After twenty-six years in the game, Atlanta-based quartet Jagged Edge is currently on the road celebrating the anniversary of their magnum opus sophomore album, “J.E. Heartbreak,” with a tour titled “An Intimate Evening With Jagged Edge.” To kick off our seventh wedding anniversary celebration, my wife and I will be the D.C. date on the tour this coming Wednesday.
Therefore, covering that album for this week’s Second Listen Sunday was only fitting. “J.E. Heartbreak,” which arrived in stores in the fall of 1999, was led by the single “Keys to the Range,” featuring Jermaine Dupri. That song initially appeared on the soundtrack to the film “In Too Deep.”
Produced by Jermaine Dupri and Bryan Michal Cox, “Keys to the Range” was a club banger that talks about a change in a relationship and how the girl was initially driven, ambitious, and hardworking, and her key priorities in life were a house, money, and keys to the Range. But now, she has changed, and how she used to do things is no longer the same. Forever, whatever reason, the song didn’t chart, but the group wouldn’t find its footing with the next single.
I still remember my reaction to hearing the opening vocal chords of “He Can’t Love U,” which group members Brian and Brandon co-wrote with Bryan-Michael Cox, who also produced the song. It begins with a poignant introduction that sets the emotional tone.
“He Can’t Love U” expresses the group’s deep concern for a loved one in a relationship with someone unworthy. The lyrics convey a sense of urgency and empathy as the group wishes to intervene and save their former love from heartache.
The next single, “Let’s Get Married,” is arguably their signature song. A crossover hit for the pop crowd, “Let’s Get Married” was produced by Jermaine Dupri and co-written by the Casey Bros and Bryan Michael Cox. It is a simplistic song about a deep commitment and desire for a lifelong partnership.
While I’ve been married for a while, the older I’ve gotten, the lyrics do come across as bland; however, for any man who couldn’t find the words when he was ready to take the next step in their relationship and jump, “Let’s Get Married” was the antidote.
The Bryan Michael Cox and Dupri collaborations continued on the album’s final single, “Promise,” one of my top three Jagged Edge singles. A classic ballad about love, commitment, and the importance of reassurance in a romantic relationship, “Promise” emphasizes the need for trust and belief in one another amidst uncertainties.
From start to finish, the rest of the album is equally strong, from the intro to the album’s closer. The group touches on the usual nineties R&B tropes but does so with class. Often, I may want to hear one of the hits or album tracks and end up finishing the entire album.
Perhaps the magic of “J.E. Heartbreak” is why I was overly critical of the group’s last three albums. As evident in 2014’s “J.E. Heartbreak II,” their best work is with Cox and Dupri, not when chasing trends.
Final Grade: A
“J.E. Heartbreak” is available on all streaming platforms
