Lyfe Jennings is true R&B
New album is R&B at its best
Chevonne Harris
Issue date: 5/12/08 Section: Arts & Life
Just when you thought true R&B had lost its soul, Lyfe Jennings returns with his third studio album, "Lyfe Change," which is sure to delight R&B lovers everywhere. The album features the raw R&B sound fans have come to expect and love from Jennings, and it also has a few new musical elements.
The most obvious change in Jennings' latest album is the absence of the song-to-song narration that had become his trademark. While his previous albums had an average of 22 tracks because of the narration, "Lyfe Change" only has 15 tracks.
Jennings also teamed up with some of music's biggest names on his new album. "You Think You've Got It Bad" features producer and singer Wyclef Jean and "Old School" features rapper Snoop Dogg. "You Think You've Got It Bad" is a Bob Marley inspired song with a heavy bass, where Jennings adds a reggae twist to his vocals to match Jean's natural Haitian accent.
"Old School" is one of the only up-tempo tracks on the album and in the song Jennings reminisces about his days spent living in poverty. Snoop's laid-back rap style compliments the dance-beat perfectly and gives the song mainstream appeal.
As a whole "Lyfe Change" has a relaxing vibe that is perfect for a long drive or a quiet summer day. Although some of the songs have a heavy bass, the music never overpowers the lyrics or Jennings' amazing voice.
One of the most impressive things about Jennings' music is that rather than glorifying and boasting about his shady past, he chooses to use his music as a cautionary tale for others. With every Lyfe Jennings album, fans are allowed to see further into the singer's soul and connect with him on a deeper level. From his first CD, "Lyfe 268-192," (the numbers represent his actual prison I.D. number) to "Lyfe Change," Jennings has always been honest about his past and has made it a point to never glamorize his experiences.
From songs about love, to growing up poor, to sexually transmitted diseases, Jennings is never afraid to paint a brutally honest portrait of reality. On "It's Real," Jennings sings about the reality of AIDS, demonstrating how a night of passion can lead to a life-threatening disease. On the track he sings, "AIDS is real / Don't care how you feel / Yes I want to chill / But I gotta wrap it up / I gotta protect us." At a time when Billboard's top ten consists of songs like "Touch My Body" and "Lollipop," it's refreshing to see artists incorporate socially conscious messages into their music.
The most obvious change in Jennings' latest album is the absence of the song-to-song narration that had become his trademark. While his previous albums had an average of 22 tracks because of the narration, "Lyfe Change" only has 15 tracks.
Jennings also teamed up with some of music's biggest names on his new album. "You Think You've Got It Bad" features producer and singer Wyclef Jean and "Old School" features rapper Snoop Dogg. "You Think You've Got It Bad" is a Bob Marley inspired song with a heavy bass, where Jennings adds a reggae twist to his vocals to match Jean's natural Haitian accent.
"Old School" is one of the only up-tempo tracks on the album and in the song Jennings reminisces about his days spent living in poverty. Snoop's laid-back rap style compliments the dance-beat perfectly and gives the song mainstream appeal.
As a whole "Lyfe Change" has a relaxing vibe that is perfect for a long drive or a quiet summer day. Although some of the songs have a heavy bass, the music never overpowers the lyrics or Jennings' amazing voice.
One of the most impressive things about Jennings' music is that rather than glorifying and boasting about his shady past, he chooses to use his music as a cautionary tale for others. With every Lyfe Jennings album, fans are allowed to see further into the singer's soul and connect with him on a deeper level. From his first CD, "Lyfe 268-192," (the numbers represent his actual prison I.D. number) to "Lyfe Change," Jennings has always been honest about his past and has made it a point to never glamorize his experiences.
From songs about love, to growing up poor, to sexually transmitted diseases, Jennings is never afraid to paint a brutally honest portrait of reality. On "It's Real," Jennings sings about the reality of AIDS, demonstrating how a night of passion can lead to a life-threatening disease. On the track he sings, "AIDS is real / Don't care how you feel / Yes I want to chill / But I gotta wrap it up / I gotta protect us." At a time when Billboard's top ten consists of songs like "Touch My Body" and "Lollipop," it's refreshing to see artists incorporate socially conscious messages into their music.
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