Bobby Behind the Scenes

So I’ve been a huge fan of Tank since he first hit the scene. I didn’t really get it at the time, but there was just something about the “R&B Thug” image that he was selling. I bought in; real hard lol Needless to say, I never in a million years thought I’d actually meet him. Just a harmless celebrity crush.

Fast forward several years and dozens of concert tickets later, I finally got the chance to meet him and build rapport with him and his road manager. Lucky for me, my big brother went to high school with the road manager (we’ll call him RM for the rest of the story) and mentioned to him that I’m this up & coming reporter who happens to be a huge fan.

Several interviews later I had proven myself as a professional who happens to be a whiskey connoisseur and mad chill so they unofficially welcomed me to Team R&B Money (Tank’s imprint under Atlantic Records).

Last year this time I had relocated from Washington, D.C. to Dallas, TX for my current job in radio. Not missing a beat, RM would reach out to me to let me know they were pulling up and ask if I wanted to be in the building. When Tank and Monica headlined Music Hall at Fair Park RM added me to their guest list (meaning, I didn’t have a ticket for a seat) so I was backstage the whole time.

After his set, we all went back to his dressing room, which is ALWAYS a party. Tank and Team R&B Money is so charismatic and such great hosts that local businesses like caterers who prepare a ridiculous spread of Soul Food favorites. So, libations are flowing, food is bomb and Tank is playing music from then-unreleased 7th studio album Savage.

More of his friends came into the room so I figured I needed to make my move quickly– I also wanted his piano in the scene so I knew I had to catch him before he broke down.

I asked for the interview and he said yes. Then he clowned me about being so particular about how I created a set. Look, it was just me and a tripod. I had to get creative so I set the camera to face the mirror and we talked to ourselves LOL

In the midst of the interview, I asked him about Valentine’s Day plans and he just broke out into song. You’ll see me blushing all crazy, but I wasn’t too distracted to miss the chance to join in and hit him with the ad-libs! 🤣

If you could meet any celebrity, who would you want to meet?

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