A need is something that is necessary for organisms to live a healthy life. Needs are distinguished from wants because a deficiency would cause a clear negative outcome, such as dysfunction or death. Needs can be objective and physical, such as food, or they can be subjective and psychological, such as the need for self-esteem. On a social level, needs are sometimes controversial. Understanding needs and wants is an issue in the fields of politics, social science, and philosophy.

Psychological definition

To most psychologists, need is a psychological feature that arouses an organism to action toward a goal, giving purpose and direction to behavior.

The most widely known academic model of needs was proposed by psychologist Abraham Maslow. In his theory, he proposed that people have a hierarchy of psychological needs, which range from security to self-actualization. However, while this model is intuitively appealing, it has been difficult to operationalize it experimentally. It was further developed by Clayton Alderfer.

The academic study of needs was at its zenith in the 1950s. It receives less attention among psychologists today. One exception is Richard Sennett's work on the importance of respect.

One of the problems with a psychological theory of needs is that conceptions of "need" may vary radically between different cultures or different parts of the same society. One person's view of need may easily be seen as paternalistic by another.

Objective definition

A second view of need is represented by the work of political economy professor Ian Gough. He has published on the subject of human needs in the context of social assistance provided by the welfare state. With medical ethics professor Len Doyal, he also published ''A Theory of Human Need''.

Their view goes beyond the emphasis on psychology: it might be said that an individual's needs are representative of the ''costs of being human'' within society. A person who does not have his or her needs fulfilled—i.e., a "needy" person—will function poorly in society.

In the view of Gough and Doyal, each person has an objective interest in avoiding serious harm that prevents the endeavor to attain his or her vision of what's good, no matter what that is exactly. This attempt requires the ability to ''participate'' in the societal setting in which an individual lives. More specifically, each person needs to have both physical health and personal autonomy. The latter refers to the capacity to make informed choices about what should be done and how to implement that. This requires mental health, cognitive skills, and chances to participate in society's activities and collective decision-making.

How are such needs satisfied? Doyal and Gough point to eleven broad categories of "intermediate needs" that define how the need for physical health and personal autonomy are fulfilled: # Adequate nutritional food and water # Adequate protective housing # A safe environment for working # A supply of clothing # A safe physical environment # Appropriate health care # Security in childhood # Significant primary relationships with others # Physical security # Economic security # Safe birth control and child-bearing # Appropriate basic and cross-cultural education.

How are the details of needs satisfaction determined? The authors point to rational identification of needs using the most up-to-date scientific knowledge; the use of the actual experience of individuals in their everyday lives; and democratic decision-making. The satisfaction of human needs cannot be imposed "from above".

This theory should be compared to the capability approach developed by Amartya Sen and Martha Nussbaum. Those with more internal "assets" or "capacities" (e.g., education, sanity, physical strength, etc.) have more capabilities (i.e., more available choices, more positive freedom). They are thus more able to escape or avoid poverty. Those with more capabilities fulfill more of their needs.

Other views

The concept of intellectual need has been studied in education.

In his 1844 ''Paris Manuscripts'', Karl Marx famously defined humans as "creatures of need" or "needy creatures" who experienced suffering in the process of learning and working to meet their needs. These needs were both physical needs as well as moral, emotional and intellectual needs. According to Marx, human development is characterized by the fact that in the process of meeting their needs, humans develop new needs, implying that at least to some extent they make and remake their own nature. This idea is discussed in more detail by the Hungarian philosopher Ágnes Heller in ''A Theory of Need in Marx'' (London: Allison and Busby, 1976). Political economy professor Michael Lebowitz has developed the Marxian interpretation of needs further in two editions of his book ''Beyond Capital''.

Professor György Márkus systematized Marx's ideas about needs as follows: humans are different from other animals because their vital activity, work, is mediated to the satisfaction of needs (an animal who manufactures tools to produce other tools or his/her satisfactors), which makes a human being a universal natural being capable to turn the whole nature into the subject of his/her needs and his/her activity, and develops his/her needs and abilities (essential human forces) and develops himself/herself, a historical-universal being. Work generates the breach of the animal subject-object fusion, thus generating the possibility of human conscience and self-conscience, which tend to universality (the universal conscious being). A human being's conditions as a social being are given by work, but not only by work as it is not possible to live a human being without a relationship with others: work is social because human beings work for each other with means and abilities produced by prior generations. Human beings are also free entities able to accomplish, during their lifetime, the objective possibilities generated by social evolution, on the basis of their conscious decisions. Freedom should be understood both in a negative (freedom to decide and to establish relationships) and a positive sense (dominion over natural forces and development of human creativity, of the essential human forces. To sum up, the essential interrelated traits of human beings are: a) work is their vital activity; b) human beings are conscious beings; c) human beings are social beings; d) human beings tend to universality, which manifests in the three previous traits and make human beings natural-historical-universal, social-universal and universal conscious entities, and e) human beings are free.

