Sounding off. . - The Best In Recorded Music - Just Whitney; Dru World Order; Soul Be It! - sound recording review

Ebony, Jan, 2003 by Lynn Norment

WHITNEY HOUSTON delivers her trademark outstanding vocals on her new recording, Just Whitney (Arista), on which the premier diva shows one and all that she has what it takes to rock the world with her spine-tingling vocals. With a lineup of talented writers and producers, including Babyface, Missy Elliott and Kevin (She'kspere) Briggs, Whitney offers a great set.

Her husband, Bobby Brown, joins her on "My Love." And throughout the recording she proves that all it takes is just Whitney--and her incredible vocal power. DRU HILL is back in the groove with a jamming new recording, Dru World Order (Def Soul), that gives fans the best of what they always loved about the group. Having enjoyed solo successes, Sisqo, Jazz, Nokio and Woody have reunited and are joined by longtime friend and associate, Scola. Together, the five deliver Dru Hill's signature soulful, edgy vocals and funky rhythms that set them apart from the pack of R&B groups. Dru Hill members wrote and produced most of the album themselves. (Nokio produced 80 percent.) Among the standouts are "Stacey Jones," a sexy love ballad written by Nokio, TQ and Case and produced by Nokio. He also wrote and produced another sensual ballad, "She Said," which features Chinky of LovHer. DEBORAH COLEMAN is upfront and center with vibrant guitar playing on her new recording, Soul Be It! (Blind Pig Records). With husky, commanding vocals and gutsy, in-your-face lyrics, Coleman clearly demonstrates on this live recording that she can hold her own against blues-playing Brothers. Standouts include the melancholy "My Heart Bleeds Blue," which she co-wrote, and the gritty, KoKo Taylor co-written "I'm A Woman."