# Lloyd (singer)
**Lloyd** is the stage name of Lloyd Harlin Polite Jr. (born 1986), an American R&B singer who began in the teen group N-Toon before signing with [Irv Gotti](https://www.edgepedia.org/irv-gotti)'s The Inc. and scoring hits including "Southside," "You," "Get It Shawty," and "Lay It Down."[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/lloyd-mn0000673752) • [2](https://musicrising.tulane.edu/discover/people/lloyd/) He performs under the mononym Lloyd, his first name.[2](https://musicrising.tulane.edu/discover/people/lloyd/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1986, New Orleans; raised in Decatur, Georgia (Atlanta area)[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/lloyd-mn0000673752) • [2](https://musicrising.tulane.edu/discover/people/lloyd/) |
| First group | N-Toon, assembled by Klymaxx's Joyce Irby in 1996; appeared on the 2000 Dreamworks album *Toon Time*[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/lloyd-mn0000673752) |
| Breakthrough | Debut album *Southside* (July 2004) on The Inc., with the Ashanti duet title track[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/lloyd-mn0000673752) |
| Biggest album | *Street Love* (2007), Certified Gold, debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200[3](https://www.dayafterdaymusic.com/artists/lloyd/) |
| Signature singles | "Get It Shawty" (No. 4 Hot R&B/Hip-Hop), "Lay It Down" (No. 7), "Tru" (RIAA Platinum)[3](https://www.dayafterdaymusic.com/artists/lloyd/) |
| Guest hook | Young Money's "Bed Rock" (2009), featuring Lloyd's hook, reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100[4](https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/lloyd-overcomes-label-drama-to-become-king-of-hearts-469396/) |
| Return | *Tru* EP (late 2016) and *Tru* LP (2018) after a multi-year pause[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/lloyd-mn0000673752) |
## Early life and N-Toon
Lloyd was born in New Orleans but raised in Atlanta, and his professional start came through the teen pop group N-Toon, put together by Joyce Irby of the group Klymaxx.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/lloyd-mn0000673752) He joined in 1996 and appeared on the group's 2000 album *Toon Time*, released by Dreamworks; N-Toon disbanded in early 2001.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/lloyd-mn0000673752) • [2](https://musicrising.tulane.edu/discover/people/lloyd/) Soon after the group ended, he signed his first solo record deal with basketball player [Magic Johnson](https://www.edgepedia.org/magic-johnson)'s MJM label.[5](https://www.discogs.com/artist/186264-Lloyd)
## Breakthrough with Murder Inc. (2003–2006)
**The Inc. signing.** [L.A. Reid](https://www.edgepedia.org/l-a-reid) recognized Lloyd's vocal talents, and when Reid became head of Def Jam he turned to Irv Gotti, whose Murder Inc. label had become the Def Jam-associated The Inc., which signed Lloyd.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/lloyd-mn0000673752)
His debut album *Southside*, titled after his duet with [Ashanti](https://www.edgepedia.org/ashanti-singer), was released in July 2004 with Joyce Irby and Gotti sharing the executive producer credit.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/lloyd-mn0000673752) The album included the hits "Hey Young Girl" and "Southside," and Lloyd performed at the 2004 BMI Urban Awards.[6](https://www.bmi.com/advice/lloyd)
## Mainstream success (2007–2011)
*Street Love* arrived in 2007 and peaked at number two on the Billboard 200; it is Certified Gold, and its hits "You" (a UK Gold single from 2006 featuring [Lil Wayne](https://www.edgepedia.org/lil-wayne)) and "Get It Shawty" (No. 4 on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop chart) both charted on the Hot 100 and R&B/Hip-Hop charts.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/lloyd-mn0000673752) • [3](https://www.dayafterdaymusic.com/artists/lloyd/) • [6](https://www.bmi.com/advice/lloyd) The album gave Lloyd his second top-ten Billboard 200 album.[2](https://musicrising.tulane.edu/discover/people/lloyd/) *Lessons in Love* followed in 2008, featuring the Lil Wayne collaboration "Girls Around the World."[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/lloyd-mn0000673752)
**Label change.** Lloyd asked to be released from The Inc. due to creative differences in July 2009.[4](https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/lloyd-overcomes-label-drama-to-become-king-of-hearts-469396/) His profile got an enormous boost in 2009–10 from his feature on Young Money's second single, "Bed Rock," which carried his hook and reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100.[4](https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/lloyd-overcomes-label-drama-to-become-king-of-hearts-469396/) • [2](https://musicrising.tulane.edu/discover/people/lloyd/) In March 2010 he signed to super-producer Polow Da Don's label Zone 4, with distribution through Interscope.[4](https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/lloyd-overcomes-label-drama-to-become-king-of-hearts-469396/)
*King of Hearts* was released July 6, 2011. Its lead single "Lay It Down" peaked at No. 7 on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, and the second single "Cupid" reached No. 14.[4](https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/lloyd-overcomes-label-drama-to-become-king-of-hearts-469396/) • [3](https://www.dayafterdaymusic.com/artists/lloyd/) The album features [Trey Songz](https://www.edgepedia.org/trey-songz), Young Jeezy, André 3000, Lil Wayne, R. Kelly, and [Keri Hilson](https://www.edgepedia.org/keri-hilson), including "Dedication to My Ex (Miss That)" with [André 3000](https://www.edgepedia.org/andre-3000) and Lil Wayne.[4](https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/lloyd-overcomes-label-drama-to-become-king-of-hearts-469396/)