In his texts about what he calls "moral economics", professor Julio Boltvinik Kalinka asserts that the ideas exposed by David Wiggins about needs are correct but insufficient: needs are of a normative nature but they are also factual. These "gross ethical concepts" (as stated by Hilary Putnam) should also include an evaluation: Ross Fitzgerald's criticism of Maslow's ideas rejects the concept of objective human needs and uses instead the concept of preferences. They assume, just like many other logical positivists, that values cannot be rational and assert, therefore, that the definition of poverty threshold, a task charged with values, is an arbitrary action of researchers, an assumption which implies a narrow view of poverty.

Marshall Rosenberg's model of Compassionate Communication, also known as Nonviolent Communication (NVC) makes the distinction between universal human needs (what sustains and motivates human life) and specific strategies used to meet these needs. In contrast to Maslow, Rosenberg's model does not place needs in a hierarchy. In this model, feelings are seen as indicators of when human needs are met or unmet. One of the intended outcomes of Rosenberg's model is to support humans in developing an awareness of what life-sustaining needs are arising within them and others moment by moment so that they may more effectively and compassionately find strategies to meet their own needs as well as contribute to meeting the needs of others.

People also talk about the needs of a community or organization. Such needs might include demand for a particular type of business, for a certain government program or entity, or for individuals with particular skills. This is an example of metonymy in language and presents with the logical problem of reification.

See also

Fundamental human needs

Maslow's hierarchy of needs

Need theory (McClelland)

Want

Murray's system of needs

Simple living

Notes

References

Ian Gough (1994) ''Economic Institutions and the Satisfaction of Human Needs''. Journal of Economic Issues. vol. 28, no. 1 (March 9), pp. 25–66.

External links

Category:Marketing Category:Motivational theories Category:Economics terminology

ar:حاجة bg:Потребност ca:Necessitat cs:Potřeba da:Behov de:Bedürfnis el:Ανάγκη (κοινωνία) es:Necesidad fr:Besoin ga:Riachtanas hr:Potrebe io:Bezono id:Kebutuhan it:Bisogno he:צורך ka:საჭიროება lt:Poreikis nl:Behoefte nn:Behov no:Behov pl:Potrzeba pt:Necessidade (psicologia) ru:Потребность scn:Bisognu simple:Need sk:Potreba (ekonómia) sr:Потреба fi:Tarve sv:Behov th:ความต้องการ uk:Потреба vi:Nhu cầu

name	Maverick Sabre
background	solo_singer
birth name	Michael Stafford
alias	Maverick Sabre
born	July 12, 1990 (age 21)
origin	Hackney, LondonUnited Kingdom
genre	Soul, RapHip Hop
occupation	Singer-songwriterRapper
years active	2008 – present
associated acts	Professor GreenChase & StatusThe StreetsNu-Centsterawritz
website	}}

Maverick Sabre (born July 12, 1990) is an Irish vocalist and rapper, born in Hackney, London in the United Kingdom. Associated with genres such as R&B; and Folk, Sabre is known for his eerie vocals and guitar playing. In January 2011, Sabre appeared on Professor Green's single ''Jungle'', which peaked at number 31 on the UK Singles Chart. His debut EP, ''The Lost Words'' released on 7 March 2011, with the single "Look What I've Done" preceding the release the week before.

Career

Early history

Maverick Sabre was born in July 12, 1990 in Hackney, London;England. During his childhood Sabre moved to Ireland, where he grew up in New Ross, County Wexford, but later returned to London to pursue a musical career.

Breakthrough (2010 – 11)

