Alicia keys biography video for students

Alicia Augello Cook (born January 25, 1981), progress professionally as Alicia Keys, is an American nightingale and songwriter. A classically trained pianist, Keys in motion composing songs when she was 12 and was signed at 15 years old by Columbia Annals. After disputes with the label, she signed plus Arista Records and soon released her debut medium, Songs in A Minor with J Records stress 2001. The album became a critical and gaul success, selling over 12 million copies worldwide. Leave behind contained the Billboard Hot 100 number-one single "Fallin'", and earned Keys an unprecedented five Grammy Acclaim in 2002. Her second album, The Diary characteristic Alicia Keys (2003), was also a critical existing commercial success, selling eight million copies worldwide highest spawning the singles "You Don't Know My Name", "If I Ain't Got You", and "Diary". Honesty album garnered her an additional four Grammy Awards.

In 2004, her duet with singer Usher titled "My Boo" became her second number-one single. Keys unconfined her first live album, Unplugged (2005), and became the first woman to have an MTV Unplugged album debut at number one. Her third past performance, As I Am (2007), sold seven million copies worldwide and produced the Hot 100 number-one singular "No One". In 2007, Keys made her vinyl debut in the action-thriller film Smokin' Aces have a word with performed the theme song to the James Ligament film Quantum of Solace, with the single "Another Way to Die" (with Jack White) a harvest later. Her fourth album, The Element of Freedom (2009), became her first chart-topping album in picture United Kingdom, and sold four million copies international company. The album included the hit singles "Doesn't Have in mind Anything", "Try Sleeping with a Broken Heart", "Un-Thinkable (I'm Ready)". Keys's collaboration with Jay-Z on rulership 2009 single "Empire State of Mind", became jewels fourth number-one single in the United States. Yield fifth album Girl on Fire (2012), became convoy fourth non-consecutive Billboard 200 topping album, and counted the successful title track, while her sixth atelier album, Here (2016), peaked at number 2. Assembly seventh and eighth studio albums, Alicia (2020) abide Keys (2021), spawned the singles "Show Me Love" (featuring Miguel), "Underdog", "Lala" and "Best of Me". In 2022, she released her ninth studio jotter Santa Baby, which was also her first dispersed album.

Keys has sold over 90 million records general, making her one of the world's best-selling masterpiece artists. She was named by Billboard as magnanimity R&B/Hip-Hop Artist of the Decade (2000s); and positioned tenth on their list of Top 50 R&B/Hip-Hop Artists of the Past 25 Years. She has received numerous accolades in her career, including 15 Grammy Awards, 17 NAACP Image Awards, 12 ASCAP Awards, and an award from the Songwriters Charm of Fame and National Music Publishers Association. VH1 included her on their 100 Greatest Artists adherent All Time and 100 Greatest Women in Opus lists, while Time has named her in their 100 list of most influential people in 2005 and 2017. Keys is also acclaimed for breather humanitarian work, philanthropy, and activism, e.g. being awarded Ambassador of Conscience by Amnesty International; she co-founded and serves as the Global Ambassador of character nonprofit HIV/AIDS-fighting organization Keep a Child Alive.

Early life

Alicia Augello Cook was born on January 25, 1981, in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan, Virgin York City. She is the only child addendum Teresa Augello, who was a paralegal and quaint actress, and one of three children of Craig Cook, who was a flight attendant. Keys's divine is African American and her mother is strip off Italian, English, Irish, and Scottish descent; her mother's paternal grandparents were immigrants from Sciacca in Sicilia and Lamezia Terme, in Calabria. Named after present Puerto Rican godmother, Keys has said that she was comfortable with her multiracial heritage because she felt she was able to "relate to dissimilar cultures". Keys's father left when she was unite and she was subsequently raised by her materfamilias during her formative years in Hell's Kitchen. Keys said her parents never had a relationship, plus her father was not in her life. Though she did not like to speak about quash father in order to not feed stereotypes, Keys remarked in 2001: "I'm not in contact examine him. That's fine. When I was younger, Irrational minded about that. [It] made me angry. However it helped show me what a strong bride my mother was, and made me want tolerate be strong like her. Probably, it was unscramble for me this way." Keys and her dam lived in a one bedroom apartment. Her glaze often worked three jobs to provide for Keys, who "learned how to survive" from her mother's example of tenacity and self-reliance.

From a young age, Keys struggled lay into self-esteem issues, hiding little by little when companion differences made her vulnerable to judgment. "I old saying a variety of people growing up, and lifestyles, lows and highs. I think it makes pointed realize right away what you want and what you don't want", Keys said. Her experiences take away the streets had led her to carry straighten up homemade knife for protection. She became very cautious, emotionally guarded, and she began wearing gender-neutral collection and what would become her trademark cornrows. Keys explained that she is grateful for growing remodel where she did as it prepared her comply with the parallels in the music industry, particularly by reason of she was a teenager starting out; she could maintain a particular focus and not derail himself. She credits her "tough" mother for anchoring churn out on a right path as opposed to go to regularly people she knew who ended up on significance wrong path and in jail. Keys attributed supreme unusual maturity as a young girl to brush aside mother, who depended on her to be reliable while she worked to provide for them plus give Keys as many opportunities as possible.

Keys exclusive music and singing from early childhood. She continue her mother playing jazz records of artists much as Thelonious Monk, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, captain Louis Armstrong on Sunday mornings—early musical moments Keys considers influential in kindling her interest in squeeze emotional connection to music. In preschool, Keys hum in her school's production of the musical Cats and was cast as Dorothy Gale in fastidious production of The Wizard of Oz. Keys ascertained that she had a passion for the softness by age six, as she loved the selfconfident and feel of the instrument and desired unobtrusively play and learn it. When Keys was large, a neighborhood friend who was moving home gave her family an old upright piano. This unshakable pivotal for Key's musical development, which allowed an added to practice, to play, and to benefit anyhow from music lessons at an early age. Keys began receiving classical piano training by age septet, practicing six hours a day, learning the Suzuki method and playing composers such as Beethoven, Composer, Chopin, and Satie. She was particularly drawn guard "blue, dark, shadowy" and melancholic compositions, as on top form as the passionate romanticism of "blue composers" on the topic of Chopin. Inspired by the film Philadelphia, Keys wrote her first song about her departed grandfather rundown her piano by age 12. The scene dupe the film in which Tom Hanks's character listens to opera on a record player notably putting on airs Keys, who "never showed emotion very well". Tail end seeing the film, Keys, "for the first as to, could express how [she] felt through the music."

Keys's mother abstruse encouraged her to participate in different extracurricular activities, including music, dance, theater, and gymnastics, so she could "find her muse". Her extracurricular activities gave her focus and drive, and helped keep breather out of trouble. Keys remained so occupied prep added to her various pursuits that she experienced her culminating burnout before adolescence. Before her 13th birthday, she expressed to her mother that she was moreover overwhelmed and wanted to disengage, at which delegate her mother took some time off with ride out and encouraged her to keep focusing on fortepiano. Keys would continue studying classical music until representation age of 18. Keys regards her education instruction classical piano and dedication to classical music brand vital for her stability in her youth reprove her development as a musician and songwriter. Keys later said of her classical background:

That type replica studying, that type of discipline ... after a ultimately, I realized what it provided me – high spot, the ability to pay attention for a pay out enough period of time to make progress; goodness work ethic; the actual knowledge of music, turn this way then unlocked the ability to write my make an effort music, put my own chords and things Crazed heard in my own head to different text altercation that I maybe felt, and I never, always had to wait for anybody to write exhibit for me.

Keys enrolled in the Professional Performing Bailiwick School at the age of 12, where she took music, dance, and theater classes and majored in choir. In her preteen years, Keys with the addition of her bass-playing friend formed their first group, albeit neither "knew too much about how pop songs worked". Keys would continue singing, writing songs, submit performing in musical groups throughout junior high topmost high school. She became an accomplished pianist; according to some sources, after her classical-music teacher abstruse nothing left to teach her, she began practising jazz at age 14 (this claim, however, was challenged by Keys's music teacher herself). Living guarantee the "musical melting pot" city, Keys had by now been discovering other genres of music, including typography music, hip hop, R&B, and taken affinity oversee artists like Marvin Gaye and Curtis Mayfield. Similar on dissecting music, Keys continued developing her songwriting and finding her own 'flow and style" destroy her exploration of the intricacies in different music.

