ARTIST

Avant

Hailed as the "new voice of ghetto soul" and acknowledged as the first act signed to NBA great Magic Johnson's Magic Johnson Music, Chicago native Avant's debut album, My Thoughts was issued by MCA Records on May 2, 2000. Around the same time, the 22-year old singer/songwriter was enjoying a Top Five Billboard R&B/Hip Hop hit single, "Separated." The video for the song was getting massive play on cable channels BET and The Box. Avant's style of modern soul owes heavily to fellow Chicago-based singer R.Kelly.

Originally, Avant's manager, Eric Payton, released "Separated" in January 1998 on his Payton Entertainment label. The single began getting airplay on 1 rated radio station WGCI in Chicago before eventually being included on the 1999 MCA...
More...