BOBBY BROWN

Former group: New Edition (1978-85) As Boston’s answer to the Jackson 5, New Edition owned hearts and charts in the early ’ 80s. But Brown was the group’s rebel, and he had bigger ambitions for both his music and his lifestyle. Notable songs: “Candy Girl,” “Cool It Now” Solo achievements (1986 to present): When Brown went solo, he quickly left the R&B world to become a mainstream star thanks not just to his harder-edged solo sound, but because of his tumultuous relationship with Whitney Houston. Their volatile marriage and his use of drugs and alcohol meant that he gradually became known for all the wrong reasons. Notable songs: “My Prerogative,” “Humpin’ Around”