Bernarr Durand Ferebee, Jr.,[1] known professionally as Durand Bernarr, is an American singer-songwriter, producer, and DJ. He frequently provides background vocals for neo-soul artist Erykah Badu and featured vocals for other artists such as Anderson .Paak, Kaytranada, and the Internet. In 2019, Bernarr was a runner-up on the BET reality music competition The Next Big Thing.[2][3] In 2026, he earned his first Grammy Award for Best Progressive R&B Album for his album BLOOM.[4]
Early life
Bernarr was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio.[5][6] He was raised an only child by his mother, a professional music teacher and vocal coach, and his father, an audio engineer who worked with artists like Jay-Z, Beyonce, Rihanna, Jill Scott, and Whitney Houston. At 16, Bernarr accompanied his father on tour for Earth, Wind & Fire as a production assistant.[7] He attended church where his mother was the music director and his interest in music was further nurtured by the gospel music he heard there.[8] He cites Erykah Badu, Rick James and Little Richard as his biggest influences.[3]
Career
In 2008, Bernarr began to grow his digital fanbase by posting YouTube videos that incorporated singing, dancing, and comedic commentary. He also covered popular songs by artists like Kanye West, Amy Winehouse, and Gnarls Barkley.[7] In 2009, he released his first mixtape titled alcoholharmony: The MixT@pe consisting of studio versions of his popular covers from YouTube and original content via Bandcamp.[9] In 2010, Bernarr released his second EP 8ight: The Stepson of Erykah Badu, a compilation of Badu covers and medleys.[10][7] Shortly after, Badu messaged him on Twitter and, having heard 8ight, she hired him as a background vocalist in her band Nedda Stella in 2011.[7]
Bernarr competed on BET's 2019 reality music competition series The Next Big Thing.[2] He both rapped and sang, and eventually finished as one of the top three performers.[8]
He released the album DUR& (pronounced Durand) in September 2020.[11] In a review, Lucas Aubry of Numéro stated that the album "once again shows his incredible ability to go up in the highs like D’Angelo and down into the low and groovy frequencies of Nate Dogg in numerous rapped moments."[7] In 2022 he released the EP Wanderlust.[12] On the accompanying tour he began DJing under the moniker DJ TBD aka Bra Coley.[13][14]
Bernarr released the album En Route in 2024. En Route earned a nomination for a Grammy Award for Best Progressive R&B Album, his first nomination.[4] He released the album BLOOM in 2025, which is primarily about his appreciation for his "platonic friendships."[15] Meagan Jordan of Rolling Stone stated in a positive review: "Bloom pulls on Bernarr’s musical knowledge and appreciation of many genres, while still remaining unique and authentic to his own vocal style."[15]BLOOM received three Grammy Award nominations,[16] and won the award for Best Progressive R&B Album, which was his first win.[1] His acceptance speech was referred to as "radiating joy."[17]
He released the album Bernarr on May 1, 2026.[18] The album is named for his father, Bernarr Ferebee Sr.[19] The album features Raphael Saadiq, Big Sean, Sevyn Streeter, Khalid, James Fauntleroy, and Vic Mensa.[18][19] Kyle Denis of Billboard stated in a positive review that Bernarr "expands the singer’s soulful, gospel-informed soundscape with splashy flourishes of yacht rock, P-Funk, house and Miami bass."[20]
