Tank (American singer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Tank
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Tank in 2025
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Durrell Artaze Babbs |
| Born | January 1, 1976 Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Origin | Clinton, Maryland, U.S. |
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| Years active | 1995–present |
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Durrell Artaze Babbs (born January 1, 1976), known by his stage name Tank, is an American R&B singer, songwriter, and producer. He started his career singing backup for famous R&B artists like Aaliyah and Ginuwine. In 1998, he signed a record deal with Aaliyah's label, Blackground Records.
His first big hit was the 2001 song "Maybe I Deserve". This song helped his first album, Force of Nature, become very popular. His second album, One Man, also did well. After a break, he released his third album, ... Love & Pain in 2007. It was a huge success and included the hit song "Please Don't Go".
Tank released many more albums with Atlantic Records, including Savage (2017), which had the popular song "When We". In 2022, he released his tenth and final album, R&B Money. He decided to retire from making music because he lost hearing in his right ear.
In 2007, he formed the R&B group TGT with his friends Ginuwine and Tyrese. They released one album together. Tank has also written and produced songs for many famous artists, including Kelly Rowland, Chris Brown, Beyoncé, and Alicia Keys. He also started his own record label and hosts a podcast about R&B music.
Contents
Early Life
Durrell Babbs was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. His family later moved to Clinton, Maryland. In high school, he was a talented athlete and could have played college football. However, he chose to focus on music instead.
His singing talent was noticed by R&B singer Ginuwine. Ginuwine invited him to be a backup singer on one of his tours. Through Ginuwine, Tank met the singer Aaliyah in 1997 and also became her backup singer. Soon after, Tank signed a contract with Aaliyah's record label, Blackground Records.
Music Career
2001–2007: First Albums
In 2001, Tank released his first album, Force of Nature. It featured his hit song "Maybe I Deserve". The next year, he released his second album, One Man. He also sang on Aaliyah's album I Care 4 U, which was released after her death.
His third album, ... Love & Pain, came out in May 2007. The main song from the album, "Please Don't Go", became a top hit. Around this time, Tank, Ginuwine, and Tyrese Gibson formed the group TGT. They later signed with Atlantic Records and released their album Three Kings in 2013.
2010–2014: More Studio Albums
Tank's fourth album, Now or Never, was released in 2010. He worked with artists like Chris Brown and Drake on this project. His fifth album, This Is How I Feel, came out in 2012.
In 2013, Tank sang the U.S. national anthem before a major boxing match between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Canelo Álvarez.
His sixth album, Stronger, was released in 2014. It had a different, more "retro R&B" sound. The album did not sell as well as his previous ones, and Tank said at the time that it might be his last.
2015–2020: New Music and Projects
In 2015, Tank released a mixtape called If You Were Mine. He then released his seventh album, ... Love & Pain II, in 2016. The album was very successful, reaching #1 on the Billboard R&B chart.
In 2017, Tank performed at a Black Gay Pride event in Washington D.C., which started a conversation about R&B artists performing at LGBT events. That same year, he released his eighth album, Savage. Its song "When We" became a hit. His ninth album, Elevation, was released in 2019.
2021-Present: Final Album and Retirement
In 2021, Tank released the song "Can't Let It Show," which used a sample from Kate Bush's song "This Woman's Work". In August 2021, it was announced that his first three albums would be re-released and made available on streaming services for the first time.
On October 29, 2021, Tank released "I Deserve," a single from his final album, R&B Money. Before the album came out, Tank announced it would be his last. This decision was partly because he sadly lost hearing in his right ear in 2021, which made it difficult for him to continue making music.
Artistry
Tank is known for his soul and R&B style. His songs are often about love, relationships, and feelings. He has said that his biggest musical influences are Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Boyz II Men, and R. Kelly.
As a songwriter and producer, Tank has worked with many famous artists. He has helped create music for Aaliyah, Chris Brown, Beyoncé, Alicia Keys, Kelly Rowland, and Jamie Foxx. He was part of a production team called the Underdogs and also has his own team, Song Dynasty.
Other Work
Acting
Tank is also an actor. He had a small part in the movie Dreamgirls and also appeared in the film Preacher's Kid. He played the character Donovan in the TV show Born Again Virgin.
He also played the role of record company executive Jheryl Busby in two TV miniseries: The New Edition Story (2017) and The Bobby Brown Story (2018). In March 2025, he performed on Broadway in the musical Hell's Kitchen as the character Davis.
Podcast
Tank and his manager, J. Valentine, host a podcast called the R&B Money Podcast. They interview famous R&B artists, songwriters, and producers. They talk about the music industry and the R&B genre. The podcast is very popular on YouTube.
Personal Life
In 2017, Tank got engaged to his longtime girlfriend, Zena Foster. They have two children together, a daughter named Zoey and a son named Zion. The couple got married in Los Angeles, California, on July 22, 2018.
Tank also has three other children from previous relationships: Jordan, Ryen, and Durrell Jr.
Discography
- Studio albums
- Force of Nature (2001)
- One Man (2002)
- ... Love & Pain (2007)
- Now or Never (2010)
- This Is How I Feel (2012)
- Stronger (2014)
- ... Love & Pain II (2016)
- Savage (2017)
- Elevation (2019)
- R&B Money (2022)
- Collaborative albums
Awards and Nominations
Tank has been recognized for his music with several award nominations.
Grammy Awards
The Grammy Awards are one of the biggest honors in music. Tank has been nominated four times.
- In 2008, his album ... Love & Pain was nominated for Best R&B Album.
- His song "Please Don't Go" was nominated for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance.
- In 2011, his performance with Chris Brown on "Take My Time" was nominated.
- In 2014, the TGT album Three Kings was nominated for Best R&B Album.
Soul Train Music Awards
In 2014, Tank was nominated for Best R&B/Soul Male Artist at the Soul Train Music Awards.
International Music Journalism Award
In 2023, his R&B Money Podcast was nominated for an award for its excellent music journalism.
See also
In Spanish: Tank (cantante) para niños
