Music Stars Who Started in Groups You Never Heard Of

Artists who found solo success after being in an ensemble.

Twice On - Tinashe may be turning up radio and the clubs with her debut album, Aquarius, but the pop princess is far from being an overnight success. She first cut her teeth with the girl group the Stunners, who got together when she was 14. They recorded an EP together and even appeared on The Wendy Williams Show, but by 2011, they disbanded without many of us getting to hear them at all. Sometimes, that's just the way goes. Read on. —Michael Harris (@IceBlueVA)(Photo: Larry Marano/Getty Images) 

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Twice On - Tinashe may be turning up radio and the clubs with her debut album, Aquarius, but the pop princess is far from being an overnight success. She first cut her teeth with the girl group the Stunners, who got together when she was 14. They recorded an EP together and even appeared on The Wendy Williams Show, but by 2011, they disbanded without many of us getting to hear them at all. Sometimes, that's just the way goes. Read on. —Michael Harris (@IceBlueVA)(Photo: Larry Marano/Getty Images) 

Mila J - Mila J will be releasing her solo debut, M.I.L.A., next week but she got her start as part of two singing groups, Gyrl and Dame Four. Gyrl was signed to producer Chris Stokes, who launched the careers of B2K and Immature, who she toured with back in the day.(Photos from left: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images for Three Lions Entertainment, MCA Records)

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Mila J - Mila J will be releasing her solo debut, M.I.L.A., next week but she got her start as part of two singing groups, Gyrl and Dame Four. Gyrl was signed to producer Chris Stokes, who launched the careers of B2K and Immature, who she toured with back in the day.(Photos from left: Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images for Three Lions Entertainment, MCA Records)

Lupe Fiasco - Prior to becoming a conscious emcee, Lupe Fiasco used to be a D-Boy rhymer from Chicago with a group called Da Pak. The group was signed to Epic Records and had a minor hit called "Armpit" in 2000.(Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

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Lupe Fiasco - Prior to becoming a conscious emcee, Lupe Fiasco used to be a D-Boy rhymer from Chicago with a group called Da Pak. The group was signed to Epic Records and had a minor hit called "Armpit" in 2000.(Photo by Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)

Missy Elliott - Missy Elliott entered the game as part of the R&B girl group Sista with the single "Brand Nu" back in 1993. Signed to Devante of Jodeci's label, their debut, 4 All The Sistas Around The World, never saw the light of day because of Jodeci's inner turmoil and behind-the-scenes drama with the label. Missy went for self with her rapping and writing and the rest is her-story.Photos from left: Bryan Steffy/WireImage, Elektra)

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Missy Elliott - Missy Elliott entered the game as part of the R&B girl group Sista with the single "Brand Nu" back in 1993. Signed to Devante of Jodeci's label, their debut, 4 All The Sistas Around The World, never saw the light of day because of Jodeci's inner turmoil and behind-the-scenes drama with the label. Missy went for self with her rapping and writing and the rest is her-story.Photos from left: Bryan Steffy/WireImage, Elektra)

Luke James Wants to Work With Spike Lee - We already knew that Luke James was a phenomenal singer, but he may have the acting chops as well. The Louisiana native sat with Ebony magazine to discuss his new album and revealed a dream of working with Spike Lee. “I love the honesty of his movies, from Jungle Fever to Mo’ Betta Blues. I would love to do something of that sort, something that’s true and honest and meaningful. Even if it’s a biopic, y’know?” Check out the rest of the interview here. (Photo: Brad Barket/BET/Getty Images for BET)

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Luke James - Luke James paid his dues as a hit songwriter for the likes of Chris Brown and Justin Bieber and singing backup for Tyrese before launching his own career, but before all that he sang with his New Orleans homeboys Q and Tah in an R&B trio named Upskale.(Photo: Brad Barket/BET/Getty Images for BET)

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Donell Jones - Donell Jones's smooth vocals first appeared with his group Porshe on the track "Make You Feel Really Good," from DJ Eddie F and the Untouchables' compilation album, Let's Get It On, in 1994. Heavy D's DJ felt Donell was more of a solo talent and he went on to be exactly where he wanna be.  (Photo: Arnold Turner/WireImage.com)

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Donell Jones - Donell Jones's smooth vocals first appeared with his group Porshe on the track "Make You Feel Really Good," from DJ Eddie F and the Untouchables' compilation album, Let's Get It On, in 1994. Heavy D's DJ felt Donell was more of a solo talent and he went on to be exactly where he wanna be.  (Photo: Arnold Turner/WireImage.com)

Kanye West - Sure his rants make headlines, but Kanye West is still one of music's elite showman. There's no doubting how much passion 'Ye delivers live in concert, spitting his rhymes with absolute conviction. This category wouldn't be complete without him. Yeezus!(Photo: Peter Kramer/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)

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Kanye West - Kanye first put on for Chicago as part of the 4-man crew the Go Getters. The group also consisted of former G.O.O.D. Music emcee GLC as well as Timmy G and Arrowstar. Kanye didn't abandon his friends although the group fazed out. GLC appeared on the Ye's tracks "Spaceship" and "Drive Slow."(Photo: Peter Kramer/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images)

