Tank | |
|---|---|
 Tank in 2025 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | (1976-01-01)January 1, 1976 (age 50) Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Origin | Clinton, Maryland, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
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| Instruments |
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| Works | discography |
| Years active | 1996–present |
| Labels | |
| Formerly of | TGT |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 5 |
Durrell Artaze Babbs (born January 1, 1976),[2] better known by hisstage nameTank, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and podcaster. He began his career as a backing vocalist forAaliyah andGinuwine, and signed a recording contract with the former's record label,Blackground Records as a performing act in 1998. His 2001 single, "Maybe I Deserve" peaked within the top 40 of theBillboard Hot 100 and led his debut studio album,Force of Nature (2001). It peaked within the top ten of theBillboard 200, while his second album,One Man (2002), peaked within the top 20 and was met with mixed critical reception.
After a five-year hiatus, he entered a joint venture withMotown to release his third album,Sex, Love & Pain (2007). Yielding his furthest commercial success, it peaked at number two on theBillboard 200 and was preceded by theBillboard Hot 100-top 50 single, "Please Don't Go". He parted ways with the labels in favor ofAtlantic Records to release his following albums:Now or Never (2010),This Is How I Feel (2012),Stronger (2014),Sex, Love & Pain II (2014), andSavage (2017), the latter of which spawned theplatinum-certified single "When We". Following his ninth albumElevation (2019), his tenth album,R&B Money (2022), was announced as his final due tohearing loss in his right ear, which hampered his musical ability.[3]
In 2007, he formed the R&B trioTGT with contemporaries Ginuwine andTyrese, with whom he releasedone studio album (2013). Along with recording, Tank has been credited withsongwriting and production work for other artists, includingKelly Rowland,Chris Brown,Monica,Jamie Foxx,Aaliyah,Omarion,LeToya Luckett,NLT, andKeKe Wyatt. He founded the record label R&B Money, which has signed frequent collaboratorJ. Valentine; the two began hosting a namesakepodcast in 2022, which interviews prominent figures in the genre. Tank has been nominated for fourGrammy Awards, aSoul Train Music Award, and his podcast was nominated for Best Work of Music Journalism - Multimedia at the 2023 International Music Journalism Awards.
Babbs was born inMilwaukee, Wisconsin,[4] then he moved with his family as a child toClinton, Maryland. He was a multisport athlete in high school and was offered the opportunity to playcollege football.[2] However, Tank decided to focus on music, with his vocal talent being recognized to the point where R&B singerGinuwine gave him an opportunity to sing background vocals for him during one of the latter's tours.[2] Tank also became a backing singer forAaliyah, whom he had met through Ginuwine in 1997.[5][6][7]
Tank later signed as an artist with Aaliyah's record labelBlackground Records.
In 2001, Tank released his debut albumForce of Nature which spawned the moderate hitMaybe I Deserve".[8][9] In 2002, Tank released his second albumOne Man and a single of the same name.[10] Tank provided vocals forI Care 4 U,Aaliyah's posthumous compilation album, featuring on the album's final single, "Come Over".
Tank released his third solo album,Sex, Love & Pain, in May 2007.[11] The lead single of the album was the minor hit "Please Don't Go", which peaked at number 21 on the USBillboard Hot 100 chart.[9] Later that year, Tank, alongside Ginuwine andTyrese Gibson, formed the groupTGT.[12] The group was put on hold due to contractual issues, but signed withAtlantic Records in September 2012 to release their debut collaborative album,Three Kings the following year.[13]
Tank released his fourth studio album,Now or Never, in December 2010.[14] Tank collaborated with artists who includedChris Brown,Drake,Letoya Luckett on this project.[15] The singles were "Sex Music", "I Can't Make You Love Me", and "Emergency".[15]
Tank released his fifth studio album,This Is How I Feel, in May 2012.[16] Tank collaborated with the artistsChris Brown,Busta Rhymes,T.I. andKris Stephens on the album.[16] The song "Compliments", featuring Kris Stephens and T.I., was released as the lead single in October 2011.[17]
On September 14, 2013, Tank sang the U.S. national anthem before theFloyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Canelo Álvarez fight inLas Vegas, Nevada.[18]
His sixth studio albumStronger was released in August 2014. It featured the singles "You're My Star" and the title track. They did not make the US Hot 100 but both peaked in the Top 20 of the US Urban AC chart. The album marked a slight departure from his previous releases, focusing on a "retro R&B sound" for the album. Following disappointing sales of the release, Tank had claimed the album would be his last.[19]
In February 2015, a mixtape album,If You Were Mine, was released. Later that year, Tank premiered a new single, "You Don't Know", featuringWale. It served as the lead single for his seventh studio albumSex Love & Pain II, released in January 2016. The album debuted at #1 on the Billboard R&B chart (marking his 5th album to do so) and #15 on the US Top 200 Albums chart. A second single "#BDAY" followed later that year, in addition to a holiday EPA Classic Christmas Night in December, released independently.
