Trey Songz looked to both his storied predecessors and stylish contemporaries when first honing his sensual R&B. His slick style nods to Michael Jackson's catchy pop and his soulful expressiveness owes a debt to D'Angelo's smoky neo-soul, while his luxurious hooks take inspiration from The-Dream's satin-smooth melodies. Elsewhere, Marvin Gaye's confessionals and Barry White's seductive spells are also key ingredients in his formula.