Sabre's career began in 2008 when he appeared on the album ''Sense The Terror'' by Irish rappers Terawrizt and Nu-Centz. Sabre appeared on two tracks: ''Lucky'' and ''Used To Blame''. Sabre furthered his career in 2009 when he featured on Jermicide & Danny Digg's album ''Middle Class'', collaborating on three tracks: ''Afraid'', ''Where We Go'' and ''Still With Me''. Sabre then returned to working with his earlier cohorts, featuring on Terawrizt's album ''Written in Stone'' and Terawrizt & Nu-Centz' album ''Sense The Terror 2'', appearing on tracks such as ''Life Fly By''. On 25 November 2010, Sabre released his debut mixtape, ''The Travelling Man'', in the United Kingdom. The release was a free digital download and featured the track ''Sometimes'' along with a promotional video to accompany the song. On 6 January 2011, ''Sometimes'' was released as a promotional single without rapper Wretch 32. Sabre guested on drum and bass duo Chase & Status's second studio album ''No More Idols'', on a track entitled ''Fire In Your Eyes''. He also features on ''Sleepless'', a song regularly performed live by Chase & Status, however no studio version has been released to date. Sabre featured on Professor Green’s fourth single ''Jungle'', released on 1 January 2010, which was featured on the album ''Alive Till I'm Dead''. The single debuted at number 34 on the UK Singles Chart, peaking at 31 the following week. On 28 February 2011, Maverick released his debut single ''Look What I Done'', taken from the extended play ''The Lost Words'', released on 7 March 2011. On 19 April 2011, Sabre performed with a live band on BBC2’s Later… with Jools Holland. After his performance of Oasis's ''Wonderwall'' on Chris Moyles' BBC Radio 1 Comic Relief show, Maverick's extended play ''The Lost Words'' reached number 2 in the iTunes Store Top Ten Songs chart. In 2011, he also appeared on The Script's ''Science & Faith Tour'' supporting the Irish band on their sell out tour and performed his future hit 'Let Me Go' which entered the UK Top 40 singles chart at number 16 in August 2011.

2011-Present: Debut Album

On 25 July Maverick Sabre's first single "Let Me Go" was released and entered the UK chart at number 16.

Discography

Studio albums

{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" border="1" ! scope="col"| Album Title ! scope="col"| Album Details |- ! scope="row"| ''Maverick Sabre'' |

Released: 7 November 2011

Label: Mercury Records

Formats: Digital Download, CD

|}

Extended plays

{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" border="1" ! scope="col"| Album Title ! scope="col"| Album Details |- ! scope="row"| ''The Last Words'' | Released: 7 March 2011

Formats: Digital Download

|- |}

Mixtapes

{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" border="1" ! scope="col"| Album Title ! scope="col"| Album Details |- ! scope="col"| ''The Travelling Man'' |

Released: 25 November 2010

|- |}

Singles

{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" border="1" ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Single ! scope="col" colspan="2"| Peakpositions ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album |- ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"|UK ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"|IRE |- | rowspan="2"| 2011 | "Let Me Go" | 16 | 46 | rowspan="2"| ''Maverick Sabre'' |- | "I Need" | — | — |}

As featured artist

{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" border="1" ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Year ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Single ! scope="col" colspan="1"| Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Album |- ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"|UK |- | rowspan="2"|2011 | align="left"|"Jungle"(Professor Green featuring Maverick Sabre) | 31 | ''Alive Till I'm Dead'' |- | align="left"|"In the Air"(True Tiger featuring Professor Green & Maverick Sabre) | 52 | |}

Promotional singles

{|class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" border="1" ! scope="row"|Year ! scope="row"|Song ! scope="row"|Album |- | rowspan="4"|2011 |"Sometimes" |''The Travelling Man'' |- | "Look What I've Done" | ''The Last Words'' |- | "Where We Gonna Go" | rowspan="2"| |- | "Give Me A Reason" |}

Guest appearances

Year	Title	Album	Artist
	"Afraid"
"Where We Go"
"Still With Me"	Jermicide, Danny Diggs & Johnny Roulette
2011	"Fire In Your Eyes"	''No More Idols''	Chase & Status

References

Category:1991 births Category:English male singers Category:English pop singers Category:English singer-songwriters Category:Irish people of English descent Category:Irish male singers Category:Irish pop singers Category:Living people

name	Jessie J
alt	f
background	solo_singer
birth name	Jessica Ellen Cornish
alias	Jessie J
birth date	March 27, 1988
birth place	Chadwell Heath, London, England
genre	R&B;, pop, hip hop, soul
years active	2006–present
label	Lava, Universal Republic, Island, Gut
website
notable instruments	}}

Jessica Ellen Cornish (born on 27 March 1988), better known by her stage name Jessie J, is an English singer-songwriter, currently signed to Island Records. She began her career as a songwriter for artists including Chris Brown and Miley Cyrus. Her debut single, "Do It Like a Dude", was released in November 2010 and peaked at number two on the UK Singles Charts. Follow-up single "Price Tag" reached number one in the United Kingdom, France, Ireland and New Zealand, and reached the top 10 in nineteen other countries. Her debut album, ''Who You Are'', was released in February 2011 and charted at number two on the UK Albums Chart. In February 2011 Jessie J won a BRIT Award, Critics' Choice. It was revealed in October 2011 that Jessie J will be a coach and a mentor on the television show, ''The Voice UK''.

