When you see a superstar at the height of their powers, it's easy to forget that they, too, were once on the ground floor looking for a break. Everyone has to start somewhere, and these days, it's becoming increasingly likely there will be a smartphone to capture that start. From Lil Uzi Vert to FKA Twigs, here are the earliest videos we could find of today's top artists.
Solange
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Year: 2001
"You and me will always be tight..." For a chosen few, that one line will trigger a flashback to the Disney Channel and The Proud Family. But did you know the voices behind the theme song were Solange and Destiny's Child? Proof lies in this BTS video of the recording.
Kendrick Lamar
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Year: 2009
Kendrick was asked what we could expect from his self-titled EP. His response was simple, "Human music... If you're a real person you gonna relate to it." Eight years later, he's become an international superstar thanks in no small part to his relatable, humanizing content.
FKA Twigs
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Year: 2013
If you've watched any of her recent material, it's clear that FKA Twigs is an amazing dancer—it came from years of dancing backup for artists like Jessie J and Ed Sheeran, but in 2017, Twigs is running the show.
Vince Staples
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Year: 2011
Can juvenile felonies really keep you from a Grammy? A young Vince Staples seemed to think so on this early recording of "Queenzbridge Zoo." The Odd Future influence is strong on this one, but Vince's raw energy still bleeds through. He hardly stops for breath between verses, and references everything from Peggy Hill to Richard Pryor.
Anderson .Paak
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Year: 2010
Need proof that Anderson .Paak earned his place in the spotlight? Check out this performance, back when he was better known as Breezy Lovejoy. .Paak brings the same soul and energy that have made him a star seven years later.
6LACK
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Year: 2009
School courtyards, crowds and a whole lot of shots being taken makes for a classic freestyle battle. This is 6LACK before the dreads and bears—you can see why songs like "That Far" come easy to the Atlanta native.
Rihanna
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Year: 2003
Fitting that the earliest video we could find of Rihanna was of her singing "Hero." She has grown up to be just that—watch the 15-year-old take the stage and own the song.
Joey Badass
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Year: 2010
This clip of Joey Badass rapping at 15 takes you back to the '90s street cyphers. Beat boxing, rhymes and plenty of energy—further proof that Joey had a knack for wordplay from the beginning.
Lana Del Rey
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Year: 2008
Under her given name Lizzy Grant, Lana Del Rey performed a stirring rendition of "The End of the World" back in 2008. She's rocking a platinum blonde look—the artist born Elizabeth Woolridge Grant went through a few different aliases before settling on LDR, but Lana hasn't forgotten her roots: LizzyGrant.com still redirects to her official site.
GoldLink
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Year: 2014
GoldLink was excited to be home again. This show happened a few months after he had put out his breakout tape The God Complex, and the family was ready. Check out this D.C. crowd embrace him with amazing energy as he performs his heart out on stage.
Lil Uzi Vert
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Year: 2013
This clip can serve as a counterpoint to any Lil Uzi Vert doubters. The man has been a talented rapper before the purple dreads, as he proves here with a nasty verse on Kur's "I Don't Give A Fuck."
Bruno Mars
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Year: 1992
There's something about tiny Bruno Mars in an Elvis Presley costume. You may have seen this iconic moment from Honeymoon in Vegas, but this English documentary gets up close and personal with the "World's Youngest Elvis Impersonator." There are plenty of videos of Bruno during his baby Elvis phase, but this one just feels right.
SZA
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Year: 2013
Calm vibes and a sultry SZA took the stage in Brooklyn back in 2013. She was performing her early hit "Teen Spirit," and you can see the style that surfaced on CTRL already in full swing.
Charli XCX
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Year: 2013
Charli XCX surprised a crowd back in 2013 with an all-in Backstreet Boys cover. She baits the crowd by saying, "This is the first time we've ever performed this," before letting her incredible voice take over.
