He loved hip-hop growing up, but the only R&B he could get into was R. Kelly. But when his friends heard his perfect tenor voice, they pushed Trey Songz to drop rap and start crooning. He did, and after winning numerous talent shows in his native Petersburg, VA, the 15-year-old singer met Troy Taylor, who had worked behind the scenes with Patti LaBelle, SWV, and B2K. Taylor encouraged Trey to finish high school, and then they could talk ... Show more...

He loved hip-hop growing up, but the only R&B he could get into was R. Kelly. But when his friends heard his perfect tenor voice, they pushed Trey Songz to drop rap and start crooning. He did, and after winning numerous talent shows in his native Petersburg, VA, the 15-year-old singer met Troy Taylor, who had worked behind the scenes with Patti LaBelle, SWV, and B2K. Taylor encouraged Trey to finish high school, and then they could talk about a possible music career. Trey got his diploma and immediately moved to New Jersey to work with Taylor. Soon the singer was appearing on Kevin Lyttle's debut album and Trick Daddy's Thug Matrimony as a sideman as well as breaking out on his own with his solo cut, "About the Game," from the Coach Carter soundtrack. As he was working on his debut album -- and some collaborations with Lil' Kim, Trina, and Snoop Dogg -- he released some street-level mixtapes under his alias, the Prince of Virginia. His proper debut, Gotta Make It, was released by Atlantic in 2005. ~ David Jeffries, All Music Guide