Early life

Jessie J was born Jessica Ellen Cornish in Chadwell Heath, London and was educated at Mayfield High School in the London Borough of Redbridge. She attended Colin's Performing Arts School and as an eleven year old was cast in Andrew Lloyd Webber's West End production of ''Whistle Down the Wind''. Jessie has two sisters, who are five and seven years older than her, who were both head girls at school.

Unlike her academic sisters, Cornish has stated she was "never really that good at anything". She said, "At school they were like 'oh, you're a Cornish girl' and they kind of expected me to be the same as my sisters. Give me something to draw or an outfit to pick for someone, or hair, make-up, acting, write a song, I'm fine with it, but anything to do with sums – it was never my thing." She also said she never based her intelligence on her exam results. She also said she was always good at singing and it was her "thing".

At the age of 16 she began studying at the BRIT School and at 17 she joined a girl group named "Soul Deep". She graduated in the class of 2006 along with singers Adele and Leona Lewis. At 18 she suffered a stroke.

Music career

2006–2009: Career beginnings

Jessie J was signed to Gut Records, recording an album for the label, but the company went bankrupt before any material was released. She then found success as a songwriter, gaining a Sony ATV publishing contract. She was also the support act for Cyndi Lauper during Lauper's UK dates of her 2008 Bring Ya To The Brink tour (Lauper invited J to join her on stage for the performances of Girls Just Want To Have Fun). Jessie has also written lyrics for artists such as Chris Brown and Miley Cyrus, including "Party in the U.S.A.".

Jessie J was also part of a girl band, called 'Soul Deep', for two years, however she left due to thoughts that "it wasn't going anywhere". Despite people thinking that her first notoriety was through YouTube, Jessie was signed for four years before her first video was posted.

Jessie first came to the attention of Lava Records when her publisher at Sony/ATV, Rich Christina, sent Lava president Jason Flom a link to her MySpace page, which the record executive loved. After seeing an impressive U.S. showcase, Lava was, along with several other labels, keen to sign the artist but progress was hampered by her management's insistence on, what Flom called, a "crazy deal", and their refusal to let Jessie speak to any labels directly. Despite this, Senior Director of A&R; at Lava, Harinder Rana, made surreptitious efforts to meet Jessie on her own in winter of 2008. Later in the year a change in management to Sarah Stennett and Nadia Khan of Crown Music allowed record deal negotiations to take place. Jessie eventually signed with Lava as part of a joint venture with Universal Republic.

2010–present: ''Who You Are''

Jessie J began recording her debut studio album in 2006 and it was completed on 19 January 2011. She revealed that "Big White Room" would be on the album and was written from an experience she had when she was 11 years old, although she wrote the song at age 17, in hospital, where a ward mate, a little boy, died. Jessie J says the album's title track, "Who You Are", is one of her proudest creations, she said the song is a "positive role model for young people" and "I always say that I'm half-artist, half-therapist"

In late 2010 Jessie J released her first single, "Do It Like a Dude" which was co-written with George Astasio, Tj Normandin, Jason Pebworth, Jon Shave, Kyle Abrahams and Peter Ighile. Originally, she wrote the song with Rihanna in mind because "Rude Boy" was released at the time, partly inspiring the song. She then sent the song to her label, Island Records, before sending it to Rihanna's management. Island insisted the song become Jessie J's first single. She wishes to perform the song with Rihanna at one point. The single gained positive reception from critics. The single charted at number two on the UK Singles Charts. Her follow-up single "Price Tag" was released in late January 2011. This was written by Jessie J, Lukasz Gottwald, Claude Kelly, and Bobby Ray Simmons, Jr. and charted at number one in the top of the charts. "Price Tag" was released in the United States on 1 February 2011 and peaked at 23 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. "Price Tag" also charted at number-one in New Zealand and Ireland and is the most successful online video J has released. As of October 2011, the video has generated over 148 million views on Youtube and Vevo, making it the 22nd most viewed music video of all time. Her first American television appearance was as the musical guest on the 12 March 2011 episode of NBC's ''Saturday Night Live''.

On 25 February 2011 her debut album, ''Who You Are'', was released. The album first entered the charts on 6 March 2011 where it charted on the UK Album Charts at number two. The album charted into the top ten in a number of countries and number 11 in the United States.After the release she went on to release a third single from the album, "Nobody's Perfect". MTV reported that the single is, so far, only confirmed for release in the United Kingdom. The album's fourth single was "Who's Laughing Now". "Domino" was her second US single. The Dr. Luke-produced track was sent to mainstream radio on 6 September 2011. With the success of ''Who You Are'' in North America, Jessie was chosen to tour as the opening act for American pop artist Katy Perry's ''California Dreams Tour'' in 2011 but after she was unable to fully recover from her injuries during rehearsals she was forced to pull out under the doctor's orders.

