The Charlotte, North Carolina native set a course for a career in professional basketball, but a knee injury permanently sidelined him and pushed him toward music. In addition to the gospel music heard in church, Brown was influenced by a spectrum of other musical styles as he was growing up, and counted Stevie Wonder, Steely Dan, and Sting among the artists he admired.

Brown's first true break came in 1991, when Jodeci's DeVante Swing took a liking to his demo. Brown subsequently worked with Christopher Williams, Terri & Monica, and Father, and was signed by Andre Harrell to the Uptown label. Brown debuted in 1994 with "Taste Your Love," an ode to oral sex that was banned in parts of the South and still managed to peak at number 38 on Billboard's R&B chart. Progress stalled until Harrell jumped to Motown and took Brown with him. In March 1996, the mellow player's anthem "One for the Money," assisted by a sample of the Blackbyrds' "Mysterious Vibes," debuted on Billboard's R&B chart. It eventually peaked at number 14 and generated anticipation for a self-titled album issued that June. A pair of additional singles, including a duet with Faith Evans, were unable to surpass the popularity of "One for the Money." Brown later appeared on scattered collaborations , including Mr. Cheeks' "Friday Night," released some independent singles, and wrote and performed well into the 2010s. ~ Andy Kellman & Linda Seida