It was get together central at fashionable West Hollywood nightspot the Peppermint Membership final evening (Aug. 18) as hosts Tank and Jamie Foxx welcomed friends together with singer-actress LeToya Luckett, producer/A&R govt Hitmaka and singer-songwriter Eric Bellinger to the R&B Cash Jam Present. The one-night solely occasion — costume code: “black and gold” — celebrated the discharge of Tank’s tenth and ultimate album R&B Cash on Friday (Aug. 19; R&B Cash/Atlantic Data).
For some, “ultimate’ is perhaps a troublesome idea to embrace. Nonetheless, Tank tells hiphop exclusives he “feels good” about his profession’s subsequent chapter that was triggered partially by lack of listening to in his proper ear in 2021.
“Earlier this 12 months, it was like wow … that is going to be my final album,” says the singer-songwriter-producer from the yard rec room at his L.A.-area house. “However now it’s like, sure! That’s as a result of so many different cool, super-exciting issues are occurring between my podcast, discovering and dealing with new artists for my R&B Cash label with Atlantic, dedicating time to turning into the actor that I need to be and cultivating different concepts that I’ve. It’s not solely about ready, auditioning or hoping for a telephone name. It’s extra about creating my very own telephone calls and hiring myself for tasks I need to develop, direct and/or produce.”
However first issues first because the promotion marketing campaign for R&B Cash will get underway. Tank, set to carry out at DJ D-Good’s Membership Quarantine in Las Vegas on Sept. 3, describes the final album of his 25-year profession as being “very a lot me; it channels the intercourse, love and ache that I’m identified for.” Stating that three-quarters of the album is “nearly like an uninterrupted intercourse tape” — in a nod to his R&B influences akin to Marvin Gaye, Teddy Pendergrass, Keith Sweat and Al Inexperienced — Tank provides, “The sensation of their music is what impressed me.”
Tank wrote or co-wrote all the album’s 17 tracks (“How are you going to beat the quantity 17, with 1 being the start and seven the completion?” he explains). Standouts among the many eight tracks he performed for hiphop exclusives are the sensual “When You Dance,” sizzler “No Restrict” that includes Alex Isley, the insightful “See By Love” with Chris Brown and the shifting “It’s Nothing” (his daughter’s favourite”). Regardless of the listening to loss, Tank’s emotive vocals and vary are nonetheless commanding.
Further friends embody Rotimi, Vedo, Blaq Tuxedo, TVERSE, Feather and J. Valentine, who seems on the album’s newest single “Sluggish” — which has reached a No. 12 peak up to now on the R&B Airplay chart. Reaching No. 1 on that very same tally are R&B Cash’s first two singles: “Can’t Let It Present” and “I Deserve.”
Throughout his recording profession, Tank has landed eight albums on the High R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, together with 5 No. 1s. Every of his first eight studio albums additionally reached the highest 20 of the chart. He’s charted 15 songs on Sizzling R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, together with a pair of high 10 hits (“Possibly I Deserve” in 2001 and “Please Don’t Go” in 2007). A few of his greatest achievements have come on the Grownup R&B Airplay chart. He’s racked up 23 titles there — with six No. 1s and 12 total high 10 hits. Tank scored his most up-to-date high 10 this summer season through a featured spot on J Brown’s “Don’t Rush,” which entered the highest 10 in July and climbed to a No. 7 greatest (up to now) in August.
Within the midst of finishing this final album, the five-time Grammy nominee and J. Valentine just lately launched their R&B Cash podcast through iHeartMedia and Charlamagne tha God’s Black Impact Podcast Community. Kicking off with actor/comic/artist Foxx as its first visitor, the weekly podcast spotlights the historical past and ongoing cultural affect of R&B by chats with artists and executives working within the style.
Intent on furthering his transfer into appearing, Tank co-starred within the Lifetime movie Lust: A Seven Lethal Sins Story and BET’s American Gangster Presents: Large Fifty — The Delronda Hood Story with Remy Ma. He remembers being bitten by the bug when he was requested to audition for the function of Effie White’s (Jennifer Hudson) youthful brother C.C. within the 2006 movie Dreamgirls. In the long run, it got here all the way down to him and actor/singer Keith Robinson, who finally obtained the half.
“I’ve been appearing a idiot my entire life,” says Tank with fun. “Now I’m channeling that and placing it in the fitting house. The encouragement I’ve acquired because the Dreamgirls audition and different appearing tasks from Jamie [Foxx] and others means I’m getting in the fitting route, so I’ll continue to learn and pushing.”
And whereas R&B Cash is his ultimate album, that doesn’t imply Tank gained’t be again onstage. He’s been doing gigs as a slapstick comedian as nicely. “I can’t stroll away from the stage,” he pledges. “Proper now, nonetheless, I’m simply rearranging my priorities.”