Eric Aldwin Bellinger Jr.[1] (born March 27, 1984) is an American R&B singer and songwriter. He began songwriting in 2010, and has co-written singles including "Lemme See" by Usher, "New Flame" by Chris Brown, "Right Here" by Justin Bieber, "On Chill" by Wale, and "Music Sounds Better with U" by Big Time Rush.[2] His contributions to Brown's album F.A.M.E. (2011) yielded his first Grammy Award.
Eric Bellinger | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Eric Aldwin Bellinger Jr. |
| Born | March 27, 1984 Norwalk, California, U.S. |
| Origin | Los Angeles, California, U.S |
| Genres | R&B |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 2010–present |
| Labels |
|
| Formerly of | |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Website | ericbellinger |
As a recording artist, he made his debut as a guest performer on the album A Year Without Rain (2010) by Selena Gomez & the Scene. In 2014, Bellinger returned to his recording career and released his debut studio album, The Rebirth in February of that year. He signed with 300 Entertainment to release the extended plays Eric B for President: Term 1 (2016) and Eric B for President: Term 2 (2017).[3]
Early life
editBellinger was raised in Los Angeles, California, but attended schools in the Norwalk and Santa Fe Springs area, where he met his future manager Nieman Johnson. Bellinger is the grandson of Jackson 5 songwriter Bobby Day.[4]
Career
editThe Writing Camp and early career
editBellinger had earned a football scholarship to University of Southern California, but rejected the offer to record and tour with R&B group AKNU. The group was signed to Epic Records by executives Max Gousse and Tommy Mottola, and in 2010 he was invited to work with songwriting collective The Writing Camp by childhood friend and mentor Erika Nuri.[5][6] Bellinger first co-wrote for pop acts such as Selena Gomez and the Scene, Jacob Latimore, and Big Time Rush, until 2012 when he contributed to the song "Death Penalty" on Los Angeles rapper The Game's mixtape California Republic.[6][7][8] Bellinger's connection with The Game led to him writing and featuring on several songs off The Game's album The Documentary 2, for which he received greater recognition and signed a publishing deal with Sony ATV.[9] However, complications with Bellinger's songwriting catalogue caused him to leave Sony ATV to sign with publisher BMI.[10]
Solo career and The Rebirth
edit
In 2013, Bellinger released a three-part series of mixtapes: Born II Sing Vol. 1,[11] Born II Sing Vol. 2,[12] and Born II Sing Vol. 3.[13] Bellinger released his debut studio album, The Rebirth, on May 17, 2014, as a double album.[14] The Rebirth peaked at 23 on the US R&B/Hip Hop charts, and 15 on the US R&B chart, and also entered the Heatseakers Albums chart.[15]
Bellinger followed The Rebirth with the studio albums, Cuffing Season and Cuffing Season, Part 2, which released in July 2015 and December 2015, respectively. Cuffing Season peaked at 6 on the US R&B chart, while Cuffing Season, Part 2 peaked at 23.[16][17]
Bellinger released two mixtapes in the spring of 2016, Choose Up Season and Eventually.[18] Choose Up Season featured the song "Valet" featuring Fetty Wap and 2 Chainz.[19]
Between 2016 and 2017, Bellinger released three extended plays as part of the Eric B. for President series, the title referencing the Eric B & Rakim song "Eric B. Is President". The Eric B. for President series featured two full-instrumental extended plays: Eric B for President: Term 1, released on September 9, 2016, an acoustic remake of the EP titled Term 1, titled Eric B for President: Term 1 (Acoustic), released on January 20, 2017, and Eric B for President: Term 2, released on March 10, 2017.[20][21] G.O.A.T. (combiner two version) and Drive By Certifications Gold from RIAA.[22]
On April 6, 2018, Bellinger released the album Eazy Call. One month later, while on his Eazy Call Tour, Bellinger released a 5-track EP, Meditation Music, to commemorate National Meditation Day (May 21). This project was inspired by yoga and meditation which he claimed changed his life for the better. The 5 tracks ("Meditate", "Frequency" (ft. Blaq Tuxedo), "Chakras", "Hours" and "Massage") were later joined into a single 20min track titled after the EP name, Meditation Music.
On September 10, 2021, Bellinger released New Light, the album which earned him his first Grammy nomination as an artist: Best Progressive R&B Album. In May 2022, Bellinger announced his publishing deal with Roc Nation. It was also announced that he performs the theme song of the Sesame Street spinoff series Mecha Builders, alongside Shanice.[23]
Awards
editAs a songwriter
In 2011, Bellinger won a Grammy in the category of Best R&B Album for his work on F.A.M.E. by Chris Brown.[24]
As a songwriter, he was nominated three other times for a Grammy: two nominations for Best Urban Contemporary Album (Fortunate and X by Chris Brown) and one nomination for Best R&B Song (for "New Flame" from X by Chris Brown).
