Behind The Music

April 10th, 2012 | 5:30 pm by Mark Graham (@unclegrambo)

Behind The Music Sneak Peek: Find Out How Akon Overcame A Difficult Childhood To Become A Global Phenomenon

It’s been an incredible season of Behind The Music so far, with powerful episodes featuring the likes of Aaliyah, T-Pain, Game, Pitbull, and Nelly. This week, we put the spotlight on Akon, the multi-platinum recording artist who spent his formative years in Senegal.

In this exclusive preview of the show’s first act, we trace Akon’s roots growing up as the son of a famous musician, which led him to meet a teenage Michael Jackson when he was only 5 years-old. His world got turned upside down when he moved to America at the age of 7, where he was treated like an outcast and bullied because of his heritage, which ultimately led him down some dark paths as a youngster. However, he overcame the odds and turned his life around, eventually hooking up with Wyclef Jean and The Fugees. As Akon himself puts it in the clip above, “I love the fact that music is the vehicle to allow me to do what I’m doin’, because that’s all I’m in for: Changing the world.”

You can watch Behind The Music: Akon when it airs tomorrow night, Wednesday, April 11, at 9 p.m. ET/PT.
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April 4th, 2012 | 5:30 pm by Mark Graham (@unclegrambo)

Watch This Special Sneak Peek Of Tomorrow Night’s Behind The Music: Aaliyah

In this week’s episode of Behind The Music, we takes a look back at the brief yet remarkable career of Aaliyah, whose life was cut tragically short at the tender age of 22 when her plane crashed shortly after takeoff in the Bahamas.

This episode, which originally aired back in 2001, has been updated with brand new and never before seen interviews, including her friend and mentor, Missy Elliott. This special sneak preview of the entire first act of the show features some incredible footage of Aaliyah, who couldn’t have been more than 10 at the time, singing a haunting cover of Gloria Estefan’s “Anything For You,” as well as a candid interview with Aaliyah herself about how her Star Search molded her into the performer that she would one day become.

Tune-in to VH1 tomorrow night, Thursday, April 5 to catch the full episode of Behind The Music: Aaliyah when it airs at 9 p.m. ET/PT.

March 27th, 2012 | 4:00 pm by Mark Graham (@unclegrambo)

Behind The Music: T-Pain’s Adolescent Struggles Get Resolved Thanks To A Strong Father And A Discarded Keyboard

The first few episodes of the latest season of Behind The Music have been hip hop focused, and this week is no exception. After profiling Pitbull and Game, this Thursday night we’ll profile Florida autotune whiz T-Pain. In this special sneak preview, you’ll get a taste of what life was like for T-Pain (real name: Faheem Najm) growing up in Tallahassee, Florida. You’ll see how a shy kid who experienced what he himself described as a “terrible” childhood broke out of his rut, thanks to his strong father (who enrolled him in a program called “Homeboys To Men”) and a keyboard that was salvaged from the side of the road.

Be sure to tune in to Behind The Music on Thursday, March 22nd at 9/8c on VH1.
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March 21st, 2012 | 11:21 am by Kat George (@kat_george)

Behind The Music Explores Game’s Misunderstood Hip Hop Persona

Behind The Music is taking a look at the complex life of hip hop artist Game. In this exclusive sneak peek, you can get an idea of where the artist came from, and where he’s going. In the opening scenes of the sneak, Game proposes to his girlfriend at the school she works at, and says he’s growing out of his tumultuous past; “Day by day I have altered my lifestyle into who I am now… A better person, a better friend, a better father, a better everything.” Including interviews with his abusive father and abused mother, the sneak paints a pretty bleak picture of Game’s childhood. The story is absolutely heart wrenching, and Game’s story is a complete tear jerker, and filled with pain and sadness. Covering his dangerous teenage years, the documentary would be much more difficult to watch if we didn’t already know there was a happy ending for Game, who found his way through the chaos of his gang life, including his violent beef with 50 Cent, to forge a successful career as an artist. You can check out the promo trailer after the jump.

Be sure to tune in to Behind The Music on Thursday, March 22nd at 9/8c on VH1.

March 8th, 2012 | 2:10 pm by Kat George (@kat_george)

Behind The Music: Pitbull Talks About Being Discovered By Lil Jon

In Behind The Music, Pitbull talks candidly to us about his phenomenal rise to fame, and in this little sneak peek you can find out how he was first discovered by Lil Jon. Speaking about the first time he heard Pitbull on the radio, Lil Jon says, “I was like, that is crazy, because I hadn’t really heard any Spanglish records like that.” Listening to the two guys speaking exclusively on the meeting that followed is a funny montage — juxtaposing Lil Jon’s beeped out swears with Pitbull’s boyish confusion and excitement makes for a giggle-inducing moment that sort of makes you feel like you could be friends with either of these guys. Pitbull describes Lil Jon approaching him with a twinkle in his eye and a giant smile across his face, “[Lil Jon said] “I don’t know what you’re saying, but you’re snapping shorty”… And in my head I’m like I dunno what he saying, what is he saying?” The two then go on to talk about laying down Pitbull’s first verse in the studio, which was adopted on Lil Jon’s album, and the giddiness as Pitbull recalls the experience is downright infectious.

Tune in to VH1 for the premiere of Pitbull’s Behind The Music on March 15th at 9/8c.

February 17th, 2011 | 11:27 am by Rich Juzwiak

Behind The Music: Nelly Premieres March 7

Nelly’s life an career will get the Behind the Music treatment when his entry in the series hits VH1 on Monday, March 7 at 10/9c. And check it: he’s at long last opening up about his relationship with Ashanti, who’ll also appear on the special. Full details in the press release below:

VH1 – ??s five-time Emmy-nominated series, Behind the Music returns with three-time Grammy winner and hip-hop superstar Nelly on Monday, March 7 at 10 PM. Behind the Music: Nelly will examine the hip-hop artist – ??s triumphs and tribulations over his decade-long music career, as well as his rise to stardom from humble beginnings. Nelly candidly opens up about his life as a musician, actor and businessman and, for the first time, publicly addresses the death of his sister and his relationship with singer Ashanti, who is also interviewed for the special. Hear the poignant tale of Nelly – ??s life through in-depth interviews with his closest friends, family, and the person who knows it best – ?? Nelly himself.