The Love Experience and Love Behind the Melody are effortlessly soulful masterpieces from singer Raheem DeVaughn. They both spoke to a sincere and organic form of R&B. They both had their own identities yet fit the mastermind of Raheem’s artistry. They both are two of my favorite albums.

A lot of people aren’t aware that next week Raheem will be releasing his third studio album The Love & War Masterpiece (March 2). I must admit I am very apprehensive about the album. I’m not a fan of most of the leaks I’ve heard including his current single “Bulletproof” though I must keep faith in Raheem DeVaughn’s artistry. I am previewing the album now and there are some promising tracks and I will just have to wait until hearing the entire album to determine if it lives up to its predecessors. I will try to give a full review for this one and I hope Raheem brings it, the man truly creates magic with his music.

Are you guys interested in Raheem DeVaughn’s next album?

Cj..

“Please hold for the doctor, the doctor will be right with you.” Words that open the deluxe edition of Robin Thicke’s fourth studio album Sex Therapy: The Experience. Living up to its name, the album is sexy, exciting, and oddly therapeutic-so sexy in fact that it has earned Robin his first Parental Advisory sticker. The album’s ‘true’ opener “Mrs. Sexy” sets the tone of the album with its mellow vibe that subtly alerts you this album is about to bump-hard bodied. Polow Da Don’s infectiously seductive beat for “Sex Therapy” is next. This lead single is a certified bedroom banger as Robin’s trademark airy vocals ignite one of the album’s best tracks. After the fun, hip-hop and Jay-Z assisted “Meiple” comes the uptempo dance inspired “Make You Love Me.” The track is a classic and reminds me of Robin’s “Wanna Love You Girl” though the track has a completely different vibe.  As the next song plays, the horn filled and Snoop Dogg assisted “It’s in the Morning”, the album solidifies itself as an amazing effort. “It’s in the Morning” is an album highlight. The track is undeniably one of Thicke’s best to date. It’s only downfall is that it’s only three minutes long as you never want it to go off. Following suit is the fun “Shaking It for Daddy” featuring Nicki Minaj, the haunting “Elevatas” featuring Kid Cudi, the danced inspired “Rollercoasta” featuring Estelle, and the vintage Thicke styled “Million Dollar Baby” featuring Jazmine Sullivan. After the beautiful ballad “2 Luv Birds” comes a block of songs that have the elevator/blues sound Thicke is known for. The best of these being “Brand New Luv.” The album ends with “Diamonds” ft. The Game.

Sex Therapy is a great effort from Robin Thicke that effortlessly blends Robin’s classic sound with a slightly new, edgier,and youthful one. The album also has the remarkable ability to cater to the musical stylings of the artist featured on each track without losing the essence of Thicke himself. The album delights, surprises, and relaxes its listeners and contends with Thicke’s best album The Evolution of Robin Thicke. It’s great to see Thicke return with such a great disc as his last album Something Else left a lot to be desired.

The Verdict: Get this album, Robin doesn’t disappoint! Also, get the deluxe edition.

MESHworthy tracks:

It’s in the Morning

Sex Therapy

Mrs. Sexy

Make You Love Me

2 Luv Birds

Shaking it for Daddy

Brand New Luv

Listen/Love/Download

(It’s in the Morning)

(2 Luv Birds)

(Mrs. Sexy)

Cj..

A good friend of MESH., Benjamin “B[dot] Jay” Barnes, has released his much anticipated mixtape, DiamondsDunks&BackPackz. So MESH decided to review the album and post it for your listening pleasure. Hope you enjoy!

Success. Fashion&Conciousness.

Or as Benjamin “B[dot] Jay” Barnes would say: DiamondsDunks&Backpackz.

The highly anticipated mixtape from the young Virginia MC who through his clothing line (Weirdoe Clothing), entertaining tweets (@bdotjay on Twitter) and music, has built a legion of fiercely loyal fans; hit the online circuit as the latest installment in the budding career of the artist known simply as “Bdot.”

DiamondsDunks&Backpackz, a representation of the three elements which Bdot believes embody him as a rapper, is a personal diary of sorts, taking the listener into Barnes’ life with reckless abandon: “I want the listeners to get a glimpse into my mind. People think they know me through Twitter, but really they don’t.”

