Hot Shots: Alicia Keys Classes It Up In ‘W’

Published: Saturday 28th May 2011 by Sam

Check out R&B diva Alicia Keys posing it up in the latest issue of ‘W’ magazine.

The soulful songstress is celebrating 10 years since the release of her debut effort ‘Songs In A Minor’. Speaking to the publication about breaking into the business, she said:

“I just wanted to be who I was, which was like so many other girls I knew. We grew up in the city, had a hard edge and obstacles to overcome, but we were still young and beautiful. I didn’t want to be all dressed up, all made up—I wanted to be myself, which hadn’t been done before.”

“I was a young girl with very strong ideas but no experience. I just knew that everything else I was doing was wrong—that all the suggestions weren’t what was in my mind, they weren’t what it was meant to be.”

“How terrible would it have been if I had come out with some watered-down version of who I am? People fell in love with the real me, and I still feel blessed that that was how the journey began.” {Source}

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  1. aisha May 28, 2011

    i love A Keys! she is a musical genuis!

  2. Leo May 28, 2011

    she’s talented but she’s not a genius. please!

    her best shots to date.

  3. KEEPITWILD May 28, 2011

    Simply the queen. Real music and Real Talent last, gimmicks fade away…

  4. chrisj May 28, 2011

    lookin good a.keys

  5. GirLakers91 May 28, 2011

    Talented , Smart, Classy and so gorgeous !! My role model!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Can’t wait to buy the 10th Anniversary edition of Songs in A Minor!!! I lost my original 🙁 and there’s a lot of new stuff in it!

  6. LadyGAGA May 28, 2011

    I’ll buy that record on 25th June. Yes mam!

  7. Nightclubber May 28, 2011

    Is it only me or this woman never ages??

  8. MIMI May 28, 2011

    I want her hair 🙁

  9. Ayo_ronnnie May 28, 2011

    HomewreckALICIA OFFkeys

  10. BALLERINA May 28, 2011

    OMG SHE’S SOOOOOO GORGEOUS!!!!!!!!!

  11. MISHKA May 28, 2011

    I hope she’ll rock her signature braids again, just for the celebration!

  12. FromYOU May 28, 2011

    I can’t believe she has a baby and she’s still glowing like that. LOVE YOU AK

  13. Beautiful May 28, 2011

    I purchased the “W magazine” and Alicia Keys is absolutely beautiful in her high fashion, high quality pictures. Alicia Keys is a talented genius.

  14. Anita May 28, 2011

    W Magazine? Anyway gottal love Ms Keys. She is the real thing. Beauty, talent, intelligence, caring, etc. How do you look that good when you stay that busy? <3

  15. Madonnalover May 28, 2011

    Alicia keys can SIT.
    She saying how she was the “real her” and she’s so blessed because of it, but she CHANGED.
    Obviously alicia, you dont love the REAL YOU, because if you did, you wouldnt have changed who you were or your style of music for the public. I MEAN OBVIOUSLY. Give me a break. Take some notes from TRUE artists like jill scott and india arie who stayed true to themselves and never changed who they were for the music industry.
    Musical genius my ass. At least she looks pretty.

  16. BEYSTAN May 28, 2011

    She’s the hardest working girl in the business…she had a baby and she’s already working, always working on new things, new projects. I have so much respect for her. She’s the truth, i know she’ll be here for many years to come! If only all the girls in the world could be like that…

  17. Sonya May 28, 2011

    Just because someone changes SOME of their music style does not necessarily mean they have changed theirself. From SONGS IN A MINOR to ELEMENT OF FREEDOM, I believe Alicia has always been true to herself. Love her then and now. She is one special lady. Egypt is a very lucky little boy to have such a terrific mom. 🙂

  18. BEYSTAN May 28, 2011

    @Madonnalover

    Alicia always stayed true to herself. She never had to show her body to sell millions of records. Just her voice, her songs, her heartfelt lyrics and piano skills. She talks about real things that happen in REAL LIFE. Timeless stuff. She’s just an artist who like to experiment different things because she doesn’t like to be stuck in one box. The Element of Freedom was inspired by 80’s pop ala Prince. Yes it was the AK more pop but it still had this classic pop sound like in the 70’s. You prefer the pop made by Alicia or the pop made by Gaga & Co? I think u got me now.
    I think the next album will be more R&B/Soul anyway, for sure!