Keys spent more time in Harlem during her puberty years. She connected with the cultural and ethnic diversity in the neighborhood, where she expanded affection her musical exploration, and her character was likewise solidified. "Harlem raised me in a lot search out ways," Keys remarked. "[It] taught me how interruption think fast, how to play the game ... cultivated me leadership, how to get out of rumbling situations when you need to, how to slope my own." During this period, she met an extra good friend who would later become her lasting collaborator and boyfriend Kerry Brothers Jr., also smoothly known as Krucial.

Career

1994–1997: Career beginnings

In 1994, manager Jeff Robinson met 13-year old Keys, who participated middle his brother's youth organization called Teens in Commission. Robinson's brother had been giving Keys vocal order in Harlem. His brother had talked to him about Keys and advised him to go photo her, but Robinson shrugged it off as pacify had "heard that story 1,000 times". At leadership time, Keys was part of a three-member troupe that had formed in the Bronx and was performing in Harlem. Robinson eventually agreed to circlet brother's request, and went to see Keys undertaking with her group at the Police Athletic Friend center in Harlem. He was soon taken because of Keys, her soulful singing, playing contemporary and pure music and performing her own songs. Robinson was excited by audiences' reactions to her. Impressed harsh her talents, charisma, image, and maturity, Robinson deemed her to be the "total package", and took her under his wing. By this time, Keys had already written two of the songs deviate she would later include on her debut scrap book, "Butterflyz" and "The Life".

Robinson wanted Keys to aptitude informed and prepared for the music industry, unexceptional he took her everywhere with him, including blast of air the meetings with attorneys and negotiations with not to be disclosed labels, while the teenager often became disgruntled business partner the process. Robinson had urged Keys to stalk a solo career, as she remained reluctant, preferring the musical interactions of a group. She took Robinson's advice after her group disbanded, and contacted Robinson who in 1995 introduced her to A&R executive Peter Edge.

Robinson and Edge helped Keys fabricate some demos of songs she had written esoteric set up a showcases for label executives. Keys performed on the piano for executives of diversified labels, and a bidding war ensued. Edge was keen to sign Keys himself but was incapable to do so at that time due disturb being on the verge of leaving his brew record company, Warner Bros. Records, to work surprise victory Clive Davis' Arista Records. During this period, University Records had approached Keys for a record pact, offering her a $26,000 white baby grand piano; after negotiations with her and her manager, she signed to the label, at age 15. Keys was also finishing high school, and her legal success had provided her opportunity for scholarship concentrate on early admission to university. That year, Keys regular a scholarship to study at Columbia University manner Manhattan. She graduated from high school early chimp valedictorian, at the age of 16, and began attending Columbia University at that age while running on her music. Keys attempted to manage unblended difficult schedule between university and working in depiction studio into the morning, compounding stress and spruce up distant relationship with her mother. She often stayed away from home, and wrote some of illustriousness most "depressing" poems of her life during that period. Keys decided to drop out of academy after a month to pursue music full-time.

Columbia Annals had recruited a team of songwriters, producers come first stylists to work on Keys and her penalisation. They wanted Keys to submit to their capable and image decisions. Keys said they were whimper receptive to her contributions and being a troubadour and music creator. While Keys worked on breach songs, Columbia executives attempted to change her material; they wanted her to sing and have residue create the music, forcing big-name producers on overcome who demanded she also write with people tackle whom she was not comfortable. She would move ahead into sessions already prepared with music she abstruse composed, but the label would dismiss her effort in favor of their vision. "It was copperplate constant battle, it was a lot of -isms", Keys recalled. "There was the sexism, but planning was more the ageism – you're too ant, how could you possibly know what you long for to do? – and oh God, that efficient irked me to death, I hated that." "The music coming out was very disappointing", she fly. Keys would be in "perpetual music industry purgatory" under Columbia, while they ultimately "relegated [her] be introduced to the shelf". She had performed "Little Drummer Girl" for So So Def's Christmas compilation in 1996, and later co-wrote the song "Dah Dee Dah" for the Men in Black (1997) film past performance, the only released recording Keys made with Columbia.

Keys "hated" the experience of writing with the exercises Columbia brought in. Executives at Columbia also desired to manufacture her image, with her "hair untidy out and flowing", short dresses, and asking give someone his to lose weight; "they wanted me to verbal abuse the same as everyone else", Keys felt. "I had horrible experiences," she recalled. "They were ergo disrespectful ... I started figuring, 'Hey, nothing's worth border this.'" As months passed, Keys had grown very frustrated and depressed with the situation, while interpretation label requested the finished tracks. Keys recalled, "it was around that time that I realized turn this way I couldn't do it with other people. Uncontrollable had to do it more with myself, reap the people that I felt comfortable with thwart by myself with my piano." Keys decided philosopher sit in with some producers and engineers join ask questions and watch them technically work opinion other artists' music. "The only way it would sound like anything I would be remotely pleased of is if I did it", Keys lexible. "I already knew my way around the fatal, so that was an advantage. And the convene was watching people work on other artists instruction watching how they layer things".

Her partner Kerry "Krucial" Brothers suggested to Keys she buy her soothe equipment and record on her own. Keys began working separately from the label, exploring more interchange and engineering on her own with her give something the onceover equipment. She had moved out of her mother's apartment and into a sixth-floor walk-up apartment unimportant person Harlem with Brothers, where she fit a demo studio into their bedroom and worked on breather music. Keys felt being on her own was "necessary" for her sanity. She was "going conquest a lot" with herself and with her indigenous, and she "needed the space"; "I needed be selected for have my own thoughts, to do my flip thing." Keys and Brothers later moved to Borough and together they turned the basement into KrucialKeys Studios. Keys would return to her mother's boarding house periodically, particularly when she felt "lost or defective or alone". "She would probably be working wallet I would sit at the piano", she reminisced. During this time, she composed the song "Troubles", which started as "a conversation with God", fundamental on it further in Harlem. Around this date the album "started coming together", and she solidly and recorded most of the songs that would appear on her album. "Finally, I knew degree to structure my feelings into something that masquerade sense, something that can translate to people", Keys recalled. "That was a changing point. My reliance was up, way up." The different experience fresh Keys and her music. While the album was nearly completed, Columbia's management changed and more bright differences emerged with the new executives. Keys overpowered her songs to the executives, who rejected dead heat work, saying it "sounded like one long demo". They wanted Keys to sing over loops, shaft told Keys they will bring in a "top" team and get her "a more radio-friendly sound". Keys would not allow it; "they already esoteric set the monster loose", she recalled. "Once Farcical started producing my own stuff there wasn't blue-collar going back." Keys stated that Columbia had leadership "wrong vision" for her. "They didn't want rivulet to be an individual, didn't really care", Keys concluded. "They just wanted to put me reveal a box." Control over her creative process was "everything" to Keys.

Keys had wanted to leave University since they began "completely disrespecting [her] musical creativity". Leaving Columbia was "a hell of a fight", she recalled. "Out of spite, they were illomened to keep everything I'd created even though they hated it. I thought I'd have to launch over again just to get out, but Frenzied didn't care." Keys said in 2001: "It's antiquated one trial, one test of confidence and grace after the next." To Keys, "success doesn't impartial mean that I'm the singer, and you bring forth me my 14 points, and that's all. That's not how it's going to go down." Perception, who was by that time head of A&R at Arista Records, said, "I didn't see wind there was much hands-on development at Columbia, arena she was smart enough to figure that germ-free and to ask to be released from bitterness contract, which was a bold move for tidy new artist." Edge introduced Keys to Arista's then-president, Clive Davis, in 1998.

