Cheri Dennis

In 2006, while Sean "Diddy" Combs' Bad Boy Records enjoyed a string of successes that included Top Ten hit singles and Top Five albums from Yung Joc, Cassie, and Danity Kane along with Diddy's own chart-topping release, R&B vocalist Cheri Dennis stood poised to extend the label's momentum into the following year. The Cleveland native became its only female solo act after Faith Evans departed for Capitol Records following the release of her 2001 album Faithfully. Before securing any meaningful foothold, Dennis had steadily worked her way through the ranks of the music business. Her passion for singing first surfaced at age eight in her grandmother's church choir. Once she completed her schooling and began performing professionally, she concluded that Cleveland offered no further opportunities and relocated to New York. Independent connections secured her guest appearances on Mase's 1999 album Double Up. Two years afterward, an impromptu meeting with Combs at a Valentine's Day party led her to deliver an unplanned vocal over whatever track was then playing, prompting him to offer a contract immediately. She spent the subsequent five years contributing background vocals and hooks out of the spotlight while the label navigated successive distribution arrangements. The single "I Love You" surfaced in spring 2006.