## Hiatus and return: the Tru era (2012–2018)
After *Street Love*, Lloyd's relationship with Murder Inc. went awry, *Lessons in Love* underperformed, and his mental health slowly deteriorated, prompting him to pause his career.[7](https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/lloyd-tru-album-interview-murder-inc-southside-8469480/) He released the mixtape *The Playboy Diaries, Vol. 1* in 2012, then released no further music until 2016.[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/lloyd-mn0000673752)
The *Tru* EP arrived in late 2016, preceded by its title track, and was followed in mid-2018 by the full-length *Tru* LP, anchored by the single "Caramel."[1](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/lloyd-mn0000673752) • [3](https://www.dayafterdaymusic.com/artists/lloyd/) The single "Tru" is RIAA Certified Platinum, charted Top 20 on urban radio, has more than 100 million cumulative streams, and its official music video exceeds 100 million YouTube views.[3](https://www.dayafterdaymusic.com/artists/lloyd/)
## By the numbers
- *Street Love*: No. 2 on the Billboard 200; Certified Gold[3](https://www.dayafterdaymusic.com/artists/lloyd/)
- "Get It Shawty": No. 4 on Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop[3](https://www.dayafterdaymusic.com/artists/lloyd/)
- "Lay It Down": No. 7 on [Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs](https://www.edgepedia.org/hot-r-and-b-hip-hop-songs); "Cupid": No. 14[4](https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/lloyd-overcomes-label-drama-to-become-king-of-hearts-469396/)
- "Bed Rock" (Young Money feat. Lloyd hook): No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100[4](https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/lloyd-overcomes-label-drama-to-become-king-of-hearts-469396/)
- "Tru": RIAA Platinum, Top 20 urban radio, 100 million-plus cumulative streams and video views[3](https://www.dayafterdaymusic.com/artists/lloyd/)
- "You" (feat. Lil Wayne, 2006): UK Gold single[3](https://www.dayafterdaymusic.com/artists/lloyd/)
## Artistry and reception
Lloyd's work sits at the meeting point of contemporary R&B and hip hop soul.[8](https://artist.degy.com/major-acts/lloyd) Billboard characterized his early-2000s appeal as built on silky, R&B-inflected records like "Southside" and "You," and framed the *Tru* project as his return after finding liberation in music following a period of losing touch with himself.[7](https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/lloyd-tru-album-interview-murder-inc-southside-8469480/)
## Media appearances and recent activity
Lloyd appeared on TVOne's *Unsung* (season three premiere) and in the network's original biopic *The Bobby Debarge Story*, and joined the Billboard-nominated Millennium Tour.[3](https://www.dayafterdaymusic.com/artists/lloyd/) During the pandemic he released "Slow Wine Bass Line" with [Teddy Riley](https://www.edgepedia.org/teddy-riley) and "They Don't Care," a response to current events.[3](https://www.dayafterdaymusic.com/artists/lloyd/) Apple Music lists a 2023 collaboration "Rock With You (feat. Lloyd)" among his recent releases, along with the singles "Dear Fans (Remix)" and "Ram-Leela" shown with 2026 release dates.[9](https://music.apple.com/us/artist/lloyd/3181085)
## References
1. [Lloyd — Biography, Discography, Albums & Expert Reviews, AllMusic](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/lloyd-mn0000673752)
2. [Lloyd, Music Rising at Tulane](https://musicrising.tulane.edu/discover/people/lloyd/)
3. [Lloyd, Day After Day Productions](https://www.dayafterdaymusic.com/artists/lloyd/)
4. [Lloyd Overcomes Label Drama To Become 'King of Hearts', Billboard](https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/lloyd-overcomes-label-drama-to-become-king-of-hearts-469396/)
5. [Lloyd Discography, Discogs](https://www.discogs.com/artist/186264-Lloyd)
6. [Lloyd, BMI](https://www.bmi.com/advice/lloyd)
7. [Lloyd Interview: Talks New Album 'Tru' & Finding Liberation in Music, Billboard](https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/lloyd-tru-album-interview-murder-inc-southside-8469480/)
8. [Book Musicians Lloyd, Degy Entertainment](https://artist.degy.com/major-acts/lloyd)
9. [Lloyd, Apple Music](https://music.apple.com/us/artist/lloyd/3181085)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Music › Musicians and ensembles › Individual musical biographies › Pop and R&B singer-songwriters › R&B singers, 1990s and 2000s › R&B singers of the 2000s › Surnames A to L*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license