1995-96 was an interesting time for pop music. In each major pop genre at the time (Rock, Hip Hop, Country, & R&B) at least one artist broke from the accepted formula, emerged as an innovator, and eventually blew up as a superstar. The innovation resulted in a welcomed blending of styles for some genres, and less so for others. Country music cringed, while fans lauded Shania Twain when her second album brought Country music closer to Pop than it had come before. Rock initially struggled to break from homogenous Grunge domination with Beck’s eclectic debut, ‘Odelay’ and Dave Matthew’s ‘Crash’, but eventually caved. And Hip Hop praised both the The Fugees’ hard-edged eloquence on ‘The Score’ and the mind blowing ‘E 1999 Eternal’ from Cleveland’s BNTH. In R&B, a young, corn-rowed brother named D’Angelo decided to compose, write, arrange, produce and perform ‘Brown Sugar’ which in turn redefined Urban sexy cool by infusing solid musical influences ranging from Al Green to Prince with his own contemporarily urban, independent, hard attitude.
I first heard this album when my girlfriend played it for me one night not long ago. We just got back from a really nice dinner and were about to turn in for the night. It was a long day and we’re both tired. She slips it in my stereo and as the first, and title track, ‘Brown Sugar’ begins we’re brushing our teeth, eagerly anticipating slumber - or so we thought. I’m barely done with the top row and it is clear to me that this guy has something very special going on. Faintly laying sleigh bells on the 1/16 notes over a muted smooth beat he tells the story of losing control over, being almost addicted to an ambiguous brown love drug:
“I want some of your Brown Sugar
I get high off your love
Don’t know how to behave”
Falsetto “ooohs” and a slick syncopated sing-rap are pretty tough. As I rinse I think to myself, ‘You know, I’m not really all THAT tired. And this guy is gonna be tough to compete with.’
I turn out the light, Aisha’s in bed already, and ‘Alright’ begins with faint wah guitar licks and riding rhythmic bass/beat with D’Angelo’s reassuring vocals. Somehow while walking across the room, all the feelings of fatigue have been replaced with a curious desire. I don’t necessarily make the direct connection between my mood shift and the stuff coming out of my speakers, but I still need to shake my head as I pull back the covers, “This guy is how old?” Aisha answers, “He was 21 when made it.”
Damn.
She continues, “He also wrote and produced the album himself.”
“Shoot”, I mutter under my breath. As an amateur songwriter/producer/performer myself without a major label contract, without the desire to sleep anymore, and a beautiful woman in my bed, I’m beginning to really think, “yo, this guy’s for real - and we’ve GOT to change the subject.” This point is driven home as the third track, ‘Jonz In My Bonz’, begins its pulsing, impassioned call to basically ‘get yours’. A moment of reflection more, a reassuring glance from Aisha, and that is exactly what I decide to do….
…out of the darkness I hear creeping beat and D’Angelo singin’ at me:
“Why are you sleeping with my woman?”
I pick my head up and reactively respond, “yo, I was just…”…hey, wait a minute…she’s MY woman. Damn, this dude is in my head.
“Why the both of U’s Buck-Balled Naked?
I tell ya what’s on my mind
I’m ‘bout to go get my nine
And kill both ya’lls behind”
I tell Aisha not to worry, that it’s just the CD.
She’s like, “yeah, I know. It’s my CD, dummy.”
Shoot, D’Angelo’s got me talkin’ stupid. But I guess I can’t get mad because he’s also partly responsible for the decision not to just go straight to bed tonight in the first place. And for that I not only have to forgive him for interrupting, but I gotta thank him….
The rest of the album, I must admit, was somewhat of a blur that evening. I didn’t get to listen to the second half until the next night when Aisha wasn’t around. My initial impressions of D’Angelo and his style (smooth, convincing, talented, tough) were confirmed, and, not surprisingly, my desire to get busy rekindled. I fought it off so that I could focus on the music at least for a bit. After tuning in to the songs I realize that it comes as no surprise why his recent release ‘Voodoo’ was so highly anticipated and well received; it’s a solid, smooth, and damn sexy one man show (almost-he had instrumental help from some legit musicians, including Angie Stone, and Ali Shaheed Muhammad from Tribe Called Quest!). The melodies are well integrated into the arrangement so as not to impose on the mutual consent to jam. This is probably the most striking difference between the D'Angelo and the rest of the post-New Jack Swing crowd - that he doesn't play his vocals out, but rather integrates them with the music to create a cohesive seductive sonic atmosphere to draw you into his game. It's really well done.
As the album finishes I have to shake my head, "Tonight R. Kelly and Keith Sweat gonna have to hit the drawing board. And Lee’s gonna have to make a booty call…"
If you’re a player, you need this album in your arsenal.
If you think you’re cool, you need to hear this album to check yourself.
If you love smooth R&B, you need this for your collection.
And if you are lonely, shy and in need of the right incentive to follow thru with the late night call, this album may very well deliver her to your door if she hears it in the background.
**THIS review was written as a part of the first Music Expert Review Jam, along with reviews by the following experts. Check out their music reviews posted on 5/24/2000 @ 7:30pm PCT.
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![Brown Sugar [PA] by D'Angelo](http://di1.shopping.com/images1/pi/c9/e8/7d/2002056733-177x150-0-0.jpg)
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