Lauryn Hill
MTV Unplugged No.2.0 (Sony Music)

Lauryn Hill has found the "real gospel" and she wants to share it with the world. She says the real gospel is about repenting, freeing your mind as George Clinton once said so well. She's in a process of freeing herself from her phenomenal success and various acquisitions and burdens that go with being one of the best-selling urban artists of recent times - both with the Fugees and as a solo artist. Lauryn says - at one point she had a staff of 40 - to create her music and she became a prisoner to all of that. Now that's changed and she's continuing her evolution, rediscovering her true passions. And this new acoustic release is about reclaiming her freedom, getting to know the real her. All the songs on this double CD deal with as she puts it "problem - cause and solution."

The result? Don't expect more of the last multi-platinum selling CD. Instead Lauryn steps out of the box and reveals a stronger, more assured and more outspoken urban griot speaking on socio-political issues and on love. Think of her as a female Bob Marley. Of course, Jah moves in mysterious ways and deemed it that she would marry one of Marley's sons who Lauryn readily acknowledges as very postive influence in her life.

Tracks like "Mystery of Iniquity," "I Get Out" and Bob Marley's classic "So Much To Say" re-cast as "Never Forget," "Freedom Time," "I Find It Hard To Say (Rebel)" speaks to the political and social concerns that Bob made popular across the globe. Tracks such as "I Remember," and "Mr. Intentional" deal with issues of love - good and bad. Then there redemptive songs like "Just Like Water," "Just Want You Around." Lauryn has definitely evolved and the hope is her audience will evolve with her. India.Arie has already set the table for R&B/Soul listeners and to some extent and others are sure to follow.
- Karl Whitmore

RL
RL:ments (J Records)

RL has made a name for himself as part of the very successful R&B all male group, Next. With visions of solo success, he steps to the forefront with his own solo debut. "Got Me A Model" featuring Erick Sermon and Jermaine Dupri is a dancefloor shaker that has got the elements to be a hit among the brothas who aspire model-like fantasies. While this opens up the listeners for more, such as the two-step flavored "Damn," it is on the slow jams that RL excels. Radio-friendly tracks such as "Tempted/Temptation," "K.N.O.W." "Good Man" and "Love Led Me 2 You," puts him squarely in the camp of Usher and Craig David as a solo artist. And for extra insurance he closes it out with the Roger Troutman influenced "Do U Wanna Roll" featuring Snoop Dogg & Lil' Kim.

Jaguar Wright
Denials Delusions and Decisions
(MCA)

Jaguar's coming party - this 12 track CD is a keeper. From start to finish, her no holds barred approach about relationships and her incredible range and delivery - set against some phat mid-tempo beats makes this one of my favourite records of the year. As the title suggests, she comes with a point of view and perhaps its those experiences that fed her art as a singer, songwriter. There's a retro-soul yet contemporary vibe. Peep "Same Sh*t Different Day" for proof. There's also the Gamble & Huff classic "Love Need & Want You." Several faves including "I Can't Wait" featuring Bilal; “Stay” and of course can’t forget the contemporary stylings featuring Black Thought from the Roots guests on “Ain’t Nobody Playin’” and “I Don’t Know.”

Sharissa
No Half Steppin
(Motown)

I can see the intentions behind Sharissa's debut album: take the listener on a heartfelt and groove-laden tour through the emotions of a ghetto queen. My question is why people make albums that seem to indicate that popular R&B hasn't evolved since the mid-90s. My question is why newcomers like Sharissa are still imitating the early work of Mary J. Blige. Musically and lyrically, this album is covers a lot of lot of old ground. The topic of breaking up, for example, is milked dry ("All These Years," "Dun Put Up Too Long"). "I'm Waiting" is a ballad about not giving up on a man who's gone to jail, a glimpse of creative writing. There are a few other decent tracks, but the problem remains that in a month or two, the CD will be just another R&B joint on the rack you don't listen to very often (or at all).
- Chike Jeffers

Ashanti:
Ashanti
(Murder Inc)

Flipping through the CD booklet of Ashanti, a big beneficiary of Ja Rule's newfound super-stardom (see "Always On Time"), I find advertisements for Ashanti gear and paraphernalia, including a t-shirt proclaiming her "the Princess of Hip Hop & R&B." It's OK if that makes you groan or stifle a laugh; it makes me do the same. My only problem is, if I'm honest, I'll have to admit that whenever her single, "Foolish" (on the same beat as Biggie's "One More Chance") comes on, I find myself nodding my head and singing along. This attractive young lady is not a great singer (painfully obvious when she tries to go accapella near the end of the album) and the lyrics and beats here don't break new ground either. But for those with flexible standards, Ashanti's satisfactory debut can be a guilty (though not necessarily memorable) pleasure.
- Chike Jeffers

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