Room 112 CD

112: Marvin, Daron, Q, Mike (vocals).
Additional personnel includes: Zane Copeland, Jr., Mase, Lil' Kim, 8-Ball, MJG (rap vocals); Faith Evans (vocals); Arnold Hennings (various instruments); Ali Boudris (guitar); J-Dub (strings); Kris Kellow (keyboards, programming).
Producers include: J-Dub, Sean "Puffy" Combs, Daron Jones, Mario Winans, Steven "Stevie J" Jordan.
Engineers include: Ed Raso, Stephen Dent, Rob Paustian.
Personnel: Zane Copeland, Jr. (rap vocals); Ali Boudris (guitar); Kris Kello (keyboards, programming).
Audio Mixers: Charles "Prince Charles" Alexander ; Joe "Smilin' Joe" Perrera; Lane Craven; Michael Patterson ; Mick Guzauski; Paul Logus; Richard "Younglord" Frierson; Axel Niehaus.
Recording information: D.A.R.P. Studios, Atlanta, GA; Daddy's House Recording Studio, N.Y.C., NY; 'N Da Hole Recording Studio, College P.
Photographer: Norman Jean Roy.
Arrangers: 112; Eric Roberson; Kris Kello.
112, Puff Daddy's four-man crew of smooth-crooning R&B loverboys, come on sticky and earnest throughout their second album, Room 112, combining old-school doo wop harmonies with '90s hip-hop trappings. Because this is a Puffy project, an occasional heavy-handed sample creeps in for a visit (e.g., the use of Shawn Colvin's "Sunny Came Home" during one tune). The best cut here is "Love Me," a bit of new jack breakdown that swings and hammers with convincing verve and groove. ~ Michael Gallucci
112, Puff Daddy's four-man crew of smooth-crooning R&B loverboys, come on so aggressively sticky and heart-on-sleeve earnest throughout their second album, Room 112, that it's often difficult to wade through the torrent of molasses pouring down and through each of the songs. Combining old-school doo wop harmonies with '90s hip-hop trappings -- robotic beats, mechanic vocals, half-baked ideas -- 112 do very little to distinguish themselves from the pack. And because this is a Puffy project, the occasional heavy-handed sample creeps in for an unwelcome visit (the biggest offender here is the use of Shawn Colvin's "Sunny Came Home" during one particularly uninspired tune). The best cut here is "Love Me," a bit of new jack breakdown that swings and hammers with convincing verve and groove, something prominently absent from the rest of the dreary Room 112. ~ Michael Gallucci
Produced by hitmaker Sean "Puffy" Combs, 112's second album comes on strong from the get-go. As its title track intro states, ROOM 112 features heavily layered, intricately arranged vocals against a backdrop of slickly produced compositions. From the frank, confessional "So Much Love," to the sensuous groove of "Someone To Hold," ROOM 112 tends towards the slower, more romantic end of the R&B spectrum.
Combs calls on a few celeb pals to lend a hand on ROOM 112, including Faith Evans, whose confident vocal stylings grace "For Awhile," and Lil' Kim, who contributes her trademark take-no-prisoners rap to "The Only One," the album's hardest track. MJG is featured on "Whatcha Gonna Do," a ballad of love gone wrong, with an almost ethereal backing track.Entertainment Weekly (12/18/98, p.86) - "...112 can't seem to decide whether they wanna woo the ladies or beat up on the competition. It's a choice that could make or break them in the future." - Rating: B