Musical Transformations

Stars who switched it up.

Musical Transformations - Change is the only constant, both in life and in music. But the following stars still shocked fans and critics when they drastically switched up their musical formulas, whether for one album, one song or over their entire careers. Click on to check out some of the biggest musical transformations of all time. —Alex Gale  (Photos from left: WENN.com, Todd Oren/Getty Images, Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)

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Musical Transformations - Change is the only constant, both in life and in music. But the following stars still shocked fans and critics when they drastically switched up their musical formulas, whether for one album, one song or over their entire careers. Click on to check out some of the biggest musical transformations of all time. —Alex Gale (Photos from left: WENN.com, Todd Oren/Getty Images, Michael Loccisano/Getty Images)

Dior Homme, Not Dior Homie - Kanye West arrives at the Christian Dior Spring/Summer 2013 during Paris Fashion Week in Paris. (Photo: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)

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Kanye West - Kanye West took a sharp turn east when he abandoned rapping over sample-heavy hip hop beats in favor of Auto-tuned singing over synth-laden electro-pop on 2008’s influential 808s and Heartbreaks. (Photo: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)

LL Cool J - LL Cool J confused fans and critics when he followed up the mega-successful comeback album Mama Said Knock You Out with 1993's 14 Shots to the Dome, which adopted the sound of gangsta rap.(Photo: Def Jam Recording)

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LL Cool J - LL Cool J confused fans and critics when he followed up the mega-successful comeback album Mama Said Knock You Out with 1993's 14 Shots to the Dome, which adopted the sound of gangsta rap.(Photo: Def Jam Recording)

Snoop Dogg @SnoopDogg - Tweet: "speakn of which. make sure ur all registered 2 vote - do it here: bit.ly/U8bMTh #nudoknowthat!!!!"Snoop endorses President Obama and encourages his fans to get registered for the election.(Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

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Snoop Dogg - An old Dogg learned new tricks when Snoop switched his name to Snoop Lion, embraced Rastafarianism and began making reggae music last year. (Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images)

Photo By Jason Merritt/Getty Images

Cee-Lo - Though Cee-Lo’s always augmented his raspy raps with soulful singing, few could’ve predicted his dramatic evolution from Goodie MOB member to quirky, chart-topping pop solo star. (Photo: EPA/ANDREW GOMBERT /LANDOV)

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Cee-Lo - Though Cee-Lo’s always augmented his raspy raps with soulful singing, few could’ve predicted his dramatic evolution from Goodie MOB member to quirky, chart-topping pop solo star. (Photo: EPA/ANDREW GOMBERT /LANDOV)

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Justin Timberlake - Justin’s third solo album, The 20/20 Experience, an innovative, futuristic take on classic soul, put his past as a member of cheesy teeny-bop chart-toppers NSYNC even further in the rear-view mirror. (Photo: Vince Bucci/Getty Images)

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Justin Timberlake - Justin’s third solo album, The 20/20 Experience, an innovative, futuristic take on classic soul, put his past as a member of cheesy teeny-bop chart-toppers NSYNC even further in the rear-view mirror. (Photo: Vince Bucci/Getty Images)

Dr. Dre - Dr. Dre attempted to put his gangsta rap past behind him on his first project after leaving Death Row, Dr. Dre Presents...The Aftermath, announced by lead single “Been There, Done That.” But the fans weren’t feeling the new look; the album flopped, and Dr. Dre returned to his roots with 2001, a sequel to his landmark solo debut The Chronic, in 1999.  (Photo: Aftermath Records)

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Dr. Dre - Dr. Dre attempted to put his gangsta rap past behind him on his first project after leaving Death Row, Dr. Dre Presents...The Aftermath, announced by lead single “Been There, Done That.” But the fans weren’t feeling the new look; the album flopped, and Dr. Dre returned to his roots with 2001, a sequel to his landmark solo debut The Chronic, in 1999. (Photo: Aftermath Records)

The Beastie Boys - The Beastie Boys switched their style up throughout their careers. With their second album, Paul's Boutique, they pulled a curveball by abandoning their party-rock-inspired anthems for innovative '70s-funk-sampling beats by the Dust Brothers. (Photo: Capitol Records)

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The Beastie Boys - The Beastie Boys switched their style up throughout their careers. With their second album, Paul's Boutique, they pulled a curveball by abandoning their party-rock-inspired anthems for innovative '70s-funk-sampling beats by the Dust Brothers. (Photo: Capitol Records)

Black Eyed Peas "Let's Get It Started" - In 2004, the Black Eyed Peas' "Let's Get It Started" became a mandatory pump up song, and ESPN and ABC oblidged, using the hit in their promos. (Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images)

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The Black Eyed Peas - In 2002, The Black Eyed Peas made a play for big-time success by adding Fergie to their lineup and switching from happy-go-lucky backpack rap to party-focused dance-pop.  (Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images)

Ice Cube: June 15 - The rapper-turned-actor celebrates his 44th birthday.  (Photo: Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images)

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Ice Cube - Ice Cube has evolved from "Amerikkka's Most Wanted" to the affable leading man in family-friendly comedies like Are We There Yet? (Photo: Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images)

Photo By Photo: Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images

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Drake - April 22 is Earth Day, and in honor of all things recycled, conserved and composted we're putting a spotlight on celebs who keep it green — and not just in their bank accounts. Our list of earth-conscious stars kicks off with Drake. The singer put his ticket sales where his mouth is by headlining an eco-friendly college tour in 2010 to encourage environmental sustainability.  (Photo: JD Pht Bx & MCGM / Splash News)

