posed and walked right off. >> the show, the house of boateng. >> as soon as i saw him, it was like this is the answer to everything that i want in life. >> reporter: >> at the time poku works came to the united states from ghana with his family in 2000, was in school studying to be an electrical engineer, a career his parents hand picked for him. his experience with the sewing machine was limited to watching his mother sew african clothes and tail oregon department store clothes to fit his 29-inch waist. making a living creating clothes was something poku said he never considered possible until watching ozwald boateng. he skipped his first class that day to immediately get started on a career in fashion. >> i grabbed my best sheet and cut my first pants. let's just say both legs went in. >> poku dropped out of college

much to his parent's chagrin and immediately started looking for an apprenticeship and never found the right one so like a mechanic who deconstructs engines poku taught himself. >> i learned construction by taking clothes apart, trial and error. >> it wasn't until later he realized he had quite a lot in common of the man in the orange suit, the one who allowed him to think a career in fashion was possible. >> everything was like he was cool, and then he just went and -- >> though poku never wanted to be just a tailor, it's that attention to detail and fit that helped him win the emerging design award and win both the people's choice and emerging designer award as charleston's fashion week. that reaffirms the decision he made to follow his own dream,

regardless of where it leads. >> this is my way of life, my calling. i was put on earth to do this. >> want to learn more about poku, cnn.com under the living tab. i'm don lemon at the cnn world headquarters in atlanta. thank you so much for joining us. have a great night and a fantastic week. see you back here next weekend. i've done two albums in ten years. he must somehow flip on a switch and say music time. >> that's the way i really look at it. what does the next decade mean for me? >> he always has an eye and an ear for what's next. >> i don't want to put anything out that i feel that i feel is something i don't love. >> he's the ultimate showman, and he's a star. >> you just don't get that every day. you have to wait for it.

>> i'm ready for it. >> justin timberlake was ready for one of the biggest years of his career. which is really saying something for a mouseketeer turned teen heartthrob, turned solo smash. ♪ all dressed up in black and white ♪ >> days ago he dropped his first album in seven years. ♪ let me show you a few things >> backed by a slew of promotion and carefully planned performances. on jimmy fallon's show it was the history of rap. ♪ ♪ i got you all >> and on the highest rated "saturday night live" of the year he was at times savvy. ♪ i show you how to do this >> come on, new york. >> and silly.

♪ pig out >> the music, the moves, the money, that's the justin timberlake experience. >> my name is justin timberlake. >> long before the millions of fans and mega stardom, there was 9-year-old justin timberlake, a small town boy with big-time dreams. ♪ these are the girls >> people in the music industry always talk about this thing or that thing or whatever, but definitely always had that thing, always. >> best friend trace ayala grew up with justin in millington,

tennessee, just outside of memphis. >> memphis is a very, very, very musical town. ♪ >> everything revolves around music. from the time you are little kids, go to dinner and the place next door has music playing. >> whether it was singing a goes tell duet in this rare early video. ♪ >> or during a charity event channeling one of memphis' own, the king of rock 'n' roll. ♪ heartbreak hotel ♪ i've been so lonely, baby >> the grandson of a preacher and son of a choir director never passed up a chance to

perform. >> look at those hips. >> bob westbrook gave justin his first singing lessons when he was 8. what did he have? what was that star quality? >> just his mannerism and his charisma, his hair, the whole bit, his natural stage feel. well, you see what he's got now? it was there. >> from hollywood -- >> when justin was just 11, his talent land him on "star search," the nationally televised talent show. back then justin only went by his first and middle name. >> from millington, tennessee, please well come justin randall. ♪ ♪ called my doctor on the telephone ♪ ♪ help me, doctor, something's wrong ♪ >> the young singer with the ten-gallon hat seemed comfortable in the spotlight. ♪ i can't eat, i can't sleep

♪ it's turning me every way >> four stars. >> but in the end. >> our challenger justin randall received 3.25 stars. >> his performance failed to win over the "star search" judges. speaking to ""larry king live"" in 2001 justin made light of his early loss. >> did you win? >> no, lost the first round. >> saw ed mcmahon last night. >> if you lose on "star search," you never make it. >> of course, there sglug with his mother's unwavering support, justin continued chasing his dream. >> lynn was very much a loving mother and wanted justin to have ever opportunity that he could and to take his talent wherever he wanted to take it ♪ ♪ that's made for you and me >> shortly after losing "star search" justin heard about an open casting call for the disney tv show "the mickey mouse club."

