Alicia Keys, photographed exclusively for her feature in the October issue of Vibe magazine by Danielle Levitt in 2001.

She wears a black sheer long-sleeve top with a zip-up neck by Dolce & Gabbana, blue denim zebra-striped pants with snakeskin detail by Baby Phat, and a black leather belt by Plein Sud.

Brooklyn-based former executive editor of Vibe Lakán Angelo Ragaza writes about the new J Records artist in a walk-up studio in Alicia’s native West Side Manhattan neighborhood of Hell’s Kitchen as she rehearses for her support act on Maxwell’s upcoming national tour in July. Alicia’s Songs in A Minor debuted on the Billboard 200 at No. 1, selling over 236,000 copies at the time.

“It’s been one trial, one test of confidence and faith after the next,” Alicia confides to Vibe. “Success doesn’t just mean that I’m the singer, and you give me my 14 points, and that’s all. That’s not how it’s going down. I plan to expand, in every way possible.”