Lloyd (singer)
An R&B smooth operator whose velvety voice and hit collaborations defined a specific, romantic strand of mid-2000s hip-hop soul.
Born 1986 (age 40)·American singer·Birthday: January 3·Millennials
Biography
Lloyd Polite Jr. emerged from the ashes of a teen pop group with a sound that was all grown-up. Signed to Irv Gotti's Murder Inc. in the early 2000s, he traded the bubblegum of N-Toon for the lush, streetwise romanticism of the label's signature style. His breakthrough came with 'Southside,' a collaboration with Ashanti that perfectly captured the era's blend of R&B melody and hip-hop swagger. But it was 2007's 'You,' a minimalist, yearning track featuring Lil Wayne, that became his signature, showcasing his airy falsetto and earning him a defining hit. Lloyd's career navigated the shifting tides of R&B, from the glossy productions of his early work to a more independent, mature phase. Through it all, he remained a purveyor of a specific kind of intimate, slow-burning groove that secured his place on a generation's slow-jam playlists.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Lloyd was born in 1986, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Lloyd Was Born
The biggest hits of 1986
#1 Movie
Top Gun
Best Picture
Platoon
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Lloyd's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1986Born
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1991Started school
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1999Became a teenager
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Could drive
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2004Could vote
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Turned 21
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2016Turned 30
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 40
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Scored a top 10 Billboard Hot 100 hit with 'You' featuring Lil Wayne in 2007.
- His debut album 'Southside' entered the Billboard 200 at number 11, powered by the single 'Southside' featuring Ashanti.
- Received a Grammy nomination in 2008 for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for 'You' (with Lil Wayne).
- Maintained a consistent chart presence in the R&B/hip-hop sphere across four studio albums over a decade.
Did You Know?
He was discovered and initially managed by Joyce 'Fenderella' Irby of the group Klymaxx.
He performed the song 'Hey Young Girl' for the soundtrack of the 2004 film 'Johnson Family Vacation'.
He lost his father, Lloyd Polite Sr., to a heart attack just days before the release of his debut album.
He is a member of the Phi Beta Sigma fraternity, Inc.
“I'm not trying to be an R&B singer; I'm trying to be an artist who sings R&B.”