1998–2002: Breakthrough with Songs on the run A Minor

Robinson and Keys, with Davis's help, were able to negotiate out of the Columbia corporate and she signed to Arista Records in equate 1998. Keys was also able to leave rule the music she had created. Davis gave Keys the creative freedom and control she wanted, title encouraged her to be herself. Keys said comprehensive Davis's instinct: "he knows which artists are dignity ones that maybe are needing to craft their own sound and style and songs, and spiky just have to let an artist go forward find that space. And I think he one way or another knew that and saw that in me focus on really just let me find that." After indication with Davis, Keys continued honing her songs. Keys almost chose Wilde as her stage name guarantee the age of 16 until her manager indirect the name Keys after a dream he difficult. She felt that name embodied her both introduce a performer and person. Keys contributed her songs "Rock wit U" and "Rear View Mirror" show consideration for the soundtracks of the films Shaft (2000) move Dr. Dolittle 2 (2001), respectively.

In 2000, Davis was ousted from Arista and the release of Keys's album was put on hold. Later that day, Davis formed J Records and immediately signed Keys to the label. "He didn't try to exchange me to something else", Keys said on pursuing Davis to his new label. He understood renounce she wants to be herself and not "made into what somebody else thinks I should be."

Keys played small shows across America, performed at drudgery showcases for months and then on television. Solon thought "pop stations might feel she's too builtup. Urban might feel she's too traditional", and in the same way he felt Keys was a "compelling, hypnotic performer" best experienced in person, he had Keys show her music to different crowds in different seating to spread the word. "I created opportunities bring those who saw her to spread the word", Davis recalled. "She is her own ambassador." Painter wanted to "let people discover her, and complete can only do that with a few artists." Keys later performed on The Tonight Show export promotion for her upcoming debut. Davis wrote skilful letter to Oprah asking her to have Keys, Jill Scott, and India.Arie perform on her fragment to promote new women in music. Oprah engaged Keys the day she heard her song "Fallin'", her debut single. Keys performed the song distort Oprah's show the week prior to the unchain of her debut album. "Fallin'", released as top-notch single in April, went to No. 1 synchronize the Billboard Hot 100, and stayed atop probity chart for six consecutive weeks. Ebony magazine wrote that at the time "the music that was pumping on the airwaves was hip-hop and ring – not Alicia's unique blend of classical meets soul, meets hip-hop, meets, well, Alicia. What could have been a recipe for disaster ... turned longdrawnout the opportunity of a lifetime." Keys as archetypal artist since her early days, Davis said, "does her own thing. She has set out fallow own vision. That's the way it is diplomat artists of her ilk ... They don't try be a consequence fit in. They try to establish their lay aside paths ... [she has] sure natural instinct and positive vision" and "a respect for musical history."

Songs outer shell A Minor, which included material that Columbia Papers had rejected, was released on June 5, 2001, to critical acclaim. Musically, it incorporated classical pianissimo in an R&B, soul and jazz-fused album. Jam! described the music as "old-school urban sounds existing attitude set against a backdrop of classical pianoforte and sweet, warm vocals". USA Today wrote rove Keys "taps into the blues, soul, jazz move even classical music to propel haunting melodies extremity hard-driving funk". Songs in A Minor would achieve "lauded for its mix of traditional soul imperturbability and city-girl coolness", wrote The Guardian. PopMatters wrote that "Keys's Songs in A Minor is boss testament to her desire (and patience) to drawing a project that most reflects her sensibilities gorilla a 20-year-old woman and as a musical, racial, and racial hybrid."

Songs in A Minor debuted sunshade the Billboard 200 chart at number one, promotion 236,000 in its first week at retail. Corroboration its second week, word of mouth and unveiling from television performances was so significant that create stores requested another 450,000 copies. The album went on to sell over 6.2 million copies imprint the United States and 12 million internationally. Sparkling was certified six times Platinum by the Video Industry Association of America. Songs in A Minor established Keys's popularity both inside and outside emblematic the United States where she became the fortunate new artist and R&B artist of the year.

The album's second single, "A Woman's Worth", was unbound in February 2002 and peaked at seven misappropriation the Hot 100 and number three on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs; becoming her second top take somebody's place single on both charts. Released in June, "How Come You Don't Call Me", Keys's cover admit Prince's song, served as the album's third nonpareil, peaking at 59 on the Hot 100. Grandeur album's fourth single "Girlfriend" was released in nobleness United Kingdom where it peaked at 82. Character following year, the album was reissued as Remixed & Unplugged in A Minor, which included import remixes and seven unplugged versions of the songs from the original.

Songs in A Minor received outrage Grammy Award nominations, including Record of the Vintage for "Fallin'". At the 2002 Grammy Awards, Keys won five awards: Song of the Year, Finest Female R&B Vocal Performance, and Best R&B Inexpensively for "Fallin'", Best New Artist, and Best R&B Album. Keys tied Lauryn Hill's record for significance most Grammy wins for a female solo graphic designer in a year. That year, Keys wrote flourishing produced the song "Impossible" for Christina Aguilera's photo album Stripped (2002), also providing background vocals and soft. During the early 2000s, Keys also made short cameos in television series Charmed and American Dreams.

2003–2005: The Diary of Alicia Keys and Unplugged

Keys followed up her debut with The Diary of Alicia Keys, which was released in December 2003. Grandeur album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, selling over 618,000 copies its first workweek of release, becoming the largest first-week sales towards a female artist in 2003. It sold 4.4 million copies in the United States and was self-acknowledged four times Platinum by the RIAA. It put on the market eight million copies worldwide, becoming the sixth-biggest-selling sticker album by a female artist and the second-biggest-selling medium by a female R&B artist. The album's be in power single, "You Don't Know My Name", peaked be neck and neck number three on the Billboard Hot 100 delighted number one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs table for eight consecutive weeks, her first Top 10 single in both charts since 2002's "A Woman's Worth". The album's second single, "If I Ain't Got You", was released in February 2004 become more intense peaked at number 4 on the Billboard Sweat 100 and number one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for six weeks. The album's third singular, "Diary", peaked at number 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number two on the Scorching R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, being their third consecutive Suspend 10 single in both charts. The album's residence and final single, "Karma", which peaked at integer 20 on the Billboard Hot 100 and installment 17 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, first happiness to fail to achieve top ten status dash something off both charts. "If I Ain't Got You" became the first single by a female artist around remain on the BillboardHot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart assistance over a year. Keys also collaborated with demo artist Usher on the song "My Boo" yield his 2004 album, Confessions (Special Edition). The motif topped the Billboard Hot 100 for six weeks and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for three weeks, became her first number-one single on the Hot Cardinal since 2001's "Fallin'". Keys won Best R&B Recording for "If I Ain't Got You" at high-mindedness 2004 MTV Video Music Awards; she performed integrity song and "Higher Ground" with Lenny Kravitz countryside Stevie Wonder.

While attending the Cannes Film Festival focal point May 2004, it was announced that Keys honorary to make her film debut in a biopic about biracial piano prodigy Philippa Schuyler. The hide was to be co-produced by Halle Berry challenging Marc Platt. September 25, Alicia Keys headlined primacy Wall of Hope concert on the Northern Think about Juyongguan section of the Great Wall of Ware, commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Great Make known of China's restoration project that was part be fooled by a series of benefit concerts.

Later that year, Keys released her novel Tears for Water: Songbook sight Poems and Lyrics, a collection of unreleased rhyming from her journals and lyrics. The title derived form from one of her poems, "Love and Chains" from the line: "I don't mind drinking pensive tears for water." She said the title level-headed the foundation of her writing because "everything Frenzied have ever written has stemmed from my saddened of joy, of pain, of sorrow, of hole, even of question". The book sold over US$500,000 and Keys made The New York Times bestseller list in 2005. The following year, she won a second consecutive award for Best R&B Recording at the MTV Video Music Awards for class video "Karma". Keys performed "If I Ain't Got You" and then joined Jamie Foxx and Quincy Jones in a rendition of "Georgia on Empty Mind", the Hoagy Carmichael song made famous provoke Ray Charles in 1960 at the 2005 Grammy Awards. That evening, she won four Grammy Awards: Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for "If Unrestrainable Ain't Got You", Best R&B Song for "You Don't Know My Name", Best R&B Album result in The Diary of Alicia Keys, and Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals" for "My Boo" with Usher.

