Anthony Cornelius Hamilton (born January 28, 1971) is an American R&B and soul singer, songwriter, producer, and actor from Charlotte, North Carolina. Known for his raspy, emotionally direct voice and strong connection to gospel and Southern soul, Hamilton became one of the leading male voices of the early 2000s neo-soul revival.
Hamilton began singing in his church choir as a child and continued performing in school and local talent shows. In the early 1990s, he moved to New York after meeting producer Mark Sparks and signed with Uptown Records, the influential label associated with artists such as Mary J. Blige and Jodeci. His planned debut album, XTC, was recorded and promoted in the mid-1990s but was ultimately shelved after the label's decline. The project later became a notable example of the difficulties Hamilton faced before achieving a wider audience.
During the late 1990s and early 2000s, Hamilton built his reputation through songwriting, background vocals, and guest appearances. He co-wrote Donell Jones' 1999 hit "U Know What's Up" and worked with artists including 2Pac, Eve, and D'Angelo. Hamilton toured as a background vocalist with D'Angelo in support of the album Voodoo, an experience that connected him with a wider network of hip-hop and soul musicians.
His breakthrough came through a guest appearance on Nappy Roots' 2002 single "Po' Folks." The song introduced Hamilton's weathered vocal style to a mainstream audience and helped lead to a recording contract with Jermaine Dupri's So So Def Recordings. His first widely recognized studio album, Comin' from Where I'm From, arrived in 2003. Blending contemporary R&B production with traditional soul and autobiographical themes, the album established Hamilton as a distinctive storyteller. Its best-known song, "Charlene," became a major R&B hit and remains his signature recording.
Hamilton followed the breakthrough with the compilation Soulife in 2005, built from earlier recordings, and the studio album Ain't Nobody Worryin' later that year. The latter addressed social hardship and community concerns while retaining Hamilton's emphasis on relationships and personal resilience. The Point of It All appeared in 2008, and Back to Love followed in 2011 after his move to RCA Records. What I'm Feelin' was released in 2016 and featured collaborations with musicians including Gary Clark Jr. and Vince Gill.
Hamilton has been a frequent collaborator, appearing on recordings by Jadakiss, Buddy Guy, Nas, Big K.R.I.T., Jill Scott, and others. His contribution to "Why" with Jadakiss earned a Grammy nomination, while his performance with Al Green on "You've Got the Love I Need" won the Grammy Award for Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance. He also co-wrote and performed "Freedom" with Elayna Boynton for the soundtrack to Quentin Tarantino's film Django Unchained. His screen work includes an appearance in the crime drama American Gangster and a cameo on the television series Empire.
Hamilton was inducted into the North Carolina Music Hall of Fame in 2017. He has also performed at major national events, including the 2019 NBA All-Star Game in Charlotte, where he sang the national anthem. In 2021, he released Love Is the New Black, an album shaped by themes of love, social division, faith, and perseverance. In 2025, he joined actor and spoken-word artist Omari Hardwick for the collaborative project PAGES, extending his work beyond conventional R&B albums while continuing his long-standing interest in narration, poetry, and expressive vocal performance.