Tank: “Brandy is the R&B Version of Kim Burrell”

Published: Monday 24th Apr 2023 by Rashad

Because 5x GRAMMY-nominated singer-songwriter Tank has never shied away from igniting social media debates with some of his polarizing commentary over the years, it’s only fitting he continues to trend via his popular podcast, ‘R&B Money.’

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Usually cashing in on viral clips that see his superstar guests name their top 5 favorite R&B artists, sometimes heads turn when the ‘When We’ performer (born Durrell Babbs) and his hit songwriting co-host J. Valentine insert their opinions on the hot topics discussed on their show.

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See the latest sayings that sent viewers into a major dispute.

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The latest episode of ‘R&B Money’ welcomed Eric Dawkins (of the hit Gospel brotherly duo Dawkins & Dawkins) to the platform.

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After Eric listed his top 5 favorite R&B artists, which included the ‘Vocal Bible’ Brandy, Valentine elaborated on how surprisingly influential the GRAMMY-winning songstress has been on church audiences over her nearly 30-year career.

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The conversation led Babbs to expound on why he thinks so many Gospel acts cite the R&B diva as a muse.

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“Brandy is the R&B version of Kim Burrell,” he stated at the video’s 2:21:00 mark before expounding on how B-Rocka fashioned her vocal acrobatics after the Gospel legend’s.

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While some fans agreed with Durrell’s assessment, citing the times Brandy herself name-dropped Kim as an inspiration (and even teased future collaborations), others argued the ‘Have You Ever‘ hitmaker’s unique vocal stylings were not only rooted in Whitney Houston-isms but were evident as early as her 1994 eponymous debut album (which precedes Burrell’s).

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The debate even spilled onto Tik Tok, Twitter, and beyond – igniting tap-ins from Brandy’s devoted fans, affectionately called #STARZ, in the process.

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As the conversation is ongoing, tell us…

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Your thoughts?

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Comments 31

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  1. BEYONCÊ April 24, 2023

    Yeah both flops. Kim Burrell will never be Yolanda Adams and Brandy never will be Beyonce🤪

    • yup! April 24, 2023

      Exactly. Brandy actually made timeless classics while the other spends her time plugging her twat with pages of the bible.

  2. eric April 24, 2023

    I like Brandy, but I think people have an exaggerated opinion of her voice. I want to hear these discussions about singers like Tamia.

    • Truth April 24, 2023

      That comment is everything!

      Brandy has an outstanding voice- original. But-
      Jazmine is more technically gifted to me, Keke is more powerful, and so on…

      Brandy is over-hyped by non-supportive fans.
      Whitney was the everything. Brandy is not any Whitney. She’s not the best or most technical singer out. Bible? Na.

    • Eye roll April 24, 2023

      Then start one! Y’all stay mentioning KeKe Wyatt, Tamia and other unsung divas never letting Brandy have her moment. The gag is her PEERS named her the vocal Bible not her fans. The way singers from multiple generations stan for her vocals and music (FULL MOON album anyone????)… no one discusses KeKe Wyatt unless she’s being colorist or popping out another baby 🙄

      • 🐝 April 25, 2023

        Sir/ma’am please STFU.
        If you are going to drop facts then please quote or tag your sources because NO ONE and I mean absolutely NO ONE in the same industry that brandy is in has ever referenced her as the “the vocal bible” or greatest of all time. And this is coming from an early Brandy Stan…
        The blogs and fan pages gave her that name and sis ran with it…
        As much as I love me some B-Rocka, she is not anyone’s vocal bible. Her tone is DEFINITELY unmatched but in comparison to similar girls by the likes of Ledisi, Jazmine Sullivan, Dawn Richard or even HER…Brandy pales in comparison in regards to range or versatility in her notes. Maybe I’m wrong and ignorant in my argument but thinking back heavily and hard, I can’t think of one recent song besides songs on FULL MOON, where Brandy stood out and really gave a vocal showcase of range, emotion, or versatility. Please share your references if I am wrong….but the vocal bible argument and reference needs a cease fire.

      • Eye roll April 25, 2023

        Sir/ma’am you mentioned Dawn Richard and she was one of the originals who called Brandy HER vocal Bible 😭😭😭 you can’t make this stuff up. Stacy Barthe was the first person to call Brandy the vocal Bible all the way back in 2010 or 2011 for your information. And who is Stacy?? A songwriter/producer… her peer. Google is free. Jazmine Sullivan… Brandy stan. HER… Brandy stan (her and Tori Kelley were recently on IG live stanning downe). Pales in comparison my asss.

      • 🐝 April 25, 2023

        Ok thank you for the references but you still fail to tell me which star originated the term “Vocal Bible” for her.
        Dawn Richard sure as hell didn’t coin it nor did Stacey Barthe or HER or Tori Kelly. They are all just following an upward trend that’s been taking place since 2009 and just being polite toward the matter because let’s face it, at the end of the day, Brandy IS a legend so who wouldn’t praise her or give her credit for all her work done in music? No lies will be told there but Vocal Bible? Meh…remains unseen and unheard. No shade….

      • Eye roll April 25, 2023

        The first time EYE ever heard the term was when Stacy Barthe referred to Brandy as such after a recording session way back in 2010 or 2011 like I said. And Dawn called Brandy HER vocal Bible. It’s literally on video. That’s y’all problem. So much arrogance that y’all think that y’all can tell people what to refer to their faves as. Brandy might not be your vocal Bible, cool. But that’s her title and it’s sticking like grits. I fail to see why it makes y’all so angry 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

      • 🐝 April 25, 2023

        Like I said, I am fan. So I’m not angry or arrogant babe. That’s you.

