R&B newcomer VAN HUNT grew up surrounded by the pimp lifestyle of his father against a soundtrack of classic soul and contemporary R&B. He recalls: "I loved it….sitting in the corner of a smoke-filled dope house, tapping my feet to the music while my father and his friends cussed each other out over a game of cards. It seemed to me the beat of the drums urged on their behavior…." Soon Hunt began writing his own soundtrack to the scene, and started singing and playing guitar in his teens. A move from the Midwest to Atlanta in his early twenties allowed Hunt to hone his sound, and he signed with Capitol Records in 2003. The release of his self-titled debut in February 2004 launched a nationwide tour featuring appearances on Soul Train, Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn, and NPR and acclaimed concerts in major clubs throughout the U.S., including Tipitina's in New Orleans; the Stone Pony in Asbury Park, New Jersey; Sin-e in New York City; House of Blues in Chicago; Temple Bar, the Roxy, and the Knitting Factory in Los Angeles; the Warfield and Café du Nord in San Francisco; and the Five Spot in Philadelphia.

Find out more about Van Hunt at his website.