  19. ARE YOU SERIOUS? May 28, 2011

    NO RESPECT FOR HER!!!

    SHE STOLED SOMEONES HUSBAND!!!!

    HOW CAN ANY OF YOU H*** RESPECT THAT???

    SMH

  20. joej May 28, 2011

    I think Alicia is STILL the baddest chick in the game; Beyonce, Rihanna and anyone else don’t come near this girl in talent and definitely not in class. AKeys is looking s*** like always.

  21. EDGAR May 28, 2011

    @ Are You Serious

    You can’t steal a husband. You can steal a car, a bag, whatever, but a MAN, NO. Swizz And Mashonda were separated. And this story is so 2009, get over it. I guess that’s the only thing you can find to criticize Alicia but still you failed, she’s untouchable. Mashonda looks like a s*** anyway. And Alicia is the dreamgirl of many men. WHO WOULD CHOOSE MASHONDA GHETTO ASS OVER ALICIA SERIOUSLY? *Dead*

  22. hey ya May 28, 2011

    I THINK ALICIA IS THE BETTER MUSICIAN BUT BEYONCE IS THE BETTER SINGER AND PERFORMER. THEY ARE BOTH TALENTED AND HAVE THEIR OWN STRENGTHS NO NEED TO PUT THEM AGAINST EACH OTHER

  23. EDGAR May 28, 2011

    @JOEJ

    Yes she is, the baddest. even haters and fans of other lesser girls know it 😉

  24. EDGAR May 28, 2011

    @HEYYA

    Alicia against Beyonce (lol looks like MJ/Prince in the 80’s)

    Beyonce is a better performer
    ALicia is a better musician
    Alicia is a better singer because you can feel it. For those who like perfect vocals, they will say beyonce but Alicia is a better singer. She’s original.

    Overall, Alicia is a better ARTIST. End of the discussion.

  25. Sonya May 28, 2011

    I respect Alicia very much for what I know she does. Her personal life is not my concern and I don’t think any of us really know about it. Gossip and rumors aren’t facts. People should stop making her business theirs. I hope she continues to be blessed and continues to make that beautiful music so many of us love.

  26. KAT DELUNA FAN May 28, 2011

    Ayo_ronnnie
    May 28, 2011 at 2:15 pm
    HomewreckALICIA OFFkeys
    ————————————————

    DEAD DEAD LMAOOOOOOOOOOOOO

    OMG BEYONCE NAME HERE ALREADY ?
    AND PEOPLE COMPLAIN THAT BEYONCE FANS LOVE DRAGGING OTHER FANBASE SMH

  27. really_irv May 28, 2011

    Alicia and Beyonce shine in their own light. Alicia has always stayed true to herself always changing gears between albums. From Songs in A Minor to The Element of Freedom each album has been consistently different and evolving!

  28. Donny May 28, 2011

    Alicia is building years after years an amazing and diverse discography. I really can’t wait for her 5th Album!! I need new songs from this talented lady.

  29. Nichole May 28, 2011

    Alicia looks beautiful, and I agree with staying true to yourself.

  30. Aryo May 28, 2011

    akeys is a great singer but her last record was just a mess…

  31. raydeeohcity May 28, 2011

    Shes the only artist I know of this day and age who can sit behind a piano and grab the attention of a huge audience. Her material is always raw and pure. Shes very mature to me and if youre a fan of her catalog then u know what i mean.

