Joy Denalane – ‘Born & Raised’ (Nesola) Released 21/05/ 07

Differentiating between R&B, hip-hop and soul over the past few years has become a task not easily executed. What qualifies a record to be classed as any of the above? Whatever it is, one thing’s for certain. And that’s that amongst the tiresome, non-imaginative and played-out trash we sometimes like to call music, you’re sure to find an album that’ll restore your faith and have you believing that your favourite genre is not the sinking ship that you took it to be. With this in mind, Joy Denalane’s 'Born & Raised' is an album that does just that.
 
On ‘For The Love’, Denalane asks, “Why don’t we do it for the love?” Amongst artists this controversial question could spawn a major debate, but she make a valid point. It’s not that there aren’t enough musicians who do it for the love; the problem lies within the corporate side of the industry. Whatever your opinion on the subject, ‘For The Love’ succeeds in healing you musically and intellectually. Its production and razor sharp vocals put it in a league all by itself, and it’s doubtful anyone with half a brain would even have the balls to bad mouth it.

Whilst setting foot on the path to comparisons can prove extremely dangerous, with Denalane it’s a completely different story. While others could never live up to hype that surrounds them, this Berlin-born singer excels in a way that the competition could only dream of. With a voice and commanding presence mirrored only by the Queen of hip-hop soul, Miss Mary J. Blige, the German soulstress deserves the title ‘Princess of hip-hop soul’. The cut ‘7 Year Itch’ even pays homage to MJB in a ‘relationship healer’ kind of way. Denalane is without doubt her own person, but if you were to describe her sound to a new listener Mary’s name would definitely come in to the conversation.

Full of goodies, 'Born & Raised' is the summer album of 2007 for the soul-loving hip-hop head. From start to finish this album is the difference between good music and great music. Everything from the first single, ‘Change’ featuring Lupe Fiasco, to the Amy Winehouse-like ‘Caught Up’ is perfect. Like pure uncut dope, this album is what the fiends are craving for. Why listen to the likes of T-Pain or Cassie when Joy Denalane is right here. 

Looking for some real and unfiltered hip-hop soul? Look no further. With the only thing missing being that there could have been a few more rapper guest spots, 'Born & Raised' is as close to a ’07 version of Mary J. Blige’s 'My Life”'as musically possible. Missing out on this would be the bravest mistake you’d ever plucked up the courage to undertake.