*Tyrese Gibson tried it, and Tank shut him down earlier this week after he took Instagram to issue R&B singers to a challenge – asking them to produce a full R&B album with no Hip Hop features.
Oddly enough, Tank later apologized for reacting publicly to Gibson’s unpopular challenge. Initially reminding him, and fans alike, that artists such as Jill Scott and Anthony Hamilton continue to be successful without the help of hip hop guest spot.
Tyrese wrote:
“Here’s my R&B Challenge #TAG the REAL R&B Soul Singers and see if they will “Accept” the challenge……… In their response they just have to write “I accept” #BlackRoseAlbum has 1 ft Snoop…… On my song #DumbShit otherwise you already know what I came with – pure R&B Soul….”
It’s worthy noting that Gibson’s latest album, “Black Rose,” features guest rapper Snopp Dogg, and Tyrese wants fans and critics of his challenge to overlook this little detail.
Tank, who is a member of Tyrese’s R&B super group TGT, and also featured on Gibson’s album, left a comment expressing his disapproval of the challenge:
“no the challenge is shade! None of us have heard of Anthony Hamilton, Jill Scott, Alicia Keys, etc!! It’s not a challenge he’s just indirectly flaunting his success!..lol. Which is fine but don’t act like you the only one doing R&B Music!.. lol.”
Shortly after leaving the comments, Tank issued an apology to both Tyrese and Hip Hop fans for reacting publicly to Gibson’s arrogant request:
“I have to issue a public apology to my brother Tyrese! Any issue that I have with any man should be handled with a phone call or a sit down! Not on social media!” Tank wrote on Instagram. “I’ve apologized to him and I apologize to the fans that had to endure this exchange!.. Blessings.”
Tank’s apology has left many fans curious and wondering if someone from Gibson’s camp (or, Gibson himself,) got in his ear, as many have expressed that Gibson’s challenge deserved to be called out.
What do you think?
I think Tank & the writer of this article are full of it.
First Tank decided to quit because he wasn’t getting the love & respect as an R&B artist like his white counterparts, and i understand his anger at that situation. Burns my cookies, too. But now he’s misdirecting his words at Tyrese’s “challenge”. I sincerely think (i.e. HOPE) Tank’s response was a joke. Had to be to say nobody’d ever heard of the artists he listed, right?
In addition, i’d have to ask the writer of this article why he branded Tyrese’s challenge as “arrogant.” Ever since the advent of Bad Boy records, maybe even a little before that, no R&B act could get a song on the radio unless there was some B-Boy or -girl “spitting” on it. Even though he had a guest appearance by a well-known rap artist on his set, it doesn’t negate what he’s saying: R&B has to get back to it’s soul, it’s original spirit, and not lean CONSTANTLY on hip-hop to succeed.