Tank

Durrell Artaze Babbs (born January 1, 1976), better known by his stage name Tank, is an American singer, songwriter, actor, record producer, and podcaster. He began his career as a backing vocalist for Aaliyah and Ginuwine, 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 the Billboard Hot 100 and led his debut studio album, Force of Nature. It peaked within the top ten of the Billboard 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 with Motown to release his third album, Sex, Love & Pain (2007). Yielding his furthest commercial success, it peaked at number two on the Billboard 200 and was preceded by the Billboard Hot 100-top 50 single, "Please Don't Go". He parted ways with the labels in favor of Atlantic Records to release his following albums: Now or Never (2010), This Is How I Feel (2012), Stronger (2014), Sex, Love & Pain II (2014), and Savage (2017), the latter of which spawned the platinum-certified single "When We". Following his ninth album Elevation (2019), his tenth album, R&B Money (2022), was announced as his final due to hearing loss in his right ear, which hampered his musical ability.

In 2007, he formed the R&B trio TGT with contemporaries Ginuwine and Tyrese, with whom he released one studio album (2013). Along with recording, Tank has been credited with songwriting and production work for other artists, including Kelly Rowland, Chris Brown, Monica, Jamie Foxx, Aaliyah, Omarion, LeToya Luckett, NLT, and KeKe Wyatt. He founded the record label R&B Money, which has signed frequent collaborator J. Valentine; the two began hosting a namesake podcast in 2022, which interviews prominent figures in the genre. Tank has been nominated for four Grammy Awards, a Soul Train Music Award, and his podcast was nominated for Best Work of Music Journalism - Multimedia at the 2023 International Music Journalism Awards.

Early life Babbs was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, then he moved with his family as a child to Clinton, Maryland. He was a multisport athlete in high school and was offered the opportunity to play college football.

Tank later signed as an artist with Aaliyah's record label Blackground Records.

Music career 2001–2007: Force of Nature, One Man and Sex, Love & Pain In 2001, Tank released his debut album Force of Nature which spawned the moderate hit Maybe I Deserve". In 2002, Tank released his second album One Man and a single of the same name. Tank provided vocals for I 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. The lead single of the album was the minor hit "Please Don't Go", which peaked at number 21 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. The group was put on hold due to contractual issues, but signed with Atlantic Records in September 2012 to release their debut collaborative album, Three Kings the following year.

2010–2014: Now or Never, This Is How I Feel and Stronger Tank released his fourth studio album, Now or Never, in December 2010. Tank collaborated with artists who included Chris Brown, Drake, on this project. The singles were "Sex Music", "I Can't Make You Love Me", and "Emergency". Tank collaborated with the artists Chris Brown, Busta Rhymes, T.I. and Kris Stephens on the album.

On September 14, 2013, Tank sang the U.S. national anthem before the Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Canelo Álvarez fight in Las Vegas, Nevada.

His sixth studio album Stronger 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.

2015–2020: Sex Love & Pain II and Savage In February 2015, a mixtape album, If You Were Mine, was released. Later that year, Tank premiered a new single, "You Don't Know", featuring Wale. It served as the lead single for his seventh studio album Sex 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 EP A 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. In September 2017, Tank released his eighth studio album, Savage. The album's lead single "When We", has peaked at number 86 on the Billboard Hot 100. In October 2019, Tank released his ninth studio album ELEVATION. He then released a piano-laced EP titled While You Wait on March 27, 2020. In August 2021, it was announced that Blackground Records would be rereleasing discographies of artists including Tank, Aaliyah, Toni Braxton and Timbaland & Magoo. 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 album R&B Money. The single reached the top 10 on the R&B Radio chart. Prior to the release of R&B Money, Tank announced that it would be his final studio album, triggered in part by loss of hearing in his right ear in 2021. but saw a wider release to streaming and digital download sites on August 1, 2025. "Gone" peaked at number one on the Adult R&B Airplay Chart, and at number 13 on the R&B/Hip Hop Airplay chart. Following widespread criticism from Aaliyah fans regarding the quality of the single, 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". On November 18, 2025, Tank released the single "Control". which is set to appear on his upcoming 11th studio album "Experience" slated for an August 2026 release.

Artistry Tank's music is typically soul-rooted R&B. Following his 2012 album This Is How I Feel, his music started to incorporate a more hip-hop sound. His lyrics mostly explore themes of love, relationships, sexuality and emotional expression, often delving into the complexities of romantic relationships. He mentioned Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Boyz II Men and R. Kelly as his musical inspirations.

Writing and producing Tank's songwriting and production credits include working with Aaliyah, Chris Brown, Dave Hollister, Fantasia Barrino, Kelly Rowland, Marques Houston, Omarion, Jamie Foxx, Pitbull, Donell Jones and Monica as a member of the production team the Underdogs and with his own team, Song Dynasty.

Other ventures Acting He was a contributor to the score of the film adaptation of the musical Dreamgirls, in which he had a cameo. He was also featured in the movie Preacher's Kid. Tank played Donovan in Born Again Virgin (2015–2016). He also played recording company executive Jheryl Busby in the BET miniseries The New Edition Story (2017), The Bobby Brown Story (2018), and appeared in T.I. & Tiny: Friends & Family Hustle (2018).

In March of 2025, Babbs made his Broadway debut in Hell's Kitchen assuming the role of Davis, previously portrayed by Brandon Victor Dixon. He serves as a limited replacement and featured performer in the production for an 11-week engagement.

Tank is set to play Eric Cropper in the fourth season of Reasonable Doubt.

Podcast

Tank and his manager, J. Valentine, are the hosts of their own streaming podcast, R&B Money Podcast, where they interview popular R&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 the YouTube platform.

Personal life Tank got engaged to his longtime girlfriend Zena Foster on January 16, 2017. The couple have two children, Zoey Babbs and Zion Babbs. They were married in Los Angeles, California, on July 22, 2018. Foster is Tank's second wife. He has three more children from previous relationships: Jordan Babbs, Ryen Babbs, and Durrell Babbs Jr.

Discography

Studio albums Force of Nature (2001) One Man (2002) Sex, Love & Pain (2007) Now or Never (2010) This Is How I Feel (2012) Stronger (2014) Sex Love & Pain II (2016) Savage (2017) Elevation (2019) R&B Money (2022) Experience (2026)

Collaborative albums Three Kings (2013)

Filmography

Film 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

Television 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"

Stage

Broadway Year Title Role Notes 2025 Hell's Kitchen Davis Replacement / featured performer

Awards and nominations Grammy Awards Year Recipient Category Result Ref. 2008 Sex, Love & Pain Best R&B Album "Please Don't Go" Best Male R&B Vocal Performance 2011 Take My Time (with Chris Brown) Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals 2014 Three Kings (with TGT) Best R&B Album

Soul Train Music Awards Year Recipient Category Result Ref. 2014 Himself Best R&B/Soul Male Artist

International Music Journalism Award Year Recipient Category Result Ref. 2023 R&B Money Podcast Best Work of Music Journalism - Multimedia