Birth name: Anthony Cornelius Hamilton
Born: January 28. 1971
Genres: R&B ∙ soul ∙ neo soul
Years active: 1992-present
Labels: Uptown ∙ MCA ∙ So So Def ∙ Arista ∙ Jive ∙ Zomba ∙ RCA
When it comes to the Grammy Award-winning, multi platinum singer, songwriter, producer and actor, Anthony Hamilton..I’m going to let you know what type of time it is. Because when it comes to Anthony, he is one of those musicians who GET IT. For over 20 years, Anthony has been one of the R&B male musicians on the scene who keeps southern soul alive. There’s no album that he’s released that is bad. Every album has a song that is a song that resonates with us in multiple ways and will continue to do so for decades and generations to come.
This appreciation post will pay homage to Anthony and his legacy.
The 90s:
Albums released: XTC (1996)
Born & raised in Charlotte, NC, Anthony Hamilton’s debut album XTC, was his first introduction to the world. While the album wasn’t a huge success, the album’s only single Nobody Else had moderate success on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, peaking at 63. The song contained a sample of You Got Something by B.T. Express
Anthony co-wrote the 1999 hit record U Know What’s Up by Donell Jones, and I am FLOOOOOOORED because I didn’t know that until making this post! Like wow.
The 00s:
Albums Released: Comin’ from Where I’m From (2003,) Ain’t Nobody Worryin‘ (2005,) The Point of It All (2008).
I was first introduced to Anthony Hamilton in 2002, where he was singing the chorus of Nappy Roots single Po’ Folks, which earned a Grammy nomination for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration. He’s also been a featured artist on countless records in the 2000s. Your songs need that FIRE on it for sure! From 2Pac, Jadakiss, Nick Cannon, Twista & Keyshia Cole, Anthony doesn’t have one bad feature on a song.
Anthony’s second album Comin’ from Where I’m From was released on September 23, 2003 by So So Def Recordings and Arista Records. The album is an ultimate classic R&B album! Selling over 1.2 million copies, Comin’ from Where I’m From spawned two singles: the title track and Charlene. The former was nominated for two Grammy Awards (Best R&B Song & Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance,) and the latter became his biggest breakthrough song in his career, peaking in the top 3 on the R&B charts, and top twenty on the pop charts.
Anthony’s subsequent albums Ain’t Nobody Worryin’ & The Point of It All kept the momentum going with classics like Cool, The Point of It All & Can’t Let Go.
Anthony was featured on the 2007 soundtrack to the American Gangster biopic about Frank Lucas, and when I tell you that it’s a top tier record. Titled Do You Feel Me, the song has 60s soul influences and is totally my favorite song from Anthony overall. The song peaked at number 61 on the R&B charts.
The 10s:
Albums Released: Back to Love (2011,) Home for the Holidays (2014,) What I’m Feeling’ (2016)
Anthony collaborated with the talented Jill Scott on the hit single So in Love from her fourth studio album The Light of the Sun. the song peaked at number 10 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. and is tied with Maxwell’s Fortunate for the longest run (19 weeks) at the top spot on the Urban AC charts.
Anthony’s Back to Love album was released December 13, 2011, peaking in the top 3 on the Billboard R&B charts & top twenty on the Billboard 200 respectively. The singles from the album Woo, I’ll Wait (To Fall In Love,) Pray for Me & Best of Me were awesome records from Back to Love!
I’m really upset that Amen was not a successful single for Hamilton from his 2016 album What I’m Feelin’. It’s totally one of my favorite songs of all time.
The 20s:
Album Released: Love Is the New Black (2021)
I’ve recently gotten into Hamilton’s Love is the New Black, which he released in 2021 on his own imprint (My Music Box). When I tell you that album is FIRE! Like it is not one bad song on the album. The production on this album is organic, sounds like something that was made over 40 years ago, but still has the Neo-soul influences that Hamilton is known for…and of course the vocals are superb as per usual. Love is the New Black is a flawless ass album, period. You have to listen. NOW!
Anthony Hamilton will go down as one of the most talented musicians of his time and all time if you ask me. He is totally deserving of his flowers for his consistency in his music over the years, and for giving us timeless pieces of art. I grew up listening to his music, and now I’m revisiting his work and giving him the praise he is so deserving of his flowers. -MW.
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