“Ghetto Classics” is the latest release from the platinum-selling street thug turned R&B vocalist, Jaheim. The album is not exactly classic, but the Jersey-born artist shows promise through his third record, released Valentine’s Day.
With the help of his producer, KayGee, Jah proves he has found his niche as a reformed thug, blessed with a classic R&B voice. This soulful album features a variety of smooth, rhythmic tracks and collaborations with Ruff Ryders’ Styles P and Jadakiss. Although old school R&B fans may be turned off by the sometimes strange juxtaposition of Jaheim’s nice voice singing explicit lyrics, including a few typical “ice” and “Range Rover” rhymes, “Ghetto Classics” affirms the fact that this artist draws his inspiration from his rough past in the New Brunswick ghetto.
The album kicks off with the empowered song “I Choose You,” produced by KayGee (who originally signed Jaheim). This track features grand horns, drums and a high-pitched background sample reminiscent of the now immortalized Kanye West style. Appropriately starting off the CD, this song displays Jaheim’s distinctively thuggish but romantic attitude as he sings of the lady who has become his top priority.
The highlight of “Ghetto Classics” by far is the upbeat club jam, “Like a DJ,” wherein Jah sings of his frustration in trying to spend time with a girl who uses and discards him at her leisure. Jaheim compares himself to an easily replaced record as the vocals glide through the addictive chorus. Jah sings, “You fade me out/ Then you blend him in/ I can’t get no spin unless I’m requested/ She’s something like a DJ.” The tune features a momentary vocal homage to the late Luther Vandross, who Jaheim’s voice vaguely resembles.
The album also includes the ode to marijuana, “Fiend,” in which Jaheim details his love affair with Mary Jane. Also produced by KayGee, this track is laced with hypnotic strings and features two decent verses from Styles P, who appropriately compliments Jaheim’s street mentality.
“I Ain’t Never” is a smooth love ballad – Jaheim’s romantic epiphany that his lady has become the most important part of his life. With songs like this, Jaheim shows that he is maturing as a person and an artist. He even takes a stab at production on the tranquil track “Come Over” in which Jah attempts to convince a woman to follow him home. The CD also includes the radio single “Every Time I Think About Her.”
Despite the fact that “Ghetto Classics” does contain a few unimpressive songs about whips and rims, for the most part, Jaheim displays his artistic maturation with his third album. He stated in a press release, “I knew that it was important for me to come back tight in terms of music and storytelling.” Like many other current forerunners in R&B, Jaheim shows that he has used his dirty past as inspiration in turning experience into art.