Jessie J served as the house artist at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards, performing several of her original songs along with covers around commercial breaks.

In early 2011 she suffered a panic attack on stage after she was forced to perform in the dark. "I did a gig recently and had a panic attack on stage," she told ''NOW''. "The night was called 'Black Out' and I had to perform in the dark. I asked them to turn on the lights and they didn't. I was onstage in pitch black and, because I couldn't see anything, I started to panic. It was awful." James Morrison's third studio album, ''The Awakening'' features a collaboration with Jessie J called "Up", the song was released as a single on 4 December 2011. On 4 October Jessie announced that she will be one of four coaches for new BBC program, ''The Voice UK''.Jessie J re-released "Who You Are" on 9 November 2011, featuring the regular tracks plus "Domino" and two new songs. "Domino" became her second top 30 hit in the U.S., following the success of "Price Tag". The song also peaked at number 1 in January 2012 in the UK, before it was even officially released there.

Personal life

On 12 June 2011 at the Capital Radio Summertime Ball, Jessie ruptured several tendons in her foot during rehearsals, and performed her set the following day while sitting on a gilded throne. For her appearance at Glastonbury Festival 2011 on 25 June 2011, she performed on the throne again, claiming her physician had told her not to perform with her broken foot which would take six weeks to heal. Jessie J was scheduled to play at several festivals throughout the summer, however it was reported on 1 July 2011 that she would not be able to attend T in the Park, T4 On The Beach, Wembley:Orange, iTunes Festival, Lovebox and Oxegen due to the injuries to her foot. Jessie J personally tweeted before surgery; "Keep making nervous jokes with the doctor and he keeps looking at me blankly. Which is making me laugh even more. It's getting serious. I just took my nose stud out." Tweeting after the surgery, she wrote: "Can't keep tweeting. Still very dizzy and being sick. But I'm OK, I got through it." Her record label released an official statement on 30 June 2011 that under strict orders from her doctor, she will not be able to perform for a number of weeks so she can heal and recuperate properly. She returned to the concert circuit in late August, including sets at the V Festival and The Big Chill. For the 2011 VMA's she was still in a cast and using the throne to keep off of it.

Jessie J confirmed on 2 August 2011 that she would be shaving her hair off for charity in 2012. Speaking via her official Twitter account she said: “It’s hair, It will grow back. Even if it takes 2 years, if it saves lives it’s worth it. Even if its 1 life that’s something.”

Jessie J is openly bisexual and stated in an interview on the "In Demand" radio show on March 3, 2011, "I've never denied it. Whoopie doo guys, yes, I've dated girls and I've dated boys – get over it."

Music and voice

Although she was first identified as a soul singer, she primarily records songs of contemporary R&B; and pop music with hip-hop influences.

Music critic Matthew Perpetua of Pitchfork Media compared Jessie J to her peers Adele and Amy Winehouse, but admitted she was missing something: "Whereas Adele and Winehouse also have powerhouse voices, they fit into clear aesthetic niches and invest their songs with depth and humanity. Jessie J doesn't have even a fraction of their restraint." Perpetua added: "Her idea of showcasing her gift is to shoot for a blaring melisma on "Mamma Knows Best" that makes Christina Aguilera seem as subtle as Joni Mitchell by comparison." Ailbhe Malone of the music magazine NME also recognized Cornish's "undeniably potent voice". However, she pointed out the possible "identity crisis" that might have been caused by Jessie's songwriter past: "This is an album of singles for other artists. There’s Rihanna Jessie (‘Do It...’), Perry Jessie (‘Abracadabra’), Pixie Jessie (‘Mamma Knows Best’), Ellie Jessie ('Big White Room')."

Caroline Sullivan of The Guardian shared her positive opinion about the singer, saying that "if any singer has the potential to be the British Katy Perry or Pink, with the accompanying millions of sales, it's her". Sullivan also complimented Cornish's attitude: "[Her songs] are delivered with a confidence that money can't buy." Entertainment Weekly's music critic Adam Markovitz said of Jessie: "The 23-year-old Brit has all the tools, from a monster voice to an ear for hooks — she co-wrote Miley Cyrus' Party in the U.S.A. — and a manic persona that's equal parts Katy Perry, Kristin Chenoweth, and Alice Cooper.