        I just asked for references and got none but anywho continue….😌

      • Eye roll April 25, 2023

        You ain’t no fan. Like I said google is free. This isn’t a dissertation I don’t need to provide references to you. Have the day you deserve. 😘

      • Credits April 25, 2023

        @ eye roll, the recording session In Which Stacey barthe referred to Brandy as the vocal bible was during the behind the scenes footage of the ‘I don’t care’ recording.

      • True Tea April 25, 2023

        Sweetheart you lost me when you mentioned H.E.R.

        She is not and will NEVER be a better vocalist’s than Brandy.

        Brandy could easily sing her songs and sound good but H.E.R could never sing Brandy’s song and sound good.

      • 🐝 April 26, 2023

        @true tea you’re an idiot. Reread what I said and take the b*** plug out of your mouth and put it back in your a**. I stated that she was does not hold the same range or versatility in present day like the aforementioned artist that I just referenced. Are you dumb? *remy ma voice* have an arena of seats baby…your stupidity is showing.

      • Eye roll April 26, 2023

        @True Tea don’t even waste your time with that stupid bee. It’s not even worth the finger exercise. 🤣

    • Credits April 25, 2023

      It’s Brandy’s versatility in her range. Some people don’t get it but she can sound like 4 different people on one song. It’s her choices, it’s her harmonies.

      • 🐝 April 26, 2023

        Thank you. I have to check out that interview with Stacey Barthe and see this vocal bible reference for myself. Clearly you have a brain and proper knowledge of music and can adequately give proper reference versus silly ignorance u like this idiot above us and all his/her new and random fake accounts sudddenly popping up on this page.

      • Eye roll April 26, 2023

        Now I’m accused of creating fake usernames because you got cleared. B**** go die😭

      • 🐝 April 26, 2023

        @eye roll b*tch I already died when you showcased how stupid you were!

        Up in here crying over brandy with your weak scamming ass…double Dutch in traffic with your mother h*e.

  3. RBRT April 25, 2023

    These comments. Leave the Disney princess alone. She’s influential. She might not be up there right now but she’s made her mark. Listen to the 20 year influence mix on Solange’s Saint Heron soundcloud. If Brandy didn’t have that car accident thing way back, her career might have been different.

  4. Pat April 25, 2023

    Y’all just mad y’all favs vocals don’t get the same adulation No one’s touching brandys accuracy and innovation vocally n r n b. They all have to play it safe live in order to to b accurate

    • Yandi April 25, 2023

      Say it!!!!

    • Eye roll April 25, 2023

      They really get bothered at the mention of her name lmao. And like clockwork they start mentioning unsung divas like Kelly Price and KeKe Wyatt. Let this site make a post about them and those same people are nowhere to be found. 🤣 PRESSED is what they are

    • Detruth April 25, 2023

      She’s very accurate with her vocals but she is the 1 that plays it safe.

      • Eye roll April 25, 2023

        You call it playing safe, I call it staying in her pocket. She does some crazy stuff vocally that the average ear wouldn’t catch sometimes. Just like Mariah makes some magical music and harmonies/layering so does Brandy. Many have tried to imitate but none can duplicate her sound…and I do mean MANY!!! Even today you hear Brandy’s signature sound being attempted!

  5. Detruth April 25, 2023

    Brandy can sing but idk why ppl kiss her b*** she like she’s the best when she’s not even close. Just stop it. Appreciate her vocals but there’s a whole host of singers better than her.

  6. Yandi April 25, 2023

    Ok, so I’m gonna leave this right here. First off, Brandy is an international superstar. She is and has been most of her career. Brandy is unique and her style and delivery are original and unmatched, ok? Now, does Brandy have a range like some of our faves, no, she doesn’t because she doesn’t have to. Brandy knows how to ride a beat, a rhythm, and her voice, in and of itself, is music because of how she technically uses it. There are girls who do amazing runs, but they don’t run like Brandy…it’s her own style. And yes, she IS the Vocal Bible; that’s what she is known as because of her unique, technical prowess vocally. Give her the credit for being great in her own right. Now, I’m going to keep it real for a moment. Ever since the pregnancy scandal and the car accident, the black community, and others, turned on Brandy. This is unfortunate because a lot of the hate towards Brandy is steeped in hypocrisy from her own community and peers. Like all of us, she’s human and made mistakes. We ALL HAVE! If you’ve never been in a car accident (I HAVE), you have NO IDEA how traumatizing that entire experience can be. It takes years to get over, if at all. For once and for all, forgive this young lady and LET IT GO!! I’m SO SICK of hearing the hate around Brandy. Brandy is and will always be top 5 best R&B singers of a generation. She has a legacy. One that she earned, deserves, and should be proud of.

    • Sean April 25, 2023

      While I agree with most of this Brandy def has the range, as she stated herself “I got it, I just don’t use it”

  7. Julie April 25, 2023

    People will always hate when Brandy is revered but her craft will ALWAYS BE CELEBRATED💯

    Stay mad….

  8. Cola April 25, 2023

    Well he has a point. A lot of gospel and secular artists cite Brandy as a vocal influence. Brandy’s style of singing is very popular in the millennial/Gen Z gospel arena. Aja from The Walls Group sounds exactly like Brandy.

    Brandy does cite Kim Burrell as an influence but Brandy’s major influences that you hear most in her vocals are Whitney and MJ. Brandy had her signature sound before Kim released her debut album in 1998. Even though Brandy’s debut was very Whitney inspired.

  9. True Tea April 25, 2023

    KeKe Wyatt’s voice is low-key annoying IMO. Brandy’s vocals are soulful, smooth and far more versatile than KeKe and Tamia.

    Tamia probably has more range.

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