Search - Joy Denalane :: Born & Raised

Why did it take me 2 years to hear about her?

Alaisia | 08/10/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This album is phenomenal. Really. Lyrcis and vocals are outstanding, excellent features, and the production is on point. If you are up on your hip hop you will recognize a lot of the samples, but she spins them in such a different direction it brings new life to a beat you may have shelved. If you appreciate music you can't go wrong with this album. Outstanding."

Forget Erykah

carterfactor | Toronto | 08/25/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This 2006 album is the perfect blend of old-school R&B and hip hop.



Joy Denalane is a star in Germany, but you wouldn't know it with the way her American-style vocal cuts through the album's hip hop-based beats (produced by No I.D. and Jake One) and Stax-influenced tracks. Vocally, she's on the light-side of Mary J Blige (whom she even dedicates the song "7-year itch" to), with the maturity of Adrianna Evans. But the sound she conveys is totally hers - she's alternative but still very accessible, which makes her lack of success in the US (outside a spotlight on Okayplayer) puzzling. Sometimes personal (like on the autobiographical title track), sometimes catering to radio ("Let Go") and sometimes catering to hip hop/R&B dieharders ("One in a Million" and "For the Love"), Denalane's "Born and Raised" is the type of music Erykah Badu would be making if she weren't taking herself so damn serious, or music that Amy Winehouse could potentially make if she wasn't so messed up."