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.
Growing up in the nineties, movies aimed at a melanin audience often featured soundtracks that had to be just as flavorful as the films themselves. This week, for Slow Jam Saturday, I want to take a trip back to 1993 and highlight one of the slow jams from the soundtrack of “Menace II Society”.
Last week marked two significant anniversaries for one of the greatest artists of all time, Mr. Prince Rogers Nelson. It’s only fitting that I show him some love for Second Listen Sunday. The first anniversary was on the 21st, commemorating nine years since his passing. The second anniversary was on the 22nd, celebrating the 40th anniversary of his seventh studio album, “Around the World in a Day.”
One of my most significant decisions late last year was to pledge to Iota Phi Theta Fraternity, Inc. At the time of this writing, I am in Atlantic City for my fraternity’s Regional Conference, where I will represent my chapter, Beta Alpha Omega. In that regard, I believe the perfect song for this week’s Slow Jam Saturday is “The Best Man I Can Be.”
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