Lyfe Change - Dark Publications

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4 out of 5 stars

Lyfe Jennings - Lyfe Change April 29, 2008
7 out of 9 found this review helpful

Well, this is Lyfes best album. But barely. It beats out the Phoenix, just because of two songs, the more mid tempo contempary feeling "Cops Up", which was originally Luke & Q's song. This is the first baby maker/sexy song that Lyfe has done. And he did a great job, so i dont know why he doesnt do these types of songs more. And then the classic song that is getting some decent radio play as we speak, "Never Neverland" which is a flawless mid tempo song about how Lyfe is growing up and he doesnt enjoy running in the streets anymore, and how he wants to settle down with his woman. So this album was set up to be something speacial. Is it something special? I havent fully decided yet if its worthy of being called a classic yet because after my first listen to the album, i am willing to say it is a strong album, but its still not the type of album i know Lyfe is capable of. I don't know what it is about this man, but his music is so attracting. But his albums, have so far, been just average. Now granted, this album is above average, its a solid R&B album, but i still feel like he can do alot more. He is easily one of the most talented R&B singers out right now with his amazing voice and his knack for playing the guitar. But for some reason, he still has yet to make that classic album that i know he is capable of. I'm not taking anything away from Lyfe Change, because it still is a good R&B album, its at worst, the best album we have gotten from Lyfe yet. The thing that impressed me the most about this album and that he made the biggest improvement on this album, was that he did a really good job balancing the ghetto r&b songs, with the more contempary/radio songs. Its about 60/40 on this album, as opposed to his previous albums, where it was more like 75/25 in favor of the ghetto tracks. But i still wanna see him do a little bit more of the tracks like "Cops Up" and another great mid tempo song about chasing that beautiful girl, "It's Real". He needs to let other producers do more tracks for him on his albums, like the Underdogs produced "Hmmm" which is another highlight with its booming bass drums and its creamey smooth vocals. But then he also excells in that ghetto area to on this album, with songs like the mellow guitar laced "Warriors", which is great with the little guitar rift in the intro. Like i said, this isnt going to be R&B album of the year, and he still could improve with his contempary R&B songs. But with that said, this is Lyfe's best album, and it is a large improvement over his previous two albums. He just needs to stop playing it so safe all the time, and i am sure he will have a classic on his hands.

Grade:
B

5 out of 5 stars

Dont sleep on this! April 30, 2008
5 out of 6 found this review helpful

Ok, i'm no music mogul by any means but i'd like to think i keep up pretty well with CD releases and what not of my favorite artists. i DID NOT KNOW that Lyfe Jennings had a new CD out until i happened to run into Best Buy to cop that new Roots album (also good). This CD was so under promoted, and its a shame cuz this joint is on point. I think this is Lyfe's best album yet. Definitely better than Pheonix, and only a little better than Lyfe 268-192. The entire album is just one big uplift from start to finish. Its one of them feel good albums that really do make you feel good after hearing it. As we've seen from his past work, the man has a way with songs, and he makes some very powerful stuff, and Lyfe Change shows him at the top of his game. The lyrics in all the songs are great, the beats are hot as hell in the summer. I'm tellin you, dont sleep on this album, its worth the money, especially since they marketed it as a "special low priced full length album $8" (thats what I see on the packaging). You wont be disappointed.

Normally I'd list a few songs I thought stood out on this album, but truthfully they are all outstanding, so here are a few of my personal favorites:

Warriors
Never Never Land
Will I Ever
Keep On Dreaming
Cops Up

5 out of 5 stars

4 1/2 Stars, Not 5 Because of Snoop May 13, 2008
4 out of 4 found this review helpful

Cons: The older I get, the more aggravated I get with folks rapping about NOTHING. Old school rap used to really talk about issues in the community, in politics, and with substance, so on the song "Old School," Lyfe Jennings represents. Lyfe sings about the shame in people blowing up kids in buildings, credit card debt, gas prices going up, and issues that grown-ups trying to make it go through, and then here comes Snoop. For the life of me, I don't understand the appeal of this dude's rapping. If you ask him to create a freestyle without spelling his name and calling women out of their names, he'd barely have anything to talk about, and it bothers me because in interviews, Snoop seems like a really intelligent dude. However, did he even LISTEN to "Old School" before he did his freestyle? Snoop ruined the whole song talking about how valuable his car is, how somebody shouldn't spill crumbs in it, and volunteering to offer weed. Ugh! That really irritates me to dumb down an intelligent song like "Old School" with a bunch of nonsense. Lyfe, please look at somebody like Lupe Fiasco, Nas, Kanye West, Mos Def, Talib Kweli, or Rakim (where is he? I miss Rakim!) the next time you want to make a song like this.

Pros: Minus Snoop, I really enjoyed the imagery with "Old School." Not only did it make me hungry, but I sincerely appreciate artists who hit on relevant issues. Lyfe has such a beautiful and vulnerable voice. The entire album talked about some strong topics (ex. being tested for HIV/AIDS, the economy, religion, looking past the exterior of a person, poverty versus being spoiled, love and lust). I've seen Lyfe perform live at the Taste of Chicago, and although he can carry a concert as well as a CD all on his own, I can't be mad at him for putting impressive lyricist T.I. and one of my favorite emcees Wyclef on this CD, who stuck to the theme of the song.

