As a youngster growing up in Palmer Park, Maryland, Marcus Canty developed loves for acting, basketball, and singing. The last of the three won out. At the ages of 11 and 15, he performed at Harlem's Apollo Theatre; during his later appearance, he placed second in a competition after singing Trey Songz' "Gotta Go." Within a few years, he was opening for national acts such as Bow Wow and Hurricane Chris when their tours hit the Washington, D.C. area. While working on an album for an independent label, Canty was sidetracked by a successful audition for the U.S. version of The X ...