Tevin Campbell was introduced to the R&B music scene as a protegé of legendary producer Quincy Jones in early 1990. Campbell's debut single was "Tomorrow (A Better You Better Me)" which reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip Hop Singles chart in May, 1990. It was the lead single from Quincy Jones' critically acclaimed ensemble LP Back on the Block which won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year in 1991. After working with Jones and writers and producers including Siedah Garrett, Campbell worked with producers Narada Michael Walden, Al B. Sure, Babyface, and others to record additional music.
Campbell's first solo hit was "Round and Round", which was produced by Prince and was featured in Prince's film Graffiti Bridge.
Campbell followed the success of his first two singles by releasing his debut album, T.E.V.I.N, in 1991 which featured the R&B hit singles "Tell Me What You Want Me To Do", "Alone With You", and "Goodbye".
His sophomore effort, "I'm Ready" yielded the R&B hits "Can We Talk", "I'm Ready" and "Always In My Heart". He also scored a Top 30 hit with "Don't Say Goodbye Girl" on the R&B charts.
In 1994 Campbell also scored an R&B hit with the single "U Will Know" as part of the R&B supergroup "Black Men United", a group that also included singer Usher.

1996 saw the release of his third album, Back To The World(#11 R&B). The title track was a success (hitting the R&B Top 20), but additional singles failed to make an impact on the chart. His 1999 self-titled album was found Campbell venturing into the neo-soul venue. Unfortunately, the project charted below the R&B Top 30, with only one single charting, a Top 30 song called "Another Way".

Campbell was nominated for five Grammy Awards and two American Music Awards.

In December 2005, Campbell made his Broadway debut in the role of Seaweed J. Stubbs in the hit musical Hairspray.

Campbell returned to the studios in 2006, working with producers Scott Storch, The Underdogs, Krucial Keys, Bryan Michael Cox, Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, and Ryan Leslie.