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Hip-Hop & R&B Music
- New Reviews
5 Discs = Classic | 4.0-4.5 Discs = Impressive | 3.0-3.5
Discs = Noteworthy
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5.0 out of 5 discs |
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Raheem DeVaughn
Love Behind The Melody
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After garnering some
buzz from his debut release Love Experience, Raheem
DeVaughn is ready to prove his worth to the masses once again.
And with his second major label album Love Behind The
Melody, he's got the goods to deliver once again. He
stormed back onto radio playlists everywhere with "Woman," a
eloquent ode to the opposite sex. One of the many standouts on
the album has to be the electrifying ballad "Love Drug," a
song that speaks to the addictive qualities that lovers share
for one another. "Friday (Shut The Club Down)" incorporates
both an old school feel (DeVaughn borrows the hook from the
Temptations' classic "My Girl") with the bouncy feel of
today's soul and hip-hop for one dynamite song to kick off
anybody's end-of-the-week ritual (a la Johnny Kemp's "Just Got
Paid"). "Customer" is yet another strong contender to be a
radio single with the singer 'serving up his love' as the
appetizer, main course, dessert, and nightcap. "Mo Better"
talks about the worth and importance that the woman holds in
his life. The result of having such a woman in your life helps
to build an affection like no other, as explained in the song
"Desire." The inclusion of Floetry on the song "Marathon" was
undeniably ingenious, especially with the subtle
suggestiveness that both Raheem and Floetry express all the
time on their own projects. "Butterflies" can be regarded as
experimental in nature for DeVaughn considering the mainstream
balladry that rivals the musical offerings in soft rock or
even a song labeled as easy listening. "She's Not You"
basically explains that there is no other person that can
compare, while "Try Again" is an attempt to try to recapture a
love that was lost. Arguably the best track on the album is
"Empty," a simple yet powerful song about how your heart would
feel without that special loved one around. He summarizes the
reason for the entire album with the album closer "Four Letter
Word." With the confidence and backing of his record label
coupled with yet another monster smash hit, Raheem DeVaughn
has the ingredients to make Love Behind The Melody the
captivating album that Love Experience should've
garnered the first time around. |
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4.5 out of 5 discs |
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Not even a debilitating
muscle disorder could keep Will Downing from releasing his
newest album After Tonight to his loyal fan base of
nearly 20 years. He kicks off the album with the infectious
"Will's Groove," a certifiable jam to say the least with it's
slick bassline and laidback approach as there are no real
lyrics to the song! "Fantasy (Spending Time With You)" is just
as rhythmic with its mid-tempo melody, but Downing's rare
expansion into his falsetto range resonates well throughout.
The title track is a straightforward cut meant to accentuate
the singer's heavy emphasis on love. Gerald Albright reunites
with Will Downing for the radio-friendly jazz cut "No One Can
Love You More." Roy Ayers provides his unique xylophone work
for the largely instrumental "Lover's Melody." "Satisfy You"
is an uncomplicated slow jam meant to get lovers in the mood.
Saxophonist Kirk Whalum shows up on the sentimental ballad
"All I Need Is You" and "You Just Can't Smile It Away."
Downing shows considerable reverence on the inspirational song
"God Is So Amazing." He closes the album with the Between The
Sheets remix of "After Tonight." All in all, Will Downing
delivers on what fans have come to expect as well as provide a
few tracks that weren't necessarily his standard fare.