In 2013, Bellinger co-wrote "Lemme See" by Usher, which was named an ASCAP Award Winning R&B/Hip-Hop Song.[25][26]
As an artist
As an artist, Bellinger's album "New Light" (2021) received a nomination for Best Progressive R&B Album at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards.
| Year | Nominee / work | Ceremony | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | F.A.M.E. by Chris Brown (as a songwriter) |
54th Annual Grammy Awards | Best R&B Album | Won |
| 2013 | Fortune by Chris Brown (as a songwriter) |
54th Annual Grammy Awards | Best Urban Contemporary Album | Nominated |
| 2015 | X by Chris Brown (as a songwriter) |
57th Annual Grammy Awards | Best Urban Contemporary Album | Nominated |
| "New Flame" by Chris Brown (as a songwriter) |
57th Annual Grammy Awards | Best R&B Song | Nominated | |
| 2022 | New Light by Eric Bellinger (as an artist) |
64th Annual Grammy Awards | Best Progressive R&B Album | Nominated |
Personal life
editOn January 1, 2015, Bellinger married La'Myia Good.[27][28] Bellinger and Good met in the early 2000s in Los Angeles, where both were working on music with the same manager before losing contact for a few years; they re-connected later.[29] Bellinger and Good have two sons, Elysha and Eazy Bellinger.[30] Bellinger is the brother-in-law of Meagan Good.
Discography
editStudio albums
edit| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US [31] |
US R&B/ HH |
US R&B | |||||||||||
| The Rebirth[15] |
|
—[A] | 23 | 15 | |||||||||
| Cuffing Season[16][32] |
|
—[B] | — | 6 | |||||||||
| Cuffing Season, Part 2[17] |
|
—[C] | — | 23 | |||||||||
| Eazy Call |
|
192 | — | — | |||||||||
| The Rebirth 2 |
|
133 | — | — | |||||||||
| Saved by the Bellinger |
|
— | — | — | |||||||||
| Cuffing Season, Part 3 |
|
||||||||||||
| New Light |
|
— | — | — | |||||||||
| The Rebirth 3: The Party & The Bedroom |
|
— | — | — | |||||||||
| "—" denotes a title that did not chart, or was not released in that territory. | |||||||||||||
Collaborative albums
edit| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| Nine (as "Poncho Belly & Dizzle", with A.D.) |
|
| Scenarios (with Chase N. Cash) |
|
| Optimal Music (with Nieman J) |
|
| 1-800-HIT-EAZY (with Hitmaka) |
|
| 1(800)HIT-EAZY: Line 2 (with Hitmaka) |
Extended plays
edit| Title | Album details | Peak chart positions | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | US R&B/HH | US
R&B | |||||||||||
| In The Meantime |
|
||||||||||||
| In The Meantime Pt. 2 |
|
||||||||||||
| Eric B for President: Term 1[20] |
|
—[D] | 32 | 14 | |||||||||
| Eric B for President: Term 2[34] |
|
—[E] | — | 16 | |||||||||
| Cannabliss |
|
||||||||||||
| Meditation Music |
|
||||||||||||
| Feelin' Like Christmas (with Lauren Evans, Que Derry) |
|
||||||||||||
| Genius |
|
||||||||||||
| Eric B for President: Term 3 |
|
||||||||||||
| "—" denotes a title that did not chart, or was not released in that territory. | |||||||||||||
Mixtapes
edit| Title | Mixtape details |
|---|---|
| Born II Sing Vol. 1[11] |
|
| Born II Sing Vol. 2[12] |
|
| Born II Sing Vol. 3[13] |
|
| Your Favorite Christmas Songs |
|
| Choose Up Season[19] |
|
| Eventually[18] |
|
| Eric B for President: Term 1 (Acoustic)[21] |
|
| Eric B for President: Term 2 (Acoustic) |
|
| Hors D'oeuvres |
|
| Eric B for President: Term 3 (Acoustic) |
|
Singles
edit- "I Don't Want Her" (2014)
(featuring Problem) - "Valet" (2015)
