Durrell Babbs, better known by his stage name Tank, is an American R&B singer-songwriter, record producer and actor. He is best known for the singles "Maybe I Deserve ", "Please Don't Go", and "When We". According to Billboard Tank has sold 1.76 million albums in the U.S. as of 2013.
Early life
Durrell Babbs was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and moved with his family as a child to Washington, D.C.. He was a multisport athlete at Crossland High School and was offered the opportunity to play college football. However, Tank decided to focus on music and his talent eventually led him to an opportunity to sing background vocals for Ginuwine during one of Ginuwine's tours.
Music career
2001–07: ''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 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 42 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart. Later in the year Tank, Ginuwine and Tyrese Gibson formed a group called TGT. The group was put on hold due to contractual issues, but would go on to sign a contract with Atlantic Records in September 2012.
2010–14: ''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, Letoya Luckett on this project. The singles were "Sex Music", "I Can't Make You Love Me", and "Emergency". Tank released his fifth studio album, This Is How I Feel, in May 2012. Tank collaborated with the artists Chris Brown, Busta Rhymes, T.I. and Kris Stephens on the album. The song "Compliments", featuring Kris Stephens and T.I., was released as the lead single in October 2011. On September 14, 2013, Tank sang the U.S. national anthem before the Floyd Mayweather vs. Saúl 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–present: ''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 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.
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. He also played recording company executive Jheryl Busby in the BET miniseries The New Edition Story, The Bobby Brown Story and T.I. & Tiny: Friends & Family Hustle.
Personal life
He got engaged to his longtime girlfriend Zena Foster on January 16, 2017. They've been together on and off since 2005 and share two children, Zion and Zoey. They were married in Los Angeles, California, on July 22, 2018. There were several celebrities in the building, including Kelly Rowland, Jamie Foxx, Larenz Tate, Letoya Luckett-Walker and many more. Tank is also the father of three more children from previous relationships: Jordan, Ryen, and Durrell Jr.
