Struggle Love

by Jaheim

Overview

Jaheim's time with Atlantic was basically as productive as his earlier Warner Bros. phase. For both labels, he released three albums. All six went Top Ten R&B. Despite commercial radio's increased marginalization of soul-rooted R&B, not one of the releases contained a stylistic concession. Album seven, released on the singer's reactivated Julia's Dream label (named in honor of his mother) through Primary Wave/BMG Rights Management, adds to the uniform discography. Jaheim does switch it up by employing a mostly new set of producers and musicians for support, and they duly serve up a fresh-sounding mix of songs based in traditional R&B. On "Songs to Have Sex To," he acknowledges his inspirations more explicitly than before, citing "Teddy P., Luther V." first among a list of classic balladeers, like a less silly but still humorous update of Twista, Jamie Foxx, and Kanye West's "Slow Jams." The album also continues Jaheim's tradition of referencing classic R&B ballads. This time, it's the Deele's "Two Occasions," embellished with a generous rhythmic bump to complement a yearning (well, thirsting) vocal. As much as the pure sound of his voice remains roughly 65-percent Vandross, 35-percent Pendergrass, the singer's flow is still his own, as his ability to deliver an explicit line without the slightest smirk. The way he completes a couplet that begins with "Let's cuddle to a flick" confirms that there should be a term defined as "Rewinding a Jaheim recording to confirm what he sang, only to conclude 'Of course that's what Jaheim sang.'" Those who can't stomach the foolishness nonetheless get some prime ballads resulting in no split sides, including the sparkling "If Someone Asks" and the nearly rending likes of "Something Tells Me" and "Back in My Arms." ~ Andy Kellman

Product Details

Release Date:	03/18/2016
Label:	Bmg / Julie's Dream
UPC:	4050538161458

Tracks

1. My Shoes
2. Craziest Place
3. Nights Like This
4. Struggle Love
5. Songs to Have Sex To
6. If Someone Asks
7. Something Tells Me
8. If I Were You
9. Be That Dude
10. Back in My Arms
11. Keep
12. Always Come Back
13. Side Piece
14. Aholic

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Jaheim   Primary Artist
Kaleef Hills   Keyboards
Todd Schefflin   Saxophone
Stan Wallace   Keyboards
Bobby Sparks   Keyboards
Rick Tate   EWI,Vocoder,Saxophone
Curtis Smith   Keyboards
Kevin Owens   Vocals
Stacey McGee   Guitar (Bass)
April Owens   Vocals (Background)
Dominique Thomas   Percussion

Technical Credits

Nicolas D. Lambert   Composer
Alexander "Agor" Cowan   Composer
Kaleef Hills   Engineer
Michael Simmonds   Composer
Stan Wallace   Composer,Engineer
Sidney Johnson   Composer
James Smith   Composer
David Guppy   Composer
Vidal Davis   Producer
Charles Amos   Composer,Producer
Jaheim Hoagland   Composer,Engineer,Producer,Executive Producer
Balewa Muhammad   Composer,Executive Producer
Kenneth Edmonds   Composer
Alice Russell   Composer
Troy Taylor   Composer
Nottz   Producer
Candice Nelson   Composer
Shanell Irving   Composer
Ronald Ferebee Jr.   Composer
Askia Fountain   Composer
Sylvester Jordan   Composer
Cedric Solomon   Composer,Producer
John McGee   Composer
Wesley Hodges   Composer,Drum Programming
Eritza Laues   Composer
Toby Davis   Composer,Producer
Isaac Hayes III "Ike Dirty"   Composer
Dominick Lamb   Composer
Sheldon Ellerby   Composer,Producer
Vincent Thomas   Composer
Ricky Rutland   Composer,Producer
Julius Rivera III   Composer
Tenille Johnson   Composer
Clifton Lighty III   Composer
Shaunice Lasha Jones   Composer
Cannon Mapp   Composer
Stanley Bristol   Composer
John "$K" McGee   Composer
Avery Segers   Composer
Perry L. Mapp, Jr.   Composer
Orlando Williamson   Composer
David Gippy   Composer
Charlies Amos   Composer
Andre Bass   Composer
Xavier Dellotto Fairley,Jr.   Composer,Producer