden, Arkansas, is a celebrated American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actor. His entrance into the music industry was marked by his exceptional songwriting abilities, penning hits for artists like Mario, whose 2004 single "Let Me Love You" catapulted Ne-Yo into the spotlight. This success opened doors for his solo career, leading to his signing with Def Jam Recordings and the release of his debut album, "In My Own Words," in 2006. The album was a commercial triumph, featuring hit singles like "So Sick" and "Sexy Love," and established Ne-Yo as a leading voice in contemporary R&B.

Ne-Yo's subsequent albums continued to showcase his distinctive blend of smooth vocals, emotive lyrics, and adeptness in fusing R&B with pop elements. His second album, "Because of You" (2007), won him a Grammy Award for Best Contemporary R&B Album, further solidifying his status in the music industry. Hits like "Closer," "Miss Independent," and "Mad" from his third album, "Year of the Gentleman" (2008), demonstrated his versatility and ability to craft songs that resonated with a broad audience. Ne-Yo's lyrical prowess and knack for melody have made him a sought-after collaborator, writing songs for artists such as Beyoncé, Rihanna, and Celine Dion.

Beyond his music career, Ne-Yo has made significant contributions to film and television. He has appeared in movies like "Stomp the Yard" and "Battle: Los Angeles," and has been a judge on the television show "World of Dance." His involvement in these projects highlights his multifaceted talent and appeal across different entertainment mediums. Additionally, Ne-Yo's work extends to philanthropy, with his Compound Foundation focusing on helping youth in foster care and group homes, underscoring his commitment to giving back to the community.

Ne-Yo's influence in the music industry is marked not only by his own hits but also by the success of the many artists he has written for. His ability to create songs that are both commercially successful and artistically respected has earned him numerous awards and accolades, including multiple Grammy Awards. As he continues to produce new music and explore various facets of his career, Ne-Yo remains a vital figure in contemporary R&B and pop music. His enduring impact on the industry is a testament to his talent, versatility, and dedication to his craft.

(Wikipedia) Her career began in 1988 when she was signed to Uptown Records by its founder Andre Harrell. Blige then began background vocal work for other artists on the label such as Father MC and Jeff Redd. In 1992, Blige released her debut album, What's the 411?, which is credited for introducing the mix of R&B and hip hop into mainstream pop culture. Its 1993 remix album became the first album by a singer to have a rapper on every song, popularizing rap as a featuring act.[5] Both What's the 411? and her 1994 album My Life are featured on the Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time list, and the latter on Time magazine's All-Time 100 Albums. Throughout her career, Blige went on to release 14 studio albums, including four Billboard 200 number-one albums. Her biggest hits include "Real Love", "You Remind Me", "I'm Goin' Down", "Not Gon' Cry", "Be Without You", "Just Fine" and the Billboard Hot 100 number-one single "Family Affair".

Blige has also made a successful transition to both the television and movie screens, with supporting roles in films such as Prison Song (2001), Rock of Ages (2012), Betty and Coretta (2013), Black Nativity (2013), her Oscar and Golden Globe-nominated breakthrough performance as Florence Jackson in Mudbound (2017), Trolls World Tour (2020), Body Cam (2020), The Violent Heart (2021) and co-starring as jazz singer Dinah Washington in the Aretha Franklin biopic Respect (2021). In 2019, Blige starred as Cha-Cha on the first season of the Netflix television series The Umbrella Academy. She currently stars as Monet Tejada in the spin-off of the highly-rated TV show drama Power in Power Book II: Ghost.

She received a Legends Award at the World Music Awards in 2006, and the Voice of Music Award from ASCAP in 2007. Billboard ranked Blige as the most successful female R&B/Hip-Hop artist of the past 25 year. In 2017, Billboard magazine named her 2006 song "Be Without You" as the most successful R&B/Hip-Hop song of all time, as it spent an unparalleled 15 weeks atop the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and over 75 weeks on the chart.[10] VH1 ranked Blige as the 80th greatest artist of all time in 2011and ninth in "The 100 Greatest Women in Music" list in 2012.Blige became a first-time nominee for the 2021 class of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked her as the 25th greatest singer of all-time.