Music Reviews

R&B foursome Jagged Edge returns to the music scene with their latest single “Inseparable” from their upcoming 11th studio album, All Original Parts. 

Keith Sweat had already spent the last decade honing his music craft as a member of the Harlem band Jamilah when his debut album Make It Last Forever hit record stores on November 24, 1987. Working with producer Teddy Riley on all but one song, Sweat’s first album was led by the single “I Want Her.” The song was an infectious BOP describing how one feels after having an instant attraction to someone.

The late great Aaliyah Haughton easily avoided the sophomore slump in late summer 1996 when her album One in a Millon hit record stores. Aaliyah’s label lined her up with some of the hottest producers of the time, including Daryl Simmons, Kay-Gee, Jermaine Dupri, and Rashad Smith. However, her tracks with a then up-and-coming Timbaland truly helped Aliyah find a different sound.

The year was 1986, and legendary R&B group New Edition was amid a transitional phase. Founding member Bobby Brown had exited the group in the winter of 1985, making the group a quartet.

In the world of music, female double-threat artists are nothing new. Queen Latifah was already successfully juggled an acting and Hip Hop career when we discovered she could sing in the 1998 film Living Out Loud. Icon Missy “Misdemeanor” Elliott took it to another level for female artists who could rap and sing in the nineties when she released her classic debut Supa Dupa Fly in 1997.

Love Mysterio Barry White was already an icon when his nineteenth studio album, The Icon Is Love, hit stores on October 4, 1994. Growing up, I always heard Barry’s name or music during the quiet storm but didn’t truly appreciate it.

Too often in the R&B genre, an artist can get written off as a one-hit wonder even though they’ve continued to release music. Nicole Wray (who now goes by the stage name Lady Wray) is one such artist.

Numerous R&B groups have fallen into obscurity following the departure of the lead singer. One such group was Public Announcement which collaborated with a disgraced R&B singer for a 1992 project.

R&B quartet Dru Hill was basking in the success of their sophomore album Enter the Dru and preparing to embark on its supporting tour when they appeared on the concept album Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida.

Having previously revisited the late great Jesse Powell’s first, third and fourth albums, I wanted to bring on a music head to discuss Powell’s second album, Bout It. Arriving in stores on September 8, 1998, Powell’s sophomore album featured the hit song “You”. While R&B fans first heard the song on Powell’s debut, it was officially a single on this album.

As we continue to pay tribute to the musical career of Jesse Powell for this week’s Second Listen Sunday, let’s revisit the singer’s fourth and final album, 2003’s Jesse. Powell’s fourth album arrived in stores on October 14, 2003, in a joint venture between D3 Entertainment, Monopoly Music, and Riviera Records.

Nineties R&B fans were dealt a huge blow this past Tuesday when news broke of singer Jesse Powell’s transition to the heavenly gates. While the singer hadn’t released an album in nearly two decades, his name always comes up among real R&B fans.