Gary Jenkins, better known as “Lil G” of legendary R&B group Silk, released his solo debut, The Other Side, in July of 2005. During time I served my county as a member of the United States Air Force while stationed in the United Kingdom. I had no idea that “Lil G” released a solo album, but I made sure to track the album down and pay the extra costs to have it shipped to me once I found out.
The singer opens up the album with the confessional “The Interview,” where he goes into why he departed the group Silk. Jenkins never takes shots at his other group members but instead wants the world to know he can do more than sing about sex. Jenkins than Segway’s into the southern juke joint flavored “The Other Side” and “Friday Night,” both of which re surefire steppers anthems. Jenkins also dabbles in jazz on “Everybody Dreams,” which I could see flipped into a gospel song.
Fans of the slow jam will be pleased with “The Sound,” “So Sexy,” and “Loving You,” which G sings with ease and avoids trying to repeat the signature Silk sound. My favorite song on the project would have to be Jenkins’s cover of Sam Cooke’s “Change Gone Come,” where he takes us to church and does the legendary Cooke justice.
Gary Jenkins is multi-talented in numerous entertainment avenues. The Other Side eloquently showcases the facets of Lil G. If you are expecting a rehash of Silk, then you may be disappointed. However, if you want some grown man R&B, I highly recommend The Other Side.
Final Grade: B
Top Tracks: “Change Gone Come,” “The Sound,” “So Sexy,” and “Loving You”
The Other Side is available on all streaming platforms.
This weekend is about celebrating the King of Pop, Mr. Michael Jackson, and his legacy. For this week’s Second Listen Sunday, I wanted to highlight his debut solo album, “Got To Be There,” which was released on January 24th, 1972.
Fifteen years after his untimely passing, the King of Pop’s music continues to resonate with us, a testament to its timeless appeal. As we honor his heavenly birthday this past Thursday, I wanted to pay tribute to him with ‘Loving You’ for this week’s Slow Jam Saturday.
When we reminisce about the potential of lead singers who could have been iconic solo acts, the name Sisqó immediately springs to mind. The front man for R&B quartet Dru Hill, Sisqó, stormed onto the scene in 1999 with his solo debut ‘Unleash the Dragon.’ The success of the singles ‘Incomplete’ and ‘Thong Song’ propelled Sisqó’s solo debut to sell a staggering five million copies in the US alone, leaving an indelible mark on the music industry.
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