What the stars did before they hit it big

Ebony, June, 2004

Growing up in the projects of Philadelphia, EVE formed a female rap duo called EDJP while still trying to make the grade in high school. Not sure what to do after graduation, and tight on cash, she reportedly turned to the fast-money world of stripping--for two months. Former rapper Ma$e (who left the business to become a minister) reportedly met her at the Bronx strip club where she worked and encouraged her to go back to music. "I stripped; so what!" Eve told EBONY in the August 2001 issue. "I'm doing better for myself now, and that's all that matters." Much better. She eventually released her first disc on the Ruff Ryders label, and today is one of the top performers in hip-hop. The Grammy winner has expanded her horizons and has become a top TV and movie actress.

EVERYONE has to start somewhere. Whether you're chasing the dream of a music career or trying to make it in Hollywood, every success story has a beginning. Some celebrities started out at the bottom, making deliveries and cadging for tips. Others were forced to work marginal jobs as waitresses, even as strippers. But the stars featured on the following pages have persevered and climbed to the top, and are proving, among other things, that with hard work dedication and belief in yourself, fairy tales can come true.

CEDRIC THE ENTERTAINER was a favorite at local comedy clubs in his hometown of St. Louis before he got his big break. But he also had a day job--as an insurance claims adjuster for State Farm Insurance. It was while studying mass communications at Southeast Missouri State University that he discovered his passion for comedy. He moonlighted at regional comedy clubs before getting his big break in 1993, as host of the BET's Comic View. He has gone on to star in films such as this summer's Johnson Family Vacation.

MISSY ELLIOTT grew up poor in Portsmouth, Virginia, living in a rat-infested shack for a time as a youngster, according to the popular VH-1 show, Driven. Ever hear of an all-female rap group called Sista? If you haven't, it's probably because the group, in which Missy got her start, recorded a disc, but had a falling out with the record label bigwigs and the CD was never released. But Missy, who was described as "a child genius," continued to chase stardom. Her first success came as a songwriter and hit producer with partner Timbaland before she became a Grammy-winning solo artist.

Hip-hop superstar and Beyonce's boyfriend JAY-Z grew up in one of Brooklyn's most violent housing projects. The co-founder of Roc-A-Fella, Rocawear and multiplatinum artist eventually gave up hustling on the streets and found huge success rapping on the mic. His lyrics repeatedly refer to his time on the streets. He has not only become one of rap's superstars, but his business ventures, including his interest in buying an NBA team, have earned him respect as a top entrepreneur.

The success of hip-hop mogul SEAN (P. DIDDY) COMBS is a hip-hop fairy tale. As a Howard University student, he hopped the train every weekend to New York for an unpaid internship with Uptown Records. That internship turned into the chance of a lifetime, with P. Diddy eventually leaving school to develop talent at the label. He then started his own label, launching the careers of some of hip-hop's brightest stars. He made his first million by the time he was 19. But where did that entrepreneurial spirit begin? Perhaps it was the day the 11-year-old convinced a paper route manager to give him a job even though the minimum age, at the time, was 12. He continued to develop that business savvy at Howard, promoting concerts and throwing parties. Today, he is a multiple-award-winning producer, performer, restaurateur and fashion icon.

Chart-topping rapper NELLY grew up in a rough St. Louis neighborhood and reportedly was drawn to a life of hustling on the streets before making it big in 2000 with the CD Country Grammar. Nelly, who was also once atop baseball prospect, ended up forming a group, the St. Lunatics, with his friends. He has sold millions of records and has his own fashion label.

TAMALA JONES began her acting career began her acting career as a teenager, scoring her first commercial at 17, The talented Los Angeles native reportedly ended up working for $4,25 an hour at a sandwich shop because, she has been quoted as saying, she didn't handle her money well enough, She told another interviewer that she didn't last long at the sandwich shop because she was too generous with the ingredients, She got back into acting and has wowed audiences with numerous roles in TV and film, including Head of State and The Tracy Morgan Show.

Soulful singer KELLY PRICE grew up in Queens, N.Y., singing in her grandfather's church. Outside the church, her big voice led to backup singing roles for Mariah Carey and Aretha Franklin. The next step was to go solo with her debut CD, Soul of a Woman.