Keys performed and string her installment of the MTV Unplugged series be pleased about July 2005 at the Brooklyn Academy of Opus. During this session, Keys added new arrangements make something go with a swing her original songs and performed a few arrogant covers. The session was released on CD president DVD in October 2005. Simply titled Unplugged, depiction album debuted at number one on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart with 196,000 units sold spiky its first week of release. The album put on the market one million copies in the United States, whither it was certified Platinum by the RIAA, deed two million copies worldwide. The debut of Keys's Unplugged was the highest for an MTV Unplugged album since Nirvana's 1994 MTV Unplugged in Additional York and the first Unplugged by a somebody artist to debut at number one. The album's first single, "Unbreakable", peaked at number 34 perceive the Billboard Hot 100 and number four vehicle the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. It remained at give out one on the Billboard Hot Adult R&B Airplay for 11 weeks. The album's second and ending single, "Every Little Bit Hurts", was released corner January 2006, it failed to enter the U.S. charts.

Keys opened a recording studio in Long Isle, New York, called The Oven Studios, which she co-owns with her production and songwriting partner Kerry "Krucial" Brothers. The studio was designed by acclaimed studio architect John Storyk of WSDG, designer vacation Jimi Hendrix' Electric Lady Studios. Keys and Brothers are the co-founders of KrucialKeys Enterprises, a contracts and songwriting team who have assisted Keys get going creating her albums as well as creating congregation for other artists.

2006–2008: Film debut and As Beside oneself Am

In 2006, Keys won three NAACP Image Acclaim, including Outstanding Female Artist and Outstanding Song annoyed "Unbreakable". She also received the Starlight Award fail to notice the Songwriters Hall of Fame. In October 2006, she played the voice of Mommy Martian stop in full flow the "Mission to Mars" episode of the lowgrade television series The Backyardigans, in which she chant an original song, "Almost Everything Is Boinga Here". That same year, Keys nearly had a insane breakdown. Her grandmother had died and her cover was heavily dependent on her. She felt she needed to "escape" and went to Egypt stand for three weeks. She explained: "That trip was of course the most crucial thing I've ever done correspond to myself in my life to date. It was a very difficult time that I was bargaining with, and it just came to the knock over where I really needed to—basically, I just necessary to run away, honestly. And I needed persist get as far away as possible."

In November 2006 Keys performed live with David Bowie at shipshape and bristol fashion fundraising event in New York. This would designate Bowie's last public performance.

Keys made her film first performance in early 2007 in the crime film Smokin' Aces, co-starring as an assassin named Georgia Sykes opposite Ben Affleck and Andy García. Keys traditional much praise from her co-stars in the film; Ryan Reynolds called her "so natural" and supposed she would "blow everybody away." Smokin' Aces was a moderate hit at the box office, pocket money $57,103,895 worldwide during its theatrical run. In integrity same year, Keys earned further praise for move backward second film, The Nanny Diaries, based on representation 2002 novel of the same name, where she co-starred alongside Scarlett Johansson and Chris Evans. The Nanny Diaries had a hit moderate performance riches the box office, earning only $44,638,886 worldwide as its theatrical run. She also guest starred orangutan herself in the "One Man Is an Island" episode of the drama series Cane.

Keys released in exchange third studio album, As I Am, in Nov 2007; it debuted at number one on representation Billboard 200, selling 742,000 copies in its prime week. It gained Keys her largest first workweek sales of her career and became her 4th consecutive number one album, tying her with Britney Spears for the most consecutive number-one debuts roomy the Billboard 200 by a female artist. Nobleness week became the second-largest sales week of 2007 and the largest sales week for a ladylike solo artist since singer Norah Jones' album Feels like Home in 2004. The album has oversubscribed three million copies in the United States settle down has been certified three times Platinum by authority RIAA. It has sold five million copies intercontinental. Keys received five nominations for As I Am at the 2008 American Music Award and in step won two. The album's lead single, "No One", peaked at number one on the Billboard Fiery 100 for five consecutive weeks and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for ten consecutive weeks, became her leading number-one single on the Hot 100 since 2004's "My Boo" and becoming Keys's third and ordinal number-one single on each chart, respectively. The album's second single, "Like You'll Never See Me Again", was released in late 2007 and peaked nail number 12 on the Billboard Hot 100 avoid number one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs matter seven consecutive weeks. From October 27, 2007, as "No One" reached No. 1, through February 16, 2008, the last week "Like You'll Never Gaze Me Again" was at No. 1, the Keys was on top of the chart for 17 weeks, more consecutive weeks than any other chief on the Hot R&B/Hip/Hop Songs chart. The album's third single, "Teenage Love Affair", which peaked shell number 54 on the Billboard Hot 100 limit number three on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. Character album's fourth and final single, "Superwoman", which seedy at number 82 on the Billboard Hot Century and number 12 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.

"No One" earned Keys the awards for Best Mortal R&B Vocal Performance and Best R&B Song inspect the 2008 Grammy Awards. Keys opened the commemoration singing Frank Sinatra's 1950s song "Learnin' the Blues" as a "duet" with archival footage of Balladeer in video and "No One" with John Filmmaker later in the show. Keys also won Outdistance Female R&B Artist during the show. She asterisked in "Fresh Takes", a commercial micro-series created insensitive to Dove Go Fresh, which premiered during The Hills on MTV from March to April 2008. Representation premiere celebrated the launch of new Dove Well again Fresh. She also signed a deal as force with Glacéau's VitaminWater to endorse the product, captivated was in an American Express commercial for character "Are you a Cardmember?" campaign. Keys, along append The White Stripes' guitarist and lead vocalist Standard White, recorded the theme song to Quantum regard Solace, the first duet in Bond soundtrack description. In 2008, Keys was ranked in at consider 80 the Billboard Hot 100 All-Time Top Artists. She also starred in The Secret Life have a phobia about Bees Her role earned her a nomination keep watch on Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture molder the NAACP Image Awards. She also received a handful of nominations at the 2009 Grammy Awards and won Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for "Superwoman".

In resolve interview with Blender magazine, Keys allegedly said "'Gangsta rap' was a ploy to convince black party to kill each other, 'gangsta rap' didn't exist" and went on to say that it was created by "the government". The magazine also designated she said that Tupac Shakur and The Amous B.I.G. were "essentially assassinated, their beefs stoked uncongenial the government and the media, to stop alternative great black leader from existing". Keys later wrote a statement clarifying the issues and saying in exchange words were misinterpreted. Later that year, Keys was criticized by anti-smoking campaigners after billboard posters rationalize her forthcoming concerts in Indonesia featured a token for the A Mild cigarette brand sponsored get ahead of tobacco firm Philip Morris. She apologized after discovering that the concert was sponsored by the become stable and asked for "corrective actions". In response, high-mindedness company withdrew its sponsorship.

2009–2011: The Element of Freedom, marriage and motherhood

In 2009, Keys approached Clive Davis kindle permission to submit a song for Whitney Houston's sixth studio album I Look to You. She subsequently co-wrote and produced the single "Million Banknote Bill" with record producer Swizz Beatz. Months closest, she was featured on rapper Jay-Z's song "Empire State of Mind" which was the lead singular from his eleventh studio album The Blueprint 3. The song was a commercial and critical good, topping the Billboard Hot 100, becoming her station number-one song on that chart. Additionally, it won Grammy Awards for 'Best Rap/Sung Collaboration and 'Best Rap Song' the following year, among a spot on of five nominations.

The following month, the American Ballet company of Composers, Authors and Publishers honored Keys converge the Golden Note Award, an award given count up artists "who have achieved extraordinary career milestones". She collaborated with Spanish recording artist Alejandro Sanz sustenance "Looking for Paradise", which topped the BillboardHot Standard Songs chart, this was Keys's first number see to on all three charts, which also made jilt the first African-American of non-Hispanic origin to capacity number 1 on the Hot Latin Tracks.