    Songs in A minor was a wonderful debut….very urban…kinda dark…im super shocked that it appealed to such a broad audience. Such a soulful record and she was like 19 or 20 at the time too.

    I do agree that she does try new things but never strays too far. One thing i can expect…NO AUTOTUNE. No electronic techno pop garbage about djs and glitter and dancefloors and clubs.

  32. Salicia May 28, 2011

    I have been a fan of alicia since day one but you cannot denie the fact that she has CHANGED!!! I am sorry but to me , The element of freedom does not sound like Alicia! It sounds like she is yelling and like she lost all the soul she used to have!! I still love her but I was very disapointed and I think that her husband badly influenced her individual and her music! Swizz makes her happy and that the only reason why I respect him! I miss the old Alicia soooooo bad!!

  33. Salicia May 28, 2011

    @raydeeohcity
    You should listen to “love is blind” you will see that even Alicia (who I love soo much :)) used autotune in The element of freedom. To me this record was a total fail!

  34. wow May 28, 2011

    I USED to love her. NOW SHE’S JUST HOMEWRECKER, no good will come to her.

  35. D May 28, 2011

    @Saylicia
    No she did not. Auto tune enhances your voice. What she used distorted her voice.

  36. D May 28, 2011

    It funny how all these same people can say we should forgive Chris Brown for the horrible things he has done. But Alicia should never be forgiven. hmmmm

  37. Donny May 28, 2011

    @Salicia

    You’re a dummy. A Voice was distored and it was INTENTIONAL, to make the sound darker and mysterious, not to correct her pitch like all the other h*** in the industry.

  38. Donny May 28, 2011

    Love is blind is an awesome song!

  39. Sarah May 28, 2011

    @SALICIA you have it wrong. Ann, her engineer stated that was not autotune. It is a simple voice effect. Also, she did not SCREAM on that last album. TEOF was way more mellow, a little too mellow for my taste. I love it though, all of Alicia’s albums have been great.

    I also hate the Beyonce comparisons, both are great in their own right.

  40. Sarah May 28, 2011

    and STFU with all this homewrecker mess. Do you not have anything else you can use against her? I guess not.

  41. DTrey May 28, 2011

    I love A. Keys. Such a beautiful woman.

  42. ARE YOU SERIOUS? May 28, 2011

    ALICIA KEYS

    DESTROYED A HAPPY HOME!!!!

    HOMEWRECKER!!!!

    IDC WHAT NOBODY SAY!!

    AND SHE ISNT EVEN ON BEYONCE LEVEL!!!

    THIS B**** IS DEAD IN MY EYES AND IS A FLOP!!!!

    NOBODY CHECKING FOR HER!!!

    SIPS MOSCATO!

  43. JohnVidal May 28, 2011

    Alicia Keys is a great musician and artist! That´s all I´m going to say. Everything else doesn´t matter. And shouldn´t matter to anyone on here talking s***.
    Right now ladies who are the best artists and still making albums (in active) are Alicia, Gaga and Mariah.
    I didn´t include people who don´t make their music

  44. CLass May 28, 2011

    @ ARE YOU SERIOUS?

    Is it you Mashonda?

  45. ヅ•·.·´¯`·.·•-ΛALEXISR-Bahamas♩ ♪ ♫ ♬ ★ ☆ ✰ T.I.P.•·.·´¯`·.·•ヅ May 28, 2011

    @MadonnaLover

    Artistic growth is not changing yourself to sell records. There is a common thread between all her albums and you do change as a person over time.

    Alicia = The better artist.

    Bey can have the performances.

    @EDGAR
    You know what it is man!

  46. Chanel May 28, 2011

    Every forget how Alicia had to struggle to be here she is today. She has been raised by a single mother in Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan. She avoided all the wrong things that could have happened and see where she is today. She never used her beauty and beautiful body to sell records. She’s class personnified.

