Chrisette Michele's "I Am"

Rare is the singer who can successfully incorporate R&B, hip-hop and jazz into their work, but Chrisette Michele gives it a whirl on I Am (2007). The 23 year old got her break while working with musical heavyweights by appearing on the chorus of Jay-Z's "Lost Ones" and on Nas' "Hip-Hop is Dead". Despite being signed to a label distributed around hip hop (Def Jam Records), Michele has defied expectations and delivered a very old-fashioned R&B album. Her album carries a heavy jazz influence evocative Erykah Badu and Billie Holiday. She has put together an album that contains the fresh, sunny optimism of the young, but is wrapped in an old-school sound and style.
For instance, on "Golden", she sings about yearning for a committed relationship: "I'm so ready to be like the olden days when commitment was golden," she sings. Messages of love and commitment are plentiful on the album, especially on "In This for You", where she sings about her loyalty and dedication to her partner through the words: "I love you more than money." If you are anti-love, this album is not for you. Michele sings of relationships in a way that is different form the usual odes that we hear on the radio nowadays. Her album is packed with a feel of sincerity and truthfulness instead of lust and infidelity.
Unlike most songs that are popular today, Michele's lyrics have purity and meaning. She refuses to make music that is at odds with her strong Christian moral code. Chrisette Michele establishes herself, not as a superior version of the R&B singers already on the scene, but as the kind of artist who is, quite possibly, one-of-a-kind. Although her album is jam packed with melodies of love and fidelity, there are a few tracks that stray away from the concept. For example, one could easily bob their head to her song entitled, "Good Girl". This hip hop based tune not only has a catchy beat, but the message that it delivers is at odds with the rest of the album. Through this song, Michele tells her female audience that a man of wealth is not needed as she belts the words, "Simple love money just can't, but simple love is hard to come by, I don't' need no sugar daddy".
It is so easy to relate to the songs that Michele set out. It is nicely produced and well put together. "I Am" was the perfect title. Michele's voice is immaculate; it just floats and rides on every single melody. I'm pretty much sold on her. Her sound is different, her material is appropriate for her voice, and anything that I can just vibe and groove to always does it for me. I'm simply in love with the fact that she's not your typical "neo-soul" artist. I would recommend this album to anyone who loves R&B soul.