In May 2017, Tank performed at Washington DC's Black Gay Pride event, garnering both praise and criticism and setting off a debate concerning the rare instances male R&B artists perform at LGBT events.[20][21] In September 2017, Tank released his eighth studio album,Savage.[22] The album's lead single "When We", has peaked at number 86 on theBillboard Hot 100. In October 2019, Tank released his ninth studio albumELEVATION. He then released a piano-laced EP titledWhile You Wait on March 27, 2020.[9]
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On February 26, 2021, Tank released the single "Can't Let It Show" of which the chorus interpolates the 1989Kate Bush single "This Woman's Work". Kate Bush is credited for the song alongside Tank.[23][24] In August 2021, it was announced that Blackground Records would be rereleasing discographies of artists including Tank, Aaliyah,Toni Braxton andTimbaland & Magoo.[25][26] Tank's first three studio albums were reissued on CD, cassette, vinyl, digital download and for the first time, streaming, on September 17, 2021. On October 29, 2021, Tank released "I Deserve" from his upcoming tenth and final albumR&B Money.[27][28][29] The single reached the top 10 on the R&B Radio chart.[24] Tank was nominated, for the first time, for anAmerican Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Male Artist, held on November 21, 2021. He lost toThe Weeknd.[30] Prior to the release ofR&B Money, Tank announced that it would be his final studio album, triggered in part byloss of hearing in his right ear in 2021.[3]
On May 2, 2025, Blackground Records 2.0 released the single "Gone", by Aaliyah, with Tank co-writing the song and adding co-lead vocals. The single was released exclusively to the record label's streaming app, BLKStream,[31] but saw a wider release to streaming and digital download sites on August 1, 2025.[32][33] "Gone" peaked at number one on the Adult R&B Airplay Chart, and at number 13 on the R&B/Hip Hop Airplay chart.[34][35] Following widespread criticism from Aaliyah fans regarding the quality of the single,[36] Tank released a statement, writing,
"[The song] featuring myself was supposed to be something good to preserve and continue the legacy of the amazing Aaliyah… This is not it. I’m out [...] The Aaliyah song you are hearing featuring myself, I did out of love for her. I had concerns and I expressed them. From the track to the vocals to the mix and to the visual [...] I still went forward knowing I would at least be able to approve the final products. I haven’t approved one thing you’ve heard or seen [...] Me thinking people had changed was my mistake and I own it [...] Aaliyah deserves better".[37][38]
On November 18, 2025, Tank released the single "Control".[39][40]
Tank's music is typicallysoul-rooted R&B.[41] Following his 2012 albumThis Is How I Feel, his music started to incorporate a morehip-hop sound.[42] His lyrics mostly explore themes of love, relationships, sexuality and emotional expression, often delving into the complexities of romantic relationships.[43][44] He mentionedMarvin Gaye,Stevie Wonder,Boyz II Men andR. Kelly as his musical inspirations.[45][46][47]
Tank's songwriting and production credits include working withAaliyah,Chris Brown,Dave Hollister,Fantasia Barrino,Kelly Rowland,Marques Houston,Omarion,Jamie Foxx,Pitbull,Donell Jones andMonica[4][48] as a member of the production teamthe Underdogs and with his own team, Song Dynasty.
