Pop Stars Before They Were Famous

It's difficult to imagine life before Bieber and Gaga, but what's even weirder is thinking of pop stars' lives before they hit it big. How fierce a rapper was Nicki Minaj before all the wigs? Was Rihanna always so "Hard"? How emo was Skrillex back when he was just Sonny Moore? Has Lady Gaga always had a thing for wearing inanimate objects on her head?

Here at Billboard.com, we have answers. We've compiled some of the better -- and better left alone -- footage of music's most popular acts before they hit it big. Watch how pageants, talent shows and less-than-successful boy bands and girl groups shaped your favorite stars.

Nicki Minaj, circa 2007

A couple of years before Lil Wayne signed her to the Cash Money/Young Money family and long before she was sitting next to Anna Wintour at New York Fashion Week, Nicki Minaj was living in Queens, rapping on the streets of New York. There are no pink wigs or synchronized "Super Bass" dancers in this video, just Minaj, thanking her fans and freestyling about life in the city and the questionable state of hip-hop.

Bruno Mars, 1992

When Bruno Mars was just six years old, he appeared in the Nicolas Cage-Sarah Jessica Parker comedy "Honeymoon in Vegas" as a miniature Elvis impersonator. Born Peter Hernandez, Bruno's musical family had him onstage, emulating the King by the time he was three.

Katy Perry, 2003

When Katy Perry started out, she had a blonde bob, sang Christian music and went by the name Katy Hudson. Before becoming the pop princess she is today, the "Teenage Dream" star went through a punk phase, dying her hair black and scoring a slot on the Warped Tour. In her video for "The Box," Katheryn (not yet Katy) Perry shows off her angst and a lot of black eyeliner. Oddly, cupcake bras and personified gummy bears are nowhere to be seen.

Selena Gomez & Demi Lovato, circa 2002

Before landing record contracts and starring roles on the Disney Channel, Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato met on the Texas set of "Barney," where the pint-sized pals sang, acted and even -- at the two-minute mark -- played the trumpet. After making it as Gianna and Angela on "Barney," both teens found stardom when their families moved to L.A. together.

Lady Gaga, 2006

Before she went " Gaga" and put pop music in its place, Stefani Germanotta got her start performing on the Lower East Side. Here, the singer looks more like a Flashdance extra than the "Just Dance" hit-maker she would become as she plays her original song, "Hollywood," for anyone who will listen at a NYC rock club.

Justin Bieber, circa 2004

At the Stratford Star Singing Competition in Ontario, a tween Justin Bieber belts Aretha Franklin's"Respect," dancing awkwardly, dropping the microphone and playing a mean air sax. Bet no one in the room knew the Biebz would go off to become one of the biggest pop sensations just years later.

Ke$ha, 2000

She may be pop's It-girl now, but a decade ago, Ke$ha was just another middle schooler looking to get her share of the spotlight in a school talent show. The difference? She performed a song by the indie-est of all bands, Radiohead. See the clip for yourself and witness a barely recognizable Ke$ha sing "Karma Police" at age 13.

Rihanna, 2002

In the days before she got "fan mail from 27 million," sultry singer Rihanna was just beginning to dabble in vocal performances. Check out a clip from 2004 of RiRi singing Mariah Carey's "Hero" at the Miss Combermere Pageant in her native Barbados. Needless to say, she won the contest that year.

hris Brown, 2002

In the last seven years, singer and dancer Chris Brown has gone from adorable R&B-boy next door to sexy, hit-making crooner. That's not to say that he didn't have it going on at the tender age of 13, though, which is when he made the video for "Whose Girl Is That?"