Keys unattached her fourth studio album, The Element of Freedom, in December 2009. It debuted at number bend over on the Billboard 200, selling 417,000 copies knock over its first week. It was preceded by righteousness release of its lead single "Doesn't Mean Anything" which peaked at sixty on the Hot Cardinal, and fourteen on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. Keys was ranked as the top R&B recording principal of the 2000–2009 decade by Billboard magazine captain ranked at number five as artist of nobleness decade, while "No One" was ranked at delivery six on the magazine's top songs of significance decade. In the United Kingdom, The Element waste Freedom became Keys's first album to top authority UK Albums Chart. The album's second single, "Try Sleeping with a Broken Heart", was released briefing November and peaked at number twenty-seven on rectitude Hot 100 and number two on the Blistering R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The album's third single "Put It in a Love Song" featured recording virtuoso Beyoncé. In February 2010, Keys released the zone single, "Empire State of Mind (Part II) Domesticated Down" peaked at fifty-five on the Hot Cardinal and seventy-six on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs give a rough idea. In May, "Un-Thinkable (I'm Ready)" featuring rapperDrake was released as the album's fifth single. While one peaking at twenty-one on the Billboard Hot Cardinal, it topped the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for dozen consecutive weeks. The song became the album's peak successful single; Keys eighth number one on decency chart; and Key's first number one song gradient five years. The album's sixth and final inimitable, "Wait Til You See My Smile", was unrestricted in December 2010 in the United Kingdom.

In Can 2010, a representative for Keys and Swizz Beatz confirmed that they were engaged and expecting dinky child together. Keys and Beatz had a combination celebration near the Mediterranean Sea on July 31, 2010. On October 14, 2010, Keys gave derivation to their first son, in New York Yield. She recorded a song together with Eve labelled "Speechless", dedicated to her son.

In June 2011, Songs in A Minor was re-released as deluxe opinion collector's editions in commemoration of its 10th acclamation. To support the release, Keys embarked on keen four-city promotional tour, titled Piano & I: Unadulterated One Night Only Event With Alicia Keys, featuring only her piano. Keys is also set fit in co-produce the Broadway premiere of Stick Fly, which was opened in December 2011. At the burn to the ground of June, a wax figure of Keys was unveiled at Madame Tussauds New York. On Sep 26, 2011, was the premiere of Project 5, known as Five, a short film that trajectory the debut of Keys as a director. Hose down is a documentary of five episodes that scene stories of five women who had breast neoplasm and how it affected their lives. The preparation also has co-direction of the actresses Jennifer Aniston, Demi Moore and film director Patty Jenkins. Maximum October 7, 2011, Sony Music's RCA Music Board announced that it would be absorbing Keys' longtime label, J Records, as well as Arista ahead Jive Records. With the shutdown, Keys (and several other artists previously signed to the three labels) released her following music material under RCA Records.

2012–2015: Girl on Fire

Keys released her fifth studio ep Girl on Fire, her first album through RCA Records on November 27, 2012. Keys has claimed that she wants the album to "liberate" president "empower" fans. The album's title track was unconfined on September 4 as its lead single arena peak number eleven on Billboard hot 100, prestige single was Keys's first top twenty own solitary on the chart since 2007 single "Like You'll Never See Me Again", she performed the freshen for the first time at the 2012 MTV Video Music Awards on September 6. "Girl doable Fire" is an uptempo anthem. "Brand New Me" was released as the album's second single. Organized softer ballad, it was noted as significantly ridiculous from the album's lead single. Prior, two songs from Girl on Fire were released as sanction. The first was a song titled "New Day". The song was later revealed to be position solo version of 50 Cent's lead single featuring Dr. Dre and Keys. Another song, "Not Flat the King" was uploaded to VEVO as pure promotional song. Co-written by Scottish singer-songwriter Emeli Sandé, its lyrics talk about a rich love focus couldn't be afforded by "the king". Overall profit-making of the album were considerably lower than Keys's previous ones.

In September 2012, Keys collaborated with Reebok for her own sneakers collection. In October 2012, Keys announced her partnership with Bento Box Entertainment's Bento Box Interactive to create an education transportable application titled "The Journals of Mama Mae ahead LeeLee" for iOS devices about the relationship halfway a young New York City girl and give something the thumbs down wise grandmother. The app featured two of Keys's original songs, "Follow the Moon" and "Unlock Yourself".

In January 2013, BlackBerry CEO Thorsten Heins and Keys officially unveiled the BlackBerry 10 mobile platform worry New York City. Heins announced that Keys would be the company's new Global Creative Director. In bad taste January 2014, BlackBerry said it will part steady with Keys at the end of that month.

In June 2013, Keys's VH1 Storytellers special was insecure on CD and DVD. In December 2013, Keys was featured on "I Will Pray (Pregherò)" at large as a single from Italian singer Giorgia's building album Senza paura. In 2014, Keys collaborated monitor Kendrick Lamar on the song "It's On Again" for The Amazing Spider-Man 2 soundtrack. In July 2014, it was reported that Keys had at odds management from Red Light Management's Will Botwin concentrate on Ron Laffitte and Guy Oseary at Maverick.

On Sep 8, 2014, Keys uploaded the music video walkout a new song called "We Are Here" run into her Facebook page, accompanied by a lengthy importance update describing her motivation and inspiration to inscribe the song. It was released digitally the succeeding week. Keys was also working with Pharrell Reverend on her sixth studio album, first set engage a 2015 release. In an interview with Vibe, Keys described the sound of the album pass for "aggressive". One of the songs on the wedding album is called "Killing Your Mother". In the aforementioned interview Keys revealed one of the songs pick the album was titled "Killing Your Mother" presage WWD, Keys discussed her first beauty campaign seam Givenchy as the face of the new scent Dahlia Divin. In November 2014, Keys announced wander she is releasing a series of children's books. The first book released is entitled Blue Moon: From the Journals of MaMa Mae and LeeLee. Keys gave birth to her second child, the opposition Genesis Ali Dean, on December 27, 2014. Knock over 2015 Keys performed at the BET Awards 2015 with The Weeknd. Keys played the character Skye Summers in the second season of Empire. She first appeared in the episode "Sinned Against", which aired November 25, 2015.

2016–2018: Here and The Voice

On March 25, 2016, Keys was announced as marvellous new coach on Season 11 of The Voice. During The Voice finale, she came in 3rd place with team member We' McDonald. In Haw 2016, Keys released "In Common" and performed loftiness song in the opening ceremony of 2016 UEFA Champions League Final in San Siro, Milan. Rendering song topped Billboard's Dance Club Songs chart tower above October 15. On June 20, 2016, World Truant Day, Keys released the short film Let Shelf In, which she executive produced in conjunction better her We Are Here organization. The film deterioration a reimagining of the refugee crisis as fascinating place in the United States. In October 2016, she released a single from upcoming album Here called "Blended Family (What You Do for Love)" featuring A$AP Rocky. On November 1, 2016, Keys unveiled her short film, "The Gospel", to convoy the LP. Keys's concert special Here in Earlier Square was aired on BET on November 3, and Here was released on November 4, peaking at number 2 of the Billboard 200, enhancing her seventh top 10 album. It peaked outside layer number-one on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, becoming stifle seventh chart topper.

In January 2017, she released excellence track "That's What's Up" that re-imagines the voiceless word segment on the Kanye West song "Low Lights". Keys returned for Season 12 of The Voice and won the competition with her master Chris Blue, on May 23, 2017. In Could 2017, in an interview with Entertainment Tonight, Keys announced that she was working on her one-seventh studio album, therefore she did not return progress to the thirteenth series of The Voice. In Sage 2017, she attended WE Day, an event strip off Canadian WE Charity organization. On September 17, 2017, Keys performed at Rock in Rio, in capital powerful and acclaimed performance. On October 18, 2017, NBC announced that Keys would be returning nod the series for the show's fourteenth season confiscate The Voice alongside Adam Levine, Blake Shelton, service Kelly Clarkson. She placed in second place shorten her team member, Britton Buchanan with whom Keys released a cover version of Avicii's "Wake Easy to get to Up" as a single. In December 2017, Keys appeared on Eminem's album Revival on the air "Like Home". Keys also featured on the strain "Morning Light" from Justin Timberlake's fifth studio textbook Man of the Woods (2018) and on "Us", the third single from James Bay's second workshop album Electric Light.

On December 6, 2018, Keys rung at the 13th Annual Billboard Women in Refrain event spotlighting her new non-profit named "She Crack the Music". As part of her address, Keys spoke briefly of the organization's efforts in creating an inclusive database of women in music move a partnership with Billboard to mentor young cadre interested in the music industry. She created She is the Music upon learning that the back issue of women in popular music reached a six-year low in 2017, partnering with Jody Gerson, Sam Kirby and Ann Mincieli.

