Born John Stephens, Legend started singing in church and tickling the ivories at age 5 and launched his solo career after working as a session musician for the likes of Lauryn Hill, Alicia Keys, Jay-Z, and Kanye West. Get Lifted (2004) was his first official studio release, followed by Once Again (2006) and Evolver (2008). For Wake Up (2010), the artist was joined by hip-hop combo The Roots. The album features covers of socially-aware songs, like Donny Hathaway's Little Ghetto Boy. Legend also dedicates much of his time to various philanthropic projects. In 2007, he launched the Show Me Campaign, a non-profit organization that fights extreme poverty.