Discography

''Who You Are'' (2011)

Filmography

+Television	Year	! Title	! Role	Notes
2012	''The Voice UK''	Herself

Awards and nominations

References

External links

Category:1988 births Category:Living people Category:Bisexual musicians Category:Electronica musicians Category:English female singers Category:English mezzo-sopranos Category:English pop singers Category:English rhythm and blues singers Category:English singer-songwriters Category:English-language singers Category:LGBT musicians from the United Kingdom Category:LGBT people from the United Kingdom Category:People educated at the BRIT School Category:Singers from London Category:Stroke survivors Category:The Voice judges Category:People from Chadwell Heath

af:Jessie J bg:Джеси Джей ca:Jessie J cs:Jessie J da:Jessie J de:Jessie J es:Jessie J fa:جسی جی fr:Jessie J fy:Jessie J ko:제시 제이 hr:Jessie J id:Jessie J it:Jessie J he:ג'סי ג'יי lv:Jessie J lt:Jessie J hu:Jessie J mk:Џеси Џеј nl:Jessie J ja:ジェシー・J no:Jessie J pl:Jessie J pt:Jessie J ro:Jessie J ru:Джесси Джей sk:Jessie J fi:Jessie J sv:Jessie J th:เจสซี เจ tr:Jessie J vi:Jessie J zh:Jessie J

name	Skylar Grey
background	solo_singer
birth name	Holly Brook Hafermann
alias	Holly Brook
birth date	February 23, 1986
origin	Mazomanie, Wisconsin,
instrument	Vocals, piano, guitar
genre	Pop, soul, folk rock, rock, hip hop
occupation	Singer, songwriter, record producer
years active	2004–present
label	KIDinaKORNER, Interscope, Machine Shop
website	}}

Holly Brook Hafermann (born February 23, 1986), better known by her stage name Skylar Grey, is a Grammy-nominated American multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, and record producer. Grey was signed to Machine Shop Recordings under the name Holly Brook. She released her debut album as Holly Brook, ''Like Blood Like Honey'', in 2006. She co-wrote the three versions of "Love the Way You Lie" with Alex da Kid, who signed her to his Wonderland Music label. She was featured as a guest vocalist on Fort Minor's "Where'd You Go" and "Be Somebody", Diddy-Dirty Money's "Coming Home", Dr. Dre's "I Need a Doctor" and Lupe Fiasco's "Words I Never Said".

Life and career

2001–2010: Early life and career beginnings

Grey performed professionally as a child in a folk duo with her mother called Generations. Together, (with producer/engineer Randy Green) they independently produced three albums, ''Dream Maker'', ''Lift Me'', and ''Millennial Child/Waiting For You''. Grey started her first band at the age of fifteen after 'sneaking' into bars, working with jazz musicians including Jeff Eckles, Tim Whalen and Leo Sidran in Madison, Wisconsin.

In 2003, Brook moved to Los Angeles and recorded a demo, which led to her being signed by Linkin Park guitarist Brad Delson to the band's vanity label, Machine Shop Recordings, at age 18 in the fall of 2004. Her voice is featured on the Fort Minor songs "Where'd You Go" and "Be Somebody". Working with producer Jonathan Ingoldsby, Brook released her debut album, ''Like Blood Like Honey'', on June 6, 2006. She landed opening spots for tours with Jamie Cullum, KD Lang, Daniel Powter, Teddy Geiger and Duncan Sheik.

In 2010, Brook lent both her song "It's Raining Again" and her image to a promotional campaign for Ciao Water. Prior to this, she has appeared on albums by other artists, including Brie Larson's ''Finally Out of P.E.'', and Fort Minor's ''The Rising Tied''. Brook has toured with as part of Duncan Sheik's band, and appears heavily on his 2009 album ''Whisper House''. At the beginning in 2010 she also performed in the theatrical version of "Whisper House," playing one of the two lead ghost vocalists along with David Poe. Also in 2010, she self-released the seven-song ''O’Dark:Thirty EP'', produced by Duncan Sheik and Jon Ingoldsby. In 2009, Brook appeared as a backing vocalist on Eurovision contestant, Yohanna's debut album, ''Butterflies and Elvis''.

2011–present: ''Invinsible''

Brook later changed her name to Skylar Grey. She explained that “it represents the unknowns in life. People seem to be afraid of the unknowns, but I’m the complete opposite. I dive into the unknown because I feel like that’s where all your possibilities come from.”

She was still living in Oregon and had no recognition as Skylar Grey. Grey went to New York to meet her publicist and was introduced to Alex da Kid, who played Grey the song "Airplanes" by B.O.B and Hayley Williams which he produced. Grey liked what she heard and sent Alex da Kid the songs "Love The Way You Lie" Parts I, II and III.

Producer Alex da Kid signed her to a production deal on his KIDinaKORNER imprint. She helped write sections of all three versions of "Love the Way You Lie" by rapper Eminem and Rihanna as well as performing the demo for the song. Grey earned a Grammy nomination for Song of the Year for her writing contributions to "Love the Way You Lie". She also co-wrote Diddy-Dirty Money's "Coming Home", along with "Castle Walls" by T.I. and Christina Aguilera. On March 10, 2011, Diddy-Dirty Money performed the single "Coming Home" with Grey and two female background vocalists Dawn Richard and Kalenna Harper, live on ''American Idol''.