We know a little more now.

57 minutes of dope beats, undeniable steez, and catchy lyrics have shown us a lot more than we knew before about the Twitter celebrity. Bdot likes sex, dresses better than you, has more swag [and intelligence], and can’t stand that girl Roxanne.

DDB serves as the seeming establishment of Bdot as a serious MC. Having produced most of the beats himself –with additions from producers Static and Work Hard of The Legion production team– and gone through the entire album with few features, listeners learn a lot about Bdot. Whether using witty wordplay over booming bass to tell you how unstoppable he is (“Auto[dot]”), revealing his darker outcast persona (“Purple Clouds”), or discussing his budding, yet explicit, love and sex life (“Me&MyBae”), Bdot shows with DDB that he is not afraid to expose himself to the masses, a trait that proves helpful to the overall quality of the album.

DDB is at its best however, not when Barnes is at his most jubilant, but the contrary. It is on songs like “iLL.Ness,” where Barnes explores darker subjects such as his mother almost having an abortion while carrying him, and “Heart Collision” where he discusses the failed love between himself and on-and-off-again soulmate Roxanne, where Bdot is at his best. Listeners can feel the pain in Bdot’s voice as he speaks of the love run afoul and consequently are drawn closer to the artist than before.

The album however does have its weak points. The strength Bdot possesses as a producer sometimes overshadows his talents as a lyricist. It is clear that Bdot is still a budding MC as he has yet to find a comfortable niche in his delivery. With sometimes choppy and inconsistent lyrics that are oftentimes overshadowed by superb beats, Barnes has a staunch task ahead if he wants to be seen as more than just a teeny bop hipster rapper. His flows seem to always leave you wanting just a little more, and it is not until he can totally capture his audience, that he will be able to have a complete record.

“It’s all about how you carry yourself,” Barnes admits “I jus do what I think is dope… it’s about your personality.”

Personality isn’t the problem.

Personality has gotten Bdot nearly 3000 followers on Twitter. Personality has led fans to download DDB over 500 times in less than 5 hours. Personality, has gained the respect of notable MC’s Mickey Factz, and The Cool Kids. Bdot’s personality is fine. It’s the intangibles he has to fine tune if he really wants to be a successful artist.

Download DiamondsDunks&BackPackz HERE

MESH.

With his romantically charged lyrics and smooth production R. Les tells listeners the story of a secret love. Effortlessly, he uses this 2nd studio album, Transition, to bring a new steez to the art of “spitting game” and finding that perfect girl–you know, the one who “Looks good with no make-up“.

Unlike his self-titled debut, Ryan Leslie, which had a more airy summer love type sound, Transition is a bit more soothing and hopeful–seductive almost. The album outlines everything, but sex, and brings back true romance. He takes us through a journey of searching for true love, making that transition from friendship to something more, and solidifying that relationship.

Though most say his music sounds the same, I’d like to consider it as more so the development of his unique sound and approach to R&B. This Harvard grad isn’t a dummy and I’d like to say his approach is actually genius. Ryan Leslie’s sound is different enough to place him in his own lane, so why conform?  Transition single handedly represents the new face of R&B that not everyone has exactly caught on to yet.

Here are some of my favorite tracks from Transition

[ Rescue U ] (My Fav)

[ Guardian Angel ]

[ Sunday Night ]

[ Something That I Like ]

Are you checking for Ryan Leslie’s new album?

Aisha

All’s fair in love and war? Right? Well, Amerie is here to tell her tale of the ins and outs of love with her fourth studio album In Love & War. As with most of her albums, In Love & War is heavily injected with a loud, fun 70’s funk inspired sound and that classic cross of R&B and Go-Go influences the singer has become known for. The album opens with the powerful “Tell Me You Love Me” which appropriately sets the tone for the album. Slightly aggressive, the album continues with the tribal club banger “Heard ‘Em All” and the retro “Dangerous” and “Higher.” Before slowing down, the album’s first single “Why R U” ushers in the second half of the album.  With tracks like “More Than Love” featuring rapper Fabolous and “Pretty Brown” featuring Trey Songz, In Love & War truly takes on the various highs and lows of love. Album highlights also include the incredibly sensual “Red Eye” as well as the emotionally charged “The Flowers.” As a cohesive album, In Love & War succeeds and oddly fails at the same time. It’s a solid effort with several songs that flow well together and that can easily make it into some “Favorites” playlists but as an entire album it seems that Amerie could have come just a littler harder. The album is a great one, but doesn’t produce the “WOW” that may or might not have been expected.