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Drake - On So Far Gone, Drake's breakthrough mixtape, he left his more straight-ahead rap stylings behind for Auto-tuned singing and ambient beats.(Photo: JD Pht Bx & MCGM / Splash News)

Lauryn Hill: May 26 - The down-on-her-luck singer has plenty to wish for on her 38th birthday. (Photo: Courtesy Jen Diaz/Hot 97)

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Lauryn Hill - Lauryn Hill netted 19 million record sales worldwide and five Grammys when she left rap group the Fugees behind and instead focused on writing and singing beautiful, raw soul music on The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill. (Photo: Courtesy Jen Diaz/Hot 97)

Photo By Photo: Courtesy Jen Diaz/Hot 97

Wyclef Jean - The Fugee-turned-politician may have attracted some unwanted controversy for his philanthropic efforts, but that hasn't slowed down his green initiatives. 'Clef partnered with Justin Timberlake to design a pair of eco-friendly yet stylish boots with proceeds donated to his Yele Haiti foundation. He also supports sustainable agriculture in the island nation. "We are not only interested in feeding people in response to the current crisis, but we want to offer them an alternative that can help them in a sustainable way," he said. (Photo: Johnny Louis/WENN.com)

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Wyclef Jean - Wyclef Jean preceded his former Fugees bandmate's change-up with his own new look on 1997's The Carnival, a multigenre world-music/pop mash-up.  (Photo: Johnny Louis/WENN.com)

Ice-T, @FINALLEVEL - Tweet: "THIS!"A simple but major message came with Ice-T's TwitPic of "#SVU" topping the trending topics. And, yes, that was 2 Chainz who T flipped off the massage table on this week's episode. Hollywood money.(Photo: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for Durex)

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Ice T - Ice T's legendary career has featured many far-flung phases, from pimped-out gangster rapper, to controversial lead singer of rock-rap band Body Count, to established actor, known for frequently (and ironically) playing a cop in New Jack City and Law & Order. (Photo: Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for Durex)

Rihanna - Rihanna's grown from an innocent R&B teen idol who made straight-ahead commercial songs like "S.O.S," to edgy,  hypersexualized electro-pop princess with hits like "S&M."  (Photo: Instagram)

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Rihanna - Rihanna's grown from an innocent R&B teen idol who made straight-ahead commercial songs like "S.O.S," to edgy,  hypersexualized electro-pop princess with hits like "S&M." (Photo: Instagram)

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Lil’ Wayne on why he pulled Nicki Minaj from this year’s Hot 97 Summer Jam: - "As soon as she called me and told me she felt disrespected, I just declined everything. I pulled her from the show.”(Photo: Al Bello/Getty Images)

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Lil Wayne - Lil Wayne has come a long way since his grimy Hot Boys days. Not only is he a pop star who skateboards and plays guitars, but he's released a rap-rock album, 2009's Rebirth. (Photo: Al Bello/Getty Images)

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Brian McKnight - Brian McKnight appalled longtime fans of his quiet-storm, adult-contemporary R&B—and made everyone else laugh uncontrollably—last year when he released an explicit, shockingly detailed sex song called "If You're Ready to Learn." (Photo: Bennett Raglin/Getty Images)

Photo By Bennett Raglin/Getty Images

Nicki Minaj on the tension between she and Mariah Carey:  - "I cannot hold a grudge against Mariah Carey. I don't know if she's gotten over it, but I have."  (Photo: Imeh Akpanudosen/Getty Images)

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Nicki Minaj - Nicki Minaj reached superstar status by rapidly evolving from grimy mixtape spitter to bubbly, eccentric electro-pop Barbie.(Photo: Imeh Akpanudosen/Getty Images)

"Let's Get It On," Marvin Gaye - A trailblazer in R&B's many movements, Marvin Gaye is also the originator of bedroom soul. This sexy single could be dubbed your momma's music, but the original track as recorded by Gaye –– filled with passionate, woe-filled vocals and sultry instrumentation –– eternally sizzles. Imitators needn't apply, Gaye's 1973 ode to sexual liberation is still the crystal clear standard today.  (Photo: Jim Britt/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

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Marvin Gaye - Marvin Gaye's landmark 1971 masterpiece What's Going On was a seismic shift for the singer, transforming him from clean-cut cog in Motown's love-song hit machine to troubled, socially conscious soul-music prophet. (Photo: Jim Britt/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

Photo By Jim Britt/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Pitbull @Pitbull - Tweet: "@LilTunechi I am cool papo but imagine me sh---- on anything new orleans which I was just there for super bowl the big easy I loved it…the world shows me love and vice versa but miami is all I got no disrespect just the truth"Pitbull responds to Lil Wayne, letting the rapper know that friends or not, no one disrespects Miami. (Photo: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)

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Pitbull - Since his early 2000s debut, Pitbull went from hard-nosed mixtape rapper with a street edge to debonair dance artist with slick, poppy club hits like "I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho)."(Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)

Prince - Prince made a brief appearance on the show to present the Grammy for Record of the Year. The award went to Gotye and Kimbra for "Somebody I Used to Know," and the duo got the stamp of approval from the music icon who declared, "I love this song."  (Photo: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

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Prince - Over his nearly four-decade career, Prince has changed musical styles the way people change outfits. There's the light disco-tinged funk of his 1978 debut, For You; the synth-y, new wave edge of his 1980 masterpiece Dirty Mind; the accessible arena pop-rock of his 1984 blockbuster Purple Rain; the jazzy, religious overtones of his 2001 flop Rainbow Children; and so on. (Photo: Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)