(featuring Fetty Wap and 2 Chainz) - "Type a Way" (2019)
(featuring Chris Brown)[35] - "Moist" (2019)
(featuring K Camp) - "Only You" (2021)
(with Hitmaka) - "Hit Eazy" (2021)
(with Hitmaka) - "Gotta Have Faith" (2023)
(with Slim & Faith Evans) - "Curious" (2023)
(with Fabolous and Cordae) - "Gang Slide" (2024)
(with Mozzy)
Songwriting credits
edit| Year | Artist | Album | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Selena Gomez & The Scene | A Year Without Rain | Co-writer ("Intuition" feat. Eric Bellinger) |
| 2011 | Jacob Latimore | Nothing On Me | Co-writer ("Nothing On Me") |
| 2011 | Ashanti | The Woman You Love | Co-writer ("The Woman You Love") |
| 2011 | Big Time Rush, Mann | Elevate | Co-writer ("Music Sounds Better") |
| 2011 | Chris Brown | F.A.M.E. | Co-writer ("Oh My Love," "Say It With Me") |
| 2012 | Chris Brown | Fortune | Co-writer ("Wait For You", "Mirage") |
| 2012 | Brandy | 2 Eleven | Co-writer ("Without You") |
| 2012 | Jennifer Hudson, Ne-Yo, Rick Ross | Think Like A Man | Co-writer ("Think Like A Man") |
| 2012 | Usher | Lookin 4 Myself | Co-writer ("Lemme See" feat. Rick Ross, "I Care For U", "What Happened To U") |
| 2012 | Justin Bieber | Believe | Co-writer ("Right Here" feat. Drake, "Thought Of You") |
| 2012 | Keke Palmer | Keke Palmer | Co-writer ("If 6 Were 9") |
| 2012 | B. Smyth | Leggo | Co-writer ("Leggo" ft. 2 Chainz) |
| 2012 | MKTO | MKTO | Co-writer ("Nowhere") |
| 2013 | Fantasia | Side Effect Of You | Co-writer ("So Much To Prove") |
| 2013 | League of Starz | What It Is | Co-writer ("What It Is" feat. Freddie Gibbz, Iamsu!, Eric Bellinger) |
| 2013 | Trevor Jackson | #NewThang | Co-writer ("New Thang") |
| 2013 | Marcus Canty | THIS... Is Marcus Canty | Co-writer ("In & Out" feat. Wale) |
| 2013 | Dev | Kiss It | Co-writer ("Kiss It" feat. Sage the Gemini) |
| 2013 | Sevyn Streeter | Call Me Crazy, But... | Co-writer ("Sex On The Ceiling", "B.A.N.S.") |
| 2013 | TGT | Three Kings | Co-writer ("No Fun") |
| 2013 | Sean Kingston | Back 2 Life | Co-writer ("Hold That" feat. Yo Gotti) |
| 2013 | Don Benjamin | Hit The Snooze! | Co-writer ("Hit The Snooze!" feat. Eric Bellinger) |
| 2013 | Bridget Kelly | Cut To... Bridget Kelly | Co-writer ("S#1T Happens") |
| 2014 | Chris Brown | X | Co-writer ("New Flame" feat Usher and Rick Ross, "Love More" feat. Nicki Minaj, "Fine China", "No Lights", "Add Me In", "Stereotype") |
| 2014 | Trey Songz | Trigga | Co-writer ("Disrespectful" feat. Mila J, "Love Around The World", "Serial" ) |
| 2014 | Teyana Taylor | VII | Co-writer ("Broken Hearted Girl", "Outta My League") |
| 2014 | The Game | Year Of The Wolf | Co-writer ("On One" feat. Ty Dolla $ign & King Marie, "Best Head Ever" feat. Tyga & Eric Bellinger, "Or Nah" feat. Too $hort, Problem, AV, & Eric Bellinger) |
| 2014 | Sage the Gemini | Remember Me | Co-writer ("Second Hand Smoke" feat. Eric Bellinger) |
| 2014 | DJ Mustard | 10 Summers | Co-writer ("4 Digits" feat. Fabolous, Eric Bellinger) |
| 2014 | Kid Ink | My Own Lane | Co-writer ("Rollin'") |
| 2014 | Omarion | You Like It | Co-writer ("You Like It") |
| 2014 | Ma$e | Nothing | Co-writer ("Nothing" feat. Eric Bellinger) |
| 2014 | Jae Murphy | You Playin' (This Could Be Us) | Co-writer ("You Playin' (This Could Be Us)" feat. The Game, Eric Bellinger, Problem) |
| 2014 | DJ Carisma | Anyway | Co-writer ("Anyway" feat. Tory Lanez, Sage the Gemini, Eric Bellinger, Mishon |
