It was pretty difficult to differentiate Avant from all of the R. Kelly knockoffs that popped up in the late Nineties and early oughts. The quality that made him stand out in my eyes wasn’t even musical-he was the first artist (and the only successful artist, if I remember correctly) signed to Magic Johnson’s brief attempt at a record label. Although the average pop music fan might not be aware of Avant’s existence, he’s put out five albums over the […]