>> so i went and auditioned, and i remember if i would have won on "star search" i would never have done that audition so it's really funny how stuff works out, huh? >> i can imagine that had to have been a huge deal when he landed that. >> it was a huge deal. >> a huge deal because now justin would be singing, dancing and acting as part of a who's who of teenage heart throbs, including christina aguilera, ryan gosling, jc chazzy and another sparkly mouseketeer who caught justin's eyes, britney spears. chuck tutored justin and the other child stars on the show. these are your kids. >> yes, they are, right. >> kind of show me who is who. >> okay. we start down heave with christina aguilera and go up here already showering a bare

midriff britney spears, and then justin tirmt lake next to her. >> with his arm around brittany, that was foreshadowing. >> two years after joining the show the spotlight suddenly vanished when "the mickey mouse club" was vanished and justin had to return to his sleepy hometown in tennessee. >> you know, for him it was tough. he would step out and go and experience new culture and the new fashion trend, things like that, get a new hairstyle. where we grew up, people are not open to change, you know, they don't like change. >> i can't imagine people picking on justin. kids picking on him. >> it, you know, when you're a boy and you live in the south, it's tough. it's tough to be a boy in the south. but it also it prepared him for what's to come in the future for

having tough skin. >> coming up, justin leaves his hometown after receiving a phone call that would change his life forever. >> when i heard him sing, i mean, you know, it was just unbelievable. [ female announcer ] it balances you... it fills you with energy... and it gives you what you are looking for to live a more natural life. in a convenient two bar pack. this is nature valley. nature at its most delicious. britta olsen is my patient. i spend long hours with her checking her heart rate, administering her medication, and just making her comfortable. one night britta told me about a tradition in denmark, "when a person dies," she said, "someone must open the window so the soul can depart." i smiled and squeezed her hand. "not tonight, britta. not tonight." [ female announcer ] to nurses everywhere, thank you, from johnson & johnson.

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another boy band, an agent sent chris a tape. >> started listening. i was like, wow, this kid can sing, and i looked at the head shot, justin timberlake, why does that sound familiar? he was on the "mickey mouse club" and all this thing and i was like this guy would want to be in my band? >> was there any kind of, well, he is young. was there in thought about that? ♪ i've been so lonely, baby >> there was, but when i heard him sing, it was unbelievable. his voice was just -- especially at that age, it was so mature. he had searched control over it. you know, this kid's so unbelievable. i'm going to at least try. i'm going to make an awkward phone call and see if i can get this to work. it did work. the group, which would include ex-mouseketeer j.c. chasez, and, joey fatone and lance bass called themselves 'nsync. >> my momma came up with the name.

first time you sang together she said, man, you were really in sync, ding, ding, ding. >> justin and the guys moved into a house in orlando. they recorded their music in a secret hideaway nearby. it's almost like we're in the fun house. >> that's kind of what it was. it's got like every lux luxury you can't imagine. >> life for justin in the house. >> he had already done "the mickey mouse club." the difference was during the daytime if we didn't have anything to , justin would have to be in the dining room with his tutor, you know, taking classes, doing school. >> six hours a day? >> yeah. he would outwork anybody. >> driven, driven, driven, but he's the hardest-working person i know. >> the hard work would eventually pay off. after two years of relentless touring overseas, justin and 'nsync hit it pig in the u.s. with a disney concert special,

filling in as a last-minute replacement for the back street boys. ♪ how can it be it just so happened the guys were in orlando and ready. when that called was made to disney to say, hey, we can fill that spot, they rose to the occasion and went and did it. that was a big moment for us. ♪ when i look into your eyes 'n sync became the new teenage heartthrobs. ♪ god must have spent a little more time with you ♪ >> we had a good time. >> but behind the success, distrust was brewing. between 'n sync and lou pearlman. >> when you're getting up at 5:00 in the morning going on the radio and spending 24 hours on the job and someone else is at home going to the steakhouses and making 75% of the money, all of a sudden it's like, wait, something's got to change.

>> we were generating so much revenue and the stuff. where is all that money? >> perlman had taken 'nsync to the top of the charts, but in 1999, when the group wanted to switch record labels, perlman sued, threatening to take the band's name and block them from performing. 'nsync countersued. >> it was scary that if we separated from lou, we would lose johnny wright and we would lose all of our connections and the record label, we would lose all of these things and, you know, end up back at square one singing, you know, at the downtown high school. in the end, lawsuits were settled out of court. >> right now it's basically about the fans and our music, and we're so proud that all our fans came out to support us. >> signed to a new record label, justin and 'nsync turned their attention to the release of their second album, anti-i titled "no strings attached." ♪ baby bye-bye bye

♪ don't wanna be a fool for you ♪ ♪ shoot me, hate me, but it an interno lie, baby bye, bye, bye ♪ >> it's really cool! [ screaming ] >> in the first week alone, "no strings attached" sold 2.4 million copies, making it the fastest selling al bull of all time. ♪ much better ♪ once you're gone despite the growing frenzy, the growing bank account, and the growed adoration of millions of fans -- >> reporter: how much do you like 'n sync? >> a lot. a lot. a lot. >> those close to justin say his feet never left the ground. >> you know, when people get this big in this business, sometimes they get a big head, and their entourages start to grow. they become in a situation where they're unattainable and you

can't talk to them anymore. he's the guy that's still approachable. >> justin's apparent humility seemed only matched by his talent and drive. >> i always felt like i was mozart's older brother. he's so good at what he does. he's so -- he hits on every cylinder all the time. >> it's kind of like you're describing a savant. >> that's exactly what he is. he's a savant. >> but it wasn't only justin's talent in the spotlight. so was his love life. >> britney spears and you. this is "larry king live" we don't fool around. >> we are dating. >> from the moment they confirmed their relationship to the moment it ended, britney and justin were a tabloid dream. despite it all, justin remained focused on the music, taking the lead in crafting the group's third album "celebrity." ♪ ever wonder why ♪ it takes you on a ride

