Jaheim - Still Ghetto

The gunfire and screams opening Jaheim's second CD, Still Ghetto, make it clear that while you can take the homeboy out of New Jersey, you can't take Jersey out of the homeboy, no matter how deftly he negotiates the slippery slope of R&B success. So while Still Ghetto gives us a mix of cuddly urban ballads and sleek soul, a hip-hop edge remains. Still, Jaheim's grooves convey great optimism. That's especially true of "Fabulous," where children spread the word of hope. The confessional "Put That Woman First" is a tender lesson on how to love, while the smoky "Beauty and Thug," a duet with Jaheim cheerleader Mary J. Blige, puts a contemporary urban slant on opposites attracting. There's a sensuality to Still Ghetto, even at its most unhinged (relatively speaking), and to Jaheim's voice, which has been favorably--and aptly--compared to Luther Vandross's. Could be worse. --Kim Hughes