| 2014 | Rayven Justice | I Have A Dream | Co-writer ("My Yang" feat. Eric Bellinger) |
| 2014 | Don Benjamin | Jealous | Co-writer ("Jealous" feat. Eric Bellinger) |
| 2014 | Angel | Possession With Intent | Co-writer ("On The Low" feat. Eric Bellinger & Wretch 32) |
| 2014 | Jinsu | Built To Last | Co-writer ("Out With The Old" feat. Eric Bellinger) |
| 2014 | Lyrica Anderson | Freakin (Remix) | Co-writer ("Freakin (Remix)" feat. Wiz Khalifa, Eric Bellinger) |
| 2015 | Tyrese | Black Rose | Co-writer ("I Still Do", "Dumb Shit" feat. Snoop Dogg) |
| 2015 | The Game | The Documentary 2 | Co-writer ("Circles" feat. Q-Tip, Eric Bellinger & Sha Sha) |
| 2015 | Mally Mall | EMPIRE Presents: Triple X-Mas | Co-writer ("Freak" feat. Eric Bellinger, Chinx, Too $hort) |
| 2015 | Atla | Something Real | Co-writer ("Something Real" feat. Eric Bellinger) |
| 2015 | Dean | I'm Not Sorry | Co-writer ("I'm Not Sorry" feat. Eric Bellinger) |
| 2015 | DaBoyDame | Do Ya | Co-writer ("Do Ya" feat. Ty Dolla $ign, Adrian Marcel, & Eric Bellinger) |
| 2015 | Elijah Blake | Shadows & Diamonds | Co-writer ("Armageddon") |
| 2015 | DJ Nemo | Round Here | Co-writer ("Round Here" feat. Joe Moses, Eric Bellinger) |
| 2015 | AD | Blue 89 | Co-writer ("I Go In" feat. Eric Bellinger) |
| 2015 | Kalin and Myles | Kalin and Myles | Co-writer ("Hands All Over You", "Curfew Overtime") |
| 2015 | Da Brat | #YAK (You Already Know) | Co-writer ("#YAK" feat. Sage the Gemini & Eric Bellinger) |
| 2015 | Sevyn Streeter | Shoulda Been There, Pt. 1 | Co-writer ("Boomerang" (featuring Hit-Boy)) |
| 2016 | Bulby York | Epic & Ting | Composer |
| 2016 | Tank | Sex Love Pain II | Co-writer ("You Don't Know") |
| 2017 | Sevyn Streeter | Girl Disrupted | Co-writer ("Peace Sign" (featuring Dave East)) |
| 2017 | Ai | Wa to Yo | Co-writer ("Welcome to My City" feat. Eric Bellinger & Junior Reid) |
| 2018 | Teyana Taylor | K.T.S.E. | Co-writer ("3Way") |
| 2019 | The Album | Co-writer ("How You Want It?", "69") | |
| 2021 | Kristinia DeBarge | Bet | Co-writer ("Bet") |
| 2021 | VEDO | 1320 | Co-writer ("Energy") |
| 2021 | Kelvin Truitt | Opposite | Co-writer ("Opposite") |
| 2022 | Chris Brown | "Iffy" | Co-writer ("Iffy") |
| 2024 | P1Harmony | Killin' It | Composer ("Everybody Clap") |
Guest appearances
edit- 2011
- "Whatever" (with Ashlyne Huff on Let It Out)
- 2013
- "Don't Wanna Fall In Love" (with Lil Rob on "Don't Wanna Fall In Love" single)
- 2016
- "Stay Away" (with E-40 on The D-Boy Diary: Book 1)
- 2017
- "Welcome to My City" (with Ai & Junior Reid on Wa to Yo)
- 2020:
- "How I Feel" (with T.I. and Killer Mike on The L.I.B.R.A.)
- 2021:
- "Over the Moon" (with Oso)
- "Bet" (with Kristinia DeBarge)
- "Filet Mignon" (with Jim Jones)
- "Single & Happy" (with Kash Doll & Wale)
- "World Is One" (with Chuu and Kim Yo-han)
- "Energy" (with VEDO on 1320)
- "On My Way" (with DJ Era, O.T. Genasis & AD)
Notes
edit- ^ "The Rebirth" did not enter the Billboard 200, but peaked at number seven on the Heatseekers Albums chart, which acts as a 25-album extension to the Top 200 albums chart.
- ^ "Cuffing Season" did not enter the Billboard 200, but peaked at number six on the Heatseekers Albums chart, which acts as a 25-album extension to the Top 200 albums chart.
- ^ "Cuffing Season, Part 2" did not enter the Billboard 200, but peaked at number twelve on the Heatseekers Albums chart, which acts as a 25-album extension to the Top 200 albums chart.
