Robin Thicke

As the son of vocalist Gloria Loring and Growing Pains' Alan Thicke, Robin Thicke grew up in the suburbs of Los Angeles during the '80s and '90s. Thicke credits his dad for motivating him to immerse himself in all kinds of pop music. The elder Thicke is popular for writing the theme songs for The Facts of Life and Diff'rent Strokes, so naturally Robin had his head in music. He was an average student; by 13, he was writing songs. Three years later, he befriended the president of Bad Boy Entertainment, André Harrell, and struck a deal with Interscope. Thicke began writing hits for the likes of Christina Aguilera, Mya, Brandy, Marc Anthony, and Jordan Knight. Still, this artist in the making was dying for his own chance. By 2000, Thicke, who was in his mid-twenties, made his dream come true. Thicke issued his debut album, Cherry Blue Skies, in fall 2002. It was later retitled Beautiful World and prepped for a massive media push the following spring. Two years later, Pharrell Williams joined Thicke for the recording of "Wanna Love You Girl." Their collaboration also led Thicke to a contract with Williams' own imprint, Star Trak. Thicke's sophomore album, The Evolution of Robin Thicke, arrived on the label in late 2006. Certified platinum by the RIAA in March 2007, the album made to number five on the Billboard 200 while topping their Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The more focused and refined Something Else, a 2008 release, peaked at number three on the Billboard 200 and R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts. Sex Therapy, led by its Polow da Don-produced title track, was issued during the tail end of 2009 and narrowly missed the top of the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Love After War, Thicke's fifth studio album, followed in late 2011. ~ MacKenzie Wilson, Rovi