Album cover is quite cool and delish. I like :D
Opens with Cornel West, this can’t be bad. I hope.
I loved the consciousness that is Bulletproof. I’m feeling very male Badu with this one.
Not crazy about Greatness. It’s a good song in theory. Beneath all the superficial there’s greatness, but it comes across kind of simple. But I do love Wale. Hi Virgo!
I Don’t Care is a feel good track. I have other issues with people saying “hate,” “haters,” etc. every other line. However, I like the vibe so I’ll let it ride.
Black & Blue deals with domestic violence a bit. Can’t be mad with addressing the issue.
Mr. Right is young and makes me smile. This seems like this is his comfort zone. I like this love song space for him.
Of course we know he can do a slow song. I want to like Fragile but it’s really just ok.
Hit his stride around track 10. B.O.B. is comically true. Now this is different. Bob is a vibrator. Bob stands for Battery Operated Boyfriend. Little reminder that a man is different from a vibrator. LOL. I could have done without the random shout outs to all the songs Bob can’t play, but I like the song. Bedroom, Microphone, and Garden of Love are very sexy without being vulgar.
Love the Nobody Wins a War with its neo-soul all-star cast. It could have been the new we are the world. LOL
Revelations 2010 w/ Damian Marley was cool. One of my fav Jay-Z songs in the background… Can I Live (yes I know that too was a sample but he says Can I Live over and over again so…)
When I looked at the track list and saw 16 tracks I thought this can’t be good. I personally think 12 tracks is plenty… but he had 2 interludes and an Intro so it was only 13 tracks. I’m not a big fan of interludes. I think Cornel West was enough just once at the beginning, even though some of the things he was saying were hella deep. It didn’t feel long or boring so that’s definitely a good thing.
The album left me wanting more lyrically, especially My Wife. Some of the album just seemed a bit elementary even though he was talking about adult topics such as marriage and domestic violence.
His lyrics and music don’t always match so well. That’s the only thing that bothers me about Raheem DeVaughn. When you listen to it you will understand, particularly on Black & Blue. Another slight annoyance is his songs don’t always sound like songs. Sometimes they sound like poetry, which doesn’t always translate. Sometimes it just felt like he was just talking.
Again, I have to give credit for carrying out a concept- lots of love songs, some consciousness to deal with the war side. I get it. Still, the album lacked a bit of the cohesiveness I like. I could definitely see it growing on me, the second time I listened to it I liked it way more than the first. It’s worth a listen. Support REAL music!!!
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