Alfonzo Hunter

Alfonzo Hunter was born in 1973 in Chicago, Illinois. Hunter was the first artist to release an album on Def Squad Records, the label formed by Def Squad and Erick Sermon. Alfonzo Hunter released his debut album, Blacka da Berry, in 1996 on the Def Squad Records label.

Hunter got his first big start in the R&B industry when Keith Henderson, then music director for R. Kelly, needed a back-up singer for R. Kelly. He tried out for he position and got the opportunity to work with R. Kelly doing back up for six months.

Despite the opportunity to work with R. Kelly, Alfonzo stayed in school, attending Roosevelt University in Chicago where he learned music production and engineering. When Hunter was finally signed and released his debut album, he scored two moderate hits on the R&B charts. The album's first single "Just the Way" reached #31 on the R&B charts and #85 on the Hot 100. The album's second single, "Weekend Thang" reached #35 on the R&B charts and #90 on the Hot 100.

The album was successful enough that Alfonzo began work on a second album. However, Def Squad moved to Motown after EMI closed and Hunter was not able to release his second album.