Keyshia Cole’s fans have a reason to celebrate as her recently announced “The Way It Is 20th Anniversary Tour” begins next month. Making the tour even better, Ms. Cole is bringing along some heavy hitters for support. The selection of opening acts will depend on the concert location, with various artists scheduled to perform alongside Ms. Cole on different dates. These artists include Tink, Wale, Friday, Jeremih, T-Pain, Jadakiss, and Lil’ Kim.
With the tour kicking off in Baltimore, I wanted to revisit the “Princess of Hip-Hop and R&B” fourth album, “Calling All Hearts,” for this week’s Second Listen Sunday. Arriving in stores on December 21, 2010, the album featured songs composed before and after Cole met her fiancé and now ex-husband, Daniel Gibson.
For her first single, “I Ain’t Thru,” Cole collaborated with the highly sought-after rapper Nicki Minaj. Produced by The ARE and Ron Fair, the song is about Cole trying to forge her path while remaining indifferent to those who oppose her. Minaj’s unnecessary verse emphasizes her superiority and dismisses those she considers beneath her. Minaj also highlights her wealth and success by referencing her expensive possessions and luxurious lifestyle.
The song departed from the intense soul sound that fans were used to, and Cole later admitted that it should not have been the lead single. The next unofficial single, “Long Way Down,” was produced by the J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League and reflected the sound that Keyshia’s fans recognized.
“Long Way Down” showcases Cole reflecting on her experiences with dishonest and unfaithful partners, highlighting her desire to break free from toxic relationships. Keyshia acknowledges the pain and tears she has endured but remains hopeful for a better future. Despite her past disappointments, she is determined to avoid making the same mistakes again.
“Take Me Away” was the album’s third and final single. Featuring the production talents of Chink Santana and the late Irv Gotti, it stands out as an original piece rather than a leftover from Ashanti. This beautiful ballad is a dedication to Boobie, with lyrics that express a strong desire to be with him and share a meaningful connection.
In the chorus, Keyshia sings about being so in love with her partner that she sees them in everything she does, suggesting that their love is integral to her life. She expresses her commitment to the relationship by referring to herself as “your woman.”
Perhaps due to the lukewarm response, Cole’s label didn’t push for another single, which is sad because there’s some heat on here. Tank and Faith Evans show up for the enjoyable duets “Tired of Doing Me” and “If I Ever Fall in Love Again, ” while Timbaland adds his flair to “Last Hangover.” Finally, Jam & Lewis and Diane Warren give Cole songs that could have been massive hits if realized as singles like “So Impossible” and “Better Me.”
Given how music began to shift, it’s unsurprising that “Calling All Hearts” was unsuccessful. Overall, it’s a decent album and worth the revisit.
Final Grade: B
“Calling All Hearts” 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.