“I’m the coldest wingman in history.”
Tank once said this about himself during an interview on Drink Champs. And there is some truth there. He came into the game in the late '90s, got his start as a background vocalist for Aaliyah and Ginuwine before embarking on his own solo path.
And even then, while building a successful career, he was known not for chasing contemporary trends but for making gut-wrenching songs about regret and lost love. Despite being a five-tool player—with elite vocal chops, production credits, and a notable pen for the most popular R&B artists of the day, like Chris Brown, Kelly Rowland, and Omarion—he never reached the commercial peak of some of his peers.
But he's still had a remarkable career, with multiple classics and more than enough to go head to head with his TGT partner Tyrese for VERZUZ. The event goes down on Thursday, March 26, streaming live from Apple Music Studios in Los Angeles at 5:30 p.m. PT / 8:30 p.m. ET.
Fans around the world can watch the full VERZUZ in real time via Apple Music—and after the original stream, the full performance will be available on demand, including exclusive audio.
Before his faceoff with Tyrese goes down, let's take a close look at his catalogue, which spans 10 albums over a career that's more than 20 years.
Here are the 10 best Tank songs of all time.
Do you disagree with our list? That's OK! You can rerank it by clicking the feature at the top.
10."Can't Let It Show" (2021)
Producer: Tank
Album: R&B Money
A year before "Running Up That Hill" would re-enter the zeitgeist thanks to Stranger Things, Tank would get his hands on another Kate Bush classic. He reworked "This Woman's Work," already on hallowed ground thanks to Maxwell's iconic cover. Tank wisely makes it his own, drawing on the unforgettable opening falsetto to tell his own story of heartbreak.
9."Next Breath" (2012)
Producer: Tank, C4 & The Composer
Album: This Is How I Feel
At his peak, few were as convincing at making yearning music as Tank. "Next Breath," a single from his fifth studio album This Is How I Feel, is carried by a dreamy, almost upbeat production—but the lyrics are tragic, about an uncommunicative partner realizing the damage done by saying too little too late.
8."Before We Get Started" with Fabolous (2024)
Producer: Bizness Boi & Derelle Rideout
Album: R&B Money
In 2022, Tank announced he was retiring with his 10th studio album, R&B Money. Two years later released a deluxe album, somewhat reneging on his promise. Luckily, there are some jams on there, including “Before We Get Started” which features the reliable 16-bar spitter Fabolous. The song is somewhat unconventional: it’s all hook, functioning mostly as a showcase for Fabolous, who shows some late career life here.
7."Slowly" (2001)
Producer: J. Dub
Album: Force of Nature
"Slowly" is a sex jam that functions as a religious experience. Powered by organ, brass, and live drums, it's anchored by Tank's stunning vocals that will take you to church…or climax, wherever you find yourself.
6."Emergency" (2010)
Producer: Song Dynasty
Album: Now or Never
Usually Tank songs are straightforward—either about a love beginning, ending, or being consummated. But “Emergency” sees the singer tackle something more high concept: a metaphor about rushing to a lover's side for a night of passion. The songwriting is cute—charming without tipping into corny. And special shout out to the bonkers, jittery production from Song Dynasty, which really makes this song special.
5."One Man" (2002)
Producer: Tank
Album: One Man
“Dilemma.” "Mesmerize." "All I Have." R&B in 2002 was dominated by the rap and R&B collab. Maybe that's why Tank's sophomore album, One Man, was a commercial letdown compared to his debut, despite having some of the most romantic R&B songs.
With the exception of a Mannie Fresh or Jazze Pha feature, Tank stubbornly stood by his adult contemporary R&B roots. The album's title track, about stripping down a relationship to its bare essentials, may not have been a huge hit, but it's a classic, anchored by a powerful vocal performance and an anti-consumerism message fans of the Materialists would appreciate.
4."I Deserve" (2022)
Producer: Tank
Album: R&B Money
Not to be confused with his breakout single—of course, we'll get to that—"I Deserve" is a late career jam, featuring 2000s chipmunk samples and vivid storytelling.
This is another song about a partner realizing they didn't appreciate their love enough before they could leave. Verse two has the vividness of a rapper, with Tank telling the story of turning up while his partner was at home waiting for his love. He sings:
“This one's been on me all night, I'ma sleep in/She didn't waste no time, took them clothes off/And before I knew it, damn, I dosed off Pictures of a fool, laid up in a room With a cloutchaser, sealin' my doom.”
3."When We" (2017)
Producer: Cardiak
Album: Savage
"When We" sees Tank embracing some modern trends in music—trap drums; hazy, moody production; a more southern rap-inspired flow—to strong results. The song is also as blunt as possible: it's pure fucking music, with lines like "face down ass up" and “Lemme get both of them legs and put em both behind your head." It's one of the more literal songs on this list.
2."Please Don't Go" (2007)
Producer: The Underdogs
Album: Sex, Love & Pain
After the commercial disappointment of One Man, Tank could have gone back to the drawing board, rejigged his sound to more contemporary trends. Instead he doubled down. "Please Don't Go" is the classic “baby don't leave me” formula Tank has mastered. This one is his most emotive, featuring a rougher Luther Vandross-inspired edge that takes over in the vocal runs in the chorus.
1."Maybe I Deserve" (2001)
Producer: Durrell Babbs
Album: Force of Nature
Not only was “Maybe I Deserve” the first, but it was also the breakout and the blueprint. A song of regret, yearning, and vicious self-destruction, it became the template for everything he would chase his whole career.
The song was released during a particularly strong era for thug R&B songs about heartbreak—from Case's “Missing You” to 112's “It's Over Now” to Usher's “U Got It Bad”—but Tank's version not only has a maturity, but a longevity and vocal staying power that make it stand out even in that company.
I'd put this song alongside any of those, featuring an understated piano and perhaps still his finest vocal performance, building to an explosive finale where he comes to grips with everything he's done and, more importantly, everything he will lose.
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