She is also a featured guest on "I Need a Doctor". Grey is also featured on Lupe Fiasco's third studio album ''Lasers'', on the second single, "Words I Never Said" and was also featured in the live performance of the song, with Lupe, on ''The Colbert Report'' on May 9, 2011. Grey made her live performance debut under her new alias during the 53rd Grammy Awards, performing "I Need a Doctor" alongside Eminem and Dr. Dre. She is currently working on her solo studio album ''Invinsible'' with Alex Da Kid. She has signed to Interscope Records through Da Kid's KIDinaKORNER, and her first promotional buzz single "Dance Without You" was released on June 6, 2011, with the official music video being released on July 5. The first official single "Invisible" was released to radio on June 16. On July 9, 2011, Grey performed live at the World Peace Event in Washington, DC, appearing along with the 14th Dalai Lama. On the 6th of August, she peformed at the 20th Lollaplooza festival as both a solo artist and with Eminem during the song "I Need A Doctor". The next day, while passing by the area where YouTube sensation Karmin was recording their cover of "I Need A Doctor," Skylar joined the duo for an impromptu performance.

Influences

Grey has listed Marilyn Manson, Joni Mitchell, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Sarah McLachlan and Death Cab for Cutie as her influences.

Discography

''Like Blood Like Honey'' (2006)

''Invinsible'' (2011)

References

External links

Category:1986 births Category:American singer-songwriters Category:American female singers Category:American pop pianists Category:American female guitarists Category:Living people Category:People from Dane County, Wisconsin Category:Songwriters from Wisconsin

ar:سكايلر غري da:Skylar Grey de:Skylar Grey fr:Skylar Grey it:Skylar Grey he:סקיילר גריי nl:Skylar Grey no:Holly Brook pl:Skylar Grey pt:Skylar Grey ru:Скайлар Грей zh-yue:Holly Brook

name	Aloe Blacc
birth name	Egbert Nathaniel Dawkins III
background	solo_singer
origin	Orange County, California, U.S.
born	June 8, 1979 (age 32)
genre	Soul, R&B;, jazz, hip hop
years active	1995–present
label	Stones Throw Records
associated acts	Emanon, Exile, Lena Meyer-Landrut
website	http://aloeblacc.com/
notable instruments	}}

Aloe Blacc (born Egbert Nathaniel Dawkins III in 1979) is an American soul singer, rapper, and musician. He is a first-generation African American with parents born in Panama.

Early career and ''Shine Through'' (1995-2009)

Blacc first began his music career in 1995 as a rapper with producer Exile in the hip hop duo Emanon. By the end of the 1990s, Blacc was a "Stowaway" on a Lootpack tour in Europe. The duo released six albums in total. This also led to Blacc working with the French Jazz group Jazz Liberatorz.

In 2003, he signed with Stones Throw Records and started a solo career. He released his debut EP in the same year. He then released a debut album, entitled ''Shine Through'' on July 11, 2006. It was released on CD, Vinyl record and online (on the Stones Throw website).

He later went on to tour across Europe and the U.S. with Emanon. During this time, he also worked on his second solo album, "Good Things".

In 2009, collaborating with Japanese Hip Hop Producer Cradle, calling themselves Bee, he released the album "Open Your Mind" on GoonTrax records.

Mainstream success and ''Good Things'' (2010-present)

'Good Things' was originally released on Stones Throw records in the fall of 2010. It was produced by Jeff Dynamite and Leon Michels for TRUTH & SOUL Productions.

In 2010, Blacc signed a recording contract with Epic Records for the UK and Ireland. His album "Good Things" was released there later in the year, as was his single, "I Need A Dollar".

He also recorded a cover version of the John Legend song "Ordinary People" in Spanish titled "Gente Ordinaria". Blacc then went on to write the song "At All" for Lena Meyer-Landrut's album ''Good News'' after meeting the German singer backstage at a TV show.

His song "I Need a Dollar" is used for the intro song for the HBO show ''How to Make It in America'', and was featured as the iTunes Single of the Week. Blacc has performed the song live on many television shows such as ''Late Night with Jimmy Fallon'', ''Later... with Jools Holland'', ''Conan'' and ''The Graham Norton Show''. "I Need a Dollar" is also one of the featured songs in EA Sports' 2011 boxing game, ''Fight Night Champion''. In April 2011, the song was also featured in a commercial for Boost Mobile cellular phone services.

