R&B Singer Ginuwine Deserves to perform on the Main stage at Essence Festival In 2020 

He has been in the game for 23 years. It’s time he gets what he deserves. 

Elgin Baylor Lumpkin (born October 15, 1970),better known by his stage name Ginuwine, is an American singer, songwriter, dancer and actor. Ginuwine began his career as a member of Swing Mob in the early 1990s. Signing to Epic Records as a solo artist in the mid-1990s, Ginuwine has released a number of multi-platinum and platinum-selling albums and singles, becoming one of R&B's top artists during the late 1990s and early 2000s.

He had significant commercial success with his first 4 albums: Ginuwine...The Bachelor (2x Platinum),100% Ginuwine (2× Platinum),The Life (Platinum), and The Senior(Gold).According to Billboard Ginuwine has sold 6.98 million albums in the US.

Ginuwine began his career as a member of Swing Mob, a Rochester New York-based record label and music compound founded by Donald "DeVante Swing" DeGrate, a member of popular 90's R&B group Jodeci. There, he met rapper Melissa "Missy" Elliott, singer-songwriter Stephen "Static Major" Garrett and producer Timothy "Timbaland" Mosley, who became his main collaborators through the 1990s. After Swing Mob folded, they continued working together on different projects, one of which was Ginuwine's 1996 debut album, titled Ginuwine...The Bachelor. The first single, "Pony" showcased his smooth vocals and Timbaland's innovative production style, and the two became a hit-making duo. "Pony" peaked at number 6 on the Billboard Hot 100. It is still relevant today with the smooth up beat tempos. It was used in the video game Grand Theft Auto IV in 2008. In 2012, "Pony" was featured in a strip tease dance performed by Channing Tatum in the film Magic Mike. Mike Patton and Rahzel together perform a cover of "Pony" during their concerts. Ginuwine covered Prince's"When Doves Cry" single from the movie soundtrack Purple Rain.

His second album, 100% Ginuwine, was released in 1999 and featured the hit singles "Same Ol' G, "So Anxious" and "None of Ur Friends Business". After 100% Ginuwine, Ginuwine and Timbaland grew apart. Producers such as R. Kelly have crafted hits for him since then. In 2001, Ginuwine had a number-four hit on the Billboard Hot 100 with the single "Differences", which also peaked at number-one on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Song.

In 2002, Ginuwine was a feature artist on P. Diddy's number-one hit "I Need a Girl (Part II)". Later that year, Ginuwine started his own label, Bag Entertainment. The label would feature artists such as Jose Cenquentez (who appeared on The Senior) and Knight.

Ginuwine's fifth album, Back II Da Basics, was released on November 15, 2005. The album debuted at number 12 on the Billboard 200, selling close to 100,000 copies. Ginuwine stated on BET's Top 100 countdown that the album went Gold with sales of 500,000 copies.

TGT
In 2007, Ginuwine teamed up with Tyrese, and Tank and formed an R&B group among themselves called TGTand have signed to Atlantic Records in 2012. Their Grammy nominated debut album Three Kings was released in 2013. The first single of the album "Sex Never Felt Better" was released on iTunes on February 14, 2013 for Valentine's Day.[12][13]

Film
Ginuwine was originally cast in the 2004 film You Got Served. Ultimately R&B artist Marques Houston was cast in his place. The writer of the movie kept Ginuwine's real name "Elgin" as the name for one of the lead characters. He also was cast as R&B singer "Romeo" in the film Juwanna Mann. He also appeared in three episodes of Moesha as Khalib, called "All This and Turkey, Too", "You Say He's Just A Friend", and "On the Rebound"

Ginuwine appeared on Half & Half as R.J. Jackson in the episode "The Big Don't Go Chasing Waterfalls Episode" that aired in 2004.

In February 2011, Ginuwine co-starred in the Gospel Music Channel's debut of John Ruffin's stage play The Ideal Husband which also stars Darrin Dewitt Henson, Jackée Harry, Clifton Powell, Shirley Murdock, Shanti Lowry and Erica Hubbard.