Lyfe is already an attractive man, so when he makes songs directed to the ladies, there's an automatic smile on my face. It doesn't feel like he's gaming women or insulting them, and the gruff charisma in his style makes songs like "It's Real" even better. I turned that song way up, and it is officially my favorite: Boom boom chicky boom! The baby voice chorus was entertaining, but what I respected was him making a catchy song with a deeper purpose (being weary of your sexual activity). I'm SO glad he came to the music scene! Listening to him sing puts me in an excellent mood. For anybody who has not seen Lyfe live, please check him out. He had hundreds of people swaying back and forth and singing along to his every word, and Lyfe has not been out for a long time, so to do this is incredible. Couples were staring at each other all googly-eyed. Lyfe reminds me of a family picnic: comfortable and familiar.

4 out of 5 stars

Another Solid "Lyfe" Album May 8, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

Lyfe Jennings doesn't really change all that much on "Lyfe Change", save for a couple of new collaborations including the most exciting, Wyclef Jean ("You Think You've Got It Bad" and the exceptional "Wild, Wild, Wild"). While this isn't necessarily my favorite Lyfe album, It is consistent with his debut (2004) and 2006's exceptional, though underrated THE PHOENIX. Again, Jennings themes tend to revolve around sex and venereal diseases, hard times, and living out your dreams. In a world where everything centers around sex and promiscuous themes within songs, it is nice to hear Lyfe Jennings sing songs with more substance about real-"lyfe" issues.

The album starts out with the solid "Keep On Dreaming", which is nothing extremely flashy, save for the electric guitar entering near the tail end of the track and melodious piano runs. It doesn't quite outshine the brilliance of opener "Slow Down" from THE PHOENIX, but it is certainly more than filler. The same can be said about "Warriors", it's solid, though not as memorable as the best material of LYFE, which tends to reside in the mid-portion of the album. All flaws aside, "Warriors" does feature one great hook when Lyfe sings: "Them them we was glorious, we were warriors, warriors".

Things begin to heat up with the great "Never Never Land" in which Lyfe has never sounded better. The production is simple, but lush in the same instance. The lyrics here are quite telling here and as always, Lyfe sells the slow jam very well. In some ways, Lyfe sounds like a toned down R. Kelly here, though not in a bad way. What might be coolest about "Never Never Land" is the fact that he references Peter Pan - who else does that in R&B today, really? "Brand New" lifts off the soul classic "You Make Me Feel Brand New" and does it great justice. T.I.'s verse isn't truly necessary as Lyfe holds it down fine without him, but it certainly doesn't hold back the greatness of the track. Keeping the hot streak up is "It's Real" in which Jennings talks about having an appetite for sex, but forgets protection; ultimately he discusses the consequences of unprotected sex using AIDS as a vehicle because AIDS "is real". It is a bit overwrought compared to "S.E.X." which was "real-talk", if not quite as real as "It's Real".

"Cops Up" seemed a bit clunky to me at first to be a first single, but I grew to ultimately love it. It wasn't quite as catchy or as appealing as "S.E.X." or "Must Be Nice", but now I see why Lyfe chose it as the first single. It didn't catch on unfortunately - maybe radio and people had the same initial reaction I had to it, particularly with Lyfe's pseudo-rap at the forefront. With all criticism aside, it is another "innovative" single and the production is top-notch by all means. Wyclef steps into the producer's chair for the tropical-tinged "You Think You've Got It Bad" which is good, if not exceptional. The follow-up, "Wild Wild Wild" is by far my favorite track from LYFE CHANGE. The production work is among Wyclef's best and most urban sounding. The synth-brass work and the thick bass line make a phenomenal background for Lyfe's gritty, life-affected vocals.

"Midnight Train" is a crossover track, and it works to an extent, though it isn't as memorable as the very best. "Hmm" isn't bad and neither is the Snoop Dogg featured "Old School". "Will I Ever" is the next true standout after "Wild Wild Wild", in which Jenning's slightly out of tune vocals truly soar. "Baby I'm A Star" is forgettable, but by this point, Lyfe has provided the bulk of this overall fine album. Flawed? Yes, but it is still a 100% solid album. 3 stars in my eyes.

5 out of 5 stars

Lyfe's Best Album Yet! May 11, 2008
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

Let me start by quoting the great Lauryn Hill "Even after all my logic and theory, I add a mother ****** so you ignorant n***** can hear me." Lyfe is one of the few artists that is able to spread wisdom and reality without the explicit content and unnecessary vulgar language. I'm not saying there's anything wrong with explicit content but it takes a lot to become a Platinum recording artist without using explicit content.

With that said, I've been listening to this album since it leaked. I liked it so much I went out and bought the CD/DVD version the day it came out. The thing that makes Lyfe more unique than most R&B Soul artists is he doesn't have a great voice. He has a gritty, raspy voice, that isn't common in R&B artists. To compliment his unique voice he has a very unique lyrical style. He keeps it real, he's a man trying to make a change in the hood. And it's not coming from a middle class white man that has no idea what he's speaking, Lyfe still has the scars from the hood. It's hard to believe a guy who spent 10 years in prison for Arson would be trying to make a difference in urban areas. Rather than talking about money, cars, clothes, hoes...he keeps it real and speaks on issues such as AIDs contaminating the black race, violence in the urban areas, and adults refusing to grow up and take responsibility for themselves.

The album as a whole is a masterpiece. Lyfe has really worked to put together a body of work. Nothing like the rest of the industry, which is mostly concerned with bangin' beats, hot singles, and becoming the top "ringtone artist". I own Lyfe's first album but passed on the second one because I thought that it had more interludes than songs. Lyfe does a mixture of both of his previous albums on this one. His first album was mostly songs about relationships and love songs. The second album had more of a street style to it, where he talked about hustlin, life on the block, etc. This album has a little of both of those topics. I really encourage people to purchase this album.

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