Mike Jones Voice CD

Four years after he introduced himself to rap audiences through an aggressive marketing campaign (that involved shouting his own name over and over again on his double platinum debut), Mike Jones returns with his long-awaited sophomore studio LP, THE VOICE. Collaborating with an impressive group of producers and guest artists from the South and beyond, the H-Town representative flirts with R&B-flavored slow jams ("Cuddy Buddy," "I Know," "Next to You") and tweaks the formula that brought him success on the first album. Once again, he lists his cell number on the intro, presents a sequel to one of the hits from WHO IS MIKE JONES? ("Scandalous Hoes II"), and falls back on his signature "Who? Mike Jones!" call-and-response shtick. Still, the most repeated lyrics on THE VOICE are reminders that he "moved two million units," showing a dogged determination not to let the public forget his achievements.
Back with a new phone number but the same old gimmicks, Mike Jones kicks off his sophomore release, The Voice, with a promise of a third album. Maybe it's a clue that Jones has already moved on and that there's not much here to get excited about, past some high-powered singles. The Voice actually has three: the fast rocking Mr. Collipark construction "Drop & Gimme 50," the infectious strip club anthem "Swagg Thru Da Roof," plus the R. Kelly-like "Cuddy Buddy" featuring T-Pain and Twista, along with Lil Wayne who boasts "I make her holler like when momma brought her into the world." That last cut finds the guests outshining their host, which makes "Give Me a Call" all the more of a surprise since this MTV superstar sounds perfectly matched with underground king Devin the Dude, like two homeboys sleazing their way across a mutual love of being high, horny, and in Houston. After this, the drop-off is significant with redundant cuts and overdone party numbers coming off as tired as Jones' reciting of his phone number. That "Who?" "Mike Jones!" chant is also in overabundance, but with a handful of highlights, The Voice is at least a significant step up from the man's previous release, the throwaway EP The American Dream. ~ David Jeffries