Avant
Artist profile

Avant

Avant is the stage name of Rodney Jerkins III, who came up in Cleveland in the late 1990s. His debut album 'My Thoughts' arrived in 2000, anchored by the...

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Editor's note

Avant's smooth, steady R&B from Cleveland

The singer behind 'Separated' and 'You & I' has kept relationship-focused R&B going for two decades.

For a quick sense of his sound, start with 'Separated' and 'You & I.' They're both exactly what you'd expect from him, which is the point.

Avant's debut single 'Separated' arrived in 2000 and immediately defined his lane: straightforward, earnest R&B about personal relationships. Songs like 'My First Love' and 'Read Your Mind' followed that same template, and he's rarely strayed from it. Even his 2016 album 'Love, Hell & Right Back' stayed in that familiar territory.

He came up in Cleveland in the late 1990s and released his debut album 'My Thoughts' in 2000. A couple years later, 'Ecstasy' produced the duet 'You & I' with Keke Wyatt. He's kept a steady pace of releases since, including albums like 'Director' in 2006 and 'Face' in 2013.

edit_note Ethan Walker · LyroVerse team · Apr 20
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LyroVerse editor's notes are short interpretation guides, not final verdicts. If something needs a correction, visit About or Contact.

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Background notes

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Avant is the stage name of Rodney Jerkins III, who came up in Cleveland in the late 1990s. His debut album 'My Thoughts' arrived in 2000, anchored by the single 'Separated.' That song, along with others like 'My First Love' and 'Read Your Mind,' established his sound: straightforward R&B with a focus on smooth, earnest vocals.

A couple years later, the album 'Ecstasy' produced one of his best-known tracks, 'You & I,' a duet with Keke Wyatt. He's kept a steady pace of releases since, including albums like 'Director' in 2006 and 'Face' in 2013. The work tends to stay in that lane of personal, relationship-focused R&B, as heard on songs like 'Don't Say No, Just Say Yes' and 'I Wanna Be Close.'

He's had some collaborations over time, working with artists like Brandy and Ashanti. There was also a domestic violence arrest in 2003 that resulted in a suspended sentence. He's continued to put out music into the 2010s, with albums like 'Love, Hell & Right Back' in 2016.

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Where should I start with Avant on LyroVerse?

The Start here section opens with Special, Your Body Is The Business, and 4 Minutes (remix) so you can move through the artist's stronger lyric pages first.

How many lyric pages are live for Avant?

LyroVerse currently has 125 visible lyric pages for Avant.

Does Avant have photos on LyroVerse?

Yes. There are 2 photos available, and the preview gallery on this page links to the full photos section.

Does LyroVerse have an editor's note for Avant?

Yes. The editor's note on this page is a short LyroVerse team guide, not a final verdict on the artist.

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