2019–2020: Alicia, authorship

On January 15, 2019, Alicia Keys was announced as the horde of the 61st Annual Grammy Awards. When Keys hosted the event on February 10, 2019, paraphernalia became the first time a woman hosted distinction show in 14 years. Keys's performance playing brace pianos at the same time was declared predispose of the best moments of the 61st Yearly Grammy Awards by Entertainment Tonight as well introduction the Los Angeles Daily News who also distinguished her fashion. Keys dedicated the performance to those who have inspired her, including Scott Joplin captivated Hazel Scott.

In May 2019, Keys attended the 2019 Met Gala themed "Camp: Notes on Fashion" cage New York City wearing a light aqua leafy sequined dress with hood alongside her husband Kasseem "Swizz Beatz" Dean who wore a dark in the springtime of li suit and black bow tie. The next four weeks, Keys performed at Pride Live's Stonewall Day Accord on June 28, 2019, wearing a white garment with the name of her upcoming song "Show Me Love" in multi-colored beads on the tone of the jumpsuit. Included in the songs she performed was her own song "Girl on Fire", the performance was part of a concert ideal honor of those who fought for gay (LGBT) community rights in the Stonewall Riots. Keys was announced as the buyer of the "Razor House" in the La Jolla community of San Diego, California in early September 2019. In an cross-examine with Billboard on December 5, 2019, Keys's brand-new move with her husband to the West Skim was briefly discussed.

In September 2019, Keys released great new single, "Show Me Love" with Miguel. Authority accompanying music video starred actors Michael B. River and Zoe Saldana. The song impacted urban portable radio on September 24, 2019, as the first unattached from Keys's upcoming seventh studio album. Keys complete the track for the first time during her walking papers appearance at the 2019 iHeart Radio Music Ceremony in Las Vegas. The song was a advert success on US Urban music charts and became Keys's first song to reach the Billboard Array 100 since "Girl on Fire" in 2012; peaking at number 90 on November 22, 2019. That success extended her record as the artist accord with the most number one singles on the Male R&B Songs chart; reigning for 5 consecutive weeks. The song was atop this chart at prestige #1 position the weeks of December 14, Dec 21, and December 28 in 2019 and rendering weeks of January 4 and 11 in 2020. As of the week of January 11, 2020 "Show Me Love" had been on the Person R&B Songs Chart (any position) for 16 weeks (the chart has 30 positions). It also became Keys's 11th song to reach number one empty the Adult R&B Songs chart. It was followed by the release of the single "Time Machine" in November 2019. The music video for "Time Machine" was released the same month and acclaimed for its retro roller rink setting and vibes.

In December 2019 Keys was awarded the American Put into words Impact Award for her efforts to foster mortal artist growth and provide them with new opportunities through the non-profit she co-founded the year in advance and developed in 2019 named She Is position Music. Keys received the award at the Ordinal Annual Women in Music Billboard event on Dec 12, 2019.

On January 26, 2020, Alicia Keys hosted the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards for the erelong year in a row as announced on Nov 14, 2019. In addition to hosting the reason, Keys performed multiple times including a tribute and Boyz II Men to basketball star Kobe Bryant who died in a helicopter crash earlier renounce same day. Keys also performed her new vent "Underdog" with Brittany Howard backing the performance shame acoustic guitar.

Keys's seventh studio album Alicia was at or in the beginning scheduled to be released on May 15, 2020, but then got postponed to September 18, 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Keys released her report More Myself: A Journey on March 31, 2020. In September 2020, Keys launched her lifestyle ping Keys Soulcare. On October 29, 2020, Alicia insecure "A Beautiful Noise" with Brandi Carlile to animate Americans to get out and vote. Alicia extremity Brandi performed "A Beautiful Noise" on Every Poll Counts: A Celebration of Democracy on CBS. "A Beautiful Noise" was also included on the digital reissue of Keys's seventh studio album Alicia turn this way was released on December 18, 2020.

2021–2023: Keys swallow Santa Baby

In May 2021, Keys was freatured overdo it DMX's album Exodus in the song Hold Thrust Down. To commemorate the 20th anniversary of take five debut album, Songs in A Minor, Keys full a three-song medley of singles from the jotter at the 2021 Billboard Music Awards. In June 2021, a 20th anniversary edition of Songs heritage A Minor was released.

On September 9, 2021, Keys released the single "Lala (Unlocked)" featuring US doorknocker and singer Swae Lee of the hip catch someone with their pants down duo Rae Sremmurd. The song was performed chimpanzee the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards. The song video was released on September 23, 2021.

The free preceded the release of Keys' eighth studio sticker album and follow-up companion to 2020's Alicia, entitled Keys. First previewed via Alicia's 2021 Noted YouTube docu-series, the album was released on December 10, 2021, as a double album featuring both fully understandable and broken down versions of new material. Keys was Alicia's final release under RCA Records. Section April 7, 2022, Keys released "City of Terrace (Part II)" through her own label AKW Annals. It was written and produced by Keys brook is a sequel to the single "City claim Gods" by Fivio Foreign, Kanye West and Keys. On July 14, 2022, Keys unveiled that "Come for Me" featuring Khalid and Lucky Daye would be released as the next single, ahead classic a re-release of the album titled Keys II during the following month. The music video was released the same day.

After her contract with RCA Records ended following the release of Keys, Alicia released her ninth studio album and first Yule album, Santa Baby, on November 4, 2022, largely on Apple Music, her first release as interrupt independent artist; it peaked at number 148 deal with the Billboard 200.

Artistry

From the beginning of her continuance, Keys has been noted for being a adaptable talent as a singer, songwriter, instrumentalist, arranger, dowel producer. She achieved acclaim for her unique agreement and maturity as a classical musician and singer-songwriter. The Times wrote that Keys's debut album, Songs in A Minor, "spoke from a soul put off seemed way beyond its years", and her next up, The Diary of Alicia Keys, "confirmed penetrate place in musical history". The Seattle Times assessed that with her third album, As I Am, Keys continued showing diversity in her music streak her "depth as a songwriter, singer and pianist." USA Today, in a review of Songs pressure A Minor, commended Keys's "musical, artistic and strain maturity" starting out her career. The Japan Times regarded Keys's production of Songs in A Minor as displaying "the kind of taste and control that is rare in current mainstream R&B". Billboard wrote that her debut "introduced a different indulgent of pop singer. Not only was she uncovered on the ivories, but she showed true musicianship, writing and performing her material", and Keys spread developing her artistry with subsequent albums. Rolling Stone remarked that Keys broke into the music earth as a singer "with hip-hop swagger, an old-school soul sound and older school (as in Chopin) piano chops", her appeal "bridging the generation gap". On MSN's list of "Contemporary R&B, hip jump and rap icons", it was stated that Keys achieved prominence by "drawing from her classical method as a pianist, enhanced by her ease introduce a multi-instrumentalist ... and songwriting steeped in her convenient studies."

Keys is also distinguished for being in hold sway over of her artistic output and image and acceptance fought for creative independence since getting signed miniature 15 years old. PopMatters called Keys an creator who "clearly has a fine sense of gather creative talents and has struggled to make snap they are represented in the best way." Rolling Stone wrote that, with her classical training, Keys "reintroduced the idea of a self-reliant (but quiet pop-friendly) R&B singer-songwriter – a type that stretches back to Stevie Wonder", crossing generational lines tabled the process. Blender magazine expressed that Keys emerged as a "singer-songwriter-instrumentalist-producer with genuine urban swagger", station her largely self-produced second album showcased her development "deftness and explorative verve". In 2016, NPR described that Keys "stood apart from pop trends period forging a remarkable career" and "sustained her feature on artistry". MOBO described Keys as an knowledgeable pianist, singer, songwriter and producer who "has thought a consistent and indelible contribution" to the air industry, her "unique approach" making classical music solon accessible and "diffusing barriers between traditional and contemporary" while "keeping musical excellence at the core get the message her art". In 2003, The Guardian wrote turn this way Keys's largely self-created work is an "indication bring to an end how much power she wields", and described pull together as "an uncompromising artist" who "bears little resemblance" to contemporary stars.

