She was named after the subway line that carried her every morning from the Bronx to Manhattan
Jennifer Lopez she was about to turn 30, perhaps a little late by music industry standards, but her dedication and talent were her hallmarks. It had been a few years since the Bronx-born Lopez had quit dancing on TV shows to become an up-and-coming Hollywood actress. Her turn as the hapless “Queen of Tejano Music”, Selena Quintanilla, was her best route to a career as a performer. But Lopez – whose own voice was discarded in the final cut of the film – decided to pursue an international singing career instead of acting in Hollywood.
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Her successful but controversial first album, “On the 6”was the first step to becoming one of the 10 most successful women in the history of the music industry, with a fortune estimated at $400 million.
When Lopez released the “If You Had My Love” it had been over a year since the last time a woman topped the charts (Britney Spears with ‘Baby One More Time’). The singer repeated the feat just a month after the song’s release. In addition to becoming one of the songs of the summer of 1999, it cemented Lopez’s privileged status, which she maintains to this day. The “Waiting for Tonight”the “Let’s Get Loud” (in collaboration with Gloria Estefan) became major hits from an album that was praised by critics and the public, thanks to its mix of pop, disco, R&B, hip-hop and what the artist herself called “latin soul” music. Jennifer Lopez has never tried to hide her roots (she wore the Puerto Rican flag at the launch of her first album and, 20 years later, at her appearance at the Super Bowl) and her humble origins.
The album’s title refers to the subway line (the 6) he used to travel daily from the Bronx to Manhattan in search of living the American dream. “I had never recorded music. I had only sung in concerts and plays. It was one of those things where ignorance was bliss. I knew I was going to make an album, but when you’re so young you don’t realize how big it is“, remembers the famous singer. She managed to cement her place at the Grammy Awards just months after the LP’s release. There she wore the iconic green printed Versace dress with the slit, which inspired the creation of Google images.
Besides her then-boyfriend, rapper Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, aka Puff Daddy, the almighty Tommy Mottola was the spiritual and financial mastermind behind J.Lo’s leap into the limelight. At the helm of record label Sony Music, the executive had helped Mariah Carey – from whom he had just split – rise to fame.
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Mottola’s love affairs caused the first major controversy surrounding Lopez’s first album. In fact, several sources claimed that the estranged mogul had stolen tunes and samples of future songs from his ex-wife, who had left the label after their split, and given them to the singer. A few years later, when Carey was asked what she thought of Lopez, she made history with her response: “I don’t know her.” The rivalry between them continues to preoccupy scandal-mongering magazines today.
Executives’ obsession with giving Lopez the best songs even led them to “take away” potential hits from other artists, especially African-American musicians just starting out in the industry. Additionally, Lopez’s vocal abilities have always been questioned. “Forget technique. Close your eyes and believe every word you sing,” notes Rooney in “Billboard Book of Number 1 Hits.”
Indeed, singers who have gone on to illustrious careers have also admitted to lending their voices to some of J.Lo’s hits. For example, despite not being credited as a singer, Christina Milian sings the entire chorus on the song “Play” (Milian also wrote the song’s lyrics). The same thing happened with singer Ashanti on Lopez’s singles “I’m Real” and “Ain’t it Funny.”
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Lopez’s reputation was almost ruined by her romantic relationship with Combs. In 1999, at the height of her popularity, she was arrested after witnessing a nightclub shooting in which three people were injured. Both she and the rapper were taken into custody after he fled the “crime scene” with a gun. Although they later reached an out-of-court settlement to avoid trial, the press reported at the time that Lopez spent up to fourteen hours in a Manhattan police station. The artist ended her relationship with Combs in 2001.
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But when did the incomprehensible global obsession with her bottoms begin? With her next work, the album ‘J.Lo’, she became the first woman to have the most sales of the time and starred in the film with the most views at the box office (The Wedding Planner). Today, at 53 years old, Lopez continues to charm her fans…
Source :Skai
I am Frederick Tuttle, who works in 247 News Agency as an author and mostly cover entertainment news. I have worked in this industry for 10 years and have gained a lot of experience. I am a very hard worker and always strive to get the best out of my work. I am also very passionate about my work and always try to keep up with the latest news and trends.
