Ghetto the ... sound

The singer's wish of making it globally may come true with the new album, writes Daniel Bardsley.

Given the tough-guy poses Jaheim adopts on the front and back of his new album Ghetto Classics, it's a bit surprising to learn that his greatest inspiration is the late Luther Vandross.

Vandross, a sentimental R&B singer, was hugely popular but by no means could have been described as hard-edged. He certainly didn't give off the urban streetwise vibes that Jaheim loves to revel in.

Listening to Ghetto Classics, though, you can understand the link to Vandross - the voices are a bit similar and Jaheim seems less like a gangster than he does in the pictures.

From the wonderfully confident and catchy opener The Chosen One through to the sentimental Daddy Thing, this is unthreatening modern R&B. There is a bit of rapping here and there, but it lacks aggression and anyhow it is mostly outsourced to other artists like Jadakiss and Styles P.

Overall, the sound of the album is similar to that of Usher's mega-selling 2004 disc Confessions.

There is nothing to equal Usher's hits Yeah! or Burn, but there are some memorable tunes nonetheless, notably Like a DJ with its slightly funky beat and Fiend, which seems to draw inspiration from the Motown sound.

He may have taken a moderate approach on his new 11-track record, but there is no doubting that Jaheim, who comes from New Jersey in the US, has rock-solid ghetto credentials.

His father died when he was just two years old, leaving him to grow up in a deprived public housing project and spend time in jail before being saved from a life of crime by his interest in music.

Ghetto Classics has topped the US charts and Jaheim is no doubt hoping this record, his third album, will provide his breakthrough outside his home country. I'd say it's a distinct possibility although one or two extra radio-friendly singles would have helped.

And the Daniel goes to ...
The beautiful multi-layered arrangement of the opening bars, the lush female backing vocals and distant trumpet sounds make The Chosen One my favourite track on Ghetto Classics.

Jaheim is singing of the love of his life on this song - "I choose you" he belts out time and again - and so it's appropriate the song has a summery and upbeat sound.

Soulful and catchy, it is a fine opener for the album.

Discography
1. Ghetto Classics (2006)
2. Still Ghetto (2003)
3. Ghetto Love (2001)

- The writer is the concert-loving travelling bard of Gulf News.