The verdict: Solid tracks and a great effort from Amerie. Worth the listen.

MESHworthy Tracks:

1. Red Eye

2. Heard ‘Em All

3. Tell Me You Love Me

4. More Than Love ft. Fabolous

5. The Flowers

6. Higher

7. Swag Back

Take a listen:

[Amerie- Red Eye]

[Amerie- More Than Love ft. Fabolous]

Are you checking for Amerie’s new album?

Cj

Who: Trey Songz

What: Third Album “Ready”

Where: Worldwide Release

When: August 31, 2009

The R&B game needs a certified king.

With Kellz having not had an official album in almost two years, Neyo falling off just a bit, Lloyd producing great music with no impact, and The-Dream not quite falling into a certain niche, the throne seems to be there for the taking. The only question is: who’s ready?

Apparently, Trey Songz.

With what may be this year’s most anticipated R&B album from anyone not named Houston, Tremaine “Trey Songz” Neverson is making a strong case for why he needs to be talked about in the same circles as the heavy hitters.

Having created a fiercely loyal fan base through a multitude of leaks and mixtapes (“Anticipation,” “Genesis,” etc.) it’s not support Songz was looking for with this album, but unbridled expression: “this is the album that most exhibits myself… with the least compromise.”

Express himself Songz does.

Ready is a good, solid album showcasing sizeable growth from his first two: 2005’s I Gotta Make It and 2007’s Trey Day. Beginning with the unabashed “Panty Dropper” Songz sets the tone with the sensuality he’s known for. It is from this point that we are reeled into the world that is Songz.

Whether he’s bothering neighbors with raucous love making on “Neighbors Know My Name,” trying his hand at monogamy (One Love), or dreaming of unbridled success (Successful), Ready exposes all facets of the man that is Trey Songz.

The strength of Ready lies in its ability to not be one-dimensional. Often times, listeners are treated only to a sexy, almost lustful Songz, And while that man is definitely there, we also see a more vulnerable, human side of Trey – a by product of Songz’ obvious growth as an artist over the last few years.

Tracks like “Jupiter Love” and “Holla If You Need Me,” the latter of which was produced in part by current Howard student Chris Hines, are classic “Trey tracks” which, due largely to Songz smooth-as-silk voice, comparable production, and addictive lyrics will captivate even the coldest hearts. But it is the least recognizable tracks, that show a different side of Songz, which prove to be the album’s standouts. Take “Black Roses” for example. A sleeper hit, the Bei Maejor track is addictive as Songz croons of a dying love over a twisted guitar. “One Love” also samples a heavy guitar as Songz tells of his yearning for lasting monogamy. The Human Nature reminiscent “Love Lost” and seemingly Purple Rain themed “Yo Side of the Bed” are also great tracks showcasing Songz growth.

However, as with all growth, there are a few pains.

“Say Aah” featuring Fabolous, the owner of the best rap album of 2009 so far, has what it takes to be a certified club banger and will probably be the next released single and hit for Songz. However one can’t listen to it without calling to mind the already blockbuster “alcohol and club correlated“ hit “Blame It’ by Jamie Foxx—an originality fail. However the most glaring mishap has to go to the emoticon inspired “LOL (Smiley Face)” featuring Gucci Mane and Soulja Boy. Smiley Face is so commercial and mindless that it’s silly; and totally disrupts the smooth, concentrated flow of the album.

Webster’s Dictionary defines Ready as being “fully prepared.” Consider “Ready” as Trey Songz warning to the rest of the field. No this album is not a “typical” Songz album á la his smash mixtape “Anticipation.” But ready is a good album. Songz shows considerable growth from his first two albums, and makes it clear that the best is yet to come.

The throne is still vacant, and there’s a heated race to the top.

Trey Songz leads that race.

4/5 MESH MARKS

MESH.worthy Tracks

“Neighbors Know My Name”

“Holla If You Need Me”

“Jupiter  Love”

“Black Roses”

“Say Aah”

MESH.