Jaheim Ghetto Love CD

Though R&B pinup boy Jaheim's artistic focus is on life in the ghetto, he doesn't fall in line with the confrontational hip-hoppers who revel in the difficulties, violence, and harshness of urban life. Instead, as the album's title suggests, he focuses on the romance that blossoms even on the mean streets.

GHETTO LOVE roams smoothly from the sultry slow jam of "Looking for Love" to the '70s-style funk backing and forceful beat of "Let it Go" and the hip-hop-oriented "Li'l Nigga Ain't Mine," which revisits the theme examined in Michael Jackson's "Billie Jean." Jaheim is assisted on his debut album by some talented friends, including Castro, Miss Jones, and Terry Dexter, but it's his own way with a melody and knack for balancing street-cred hip-hop with heartfelt soul that are the most memorable elements on this disc.

As the title indicates, STILL GHETTO pretty much picks up where Jaheim left off with his previous album GHETTO LOVE. Once again we find the singer deftly mixing street-real themes and hip-hop production techniques with slow-jam R&B tracks and soulful vocalizing. Despite his hard-guy front, Jaheim mostly comes off as a Love Man, as on "Put That Woman First" and his leather-and-lace deut with Mary J. Blige "The Beauty and the Thug." Even though STILL GHETTO finds him enough of a softie to have children's voices chiming in on his tunes, the street side will out; Jaheim may be one of the few contemporary singers capable of pulling off a romantic ode entitled "Me and My "B*tch," for example.

Detals TBA. Lizard. 2004.

Engineers include: Adam Kudzin, Ken Johnston, Wesley Hogges.

Personnel includes: Jaheim, Mary J. Blige, Tha Rayne, Duganz, Taquane.

Producers include: No I.D., Xtreme, KayGee, Malik Pendelton, Wesley Hogges.

Personnel includes: Jaheim Hoagland (vocals); Miss Jones, Next, Terry Dexter (vocals); Duganz, Castro, Precise, Lil' Mo (rap vocals); Pup Dog, Adam Kudzin (guitar); Carlton Upton, Darren Lighty, Chris Joe (keyboards); Ian Martin, Isaac Vere (bass); E-Ballad, Balewa Mahammed, Yummy, Shaquana Elam, Delvis Damon, R.L. Huggar, Tina Jenkins, Cliff Lighty, Vernell Sales (background vocals).

Producers include: Kaygee, Eric Williams, Eugene Hanes Jr., Darren Lighty, Wesley Hogges.



This is an Enhanced CD, which contains both regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files.Q (5/01, p.112) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...While his blend of soul, R&B and hip hop may not be unusual, [his] classy, old-school soul delivery is....a slick debut of windows-wound-down urban cuts..."
Uncut (3/03, p.112) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...Jaheim perfects an audacious match of R&B ancient and modern....The singing, playing and arranging as lush and heartfelt as any jukebox favourite..."
Uncut (3/03, p.112) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...Jaheim perfects an audacious match of R&B ancient and modern....The singing, playing and arranging as lush and heartfelt as any jukebox favourite..."
Muzik (5/01, p.96) - 5 out of 5 - "...Wow! This guy is certainly raising dancefloor dust and causing quite a stir in the disposable world of modern r&b....his respect for musical heritage has paid off..."
Vibe (11/02, pp.153-4) - "...While his rusted timbre and swaggering machismo evoke Teddy Pendergrass, Jaheim's exquisite phrasing and gentlemanly comportment are pure Luther Vandross..."
Vibe (11/02, pp.153-4) - "...While his rusted timbre and swaggering machismo evoke Teddy Pendergrass, Jaheim's exquisite phrasing and gentlemanly comportment are pure Luther Vandross..."