In the recent episode of Drink Champs, hosts of the show N.O.R.E and DJ EFN welcomed Tank aka Durrell Artaze Babbs to the show. Tank, a prominent American actor, producer and R&B singer-songwriter, was clearly speaking from his heart on various issues, including his latest and final album, his misunderstanding with Yung Bleu being called the “King of R&B” and how actor Jamie Foxx once saved his music career.
Drink Champs enjoys widespread popularity as a hip-hop podcast hosted by American artists N.O.R.E., who also works as a record label executive, and DJ EFN, a DJ from Miami.
Beginning of Tank’s Musical Journey
In the podcast, Tank recalled how he started his musical career with late icon Aaliyah in 1997 when he signed on with Blackground Records and performed as a background singer. He later appeared on her 2002 song “Come Over.” She encouraged him with kind words, asking him where he was from and what his name was. “You’re really dope,” she told him. “At the time, only my family knew my nickname,” he said. “I was just Durell at the time. I’m 22.” This whole experience laid the foundation of his hip-hop journey.
Later in early 2000, Tank released his first single “Maybe I Deserve,” and it became No. 38 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. Albums “Force of Nature,” “One Man” and “Sex, Love & Pain” received love and admiration from fans across the world in 2001, 2002 and 2007, respectively. His Timbaland-remixed studio album “I Love Them Girls” caught the attention of many, however, and it reached No. 1 on the Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop albums chart. It later earned a Grammy nomination.
Tank not Happy with Grammy
During the interview with Drink Champs, Tank said he was not happy with the current state of the Grammys. “It kills me that the Best R&B category is not televised,” he said. “Why can’t our love be seen? The can’t our sexuality be seen?” Tank believes the hip-hop category deserves its place in the Grammy Awards music world and should be integrated with other genres.
Tank on Split of TGT and his Verbal Spats with Yung Bleu
The singer also talked about the breakup of R&B supergroup TGT, which had consisted of Ginuwine, Tyrese and Tank himself. TGT released its debut album “Three Kings” in 2013, even though work had started in 2007. Tank cited recording differences between artists as the reason for the group’s split.
Tank spoke about his recent social media bout with Yung Bleu too. In February of this year, Yung Blue and Tank had flooded Instagram with heated, clashing claims about who is No.1 in the R &B arena. Yung Bleu even called Tank a “bitter old nigga” when Tank taunted Bleu that the title should be earned rather than given. In the interview, Tank cleared the air, saying there was no bad blood between them. “There is no one who can match [Yung Bleu’s] talents, other than R. Kelly,” he said. “Let’s not get it twisted. R. Kelly is the king of R&B. Let this be a headline: R. Kelly is the king of R&B, whether you like it or not.”
Jamie Foxx as his Savior
On Drink Champs Tank thanked Jamie Foxx for standing with him during his bad times. Foxx helped him as Tank faced discouragement from the music industry and found himself at risk of homelessness. “This what you’re going to do,” Foxx assured him at that time. “You gon’ use my studio and you gone live in my house until you figure it the fuck out.” The two later collaborated on several songs.
Tank’s Final Album “R&B Money”
In this way the legendary R&B musical artist shared many moments of his life on the show. Following the loss of his hearing in his right ear in 2021, the five-time Grammy nominee feels ready for his tenth and final studio album, titled “R&B Money.” The album is scheduled for release later this year. The latest single from the album “I Deserve” became an instant hit on YouTube, amassing over a million views after its release in October of 2021.