Rating:
Genre:
R&B
Release Date: 12/05/2000
X is the Roman numeral for ten, and this late-2000 release is titled
X because it marks
Cedric "K-Ci" Hailey and
Joel "JoJo" Hailey's tenth anniversary in the recording business -- first as two-thirds of the trio
Jodeci, then as the duo
K-Ci & JoJo.
X, the duo's third album, isn't a radical departure from its two previous albums; like 1997's
Love Always and 1999's double-platinum
It's Real, this CD emphasizes romantic material and combines a high-tech
urban contemporary production style with an appreciation of classic
soul.
K-Ci & Jo-Jo were never a carbon copy of
Jodeci, and
X won't be mistaken for
Diary of a Mad Band. Though
X contains a few
hip-hop-minded, up-tempo selections (including
"Game Face" and
"Thug N U Thug N Me"), romantic
ballads and slow jams are dominant. A few of the tunes are
retro-soul gems -- especially
"Wanna Do You Right" and the
Bobby Womack-influenced
"I Can't Find the Words" -- although most of the time,
X is merely decent
urban contemporary. One thing that's never in doubt is
the Hailey Brothers' skills as vocalists; while a lot of
urban contemporary artists get over on image alone,
K-Ci & JoJo really do have impressive vocal ranges.
X isn't a masterpiece, but unlike all of the
urban artists who have nothing more than image and attitude going for them, the
Hailey siblings bring some genuine talent to this generally pleasant, if predictable, CD.
~Alex Henderson, All Music Guide
;)
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