Second Listen Sunday: Gerald LeVert, Love & Consequences

R&B singer Gerald LeVert released his third solo album, “Love & Consequences,” in the summer of 1998, following his super group project LSG. In addition to collaborating with his longtime associate, Edwin “Tony” Nicholas, LeVert also engaged in fruitful partnerships with a broader array of writers and producers. These include notable individuals such as R. Kelly, Joe Little III from The Rude Boys, and Darrell “Delite” Allamby.

The album’s first single was “Thinkin Bout It,” a soulful R&B track produced and written by Link and Delite. The song explores the complexities of a troubled relationship that has been marked by betrayal, infidelity, and heartbreak. The song’s lyrics vividly portray the emotional journey of a man who recently found out that his partner has been unfaithful. The song depicts the feelings of hurt, betrayal, and contemplation of leaving the relationship with great detail and depth. Through the song’s lyrics, the listener can imagine the emotional turmoil that the man is going through as he considers the next steps in his relationship.

The second single from the album was titled “Taking Everything.” LeVert delves into the pain and devastation caused by a failed relationship in this song. The lyrics reveal a sense of betrayal and loss as LeVert recounts how their partner took everything from them, including their heart, car, home, and even their children. The song expresses the deep emotional turmoil experienced by LeVert, who did everything in his power to make his partner happy, only to be left with nothing but memories.
As I listened to LeVert’s album at the age of 42, I thought the album could be therapeutic for the R&B singer. The titles of the songs, such as “I’m Not To Blame,” “Definition of a Man,” and “Humble Me,” all demonstrate that LeVert is a mature man from the old school who takes responsibility for his mistakes. The remaining songs of the album are characteristic of LeVert’s style, which is good. The renowned Queen of Hip Hop Soul, MJB, contributes her celebrated expertise to a splendid rendition of Bobby Womack’s classic tune “That’s The Way I Feel about You.”

Meanwhile, the admittedly controversial R. Kelly writes a revealing piece entitled “Men like Us,” delving into the journey of a libertine surrendering his ways. Furthermore, the seductive track “It’s Your Turn” creates an alluring atmosphere. However, despite its highlights, there are some missteps, particularly evident in the attempt to attract a wider Hip Hop audience with the track “No Sense.” Guest verses by rappers Layzie Bone and Ken Dawg ultimately seem extraneous rather than essential.

Nevertheless, though there are more hits than misses on the album it should appease more than fans of Gerald LeVert.

Final Grade: B
“Love & Consequences” is available on all streaming platforms