Ray J

On his latest disc All I Feel, Ray J makes R&B "dirty"—in the best way possible. He croons sexy, provocative rhymes, but each raunchy line flows with his distinct sense of humor. Perhaps, that's what R&B needs most—a laugh. One thing's certain; this MC has a blast making music. Take the first single, "Sexy Can I," for example. Ray J and Yung Berg trade lines propositioning an enticing female over a funky, spaced-out beat. "I Like to Trick" kicks off Feel, boasting sexual conquests and firing off an unforgettably infectious chorus. Make no mistake. These tracks are club-bangers that could set any dance floor off. However, that's not always Ray J's goal. He slows it down on a few pensive numbers including "Jump Off" and "Boyfriend." Even though Ray J backs away from the club for a minute, his strong pipes still carry the slower fare. "Don't Want to Be Right," the album's intro, even calls out his detractors, addressing scandals and haters over a slow, calculated piano-driven beat. In fact, even though he has fun, he still can reflect.

Ray J heats everything back up on "Where You At," a shout out to the South Central L.A. hood, featuring The Game. But the biggest surprise comes on the album's final track, "I can feel it." Ray J collaborated with guitarist homey, Dave Pasarow, and crafted an ethereal little rumination, complete with warm alt-rock guitar tones. It's a big experiment for a straight-up hip hop/R&B man, but Ray J pulls it off. In fact, he elevates the genre in the process. How could you not feel that?

—Rick Florino
04.08.08