After college Stephens worked as a business consultant during the day. At night he played music, meeting many big-name musicians along the way. When he met and began writing music with Kanye West in 2001, a music career suddenly possible. During this same time period, someone told Stephens that he sang "like one of the [musical] legends." Shortly afterward, he adopted the performing name "John Legend."
In 2004 he released his first album and won his first Grammy Award! Since then he has collected nine more.
In 2018 Legend became one of the youngest people - and the first African-American man - to complete an EGOT.
Legend has used his fame to help those in need and to promote school reform. Today he is involved in a large number of charitable organizations.
Despite all of Legend's accomplishments, he seems to have remained humble. On his album, Darkness and Light, he sang, "Legend is just a name; I know better than to be so proud." In reality, though, the accomplished musician has lived up to his name and become a legend in his own time.
Info Cloud
bragging rights 自誇的權利
Hello, friends. Welcome to Info Cloud. Today we want to teach the phrase, bragging rights.
To brag means to be so proud of something that you tell others about it. Bragging is seen in a negative light.
A person can even be called a brag if they are usually going around bragging about things they have or stuff they've done.
However, when someone has bragging rights, it means they have informal permission to be proud of an accomplishment. They're free to feel good about it or even brag about it.
For example, Susie has been training for that marathon all year. She won the race fair and square. She gets bragging rights until the next one.
Here's another one. Simon's essay was selected to be printed in the newspaper. Now he has the bragging rights of being the only one from our class to have their work in print.
Winning first prize, being the best at something or working hard to achieve your goals are all reasons someone could have bragging rights.
我們對喜歡自誇自擂的人，都有一種負面的印象，但是如果這個人有了 bragging rights 自誇的權利，那就不一樣了。雖然我們不喜歡聽到有人炫耀，但是一個人如果有 bragging rights，那就代表他曾經做出一些努力，讓他有權利驕傲一下。Susie worked hard, and she has bragging rights for her success. Susie 很努力，她有權利誇耀一下自己的成功。雖然 bragging 自誇有種負面的涵義，但是如果說一個人有 bragging rights，其實有種肯定他的意味。
Language Lab
consultant n. 顧問
a person who gives professional advice or services to companies for a fee
- The company hired a financial consultant to help them with their money problems.
公司請來了一位財政顧問，來幫忙處理他們的財務問題。
- Mr. Franklin not only teaches English at the university but is also the English consultant for a local company.
Franklin 先生不但在大學裡教英文，也是當地的一家公司的英文顧問。
consult v. 請教、詢問
to go to (someone, such as a doctor or lawyer) for advice : to ask for the professional opinion of (someone)
- Please consult your doctor before you start taking these vitamins.
在你開始服用這些維他命之前，請詢問你的醫生。
consultation n. 協商、諮詢
a meeting in which someone (such as a doctor or lawyer) talks to a person about a problem, question, etc.
- After Greg’s consultation with his lawyers, he has a better understanding of his rights.
Greg跟律師協商後，就比較瞭解他的權利範圍。
big-name adj. 有名的 (較不正式)
a very famous person
- Even though Harvey’s brothers all went to big-name universities, Harvey chose to go to a small college instead.
Harvey的哥哥們都去讀有名的大學，但是Harvey 卻選擇去讀一所小學院。
- Ian hopes a big-name company will be interested in his invention.
Ian 希望會有一家有名的大公司對他所發明的東西有興趣。
big name n ph. 重量級人物或名人
- If there are no big names at the party, then Jason won’t go.
如果宴會沒有名人參加，那麼Jason 就會不想去。
- This event is supported by several big names in the fashion industry.
這場活動有幾位時裝業名人的支持。
reform n. 一個系統的改進或改革
the improvement of something by removing or correcting faults, problems, etc.
- The governor’s promise of reform brought hope to the people.
州長承諾會改革，讓人們感到有希望。
- Although the king tried to bring social reform, he did not have the support of his officials.
國王雖然試著帶來社會改革，但是他卻沒有官員們的支持。
reform v. 一個系統的改進或改革
to improve (someone or something) by removing or correcting faults, problems, etc.
- The boss has hired a new manager to reform the structure of the company.
老闆請了一位新的經理，來改進公司的制度。
- Although the principal had big plans to change the academy, she failed to reform its academic structure.
校長雖然有計畫要大大地改變學院，但是他終究還是無法改進學院的學制。
accomplished adj. 非常熟練的、技術高超的
very skillful : having or showing the skill of an expert
- Everyone in the company was surprised to find out that their boss was actually an accomplished pianist.
公司所有的員工得知他們的老闆，是一位非常有才藝的鋼琴師的時候，都感到很驚訝。
- It is our honor to have such an accomplished scientist come and give us a presentation this morning.
今早能夠有這麼傑出的科學家來到我們這裡做演講，是我們的榮幸。
accomplish v. 完成
to succeed in doing (something)
- Kendra is frustrated because she has accomplished nothing today.
Kendra 感到氣餒，因為她今天沒有完成任何一件事。
accomplishment n. 成就
something done, achieved, or accomplished successfully
- The university gave the professor a special award for all his accomplishments.
那所大學因為教授的種種成就而頒贈他一個特別的獎項。
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