It's hard to believe that next year will make ten years since Keyshia Cole set foot into the R&B world. Seems like yesterday I was for the first time watching her video for "I Should Have Cheated". Her first big single from her debut album. It was Keyshia's brash attitude, good looks and the west coast hood in her that drew people close to her. She was certainly a change of pace compared to the other R&B divas who were out at the time. But it's more so what she says in her music when it comes to love and relationships. While it's a topic 98% of singers talk about, Keyshia tells in a way that everyone woman can seriously relate to. Especially when it comes to talking about "ain't shit niggas". This is one of the many reasons why her whole career she's often been compared to Mary J. Blige. Well now, nine years later, she's still doing what she does best. Speaking to/for the ladies in the hood making them all say "yasss" in agreement. This is her sixth album Point Of No Return. Although I never listened to any of her albums from start to finish, I pretty much already know what to expect from her. After listening, it's pretty much the same stuff being talked about that I told you before. However, it's clear that she's either going through a bad relationship or trying to get over a bad break up. You can tell from her words and her tone of voice that she is upset and distraught about it all. Let's find out what's going on. Here's the breakdown:
1. Intro (Last Tango)
Right off the back she tells you exactly what's going on. By telling him how she feels. Fed up with the way the relationship is going. How all they do is "fight, fuck then make up" as she says in the hook. This isn't the kind of relationship she wants but yet she doesn't want to leave him. I hear this story way too many times with females. But this was a good way to start off a drama filled album.
2. Heat Of Passion
Now it's starting to get intense. Over a very low distorted bass line beat, she just finds out about her man cheating and how she knows everything he has done with her. Where they had sex, where they been hanging out, all the money he's given her etc. You can feel the emotional anger in her on this song. Especially on the hook how it kinda sounds like she's threatening to kill dude. The added sounded effects of police sirens and 911 dispatchers gives it more of a dramatic feel as well. I can only imagine the number of women who went through something similar who are gonna cling quickly to this song.
3. N.L. U (featuring 2 Chainz)
In the opening I mentioned how she often talks about those "ain't shit niggas". Well...here it is. The acronym in the title means Niggas Like U. Pretty much self explanatory what's going on here. After two tracks with soft production it finally got to something a bit more faster and uptempo. My only issue is you guessed it...2 Chainz. Not that his verse was horrible (it wasn't great either) but why is he on this track. He did nothing for it and seemed out of place. Overall though it's a cool song despite what she's talking about.
4. Next Time (Won't Give My Heart Away)
The drama continues. Here she shares how much of a mistake it was to take this guy back who did her wrong, cheated on her and such. But no matter how much they fight or if they split up, she still loves him. Kinda what the intro was talking about. I gotta say her choosing this song as the first single is rather interesting. Is it because of all the songs this is the one that best reflects what she's been through? Thinking to share it with everyone by making it a single? I'm sure all these songs on this album has a lot to do with her but.....I don't know man. Women are so confusing. The song is cool.
5. Rick James (featuring Juicy J)
First of all, I could do nothing but laugh when I saw the title of this track. With the way this album is going I could only imagine what this was about. I was hoping it would be a change of pace and getting away from the drama but nope...it isn't. Now it seems like her and dude got into a physical fight. Well...either with him or the girl he was cheating with I can't really tell. But in the hook she talks about putting her feet up on his (or her) couch. Following it with "yeah bitch I'm Rick James". It's so funny because it seems she's getting humorous with it by using this Rick James reference. The song is alright but once again, another not-needed guest verse. Juicy J's verse does nothing for this. But again, it's an alright song overall.
6. Do That For (B.A.B.) [BONUS TRACK]
This track here is pretty dope. Especially the beat. I'm a little surprised that it's a deluxe edition track. It's clear here that now she's starting to get over him and she's just doing her. Having fun. I kinda laugh hearing her talk all that thug shit at the end when talking about dude. It's weird because she actually sounded a bit like 2Pac when he used to go on his profanity laced rants. What I didn't like was her reciting that God awful "Boss Ass Bitch" song in the beginning. I was praying that wasn't what the "B.A.B." in the title stood for. It's still a dope song though regardless. I like it.