After Tonight lives up to any expectations from his
long-standing listening audience and is arguably some of his
best work ever in his career. And the best indication of this
album's success is the fact that After Tonight debuted
number 1 on the Billboard R&B Chart, giving Will Downing his
highest debut on the chart ever. With material like this
and fans showing that much love, here's hoping that we get to
hear more music from Will Downing in the future. |
Will Downing
After Tonight
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4 out of 5 discs |
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Mario
Go
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Many recording artists that start off
young in the music business try to make their transition to
more mature material as smooth as possible so that everybody
can see the progression. Mario does an about face and goes
full throttle on his third album Go. The biggest
indicator before even opening the case is the parental
advisory sticker on the album cover, a rarity in R&B music but
a red flag that the subject matter isn't going to be the same
as his more innocent offerings of the past. And he pulls no
punches on the title track "Go," a song where Mario gets
ballsy with his language for a ruffneck approach to enticing
the female listeners. "Kryptonite" is the other audacious
track, with most of the language coming from guest rapper Rich
Boy. And "Let Me Watch" is pretty self-explanatory in subject
matter, but there's no explaining the horrible flute in the
background or Juelz Santana's uninteresting rap. Luckily for
Mario, the rest of the album features less overt attempts at
showcasing his newly-attained 'Grown And Sexy' status. "Crying
Out For Me" is a great single for Mario because it
incorporates a lot of his signature sound but slightly
modified to appeal to his newer listening audience. "Music For
Love" is even more in-line with other adult-oriented
contemporaries like Usher and Marques Houston, all artists
who've grown up since their years as teen heartthrobs. "Skippin"
is a fun ditty where he talks about how the very presence of a
certain woman is enough to get him excited. "How Do I Breathe"
is the monster single produced by Stargate that everyone fell
in love with last summer and provided a glimpse at Mario's
more sophisticated side. "No Definition" is a decent offering,
while "Why" is a good song with a good energetic flow
throughout. "Lay In My Bed" sounds a bit overproduced, but the
impassioned lyrics from Mario help to detract from this
misstep. Listening to Mario's take on the Keith Sweat classic
"Right And A Wrong Way" will not only provide proof for few
naysayers of the singer's crooning abilities, but you may very
well like the new rendition more than the original! He closes
out the album with the inspirational "Do Right." Anyone
thinking that Mario wasn't the real deal will think twice
after hearing this album. And even though there are some
miscalculations here and there, Go is definitely his
best work to date. |
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5.0 out of 5 discs |
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When it comes to the
Grammys, everybody that is picked to be winners are usually
the cream of the crop in most people's eyes. These very same
recording artists seem to have that special something that
tends to captures the hearts of listeners. On the Ultimate
Grammy Collection: Classic R&B, music lovers are treated to 16
top-notch soul songs that were good enough to get Grammys.
Some of the best songs include Aretha Franklin's undeniable
classic "Respect," "Proud Mary" by Ike and Tina Turner, the
steamy ballad "Sexual Healing" by the late Marvin Gaye, the
huge single "Me and Mrs. Jones" by Billy Paul, the fun and
energetic song "Best Of My Love" by The Emotions, and "Ain't
Nobody" by Rufus and Chaka Khan. Other urban contemporary
artists on this album include Gladys Knight And The Pips,
Donna Summer, The Temptations, Sam And Dave, Natalie Cole, and
more.
If you're looking for the best in old school R&B, this is a
great compilation of Grammy Award-winning tracks that will
definitely compliment any growing musical collection.
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Various Artists
Ultimate Grammy Collection: Classic R&B
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4.5 out of 5 discs |
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Wyclef Jean
The Carnival 2: Memoirs of an Immigrant
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More than
10 years have passed since Wyclef's debut solo album The
Carnival was released. Taking no prisoners, Wyclef set out
to prove that he was as big a superstar lyricist as his female
counterpart in the Fugees. He would ultimately become one the
most recognizable hip-hop artists of our time, both nationally
and internationally. But music from the emcee has been very
scarce in recent years, with his last major release being
2003's The Preacher Son (he did put out an independent
album titled Welcome To Haiti: Creole 101 in 2004 that
was more Caribbean music than anything else). Carnival Vol.
II: Memoirs of an Immigrant showcases Wyclef's unique
storytelling skills on top of a bed of hip-hop, rhythm and
blues, pop and world music fused together. The album is much
like his previous works, touching mainly on serious topics but
incorporating some good ole fashion fun on a few selections as
well. And the guest artists that are featured on practically
every track are both complementary and skillfully done, unlike
other collaborations that just slap any artist on. He starts
off the album with Serj Tankian from the alternative metal
band System Of A Down and reggae artist Sizzla for the edgy
and rocked out "Riot." "Sweetest Girl (Dollar Bill)" features
A-Kon and Lil Wayne and borrows the premise of Wu-Tang's "C.R.E.A.M."
and correlates it with a girl who has to walk on the wild side
to make ends meet. Sizzla reappears for "Welcome To The East"
and it supposedly features a violin contribution from Minister
Louis Farrakhan himself! T.I. guests on "Slow Down" where the
two talk about the ills of the world and cautiously doing what
you have to do to get by. "King and Queen" pairs Wyclef's
socially conscious hip-hop with the international pop flair of
global powerhouse Shakira. Singer-songwriter Paul Simon shows
up for Wyclef's musical narrative "Fast Car." Mary J. Blige
rekindles her partnership with Wyclef for yet another street
anthem called "What About The Baby" that speaks on giving an
absent father another chance at being there for their kid.