>> which included a lead single that seemed to take aim at 'nsync's detractors who derisively labeled their music pop. ♪ sick and tired of hearing all these people talk about ♪ ♪ what's the deal with this pop life and when is it going to fade out ♪ >> as a member of 'n sync, he had done the unthinkable, he made liking a boy band cool. ♪ dirty pop, you can't stop >> coming up, from boy to man, justin sets out on a solo career and find himself at the center of controversy. >> it was definitely a big emotional roller coaster. [ anouncer ] ihop is in time square to compare

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it's our job to look after them. ...it's my job to look after it. ♪ ♪ it was 2002, 'n sync had

sold millions of albums. ♪ you're tearing up my heart >> and justin terrible lake was a bona fide heartthrob. but bandmate chris kirkpatrick said, life for the band was all business. >> this is a compound. >> this is a compound. we would all try to learn our instruments, you know, better than the next guy. everybody just worked to that goal. >> it wasn't a crazy house, it was a focused house. >> it wasn't crazy at all. it wasn't like you would think there's girls over all the time, it was -- this was work. >> no girls? no -- well -- >> maybe a couple? >> honestly as crazy as it sounds, it wasn't that type of vibe. >> with his fans, justin had a vibe all his own. >> i think there's an appeal in him. he's been perceived as a relationship guy. justin timberlake female fans were wearing t-shirts saying

mrs. timberlake. they are saying i want to be mrs. timberlake. they're not saying i want to be a one-night stand. >> if he was smooth on stage. >> this is triple platinum. he seemed even smoother in the studio. is it fair to say that justin is a perfectionist? >> he is a perfectionist, but there's no work involved for it. you know, it's really just boom, boom, done. >> one take timberlake? >> right. like 16 hours in the garage, right, one-take timberlake >> he got together with one of his friends and they created the song "gone." ♪ you're gone ♪ you're gone >> justin's writing skills were getting noticed by the biggest names in the industry, like michael jackson. >> michael's people came and they said, hey, i think michael wants to record that record. i looked at justin, and i was like, you're not giving that record away. i knew how important that record

was for him and what it meant for him as a writer to finally get some respect, making a statement to say i'm a writer, too. >> we're very, very excited to be here. >> in 2002 justin launched the solo career that would define his next decade. ♪ take to you new york city >> everybody was kind of figuring out what will we do for the next six months? and justin tapped me and he said i've had this music inside me for quite a while. i'm going to take this time and make a record. ♪ you were my sun >> that album "justified" was hot enough to land his solo act at the super bowl halftime show. but when a, quote, wardrobe malfunction exposed janet jackson's bare breast -- >> he apparently committed the crime of the century. that was coming off the thrill of performing at the super bowl. you have airplanes flying around

l.a. saying convict justin and janet with banners. >> it was completely, completely regrettable. >> a swift apology put justin back on track, and his star continued to rise. his career would expand from music to movies, including. >> i'm sean parker. >> "the social network." >> you know what's cool? a billion dollars. >> two business ventures. for starters a clothing line called william rast with best friend trace ayala. >> we built this brand and then he was hands on. >> was he hands on? >> yeah. too hands-on. >> you're like, step back, bro. >> yeah, but he's hands on, rivets buttons, stitching, very, very hands on. >> add to the business ventures two grammys for the man who brought sexy back. ♪ i'm bringing sexy back ♪ the other boys don't know how to act ♪

>> and even an emmy for this guy on "snl." >> but best of all. >> i'm ready. >> justin would likely say finding the real mrs. timberlake. >> he was also into jessica. >> trace was the best man when justin and jessica biehl were married in october. >> it was a celebrity crush. >> really? >> absolutely. >> you would hear him order something for her, and like in the middle of us having a discussion about a 100-city tour, something felt in him that he felt the need that he had to do something special. >> a new wife and a new album with his old friend timberland. >> timberland would come in with his head phones on, playing; you know, and justin is sitting there in the corner and he starts picking up on it and go do this. do this. it's crazy watching them work.

>> they had basically four weeks. the thought pattern was we'll make if for the record, put it out for the summer, and in 20 days they made 20 songs. >> 20 songs released in two parts, and feature a notable collaboration between justin and jay-z. >> ♪ no papers >> you know, obviously there was a chemistry that happened when they came in the studio together in a suit and tie and made the lead-off record. >> show you how to do this. ♪ i'm going to leave it on the floor tonight ♪ >> by working with jay-z, he's getting an artist as well formed as him, and in a way it's a grown gyp approach to singing and rapping on the same song. snowe ♪ we don't mind >> he makes what folks around my way called grown folks music. >> exactly. ♪ >> he makes grown folks music. ♪ >> and he's doing a great job at reinventing himself.