- ^ "Eric B for President: Term 1" did not enter the Billboard 200, but peaked at number twelve on the Heatseekers Albums chart, which acts as a 25-album extension to the Top 200 albums chart.
- ^ "Eric B for President: Term 2" did not enter the Billboard 200, but peaked at number twenty-four on the Heatseekers Albums chart, which acts as a 25-album extension to the Top 200 albums chart.
References
edit- ^ "Eric Bellinger Music at Digital DJ Pool".
- ^ "Eric Bellinger". Eric Bellinger. Archived from the original on June 23, 2018. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
- ^ "Eric Bellinger – ROC NATION".
- ^ "Interview: Eric Bellinger Talks The Rebirth Album, Usher & Chris Brown Influence, Positive Vibe in his Music – YouKnowIGotSoul.com". October 3, 2014. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
- ^ "Interview: Eric Bellinger Talks The Rebirth Album, Usher & Chris Brown Influence, Positive Vibe in his Music – YouKnowIGotSoul.com". October 3, 2014. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
- ^ a b "Eric Bellinger Talks 'Cuffing Season' Album, Working With Game". The Boombox. October 10, 2014. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
- ^ "New Mixtape: Game 'California Republic'". Vibe. April 5, 2012. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
- ^ "Eric Bellinger". Eric Bellinger. Archived from the original on June 23, 2018. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
- ^ "Eric Bellinger". HotNewHipHop. October 2014. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
- ^ "BMI Signs Singer/Songwriter Eric Bellinger – Singersroom.com". Singersroom.com. January 15, 2013. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
- ^ a b "Eric Bellinger – Born II Sing Vol. 1". iTunes. April 15, 2013. Retrieved July 17, 2015.
- ^ a b "Eric Bellinger – Born II Sing Vol. 2". iTunes. April 15, 2013. Retrieved July 17, 2015.
- ^ a b "Eric Bellinger – Born II Sing Vol. 3". iTunes. April 15, 2013. Retrieved July 17, 2015.
- ^ "Full Album Stream For Eric Bellinger's "ReBirth"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
- ^ a b "Eric Bellinger – The Rebirth". iTunes. May 17, 2014. Retrieved July 17, 2015.
- ^ a b "Eric Bellinger – Cuffing Season". iTunes. July 17, 2015. Retrieved July 17, 2015.
- ^ a b "Eric Bellinger – Cuffing Season, Pt. 2". iTunes. December 4, 2015. Retrieved December 4, 2015.
- ^ a b "Eventually by Eric Bellinger". iTunes. February 11, 2016.
- ^ a b "Choose up Season by Eric Bellinger". iTunes. March 21, 2016.
- ^ a b "Eric Bellinger – Eric B for President: Term 1". iTunes. September 9, 2016. Retrieved September 9, 2016.
- ^ a b "Eric B for President: Term 1 (Acoustic) by Eric Bellinger on Apple Music". iTunes. January 20, 2017. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
- ^ "Gold & Platinum". Recording Industry Association of America.
- ^ "Eric Bellinger Inks Publishing Deal With Roc Nation". ratedrnb.com. May 5, 2022. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
- ^ "Chris Brown". GRAMMY.com. April 5, 2013. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
- ^ "R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". www.ascap.com. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
- ^ a b "Eric Bellinger". Eric Bellinger. Retrieved March 3, 2017.
- ^ "Eric Bellinger and Meagan Good's Sister La'Myia Good Are Married? And Expecting! - Singersroom.com". Singersroom.com. January 28, 2015. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
- ^ "Eric Bellinger shares his romantic love story with La'Miyah Good-Bellinger". x1023.com. January 6, 2021.
- ^ Ade-Brown, Lathleen (January 30, 2015). "Baby On Board: La'Myia Good and Eric Bellinger on Tying the Knot, and That Maternity Shoot!". Essence.com. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
- ^ "Eric Bellinger Talks Going From Producer To Artist, His Wife La'Myia & More". Youtube. February 20, 2020.
- ^ "Eric Bellinger Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved April 17, 2018.
- ^ "Eric Bellinger Brings Back Sexy '90s R&B With 'Cuffing Season' EP". Vibe. July 17, 2015.
- ^ "Saved by the Bellinger by Eric Bellinger". Apple Music. Retrieved September 26, 2019.
- ^ "Eric B for President: Term 2 by Eric Bellinger". March 10, 2017.
- ^ "Top 40 Rhythmic Future Releases". All Access Media Group. Archived from the original on August 15, 2019. Retrieved August 17, 2019.