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Teairra Mari
Roc-A-Fella Presents...
Roc-A-Fella/Universal
Seventeen-year-old Detroit native Teairra Mari is the new princess of the Roc, Roc-A-Fella Records. The good news is that
this young vixen is not just another pretty face that can dance: she can really sing. Her voice has power and substance, and
with Jay-Z at the helm of production, there are a lot of solid tracks for urban radio and the clubs. "Make Her Feel Good"
(written by Sean Garrett) came out the box hot, hot, hot and rolled steadily up enough urban charts to create a buzz for Mari.
The second single, "No Daddy," keeps the pace and touches on a common thread among teenage girls (unfortunately)
these days), the lack of a father figure in the household. While the tracks are hot and rock with an undeniable consistency,
it's bothersome that Jay-Z and L.A. Reid chose to let Mari curse throughout several tracks... the "n" word is prevalent
on "Make Her Feel Good." A nice mid-tempo mischievous melody is titled "New Sh_t." Considering this CD
will appeal to the teenage set, it's disappointing its producers weren't more conscious of the language. She is very talented,
so the vulgarity is really not necessary. That said, the 12-track CD is full of potential hits, such as the seductive, slow,
slithering "Act Right" and the Rodney Jerkins-produced "Stay In Ya Lane." An uptempo track showcasing
her vivacious vocals is the haunting yet bouncy "Get Up On Ya Gangsta."
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Babyface
Grown & Sexy
J Records
This CD is definitely something for the grown folks, and maybe those younger ones who can appreciate a CD that focuses
on the artistry and not who produced it or who guest shot. Well, that's easy for Babyface to do since he is a renowned songwriter/singer
in his own right. "Sorry For The Stupid Things" was actually the second single; last year, 'Face had the sizzlin'
"The Loneliness," which probably got more video than airplay. "Sorry" stole the hearts of female listeners,
nonetheless, and marked the real return of one of R&B's most prolific songwriters and performers. But... the best is yet
to come. Title track "Grown & Sexy" is bound to make waves even more so than "Sorry" as its lyrics
take a stab at the players that are so much more prevalent in Black music today. The countdown in the track is downright humorous
at times (6. "I gotta a real good job" and 7. "I got gas" ... these days that's saying a lot!). Coupled
with 'Face's penchant for pretty melodies, it's no wonder it's already upwardly mobile on urban and urban AC play lists. The
hottest track, though, is "Tonight It's Goin' Down," a sexy, smoldering, mack-daddy move that is at once romantic
and lusty. "Face stretches out on this, layering the track with a boisterous beat, balanced base, mellifluous melody
and luscious lyrics that echo the sentiment: it's bedroom time! This CD is stacked with superb music and material with substance...
it is undoubtedly a must-have!
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Eric Benet
Hurricane
Reprise/Friday Records
Funny time for an artist to release an album called "Hurricane." But for Eric Benet that just might be what
he felt he needed to do to sweep away the storm surrounding his personal life over the last several years. The Halle Berry
debacle aside, radio seemed ready for Benet's return, as two different singles are receiving air play, the lovely "I
Wanna Be Loved" and the haunting "Hurricane." Indeed, "Hurricane" is a super song, stormy enough
to be more than a ballad while saturated with the right amount of emotion to make it a testimony to love gone awry. I like
the production on a lot of the tracks... they're layered with strings, sometimes synths, sometimes snippets of horns and acoustic
elements. That's what makes "Where Does The Love Go" stand out... it has a nice old-school vibe to it that urban
AC might like. The CD is ballad heavy, but that's Benet's strength, so true Benet fans, most likely females, will appreciate
tracks such as "Man Enough To Cry," the charmingly pleasant "India" (an ode to his daughter), "Cracks
Of My Broken Heart" and "The Last Time," a sweet soliloquy laced with sentiment and classic strings and piano.
The effervescent "I Know" is bouncy enough to be a single. I gotta say this: a lot of artists say that their songs
reflect things that go on in their lives. For Benet, there is not a lot of libidinous material; it's mostly love songs or
songs about love, not lust. Makes you wonder...
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