Even more so than teen pop, R&B is a genre dominated by overly substitutable, identity-free one hit wonders. With an album called Ghetto Love, and his “sensitive thug” cover shot, it would be easy to dismiss Jaheim as another disposable star.
But from the get go, it’s not hard to tell that there’s something different about this album. Songs like “Let It Go” and “Could It Be” manage to overcome typical R&B stereotypes, with catchy hooks, live instrumentation and creative beats.
With a voice that sounds like a cross between Luther Vandross and Woody from Dru Hill, Jaheim avoids over-dramatizing his singing, apparently content to let listeners decide on their own whether to embrace his music.
Archived article by Mike Giusto