He was a contributor to the score of the film adaptation of the musicalDreamgirls, in which he had a cameo. He was also featured in the moviePreacher's Kid.[49] Tank played Donovan inBorn Again Virgin (2015–2016). He also played recording company executiveJheryl Busby in the BET miniseriesThe New Edition Story (2017),The Bobby Brown Story (2018), and appeared inT.I. & Tiny: Friends & Family Hustle (2018).
In March of 2025, Babbs made his Broadway debut inHell's Kitchen assuming the role of Davis, previously portrayed byBrandon Victor Dixon.[50] He serves as a limited replacement and featured performer in the production for an 11-week engagement.
Tank and his manager,J. Valentine, are the hosts of their own streaming podcast,R&B Money Podcast, where they interview popularR&B recording artists, songwriters, producers, and other legends of the genre, discussing industry topics with R&B music at its center. The podcast is most popular on theYouTube platform.
Tank got engaged to his longtime girlfriend Zena Foster on January 16, 2017. The couple have two children, Zion and Zoey. They were married in Los Angeles, California, on July 22, 2018.[51][52]
Tank is also the father of three more children from previous relationships: Jordan, Ryen, and Durrell Jr.[53]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2006 | It Ain't Easy | Maggette | Video |
| 2008 | KeAnthony: A Hustlaz Story | Jay | Short |
| 2010 | Preacher's Kid | Devlin Mitchell | |
| 2014 | Second Chance Christmas | Daron Richard | TV movie |
| 2015 | November Rule | Paul | |
| 2017 | Illicit | Perry | |
| 2018 | Me, Myself, & Them | Mr. Jones | Short |
| 2021 | Seven Deadly Sins: Lust | Trey Taylor | TV movie |
| Big 50 - The Delrhonda Hood Story | Slim | ||
| 2023 | Favorite Son Christmas | Blaine | TV movie |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Soul Train | Himself | Episode: "Episode #32.7" |
| 2007 | Lyric Cafe | Himself/Celebrity Poet | Episode: "Episode #1.5" |
| 2011 | The Protector | Frankie Benson | Episode: "Spoon" & "Affairs" |
| 2012 | Single Ladies | Joe Mason | Episode: "No Ordinary Love" |
| 2014 | According to Him + Her | Himself | Recurring Guest |
| 2015 | Togetherness | Officer | Recurring Cast: Season 1 |
| 2015–16 | Born Again Virgin | Donovan | Recurring Cast |
| 2017 | Unsung | Himself | Episode: "Dave Hollister" |
| Lip Sync Battle | Himself/Competitor | Episode: "Soul Train Special" | |
| The New Edition Story | Jheryl Busby | Episode: "Part 1-3" | |
| Saints & Sinners | Himself | Recurring Cast: Season 2 | |
| Grown Folks | Quincy | Recurring Cast | |
| 2018 | Hit the Floor | Warren Matthews | Recurring Cast: Season 4 |
| The Bobby Brown Story | Jheryl Busby | Episode: "Part 1 & 2" | |
| 2019 | Ridiculousness | Himself | Episode: "Tank" |
| 2021 | Black Love | Himself | Episode: "How Love Begins" |
| 2022 | Real Husbands of Hollywood | Himself | Episode: "Wedding Gone-A-Rye" |
| Celebrity Game Face | Himself | Episode: "Kevin's BFFs" | |
| 2023 | A Black Lady Sketch Show | Balthasar | Episode: "I'm Clapping From My Puss" |
| Urban One Honors | Himself/Host | Main Host | |
| Black Pop: Celebrating the Power of Black Culture | Himself | Episode: "Music" |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Hell's Kitchen | Davis | Replacement / featured performer |
| Year | Recipient | Category | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Sex, Love & Pain | Best R&B Album | Nominated | [54] |
| "Please Don't Go" | Best Male R&B Vocal Performance | Nominated | ||
| 2011 | Take My Time(withChris Brown) | Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals | Nominated | [55] |
| 2014 | Three Kings(withTGT) | Best R&B Album | Nominated | [56] |
| Year | Recipient | Category | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Himself | Best R&B/Soul Male Artist | Nominated | [57] |
| Year | Recipient | Category | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | R&B Money Podcast | Best Work of Music Journalism - Multimedia | Nominated | [58] |
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| National | |
| Artists | |
| People | |