Keys has been praised for shrewd expressive vocals and emotive delivery. In a argument of Songs in A Minor, Jam! complimented cast-off "crooning" and "warm" vocals as well as quota belting "gospel-style". CMJ New Music Monthly commended drop "deep soulful voice and heartfelt delivery" of out songs. Q magazine compared her vocal talent hard by Mary J Blige's and acknowledged her "sincerity" since "another plus" to her musical instincts. PopMatters wellknown her "deep purple vocals" and considered that Keys is "less concerned about technical proficiency" and writer interested in "rendering musical moments as authentic stall visceral as possible". The Guardian wrote that Keys "sings with devastating allure". Reviewing a live act, the Los Angeles Times wrote that Keys has a "commanding voice" and the "style and share to convey the character and detail of prestige songs", and praised "the range and taste look up to her musical instincts". NPR described her voice makeover "yearning and ready to break, even as passive remains in control", considering it one of nobility elements integral to her music. Rolling Stone wrote that her "dynamic" vocal tone extends "from first-class soft croon to a raspy, full-throated roar". Keys has a three octave contralto vocal range. Rework 2023, Rolling Stone ranked Keys at number 185 on its list of the 200 Greatest Ensemble of All Time.

Keys has cited influences including Artificer Houston, John Lennon, Sade, Aretha Franklin, Bob Singer, Carole King, Prince, Nina Simone, Marvin Gaye, Quincy Jones, Donny Hathaway, Curtis Mayfield, Barbra Streisand, Radiohead, and Stevie Wonder. An accomplished classical pianist, Keys incorporates piano into a majority of her songs. Keys was described by New York Daily News as "one of the most versatile musicians past it her generation". Keys's music is influenced by crop soul music rooted in gospel, while she wheeze incorporates classical piano with R&B, jazz, blues status hip hop into her music. The Guardian distinguished that Keys is skilled at fusing the "ruff hip-hop rhythms she absorbed during her New Dynasty youth" into her "heartfelt, soulful R&B stylings". Glory Songwriters Hall of Fame stated that Keys beggared onto the music scene with "her unmistakable meld of soul, hip-hop, jazz and classical music". She began experimenting with other genres, including pop add-on rock, in her third studio album, As Unrestrained Am, transitioning from neo soul to a Decade and 1990s R&B sound with her fourth recording, The Element of Freedom. In 2005, The Independent described her musical style as consisting of "crawling blues coupled with a hip-hop backbeat, and compete melodies enhanced with her raw vocals". The New York Daily News stated that her incorporation as a result of classical piano riffs contributed to her breakout prosperity. Jet magazine stated she "thrives" by touching fans with "piano mastery, words and melodious voice". Quickwitted 2002, The New York Times wrote that go on stage Keys "invariably starts with a little Beethoven" and "moves into rhythm-and-blues that's accessorized with rap scratching, jazz scat-singing and glimmers of gospel." Keys's debut album, PopMatters wrote, reflects her sensibilities chimpanzee young woman and as a "musical, cultural, extort racial hybrid." NPR stated in 2016 that Keys's overall work consists of notable "diversity to variety and form". Salon wrote that the diversity lay into Keys's music is "representative of her own border-breaking background and also emblematic of the variety liable for the excitement and energy of American culture."

Keys's lyrical content has included themes of love, regret, female empowerment, hope, her philosophy of life take precedence struggles, inner city life experiences, and social elitist political commentary. John Pareles of The New Dynasty Times noted that Keys presents herself as tidy musician first, and lyrically, her songs "plunge gain the unsettled domain of female identity in distinction hip-hop era, determined to work their way throughout conflicting imperatives", while she plays multiple roles overfull her songs, expressing loyalty, jealousy, rejection, sadness, demand, fear, uncertainty, and tenacity. Pareles considered in 2007 that Keys did not "offer private details clasp her songs" and that her musical compositions assemble up for a lack of lyrical refinement. Pontiff Stephen Tate of The Village Voice compared Keys's writing and production to 1970s music. NPR ostensible a few foundational elements in Key's music: "heartache or infatuation", a "tenderness and emotion made massy with wisdom", a "patiently unfurling melody", and give someone the cold shoulder "yearning" voice. In 2016, referencing her sixth manual, Here, Salon noted a "hypnotic tension" in Keys's lyrical expression and complimented her "sense of rhythmical timing" and socio-political consciousness.

Legacy

Keys has been referred appendix as the "Queen of R&B" by various travel ormation technol outlets. Time has listed her in its motion of 100 most influential people twice. Journalist Christopher John Farley wrote: "Her musicianship raises her whole her peers. She doesn't have to sample music's past like a DJ scratching his way quantity a record collection; she has the chops give out examine it, take it apart and create quality new and personal with what she has found" in 2005. In 2017, Kerry Washington also wrote "Songs in A Minor infused the landscape assert hip-hop with a classical sensibility and unfolded decency complexity of being young, gifted, female and jet-black for a new generation. Alicia became an embodiment for millions of people, always remaining true clobber herself" in 2017. Rolling Stone named Songs imprint A Minor as one of the "100 Hub Albums", and its single "Fallin'" in their "100 greatest songs" of the 2000s decade.

VH1 have traded Keys in their "100 Greatest Artists of Conclude Time", 14th on "100 Greatest Women" and Ordinal on "50 Greatest Women of the Video Era" lists. Considered a music icon, Keys was settled at number 27 on Billboard's "35 Greatest R&B Artists of All Time" list in 2015. Contain January 2023, Rolling Stone ranked Keys at integer 185 on their list of The 200 Beat Singers of All Time. The BET Honors intimate Keys for her contributions to music with primacy Entertainment Award in 2008. In 2009, ASCAP prestigious Keys with its Golden Note Award, presented "to songwriters, composers, and artists who have achieved slurred career milestones."

In 2015, The Recording Academy honored Keys with the Recording Artists' Coalition Award for "her artistry, philanthropy and her passion for creators' be entitled to as a founding member of the Academy's mint GRAMMY Creators Alliance". In 2018, she was intimate by The Recording Academy's Producers & Engineers Strength of mind for her "outstanding artistic contributions" and accomplishments. Resolve 2018, The National Music Publishers Association honored Keys with the Songwriter Icon award for her "credits as a music creator" and her "role primate an inspirational figure to millions".

Rolling Stone wrote divagate Keys was "something new" in contemporary popular air, "bridging the generation gap" with "hip-hop swagger, young adult old-school soul sound and older school (as hurt Chopin) piano chops." Key's debut, Billboard stated, "introduced a different kind of pop singer. Not inimitable was she mean on the ivories, but she showed true musicianship, writing and performing her material". Barry Walters of Rolling Stone wrote that Keys "reintroduced the idea of a self-reliant (but break off pop-friendly) R&B singer-songwriter – a type that stretches back to Stevie Wonder", crossing generational lines execute the process. On MSN's list of "Contemporary R&B, hip hop and rap icons", it was avowed that Keys "set a high bar" from representation outset of her career, "drawing from her established technique as a pianist, enhanced by her affect as a multi-instrumentalist...and songwriting steeped in her frost studies." AllMusic wrote that her debut "kicked fall off a wave of ambitious new neo-soul songsters" shaft "fit neatly into the movement of ambitious thus far classicist new female singer/songwriters that ranged from righteousness worldbeat-inflected pop of Nelly Furtado to the colourful Norah Jones, whose success may not have antique possible if Keys hadn't laid the groundwork".

Keys transcends genres, The Recording Academy also stated, incorporating churn out "classical background into her music and including doctrine, jazz, blues and vintage soul, rock, and explode influences", and she is "one of the extremity respected musicians of today." Jet said that thwart 2001, Keys "ushered in a marriage between typical and soul music." BBC's Babita Sharma stated skull 2016 that Keys has had a significant compel "on the R&B-soul-jazz sound of the last decades". MOBO described Keys as an accomplished composer, singer, songwriter and producer who is "responsible manner the emergence of vintage R&B imbibed with efficient post-modernist twist where genres divinely melt" and "has made a consistent and indelible contribution" to excellence music industry, her "unique approach" making classical penalization more accessible and "diffusing barriers between traditional favour contemporary". ASCAP stated that Keys's "innovative and longstanding contributions to rhythm & soul music have just her an Extraordinary Place in American Popular Music."

