K-Ci & JoJo - Emotional (CD)

All Music Guide

Perhaps compensating for the negativity rampant in the rap world, K-Ci JoJo's fourth record Emotional is not only unrepentently sincere and soulful, but also one of the duo's first to completely ignore the influence of hip-hop altogether. Such a level of devotion to RB is impressive considering the success of so many rap crossovers on the charts; it's a testament to the Hailey brothers' deep respect for the smooth love jams they grew up with. There's only one problem with Emotional, but unfortunately, it's a big one. K-Ci JoJo's amazing vocals and sincere performances simply aren't enough to compensate for the bland songs and formulaic arrangements. The single "This Very Moment" is a deeply felt performance of an uplifting song, a perfect selection for any contemporary wedding ceremony, but one that simply floats by the listener (like it floated by the charts) without a single element to distinguish it from hundreds of songs in the past. "Special" and "Down for Life" are also relatio...nship songs with a power to melt the heart of any female in range, but nothing else to recommend them. The duo are fighting against a tide (and most of the rap/RB crossovers feature a male rapper with a female RB singer anyway), and Emotional simply isn't strong enough to resist. - John Bush, All Music Guide Read more Less