RAYNA REIGNS...

Jazmine Sullivan's "Fearless" has been on repeat in my IPOD for the past week. I must admit, when first heard her single "Need You Bad", I was thinking "who is the fake ass Lauryn Hill? No this newcomer did not come and straight swagger-jack my shero! (pre-clown makeup phase. Just pray for her…)". Anyway, I added 8 new albums to my IPOD before I hit the gym and was going to give them a listen while getting my Kanye workout plan on, but could not get off of Jazmine Sullivan!

Before Jazmine, I listened to the new J. Hud and I give her label a big thumbs down. Jennifer Hudson is an amazing talent and her label should've hooked her up with some songwriters and producers who could do more for her. I'm not sure who all contributed to the album, but watered down, unoriginal songs (except for "Spotlight") did not do anything for that powerful voice. Maybe I was expecting too much from her, but her potential is limitless!

Anyway, back to Jazmine. Just about every song is hot and the emotion in her voice is intense. The only song that she could've kept was the one about being abused. Yes, it is her true story, but it just seems forced and I kept thinking about Eve's hit she had back in the day. Long story short, you NEED to listen to her album. Period! If you've heard it, please let me know I'm not alone on this!

Neyo was alright for a third album. I was hoping he had more up-tempo tracks; ballads are just easy for him. Of course, lyrically, I gotta give him a hand clap. Honestly, he is the best songwriter out right now (maybe he should've done the whole J. Hud album because "Spotlight" is my song!). Robin Thicke's "Something New" was just that, a different type of sound than the Thicke that we're used to. And it works! The new Mint Condition is another disappointment. There are a few tracks that stayed true to their style and the songs that they were adventurous on just did not do it for me. Stick with what works! I still have Eric Benet and Raphael Saadiq (which I hear is excellent) to listen to so more on those later. So what ya'll think?