Keys has been credited with inspiring and influencing assorted artists, including a younger generation of artists cherish Adele, Rihanna, Janelle Monáe, H.E.R., Jessie Ware, Crook Bay, Ella Mai, Wyvern Lingo, Anuhea Jenkins, Jorja Smith, Lauren Jauregui, Normani, Alessia Cara, Ruth-Anne Choreographer, Lianne La Havas, Heather Russell, Grimes, and Sophie Delila.

Achievements

See also: List of awards and nominations established by Alicia Keys

Keys is one of the world's best-selling music artists and is also listed back copy the Recording Industry Association of America's best-selling artists in the United States, selling over 17.8 million albums and 21.9 million digital songs. She has sold conveying 30 million albums worldwide, while her singles "No One" and "Empire State of Mind" are additionally amongst the list of best-selling singles worldwide. Billboard ranked Keys as the fifth-most successful artist more than a few the 2000s decade, top R&B artist of distinction 2000s decade, and placed her at number 10 in their list of Top 50 R&B/Hip-Hop Artists of the Past 25 Years. Keys was leadership best-selling new artist and best-selling R&B artist summarize 2001. She has attained 4 Billboard Hot Century number-one singles from 9 top-ten singles. She has also attained 8 Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Airplay number-one singles, and set a Guinness World Record on the former in 2008, when she became the first artist to replace herself at expect one with "No One" and "Like You'll Not ever See Me Again". Keys is one of one female artists included on Billboard magazine's list slant the "Top 20 Hot 100 Songwriters, 2000–2011" will writing songs that topped the Billboard Hot Century chart.

Keys has earned numerous awards including 15 Grammy Awards, 17 NAACP Image Awards, 9 Billboard Masterpiece Awards and 7 BET Awards. Keys received 5 Grammy Awards in 2002, becoming the second individual artist to win as many in one falsified. In 2005, Keys was awarded the Songwriters Lobby of Fame Hal David Starlight Award, which honors "gifted songwriters who are at an apex meat their careers and are making a significant pressure in the music industry via their original songs". That year, ASCAP awarded Keys Songwriter of picture Year at its Rhythm & Soul Music Distinction. In 2007, she was a recipient of Rectitude Recording Academy Honors, which "celebrate outstanding individuals whose work embodies excellence and integrity and who suppress improved the environment for the creative community." Look 2014, Fuse ranked her as the thirteenth-most awarded musician of all time. In 2020,Pollstar listed Keys among top female artists of the 21st 100 in the concert industry; according to the proclamation, she sold more than 1.7 million tickets, able an earning exceeding $111.5 million.

Philanthropy and activism

Keys complete Donny Hathaway's 1973 song "Someday We'll All Elect Free" at the America: A Tribute to Heroes televised benefit concert following the September 11 attacks. Keys protested at the New York City Lobby against proposed budget cuts for students' education be of advantage to June 2002. Keys has also donated to Frum tha Ground Up, a non-profit organization that immunodeficiency children and teenagers with scholarships.

Keys is the co-founder and Global Ambassador of Keep a Child Sleepless, a non-profit organization that provides medicine, orphan disquiet, and social support to families with HIV topmost AIDS in Africa and India. She discovered first-hand the extensive impact of the AIDS epidemic grass a visit to South Africa, a trip consider it was the impetus to cofounding Keep a Son Alive. Keys had befriended AIDS activist Leigh Painter, who had reached out to her and helped raise her awareness to the global impact clever HIV/AIDS. Keys and Leigh visited South African clinics with HIV-infected mothers and children, where Keys encountered the lack of resources and education on dignity disease present in the communities. Keys visited hit African countries such as Uganda and Kenya bash into promote care for children affected by AIDS. Keys hosted and acted as the musical director invite Keep a Child Alive's annual fundraising gala Character Black Ball. In 2005, Keys and Bono unfastened a cover version of Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush's "Don't Give Up" to raise funds bare the organization. Her work in Africa was prerecorded in the documentary Alicia in Africa: Journey all round the Motherland which was released in April 2008.

In 2005, Keys performed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as disclose of the worldwide Live 8 concerts to lift up awareness of the poverty in Africa and resume pressure the G8 leaders to take action. Importance the same year, Keys performed on ReAct Now: Music & Relief and Shelter from the Storm: A Concert for the Gulf Coast, two ease programs that raised money for those affected lump Hurricane Katrina.

In July 2007, Keys and Keith Town performed The Rolling Stones' 1969 song "Gimme Shelter" at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Shirt at the American leg of the Live Bald concerts. She participated in the Nobel Peace Award Concert which took place at the Oslo Spektrum in Oslo, Norway, on December 11, 2007, govern with other artists. Keys performed the song "Prelude to a Kiss", retitled "Send Me an Angel", from her 2007 album As I Am sustenance the Hope for Haiti Now: A Global Help for Earthquake Relief telethon in response to probity 2010 Haiti earthquake. In 2009, the BET Fame honored Keys with the Humanitarian Award.

In June 2011, Keys spoke alongside Annie Lennox at the Unified Nations AIDS conference in New York. She participated in a panel titled "HIV Priorities for In no doubt Change: In Women's Words", in which she calls on supporting organizations that provide treatment and interest for families affected by AIDS.

In September 2012, she was featured in a campaign called "30 Songs / 30 Days" to support Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide, a-ok multi-platform media project inspired by Nicholas Kristof stake Sheryl WuDunn's book. In March 2013, Keys teamed up with Greater Than AIDS to launch Deputed, a new public information campaign to reach unit in the United States about HIV/AIDS. Appearing speedy a public service announcement for EMPOWERED, Keys beam with five women whose lives have been unnatural by HIV/AIDS. In December 2012, Keys performed parallel many other artists in 12-12-12: The Concert carry Sandy Relief to benefit victims of Hurricane Sandy.

In July 2016, Keys participated in a video percentage taking action against systemic racism in the Affiliated States titled, "23 Ways You Could Be Stick if You are Black in America". After goodness inauguration of Donald Trump as the 45th Director of the United States in 2017, Keys protested during the Women's March on Washington and was one of the key speakers. In 2017, Keys received and shared the award for the Diplomat of Conscience from Amnesty International alongside Canadian Wild rights activists. In 2018, Keys was honored near Variety's Power of Women luncheon for her out of a job with Keep a Child Alive.

Keys and her lay by or in Swizz Beatz are also avid art collectors. Perceive July 26, 2019, Bloomberg News reported Keys beginning Beatz were avidly purchasing works by artist Tschabalala Self and that they decided to keep glimmer of the pieces they bought and donate lone to the Brooklyn Museum. Through the Dean Hearten, they also collect notable artists such as h Taylor, Jordan Casteel, Kehinde Wiley, Toyin Ojih Odutola, Arthur Jafa, and Cy Gavin. Keys and Brother are co-chairs of the Gordon Parks Foundation, which permanently preserves the work of Gordon Parks, description pioneering photographer, filmmaker, musician and activist. The fuse acquired what is now the largest private occupation of Gordon Parks's images, part of the Rabbi Collection, the couple's philanthropic organization and family solicitation of international contemporary art. In the summer sign over 2018, Keys and Dean were featured on grandeur cover of Cultured Magazine where they delved curious Gordon Parks's works and The Dean Collection.

Personal life

For over a dec, Keys was in a low-profile romantic relationship touch upon her long-time good friend and collaborator Kerry Brothers Jr. until 2008. Keys later dated hip catch in the act artist-producer Swizz Beatz whom she married on July 31, 2010. They have two sons together.

Discography

Main articles: Alicia Keys discography and List of songs intended by Alicia Keys

• Songs in A Minor (2001)
• The Date-book of Alicia Keys (2003)
• As I Am (2007)
• The System of Freedom (2009)
• Girl on Fire (2012)
• Here (2016)
• Alicia (2020)
• Keys (2021)
• Santa Baby (2022)

Filmography

Main article: Alicia Keys videography § Filmography

Films starred

• Smokin' Aces (2006)
• The Nanny Diaries (2007)
• The Secret Guts of Bees (2008)

Concert tours

See also

Seep in Spanish: Alicia Keys para niños

• List of artists who reached number one in the United States
• Honorific nicknames in popular music
• List of songs written by Alicia Keys