7. New Nu
We go from one good beat to an even better one. Much props to Mike Will Made-It on this hard hitting rap beat. Again like I said on the last song, she's doing her now and over dude, In fact this song talks about him trying to get her back by showering her with gifts. Not gonna work. She's moved on and on her "new shit" as the sample in the song says. Dope track and love the production.
8. She
Now for some controversy. This was the single that had Twitter going nuts. It's one of those songs that will fool you if you don't listen to the lyrics closely. It's clear by the lyrics that she's either embracing her new found lesbian side (singing about being with another woman. The "she" she's referring to), or, she's talking about a little..."self-loving" if you get my drift. Either way the song and the lyrics are sexy. This was also a surprising DJ Mustard beat. It's much slower and well...R&B sounding than what he usually does. A lot of women today are a little bi-curious so this song shouldn't be that big of a deal. They also like to "self-love" as well. Yeah...I'll just leave it a that.
9. Believer
I guess this is the part of the album where the sexual tension builds. This song is nothing more than her serenading her man. Making love to him and catering to him the way he likes. Possibly the way she likes too. Nothing more to take away from it than that. I think this one has to grow on me some more.
10. On Demand (featuring Wale and August Alsina) [BONUS TRACK]
The second of two bonus tracks. This was the best song on the album as far as collaboration. While the other features were misses this one was done well. Wale drops two okay verses in the beginning and end and August shares the hook with Keyshia. Sounds single worthy if you ask me. The beat is a little flat for my taste however. With these kind of guest features I expected something more energetic and uptempo but it doesn't hurt the song too bad.
11. Love Letter (featuring Future)
While there were many unimpressive guest features on this album, none really made the song bad....until now. I honestly cannot even like this song like I want to thanks to Future and his half-assed singing. I swear he sounding like a dying animal when trying to hit those high notes. I don't know what Keyshia was thinking getting him on this song when she could have gotten an actual male singer who would have done one hundred times better than this fool. Not feeling it.
12. Party Ain't A Party (Gavyn Rhone)
....and now where back to the drama. I was deceived by the song title I gotta admit. Nothing really going on here but her expressing to him that she's leaving despite the fact that he wants her to stay. We finally, after the bad rap guest features, get a good R&B feature from Gavyn Rhone. Making a pretty good duet. Cool song.
13. Remember Pt. 2
This is probably the one real slow ballad of the album. This is also the one song that kinda puts everything into perspective. It sounds like here that she's still upset about the break up, but she clearly still loves him and wishes things could have worked out better. But then she goes on to say that it just wasn't meant to be. Maybe.
In closing, I thought the album was good. Keyshia Cole continues to show emotional pain through life situations, specifically relationships and make it so all the young women she reaches out to can relate. I give it a final grade of a B-. I think one of the main reasons so many women can relate to Keyshia Cole is because of her background. Where she's from. She comes from a similar struggle to most women out here and knows exactly what they're going through. Not just when it comes to men and relationships but everyday things. This is why she is six albums in and is still relevant because of her words. Yeah at times she comes off as aggressive, raunchy, "bitchy" or straight up hood, but that's just the emotions in my opinion. I honestly think she is someone to look up to if you're a young woman. No doubt. End.
Final Grade: B-
CREDITS
Executive Producers
Keyshia Cole
Manny Halley
Lead Artist
Keyshia Cole
Production
Tim Kelley
Marcus White
Antwan Thompson
Jerrol Wizzard
Troy Taylor
Larry Griffin Jr.
Mark Landon
Roahn Hylton
Andre Parker
Michael Williams
Marquel Middlebrooks
Dijon McFarlane
Priese Lamont Board
Mikkel Eriksen
Tor Erik Hermansen
John Webb Jr.
Patrick Hayes
Collaboration
Tauheed Epps
Jordan Houston
Olubowale Akintimehin
August Alsina
Nayvadius Wilburn
Gavyn Rhone
Label
Interscope Records
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