"Hollywood Meets Bollywood (Immigration)" incorporates an
Indian-style backbeat and rapper Chamillionaire offering his
assistance to a song that speaks to the struggles of illegal
aliens and immigrants trying to make their way with little
money and the law on their backs. Norah Jones shows up for the
poignant tune "Any Other Day" while Wyclef holds his own for
"Heaven's In New York." "Selena" featuring Melissa Jimenez
invokes a lot of Latin flare, while "Touch Your Button
Carnival Jam" featuring Will.i.am, Melissa Jimenez, and others
is a megamix of various sounds from around the world that
culminate into a mash-up of eclectic energy. Wyclef Jean is
the go-to guy when it comes to trying different things with
music. And with Carnival Vol. II: Memoirs of an Immigrant,
he certainly convinces you that he knows the formula for
making music that hip-hop fans around the world can enjoy. |
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4 out of 5 discs |
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After the impressive
debut album Food & Liquor, Lupe Fiasco returns 15
months later with another album titled The Cool. At
first glance, the title suggests that the rapper has turned
into some ego-maniac like Kanye West and is stuck on himself
or something. But the title appears to be a stab at what
exactly is considered cool by different people. Listeners will
find a hodgepodge of both conscious rap and regular
storytelling on The Cool, a formula that seems to be
working for Lupe. "Go Go Gadget Flow" is a rather interesting
track with it's rapid-fire lyrics much like his Chicagoan
counterparts Twista and Crucial Conflict. "The Coolest" is
probably his most metaphoric track with Lupe speaking about
things that some people consider to be 'cool.' "Superstar"
with Lupe's newly-signed 1st and 15th (FNF) artist Matthew
Santos shines the light on what it takes to be the center of
attention and the price you pay to have that status. "Paris,
Tokyo" is just a fun tale told by Lupe in the same vein as a
Pharcyde or A Tribe Called Quest. A surprise appearance by the
new school funkster Snoop Dogg on "Hi-Definition" actually
sounds convincing on a song that basically tells about Lupe's
new found celebrity status and the world paying attention to
him because of it. "Gold Watch" is a very abstract yet
entertaining tale, while "Hip Hop Saved My Life" featuring
Nikki Jean discloses the desire of a rapper wanting to make it
big, the reasons behind their aspirations, and the ups and
downs of the struggle that it takes to obtain it. "Intruder
Alert" featuring Sarah Green and Matthew Santos is a
enlightening story about three instances of when someone can
be an intruder: A man who claims he can be trusted, the
presence of 'demons' even when they have been invited in, and
a refugee seeking a better life in the land of the 'free'.
Matthew Santos appears for a third time on the "Streets On
Fire," another abstract tale where he addresses HIV/AIDS, the
perception of the disease's existence, and the destruction
it's causing right now that will ultimately affect future
generations to come. "Little Weapon" is a good conceptual song
that will take you a while to figure out, while "Gotta Eat" is
a song where Lupe describes a hamburger of all things. "Dumb
It Down" is an album highlight purely for it's stark rebuttal
of people who say Lupe's music is too abstract and that his
brand of hip-hop is too smart for the average listener of
hip-hop music. "Hello/Goodbye" features the electronic
ensemble UNKLE, "The Die" features FNF signee Gemstones, and
"Put You On Game" is Lupe flying solo for a final abstract
offering. He closes with Matthew Santos' fourth feature on
"Fighters" and Gemstones returning for the Gnarls
Barkley-sounding "Go Baby." Lupe Fiasco might very well lose
some listeners with The Cool, but I think that any
rapper that elevates his consciousness and creativity to this
level is bound to lose a few. |
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