Rebecca Black

Rebecca Renee Black was born on June 21, 1997, in Irvine, California. Her parents, John Jeffery Black and Georgina Marquez Kelly, were both veterinarians. Black attended private school until the sixth grade before transferring to a public school due to bullying. During this time, she discovered her passion for musical theater. In late 2010, at the age of 13, Black’s life took an unexpected turn when a classmate introduced her to ARK Music Factory, a Los Angeles record label. Her mother paid $4,000 for ARK Music to produce a music video, and Black chose the pre-written track “Friday.” The video was uploaded to YouTube on February 10, 2011, and initially garnered little attention. However, by March 11, the video went viral, attracting millions of views within days and becoming a trending topic on Twitter. The song, despite receiving mixed to negative critical reception, peaked at number 58 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The instant virality of “Friday” brought Black significant media attention, including an appearance on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” in March 2011, where she performed the song and discussed the online backlash. The YouTube video for “Friday” eventually amassed over 167 million views and was YouTube’s No. 1 video of 2011. Black also made a cameo in Katy Perry’s music video for “Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.)” in 2011. Following legal disputes with ARK Music Factory over the rights to “Friday,” Black established her independent record label, RB Records. She continued to release music, including the self-produced single “My Moment” in July 2011, and subsequent singles such as “Person of Interest” in November 2011, “Sing It” in May 2012, and “In Your Words” in November 2012. In late 2013, she released a spiritual successor to her viral hit, “Saturday,” collaborating with Dave Days. This track also charted on the Billboard Hot 100, reaching number 55 and showcasing her continued presence in the music scene.

Throughout her career, Black has consistently evolved her artistic identity. In 2017, she released her debut EP, “RE / BL,” which included singles like “The Great Divide,” a track that charted at No. 23 on the US Dance category. Her musical journey progressed with a series of singles through 2019 and 2020. In 2021, she celebrated the tenth anniversary of “Friday” with a hyperpop remix featuring 3OH!3, Big Freedia, and Dorian Electra, demonstrating her willingness to reinvent her past work. Her second EP, “Rebecca Black Was Here,” was released in June 2021, followed by her critically acclaimed debut studio album, “Let Her Burn,” in February 2023. This album received generally favorable reviews, with critics praising its energetic electropop sound. Black has continued to tour and perform, including opening for BLACKPINK at British Summer Time in Hyde Park, London, in 2023. Her second studio album, “Salvation,” released in February 2025, further solidified her artistic growth and cemented her status as a dynamic and independent artist.