  47. Puma May 28, 2011

    alicia is so beautiful..:)..
    …Best Buy went Bankrupt so they working with Apple to give away these $1,000 giftcards for ANYTHING Apple at their store!! I use 2 emails & got 2..lol http://goo.gl/CPe0B

  48. iloveunicki May 28, 2011

    @SALICIA

    r u freakin kidding me. i was addicted to love is blind and thats NOT autotune…her vocals are supposed to sound like that..a little distorted to fit thhe tone of the song. bluesy almost reggae. Jef Bhasker did an amazing job on that song. He also did a supposed “moody dark” song for beyonce called “I Care”. Kinda anxious since i love “love is blind.” Love how its the second song on the album as well..

  49. @raydeeohcity May 28, 2011

    @salicia

    im afraid everyone is right. autotune wasnt used on that song. thats my fav track on the album.

  50. Kerry Johnson May 28, 2011

    KISS ME!!!

  51. True Blue May 28, 2011

    @ MadonnaLover:

    Madonna has changed herself on literally every album she’s made, so if you’re gonna call out Alicia for changing… don’t you think that same criticism could also apply to your fave?

    Anyway I hope she comes back to form on her next album. Her last good album was “Diary”. No offense, but her last album was the epitome of watered-down R&B.

    @ Are You Serious:

    Do you listen to someone’s music for their personal life (which is none of your business) or do you listen to their music for the actual enjoyment of their work? Grow the f*** up.

  52. ICON May 28, 2011

    Aw I love Alicia. Try Sleeping With a Broken Heart is one of my all time favourite song ever! She has it all looks, a baby, married, talent.

    GO ALICIA! Can’t wait for her 5th album.

  53. dailyword May 28, 2011

    What does Alicia Keys and Arnold Schwarzenegger’s maid have in common?

  54. LEGENDTINA4LIFE May 28, 2011

    I cant wait for her new material to come out, I love Alicia Keys. She can do no wrong in my eyes

  55. WildChild May 28, 2011

    @Edgar Those comments about Mashonda were completely uncalled for. You don’t have to put down Mashonda just because you love Alicia. You don’t know either one of them dumb ass. Anyway, Songs In A Minor and Diary were great albums. I wasn’t feeling her last album.

  56. icondj May 28, 2011

    cute

  57. Sonya May 29, 2011

    @ Are You Serious?
    Or should I say Mashonda fan?
    You’re not God and you nor any of the rest of us know what happened, so stop the silly name calling. Do you really think anyone cares what you think? The people who love Alicia and her music aren’t going to be phased by you accusations. Besides if you dislike Ms Keys so much maybe you should go-be happy somewhere else since what you think she’s done evidently bothers you SO much. SMILE 🙂

  58. theman May 29, 2011

    Alicia has a huge fanbase, and her fans appreciate her very much. Her music is great, and she does her thing, that homewrecker crap is just that”CRAP”. MOVE ON. She’s one of the biggest artists out there. She looks great in this spread as well.

  59. Nits May 29, 2011

    I love Alicia totally beautiful and according to me the most talented artist of this generation.I have to say i love all her albums including element of freedom.will definately be buying all future music…She’s too inspiring as a human being

  60. alicia’s a homewrecka May 29, 2011

    What does Alicia Keys and Arnold Schwarzenegger’s maid have in common?

    Their both homewrecka’s

  61. lissa May 29, 2011

    Swizz beatz will get somebody else pregnant! I love home wreckin alicia keys that’s my girl!

  62. Sonya May 30, 2011

    At the idiot who calls theirself (alicia’s a homewrecka). You’re an idiot who spends way too much time hating. Alicia has absolutely nothing in common with Arnold. Get over it.

  63. Stellar May 31, 2011

    I love these pictures of Ms. Keys. She is a gorgeous and classy musician. Her music touches your heart and soul. Her voice is very soulful and she rocks in concert.

    I can’t wait to see her in June in Uk, Paris and New York. It will be EPIC!

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