Jamie Foxx

At first glance, Jamie Foxx is arguably a better actor than he is a singer. He nabbed an Oscar for his incredibly realistic and nuanced portrayal of musical legend Ray Charles in the biopic Ray , rightfully so. Yet the actor/singer still continues to make music as though it were his first love. That's not to say he's not a capable R&B singer, because he certainly is. It's just that his acting has moved more mountains than his slick singing has in the past. That perception is about to change, thanks to this latest effort, where Foxx isn't afraid to move with swagger. That's probably what makes this platter so freakin' endearing.

Intuition is a slice of smooth yet street R&B, and Foxx has used his A-list celebrity star power to recruit some of the biggest names in hip-hop to lend their voices to the record. "Just Like Me" features T.I., who drops science in the middle part of the song, while Foxx croons (with an ever-so-slight rasta cadence) his way over a roaring, repeated beat. As if T.I. weren't a big enough name to add to the album's guest list, Foxx outdoes himself and has T-Pain appear on "Blame It," where Foxx demonstrates a deftness with an autotuner as he pontificates about his actions and blames romantic indiscretions on the drinks! Of course, frequent Foxx collaborator Kanye West duets with the singer/actor on the sexy, suggestive "Digital Girl," which trails off in a spacey direction and is the most left-of-center song on Intuition. Foxx is an intriguing singer when he's waxing about the clubs and the ladies. Ne-Yo also pops up on "She Got Her Own," a tender ode to loving a strong, independent woman who works hard for her money so she doesn't need to rely on any man, especially one with funds. Also, Lil Wayne and Mr. Foxx engage in a verbal tango on the thumping, infectious "Number One," which lifts a sample from The Beastie Boys.

If there is one thing Foxx isn't lacking, it's cred in the hip-hop world and these guest appearances boost the album's street value tenfold. They'll also attract R&B and hip-hop fans who may not have been fans of Foxx's on-screen or recorded work in the past. The tracks are well-produced but not overly produced, and Foxx always raps and sings like he's having the greatest time in the world, which is an emotion that'll spill over into real life and infect the listener as well. Intuition can tide fans over and give them something to relish before Foxx turns his attentions back to acting!

— Amy Sciarretto
12.17.08

Intuition is as star-studded as Unpredictable, its collection of collaborators and producers -- including Lil Wayne, T.I., the-Dream, T-Pain, and Ne-Yo -- making it appear more like a release from a singer in his twenties rather than early forties. That's the way most of the album plays out, with a pronounced slant toward upbeat material made for the clubs: bumping beats and Auto-Tune, shorties and Patrón, the works. Since Foxx is a chameleon, he can work the angle without sounding out of place or hopelessly desperate for a big pop hit, yet the effect of the material tends to be fleeting, with punch lines like "I don't rain, girl, I hurricane" and "Let me introduce you to my Grammy family, like Uncle Oscar, Aunt Emmy" far more memorable than the beats. As on Unpredictable, the relatively relaxed and humble songs, from midtempo cuts to ballads, shine brighter. The bittersweet "I Don't Know" tastefully and movingly references Marvin Gaye's "I Want You" within a stripped-down arrangement anchored by kick drums and panning breaths. "Freak'in Me," where Floetry's Marsha Ambrosius provides the album's most valuable guest appearance, should be a late-night radio staple. If not quite as enjoyable as Unpredictable, Foxx's ability and personality make it easy to ride out the sags. ~ Andy Kellman, All Music Guide