The Rundown: Jaheim, Appreciation Day
A track-by-track look at the singer's new LP.
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The Rundown: Jaheim, Appreciation Day - Three years after releasing his last LP Another Round, the Teddy Pendergrass of the hip hop generation returns with his newest project Appreciation Day. Jaheim, as usual, maintains his view on love but still keeps his eye on the full spectrum of urban life. Still need proof? Here's a track-by-track snapshot of what the Jersey crooner is giving. (Photo: Atlantic Records)
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"Age Ain't a Factor" - Jaheim sets this latest offering off with a flourishing birthday song to his lady, crooning the message to her that, like wine, age only makes her better. The song's sound is all traditional lovey-dovey R&B. (Photo: Donald Kravitz/Getty Images)
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"He Dont' Exist" - The idea of the perfect man gets dispelled when Jaheim emphatically belts this tune decrying a woman's unrealistic notions of what a good man is. "You want a knight in shining armor," he sings. "[A] hero that comes to save you/Ride through the sky line [in a] red cape." (Photo Jerome Davis / London Entertainment / Splash News )
Photo By Photo Jerome Davis / London Entertainment / Splash News
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"Morning" - This cut samples the vocal hook from Shirley Murdock's 1986 forbidden love classic "As We Lay." The spliced refrain fuels Jaheim's straight-forward and joyous croon about the morning after bagging (and bedding) the girl of his dreams. (Photo: Atlantic Records)
Photo By Photo: Atlantic Records
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"What She Really Means" - Inspired by the soulful love songs of the mid '60s, "What She Really Means" sways with the sound of an electric orchestra. Jaheim rides the lush production, informing the fellas about the context behind what they hear from the ladies. (Photo: Jerome Davis / London Entertainment / Splash News)
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"Appreciation Day" - Although he's pegged as hip hop's Teddy Pendergrass, Jaheim is all Freddie Jackson on this '80s-inspired love tune. Over a rising and falling bassline and snare, he sings of his appreciation for all his woman does. (Photo: Bennett Raglin/Getty Images)
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"Baby x3" - "Numbers in my phone — gone," Jaheim promises on this track. "Girl, if you let me come home, I'll never do wrong." As one of R&B's bad boys, of course Ja has to sing of his imperfections and croon about making things right. (Photo: Shareif Ziyadat/FilmMagic)
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"Shower Scene" - With a title like "Shower Scene" and a soul singer as blunt and gangsta as Jaheim, you know this moment on the album is about steamy love making, literally. "Every time that I'm near you, we fogging up the mirrors."(Photo: Jen Lowery / Splash News)
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"Sexting" - "Sexting" is the hip hop moment on this LP, with a classic boom bap drum track and string sample. You need that energy when Ja belts out his club-ready lyrics about cellular loving. (Photo: WENN)
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"I Found You" - Flourishes of Chariots of Fire-ish synth wash over this tune where Jaheim is wailing his throat out, singing his appreciation for having found such a wonderful woman. (Photo: Atlantic Records)
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"Florida" - In the tradition of Marvin Gaye, Sly Stone and Stevie Wonder, Jaheim uses soul music to speak on social ills, this time about the wrongful death of Trayvon Martin. "He was lying on the ground," he sings, "fighting to save his life/And as the gun went off, he got shot in the chest." Yes, Ja goes there. (Photo: John Ricard/FilmMagic)
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"Sticks N Stones" - Representing R&B's rougher side, Jaheim speaks on the difficult love of a hustler whose woman is constantly beefing. With its plodding, head-nodding rhythm, this cut is Ja's street blues song. (Photo: WENN)
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"First Time" - Jaheim showers his woman with material wealth and all his manly love on this vibrant bop track. His woman may not be a virgin, but he declares he's gonna love her like she's one. (Photo: William T Wade Jr / Splash News)
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"Blame Me" - On this track, the Jersey R&B vet is fed up with the headaches his woman is giving him. "Go on and put me in a white room," Jaheim resigns. "Go on and and hand me that white coat/And since you looking at me and calling me 'crazy'/ Get my meds 'cause you making me sick, baby." (Photo: WENN)