Keyshia Cole – Just Like You (2007)
Biography
b. 1983, Oakland, California, USA. R&B vocalist Cole made a favourable impression with her 2005 debut The Way It Is, a rich reward after the singer had spent several years working behind the scenes as a session vocalist. Cole grew up in inner city Oakland and showed an interest in music from an early age. By the age of 12 she had already appeared on recordings with M.C. Hammer and in her late teens she worked with Tony! Toni! Ton?! vocalist Dwayne Wiggins on the soundtrack to the movie Me & Mrs Jones.
More session work followed after she relocated to Los Angeles and her burgeoning reputation ensured a solo recording contract was not long in following. A&M Records threw their promotional weight behind The Way It Is, a classy collection of urban soul that had many critics trumpeting Cole as the new Mary J. Blige. Rapper/producer Kanye West made a notable contribution to the lead-off single “I Changed My Mind“, while the album also included “Never“, the previous year’s hit collaboration with rapper Eve from the Barbershop 2 soundtrack. Cole was rewarded with a US Top 10 placing in the first week of release.
Copyright Muze UK Ltd. 1989 – 2005
About the Album “Just like you“
Keyshia Cole has released her sophomore CD, Just Like You, on Geffen. At first blush it’s a predictable follow-up to The Way It Is; a guest-star laden set of slickly produced tunes co-written by Ms. Cole and highlighting her considerable vocal talents. The kickoff single opens the CD with the help of both Missy Elliott and Lil’ Kim. Missy produced the track, and it’s pure funkification, with prominent techno drums and a driving club beat. Like the lyric says, “like daaamn, that’s hot!” Cole is a bona fide R&B diva, and she wails and soars. To her great credit, she’s turned out a completely danceable record that will get much deserved club play. Her stuff’s loaded with Oakland grit, and she’s more about the beat that the histrionics. “Let It Go” bookends the record with a hot remix as the closing track. In a bunch of obvious way Just Like You is more dance/hip-hop than The Way It Is was.
The tune that Diddy co-wrote and produced, “Last Night” is a spare track with a do-wah-diddy groove and a lean and mean Prince feel. Cascading keyboard chimes and an incessant, driving groove built on a pseudo-rock beat make this another hit. On the fade-out vamp Cole scats and riffs over the chorus with a jazzy ease. She can sing, sing, sing — and tracks where her pipes get shown off are the hottest ones on the album. While this CD is loaded with R&B royalty, it’s really the solid vocals over simple beats that makes it go-go.
Cole’s BET reality show has done plenty to promote her whole deal, and this new record delivers the goods that all those new fans are asking for. This is the “party pack” and it will work in clubs and in the car for almost anybody. In the neo-soul vein (think string patches and piano arpeggios) Cole teams up with Anthony Hamilton for the most unusual track on the CD, “Losing You.” It’s way more old-school than the rest of the set, and quotes Natalie Cole’s “Sorry” while turning the clock back with relative ease.
In a very “dance” set there’s not a lot of torch song room, but Cole has a clever vocabulary, and knows how to take what she wants from multiple style and fold them into a personal thing that works with remarkable consistency. When she wants a little TSOP feel, she just reaches out and grabs it. In 2007 there’s incredible access to a heretofore unimaginable variety of musical styles. Cole has obviously been studying up on the whole soul pantheon, and she, and her co-producers, borrows liberally and effectively.
The title track offers the most personal statement. It’s one of those self-affirmation, autobiography deals that gushes with sincerity over a Stevie Wonder groove. Parts of this record are charmingly callow. While not every tune hits the target, overall it’s remarkably consistent. The fan base from Cole’s first record and her TV show will be well pleased. This record might not recruit any new demographic, but it will certainly reach out and grab her “in crowd” hard.
@By Dave Morgan
I Remember
Just Like You album tracklists are:
01
Let It Go feat Missy Elliot and Lil Kim
02
Didn’t I Tell You feat Too Short
03
Fallin’ Out
04
Give Me More
05
I Remember
06
Shoulda Let You Go introducing Amina
07
Heaven Sent
08
Same Thing (Interlude)
09
Got to Get My Heart Back
10
Was It Worth It?
11
Just Like You
12
Losing You feat Anthony Hamilton
13
Last Night – Keyshia Cole,
14
Work It Out
15
Let It Go (Remix) feat TI, Missy Elliot and Young Dro
Buy the CD album Just Like You
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