R&B prodigy Kevin Ross recently released his project of 2020, the lovely Audacity, Vol. 2 on the Art Society Music Group. Ross opens up the project with “God Is a Genius,” a lush ballad recalling a seventies Stevie Wonder. Based on the song title, I was expecting some Gospel inspired; instead, Ross gives listeners a bop about soulmates and destiny.
Ross then segues into “I Do/Options.” With “I Do,” Ross sings about being the right one for his current lady, and I loved the production on the song as well as Ross’s harmony. “Options” is a classy “Mr. Steal your girl anthem that avoids corniness or crass lyrics.
As the album goes on and on my second listen, it appears that the talented singer is choosing to explore all the facets of love, and he succeeds with ease. Upon hearing “Remind You,” I wanted Ross to produce a full-on visual album as I could easily see the entire project as a long-form video.
Audacity, Vol. 2, is a fine EP overall and musically better than a few RnB albums released in the summer of 2020. Ross is an immense talent who deserves all the accolades and success sure to come his way.
Final Grade B+
Stream worthy Tracks – The Entire EP
Audacity, Vol. 2, is available on all streaming platforms.
My introduction to Nate Dogg goes back to Dr. Dre’s 1992 debut, The Chronic, and the song “Deeez Nuuuts.” Even then, something about Nate’s voice set him apart from everybody else. He wasn’t just singing on rap records. He was bringing soul, gospel, street knowledge, and West Coast cool into the same space. He set the standard for hook singers in hip-hop, and dare I say, he’s still vastly underrated.
For this week’s Slow Jam Saturday, I wanted to give Stevie Wonder his due as he prepares to celebrate the 50th anniversary of his masterpiece, “Songs in the Key of Life,” on tour. While the easy choice could have been “Knocks Me Off My Feet”—a classic that still resonates fifty years later—I chose “From the Bottom of My Heart,” the second single from his twenty-third studio album, “A Time to Love,” released in 2005.
It’s hard to believe that an iconic singing competition like American Idol has produced only two Black male winners in its more than two-and-a-half-decade history. Jamal Roberts made history last year when he won the show, following Ruben Studdard’s well-deserved victory in Season Two.
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