Al B. Sure!
Biography
Al B. Sure! (born Albert Joseph Brown III, 4 June 1969, Boston, Massachusetts) is an American singer-songwriter, and record producer. He grew up in Mount Vernon, New York and during the late 1980s, Al B. Sure! enjoyed a brief run as one of New Jack Swing’s most popular romantic singers and producers. He is known for his trademark unibrow. Brown was a star football quarterback at Mount Vernon High School in New York, but rejected an athletic scholarship to the University of Iowa to pursue a music career. In 1987, Quincy Jones selected Brown as the first winner of the Sony Innovators Talent Search. Subsequently, Brown went on to work with Jones on several projects, most notably the platinum single "Secret Garden" from Jones' double platinum album Back on the Block. On this recording, Brown was one of a quartet with Barry White, El DeBarge, and James Ingram. His debut album from 1988, In Effect Mode, sold more than two million copies, topping the Billboard R&B chart for seven straight weeks. The album included his memorable single "Nite and Day", which topped the R&B singles chart and reached #7 on the Billboard Hot 100. He received numerous Grammy and American Music Award (AMA) nominations, and won an AMA for Best New R&B Artist. He also received several Soul Train Award nominations, and won the award for Best New Artist. He also won several New York Music Awards. In addition, Al's 900 phone line was third in generating revenue, following those for New Kids on the Block and Run-DMC. As a writer and producer, Brown introduced the multi-platinum group Jodeci and teen R&B performer Tevin Campbell (also one of Quincy Jones's former protégés), as well as Faith Evans, Dave Hollister, Case, and Usher to the music scene. On June 23, 2009, Al released his fourth studio album, Honey I'm Home. It features the hit song, "I Love It (Papi Aye Aye Aye)." The single peaked at #77 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart and at #22 Adult R&B.
Known For & Full Filmography8 Titles
Drama Series - 1990, 16 episodes • as Al B. Sure!
Will, a street-smart teenager, moves from the tough streets of West Philly to posh Bel-Air to live with his Uncle Philip, Aunt Vivian, his cousins — spoiled Hilary, preppy Carlton and young Ashley — and their sophisticated British butler, Geoffrey. Though Will’s antics and upbringing contrast greatly with the upper-class lifestyle of his extended relatives, he soon finds himself right at home as a loved part of the family.
Drama Series - 2008, 16 episodes • Main Cast Role
Unsung is an hour-long music documentary program that premiered on TV One on November 27, 2008. It celebrates the lives and careers of artists or groups sharing their triumphs, their tribulations, and their truth. It uncovers the stories behind well-known R&B, gospel, and hip-hop music artists, bands, or groups which were ranked on the Billboard music charts with a string of hits, only to have their career derailed by a major crisis. After four seasons, Unsung won an NAACP Image Award in the "Outstanding Information Series or Special" category. Others nominated in this category for 2011 were Anderson Cooper 360° and Washington Watch with Roland Martin. And as of 2018, the series has garnered six NAACP Image Awards.
Drama Series - 2025, 16 episodes • as Self - Singer/Songwriter
A revealing look at Sean 'Diddy' Combs' journey from music mogul to high-profile sexual offender, featuring footage and insider accounts that expose both his groundbreaking success with Bad Boy Entertainment and the troubling shadows behind his empire.
Drama Series - 2025, 16 episodes • as Self - Uptown Artist
A revealing look at Sean 'Diddy' Combs' journey from music mogul to high-profile sexual offender, featuring footage and insider accounts that expose both his groundbreaking success with Bad Boy Entertainment and the troubling shadows behind his empire.
Movie - 2017, 2h 15m • as Testimonial
When a hapless but dedicated talent manager signs his first client who actually has talent, his career finally starts to take off.
Drama Series - 2024, 16 episodes • Main Cast Role
After the Tulsa race massacre's impact, a Georgia teen seeks to build a legal financial empire for his community despite risks from neighboring drug dealers.
Drama Series - 2016, 16 episodes • Main Cast Role
Inside the Label explores prominent hip-hop record labels that transformed the music business in the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s. The series includes eight 1-hour episodes that reveals the power players responsible for many of the chart-topping artists and albums from this time period.
Movie - 2025, 2h 15m • as Self
A raw, exclusive look at Sean Combs long before he was known as Puff or Diddy. Featuring never-before-seen footage and stories from those who know him best, this documentary special sheds light on his childhood, rise to fame, and recent criminal allegations, challenging viewers to rethink everything they thought they knew about the mogul behind the music—and the mugshot.