His single "I Need A Dollar" was widely successful across Europe reaching top ten in many countries including the UK. Following the success of "I Need a Dollar" his album, ''Good Things'' started to receive attention and charted in many European countries. The album also managed to chart in the US, at number ten on the Top Heatseekers chart and forty-one on the Top R&B;/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The second single from the album,"Loving You Is Killing Me" was released on the 7 March 2011 and peaked at eight in Austria and top forty in 3 other counties.

He is also set to release his ninth album with his American hip-hop duo Emanon titled "Bird's Eye View" in 2011.

On 25 April 2011, he performed on the BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge and played 3 songs. He played the hits "I Need a Dollar" and "Loving You Is Killing Me" and also covered the Jay-Z song "99 Problems".

Also in 2011, he collaborated with Alice Smith on the track "Baby", and Clare Moreno on the track "Nascimento (Rebirth)-Scene II", for the Red Hot Organization's most recent charitable album "Red Hot + Rio 2". The album is a follow-up to the 1996 "Red Hot + Rio". Proceeds from the sales will be donated to raise awareness and money to fight AIDS/HIV and related health and social issues.

In 2011, Kenneth Bager featured Aloe Blacc on "The Sound of Swing, Pt. 2 (Oh Na Na)" co-written by Thomas Troelsen.

Television appearances

Year	Show
2010	''Later... with Jools Holland''
2010	''Late Night with Jimmy Fallon''
2011
2011	''The Graham Norton Show''

Discography

Studio albums

{|class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" border="1" |+ List of albums, with selected chart positions and certifications ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:9em;"| Title ! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:16em;"| Album details ! scope="col" colspan="12"| Peak chart positions ! scope="col" rowspan="2"| Certifications |- ! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"|US R&B;

! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"|US Heat

! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"|AUS

! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"|AUT

! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"|BEL (FL)

! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"|BEL (WL)

! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"|NL

! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"|NZ

! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"|FRA

! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"|SWI

! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"|IRE

! scope="col" style="width:3em;font-size:85%;"|UK |- ! scope="row" | ''Shine Through'' |

Released: July 11, 2006

Label: Stones Throw Records

Formats: CD, Vinyl

| — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — | — |- ! scope="row" |''Good Things'' |

Released: September 28, 2010

Label: Stones Throw Records

Formats: CD, Digital Download

| 41 || 10 || 22 || 36 || 5 || 30 || 39 || 21 || 19 || 31 || 12 || 8 | FRA: Gold |- |colspan="14" style="font-size:9pt"| "—" denotes albums that did not chart or were not released |}

Extended plays

Title	EP details
''The Aloe Blacc EP''		*Released: 12 July 2003	*Label: N/A	*Format: [[Compact Disc
''The Aloe Blacc EP 2: Me and My Music''		*Released: 28 September 2004	*Label: N/A	*Format: [[Compact Disc

Singles

4 12 —

rowspan="2" style="width:10px;"	Year	Title	Peak chart positions												[[Music recording sales certification	Album
!style="width:3em; font-size:85%"	!style="width:3em; font-size:85%"		!style="width:3em; font-size:85%"	!style="width:3em; font-size:85%"	!style="width:3em; font-size:85%"	!style="width:3em; font-size:85%"	!style="width:3em; font-size:85%"	!style="width:3em; font-size:85%"	!style="width:3em; font-size:85%"	!style="width:3em; font-size:85%"	!style="width:3em; font-size:85%"	!style="width:3em; font-size:85%"
2010		16	1	|	5	35	5	52	53	28	2	2	16		ARIA Charts>AUS: Gold	International Federation of the Phonographic Industry>SWI: Platinum	Bundesverband Musikindustrie>GER: Gold
		—	|	12	8	—	26	—	—	—	—	—	52
	—	|	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

With Emanon

With Cradle

''Bee - Open Your Mind'' (2009)

References

External links

Aloe Blacc

Aloe Blacc Official Merchandise Store

Aloe Blacc at Stones Throw Records

RBMA Radio On Demand - Melbourne Marvels - Aloe Blacc (Stones Throw)

Short Film on Aloe Blacc

NPR interview from October 2010

(fr) Interview with Aloe Blacc on Soulrnb.com

NPR interview from February 2011

Aloe Blacc - Radio 1Xtra Live Lounge

Category:1979 births Category:Living people Category:American soul singers Category:African American singer-songwriters Category:Musicians from California Category:University of Southern California alumni Category:Stones Throw Records artists Category:Place of birth missing (living people)

da:Aloe Blacc de:Aloe Blacc fa:آلو بلک fr:Aloe Blacc it:Aloe Blacc he:אלו בלאק nl:Aloe Blacc no:Aloe Blacc pl:Aloe Blacc ru:Aloe Blacc