Biography
An L.A. native whose self-titled debut album quickly propelled him to the top of the charts, smooth-voiced R&B crooner Tyrese (born Tyrese Gibson) immediately stood out from the pack, thanks to the remarkable honesty of his songwriting, his alluring passion, and his self-assured style behind the microphone. It was at the age of 14 that a series of wins on the local talent circuit gave the up-and-coming singer his first enticing taste of success, with a Coca Cola commercial providing the breakthrough that would soon propel him to release his eponymous debut album in 1998. Of course, anyone who happened to catch Tyrese's Coca Cola commercial couldn't help but notice the singing sensation's undeniable screen presence. After making his acting debut with a small role in acclaimed filmmaker
Julie Dash's made-for-television drama
Love Song, the singer-turned-actor jumped headlong into features, as the protagonist of
John Singleton's
Boyz 'N the Hood follow-up,
Baby Boy. Cast as an urban mama's boy whose staunch refusal to leave the nest eventually stifles his transition into adulthood, Tyrese offered just the right mixture of naïveté and street-tough bravado to draw audiences in, while showing notable promise for the future. With two films, a hit album, and a series of television appearances in such series as
Martin and
Moesha under his belt, Tyrese returned to the music scene for his sophomore effort, 2000 Watts, before jumping into the driver's seat for the 2003 film
2 Fast 2 Furious. The following year Tyrese kept the action moving at a clip with a supporting role in
Flight of the Phoenix before opting for more dramatic roles in director
Justin Lin's
Annapolis and former collaborator
John Singleton's family-themed revenge drama
Four Brothers. A supporting role in
Better Luck Tomorrow director
Justin Lin's Navy boxing misfire
Annapolis was quickly followed by another headline performance as an ex-convict struggling to get his son back after his vehicle is carjacked with the boy still inside in the 2006 action thriller
Waist Deep. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide