Who could forget Tyrese’s debut into the entertainment world as the
bus passenger with an incredible voice in a mid-nineties Coca-Cola
commercial? Well, he has definitely come a long way from being just
that. As a current MTV veejay, Hollywood actor, and all-in-all “true
urban renaissance man,“ Tyrese’s sophomore release 2000 WATTS combines
a balanced blend of R&B, soul, and rap to create an album that flows
smoothly from start to finish.
Co-written by music industry all-stars Babyface, Jermaine Dupri,
Rodney Jenkins, and Diane Warren, 2000 WATTS has a unified theme that
allows listeners to get “a glimpse inside [“Tyrese’s] heart and soul.”
The title itself is based on the singer’s idea in which the WATTS Towers
symbolize “freedom, history, struggle, independence, strength and a high
level of confidence.”
Included in the 15-track album is “Just A Baby Boy,” from Tyrese’s
recently released motion picture, “Baby Boy.” The song, which features
rappers Snoop Dogg and Mr. Tan emanates that mellow west coast bounce,
as also heard in “Off the Heezy,” which features rapper/producer Jermaine
Dupri. Babyface’s smooth style, on the other hand, stands out in the songs
“There For Me (Baby)” and “Fling.”
In an attempt “to get back in touch with the oldies mindset,” Tyrese
focused on recording songs that will be remembered for years to come. With
sounds reminiscent of the original rhythm and blues of the 1960’s, as well
as early Boyz II Men hit ballads from the 1990’s, Tyrese proves to be successful
in achieving his goal.
Both his ideas and powerful voice shine through in the interlude
“I Wrote a Song About It,” while the easy-listening track “What Am I Gonna
Do” contains a chorus that is bound to get stuck in listener’s heads. Another
favorite of mine, “I’m Sorry” sounds like a combination of Sisqo and Boyz II
Men with a slight jazzy beat.
As previously mentioned, songs within the entire 2000 WATTS album are
well connected - from the first three hip hop tracks, through the next five
ballads, and to the last few R&B songs. People who purchase the CD can expect
to relax while listening to it from beginning to end.