Surfacing

“Sex, Love and Pain”

Tank

Blackground

Artist info: The name may refer to his buffed body, but it could not be more of a misnomer when it comes to his music. Effortless, smooth vocals and finely syncopated phrasing make the singer and songwriter more than just a contender in the overpopulated genre of R&B.; On his third album, his first work in five years, he hits his stride with a veritable lexicon of contemporary R&B.; Every song addresses the title subjects with an honest, emotional delivery and without going through the vocal gymnastics that so many of his peers do.

Back story: Milwaukee-born but raised in Clinton, Md., Tank nurtured his singing in church choir. Football in high school nearly sidelined him from a musical career, but college athletics lost out to music and he found himself singing backup for Ginuwine on a tour. More backup singing work with Aaliyah followed. Blackground Records founder Barry Hankerson and his son, company president Jomo Hankerson, signed Tank to a deal, but his first work was as a writer and producer for such acts as Omarion, Tyrese and Jamie Foxx. This experience more than equipped him for his solo debut album, “Force of Nature,” in 2001. That was quickly followed in 2002 with “One Man,” solidifying his bedroom appeal and solidly roots-inspired R&B.; “Sex, Love and Pain” features guest appearances from the duo Anonymous, the Underdogs and the busiest man in showbiz, Timbaland. Opening-week sales approached 100,000, confirming that Tank’s soulful artillery is right on target.

Influences: Luther Vandross, Marvin Gaye, Usher, R. Kelly

Trivia: He almost had the role of Effie White’s songwriting brother in “Dreamgirls” and gets a second chance to work with Jennifer Hudson by participating on her upcoming debut album.