R. Kelly - R. Kelly first sang his smooth vocals as part of the Chicago-based group M.G.M. (Mentally Gifted Men) and had minor success with the single "Why U Wanna Play Me." Rob and the group signed with Jive in 1991 but after finding out R was being paid more, they balked and were replaced with Public Announcement. It's actually M.G.M. that sang on the debut, Born Into the '90s, and their name was replaced on the album cover with P.A.(Photos from left: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images, Tavdash Records)

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R. Kelly - R. Kelly first sang his smooth vocals as part of the Chicago-based group M.G.M. (Mentally Gifted Men) and had minor success with the single "Why U Wanna Play Me." Rob and the group signed with Jive in 1991 but after finding out R was being paid more, they balked and were replaced with Public Announcement. It's actually M.G.M. that sang on the debut, Born Into the '90s, and their name was replaced on the album cover with P.A.(Photos from left: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images, Tavdash Records)

Destiny's Child - Beyoncé was destined to be a star and her pops Mathew Knowles saw to that. But before Mrs. Carter and Destiny's Child had you saying their name, they were a singing/rapping bunch of young ladies called Girls Tyme. Latavia and Kelly made the cut but Matthew's knife was even sharp back then as Nina, Nicky and Ashley didn't. Girls Tyme did appear together, however, on Star Search back in the day (as seen at the beginning of Bey's "Flawless" video).(Photo: Nicky J. Sims/Redferns)

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Destiny's Child - Beyoncé was destined to be a star and her pops Mathew Knowles saw to that. But before Mrs. Carter and Destiny's Child had you saying their name, they were a singing/rapping bunch of young ladies called Girls Tyme. Latavia and Kelly made the cut but Matthew's knife was even sharp back then as Nina, Nicky and Ashley didn't. Girls Tyme did appear together, however, on Star Search back in the day (as seen at the beginning of Bey's "Flawless" video).(Photo: Nicky J. Sims/Redferns)

Meek Mill - Meek Mill ran the streets of Philadelphia with his lyrical crew the Bloodhoundz and often spits about his former squad in his rhymes. The crew also consisted of Young Pooh, Mel Luv, and Dat N--- Lil and they had the City of Brotherly Love on fire at one point with their mixtapes and freestyles. (Photos from left: Rick Diamond/BET/Getty Images for BET, Headshot Records)

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Meek Mill - Meek Mill ran the streets of Philadelphia with his lyrical crew the Bloodhoundz and often spits about his former squad in his rhymes. The crew also consisted of Young Pooh, Mel Luv, and Dat N--- Lil and they had the City of Brotherly Love on fire at one point with their mixtapes and freestyles. (Photos from left: Rick Diamond/BET/Getty Images for BET, Headshot Records)

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Nicole Scherzinger - Eden's Crush, an ensemble assembled through a talent competition, was Nicole Scherzinger's first group before taking off with the Pussycat Dolls. They released one album called Popstars in 2001. (Photo: Gregg DeGuire/WireImage)

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Nicole Scherzinger - Eden's Crush, an ensemble assembled through a talent competition, was Nicole Scherzinger's first group before taking off with the Pussycat Dolls. They released one album called Popstars in 2001. (Photo: Gregg DeGuire/WireImage)

Usher  - Usher earned his stripes as part of a five-member boy band/rap group called NuBeginning in his hometown of Chattanooga, Tenn. Not bad sounding at all, the group released one album independently in 1993 filled with teenage crush ballads before his mom took him to Atlanta in search of solo stardom. The album was re-released nationally in 2002 as NuBeginning Featuring Usher Raymond IV  to capitalize off his success.(Photo: Hip-O)

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Usher  - Usher earned his stripes as part of a five-member boy band/rap group called NuBeginning in his hometown of Chattanooga, Tenn. Not bad sounding at all, the group released one album independently in 1993 filled with teenage crush ballads before his mom took him to Atlanta in search of solo stardom. The album was re-released nationally in 2002 as NuBeginning Featuring Usher Raymond IV  to capitalize off his success.(Photo: Hip-O)

Ne-Yo: October 18 - The famed singer/songwriter is penning those monster hits at 32.(Photo: Bennett Raglin/BET/Getty Images for BET)

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Ne-Yo - Before resurrecting R&B and becoming a platinum-selling singer and songwriter, Ne-Yo went by the name of GoGo and was a lead singer in the Las Vegas-based group Envy. The group appeared on amateur night at Showtime at the Apollo with Steve Harvey as well as MTV's The Cut.(Photo: Bennett Raglin/BET/Getty Images for BET)

Made-You-Looks Award (Best Hip Hop Style): Nicki Minaj - With a newer, sexier and more sophisticated look, Nicki Minaj has had heads turning all this year as her zany style has evolved into something a tad more demure that the masses love! (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for iHeartMedia)

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Nicki Minaj - Before reigning over at Young Money, Nicki Minaj was part of a New York rap group called Hood$tars. The group also featured Nicki's hype man and rumored boyfriend Scaff Breezy as well as members Loustar and Seven Up. Loustar is the son of Bowlegged Lou, of the famed production crew and '80s R&B group Full Force, who mentored Nicki and the group early on. (Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty Images for iHeartMedia)