The Rundown: Raheem DeVaughn, A Place Called Loveland
A track by track review of the singer's first indie album.
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A Place Called Love Land - With A Place Called Loveland, three-time Grammy nominee Raheem DeVaughn has settled comfortably into that space where Prince and The Isley Brothers' music resides. His voice is controlled, but it's far from restrained. His falsetto lingers in the air, while boom bap and '90s R&B keyboard chords keep us grounded. And the content, well, it's only for the grown and ready. Click on for a track-by-track review of his first independent album.(Photo: E1 Music)
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"Love Connection" - The album opens with a two-step track that draws the listener into what we know is gonna be a timeless ride. "Let's make a love connection," he invites, "if you think you're ready ... I promise/That every wish that you can make is my command."(Photo: Rick Davis / Splash News)
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"Wrong Forever" - Over a beat-boxing beat produced by Carvin & Ivan, Raheem croons for any man who has ever done a woman wrong. "Well I must be crazy," Raheem sings on the chorus. "Now I can't forget her/Up all night drinking/But I don't feel better."(Photo: Jason Merritt/Getty Images)
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"Complicated" - Guitar chords gently guide this dedication to a forgiving woman while Radio Rah sings of a friendship that he doesn't want to risk losing.(Photos: Adrian Sidney/PictureGroup)
Photo By Photos: Adrian Sidney/PictureGroup
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"In the Meantime" - Emerging from the hangover of wrong-doing, "In the Meantime" channels a cross between Al Green and R. Kelly as Black Caesar begs and pleads without taking all the blame. "Baby, I'm sorry that my eyes couldn't see/That your heart was in need/Of my lovin'/Ohh, baby, baby."(Photo: Kris Connor/Getty Images)
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"Ridiculous" - With songwriting genius Ne-Yo behind the pen, and drums that knock and bang like they were meant for a '90s man-band (Jodeci, H-Town), Raheem's voice soars in his higher registers to "speak for the brothers out there who don't know how to express their emotions into words," he said.(Photo: WENN)
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"Pink Crush Velvet" - Mario Winans produced this song that Raheem describes as a follow-up to Bobby Brown's "Tenderoni." Rah handles the guitar riff and adult content with the smooth and delicate touch of Prince.(Photo: Angela Weiss/Getty Images for NARM)
Photo By Photo: Angela Weiss/Getty Images for NARM
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"Greatest Love" - Jazz from Dru Hill assists with the vocals, which get slowed down like a chopped and screwed track for this bold declaration: "Like a backboard, I hit, dont' stop, get it, get it/Call me Michael Phelps way I be swimming in it." Elsewhere, the playful keyboards and his continued sense of humor make it believable that what's rooted here is "the best, the greatest, the best, the best..."(Photo: Mychal Watts/WireImage)
Photo By Photo: Mychal Watts/WireImage
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"Cry Baby" - The mood drops to a contemplative pace for subject matter that's far too explicit to discuss on the Internet (let's just say the crying in the title refers to "tears of joy"). Sonically, Raheem's still in man-band mode, a nod to that time of the night when all the auxiliary house party guests need to clear out.(Photo: Jason Kempin/Getty Images)
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"Make a Baby" - These aren't newfound teenaged hormones raging, however, he's thought this intimacy thing through. "I wanna rub ya belly and watch you sleep. I wanna rub your feet, I wanna feed you fresh mango four in the morning, when you have the weirdest cravings. I'm ready," Raheem assures. (Photo: WENN)
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"Make Em Like You" - Raheem serves up an upbeat dose of respect-in-the-morning with this anthemic hit. "Take me to your momma and daddy, so I can say 'thank you,'" he sings over a funky, swaying, jazzy-sounding beat. (Photo: Shareif Ziyadat/PictureGroup)
Photo By Shareif Ziyadat/PictureGroup