Amazing Truthfully Speaking Review

[Dedicato]

Just found this review:

First things first: if you expected Truth Hurts' highly anticipated album to be a Hip Hop joint with a lead female vocalist on it, you were dead wrong. THIS IS A R&B ALBUM, period, despite the name of some of the producers affiliated with this project. Talking about producers, an album that boasts Dr Dre, DJ Quik, Timbaland, Scott Storch, Mel Man, Hi Tek, Organized Noize and R Kelly among others is almost GUARANTEED to cause most to be more than willing to peep it. This being siad, with the plethoria of disappointing albums on the market and the success of rather conventional/boring R&B acts like Ashanti, Truth Hurts' debut was NOT guaranteed excellence from the get-go. Personally, one thing that made ME dig further was the fact that the self-proclaimed "Queen Of The Gheto" could REALLY sing (check her old school rendition on the ALI soundtrack, a joint she simply MURDERS). So "Truthfully Speaking", here are my thoughs on the album:

1) PUSH PLAY - Produced by Dr. Dre
** Mixed by Dr. Dre; Written by Truth Hurts and Dr. Dre
The lush vocal intro of the album leads into a typical hard hitting Dre concoction in which both the good Doc and Truth WARNS listeners of what they're about to HEAR. "Now we at it again, to work this magic again... She out to do damage to all you R&B b1tches" Dre spits, while Truth agrees in the background.
4/5

2) ADDICTIVE - Produced by DJ Quik
** Mixed by Dr. Dre; Written by Stephen Garrett
By now, everyone has heard this Quik masterpiece, coupled with the one and only Rakim's "millenium-ready", thugged-out verse.
Still a gem... 5/5

3) NEXT TO ME - Produced by Focus
** Mixed by Dr. Dre; Written by Truth Hurts
Whoever newcomer Focus is, he's in it for the long run. His expertise on the keys perfectly balances Truth's soprano for the 1st laid back numero of the album. A sweet yet "grimey" set, this joint shines becoz it puts Truth vocals forth. Besides, the guitar solo at the end of the joint and the spanish outro are just icing on the cake... 4.5/5

4) JIMMY - Produced by Dr. Dre
** Mixed by Dr. Dre; Written by Truth Hurts
Easily one of the brighter notes of the album, this joint finds Dre basically erasing every single doubt of his slipping behind the board, and add even more versatility points to his already impressive resume. Mind it, Dre produces a REAL R&B/Soul track (NOT a dope Hip hop joint with Bilal's vocals on it). This sounds like something ?uestlove and D'Angelo would REALLY feel. Heavy bass, hard hitting drums, Dre's typical background keyboard tricks. Meanwhile, Truth takes control of the joint by expressing her love and commitment to a incarcerated brother.
Brilliant. 5/5

5) GROWN - Produced by Darren Henson & Keith Pelzer
** Mixed by Dr. Dre and Manny Maroquin; Written by Truth Hurts
Truth sings her right to freedom and female emancipation of another mid tempo number, reminiscent of an Erykah Badu track but with Truth's total identity all over the track. Took more than one listen to really sink in, but very pleasant now...
3.5/5

6) THIS FEELING - Produced by Errol McCalla
** Mixed by Dr. Dre; Written by Truth Hurts
Simply put, this song is the sh1t. Truth REALLY pours her emotions, (Mary J Blige-like) on this one ("I'm not afraid to admit that I'm weak and I can't get enough of you...") and the big bass riff provided by Errol McCalla (who?) over the course of almost 6 mns makes the song a triumph, plain and simple...
Must hear 5/5

7) TIRED - Produced by Mel Man
** Mixed by Dr. Dre; Written by Truth Hurts
In the same vein Dre went straight R&B earlier on "Jimmy", his right hand n1gga Mel Man drops a soulful/mid tempo track, complete with potent synths manipulation and booming bass, and perfect for the woman of the hour to chase the limits of her vocal abilities. The somewhat redundant "man are this, man are that" claim here finds convinction simply because the songstress shows sincerity and honesty in her delivery. Mel adds a s1ck ass piano outro for proof of dopeness.
4/5

I'M NOT REALLY LOOKING ft DJ Quik - Produced by DJ Quik
** Mixed by DJ Quik; Written by Truth Hurts
Quik drops his funky expertise on a bouncin' jam somewhat reminiscent of "Pitchin' On A Party" and even stops by for 16 bars halfway throughout Truth's cheerful singing. Not only does it perfectly balances the mellow vibe of the previous and next tracks, but it makes for a perfect party joint, West Coast style.
4/5

9) BULLSH1T ft Big Rube - Produced by Ray Murray for Organized Noize
** Mixed by Dr. Dre; Written by Ray Murray
A soulful joint, this track is relaxing and easy going for those lazy and rainy Sunday afternoons. Once again, Truth comes correct on the vocals but the real gem is the verse Dungeon Family's best kept secret Big Rube kicks. The n1gga spits intelligent and witty lines like: "... would I be easy to teach if I grew up in easier streets/ it's easy to eat when you feed your frenzy a feast/ would you be more of a beast if you had a lot less in your grease/ cause you're just to impress, do that make you much less of a b1tch? ..."
The truth hurts indeed. 4.5/5

10) QUEEN OF THE GHETTO - Produced by Dr. Dre
This is basically an interlude, on which Truth re-asserts that she's the truth () and BET's very own Cita drops "ghetto science" (yeaaaaah, right) with her annoying voice. A waste of time, this skit is saved by Dre's bumping beat, which nonetheless resembles Scarface's "Faith" track (off "The Untouchable") a lil too much.
2.5/5

11) THE TRUTH ft R. Kelly - Produced by R Kelly
** Mixed by Dr. Dre; Written by R Kelly
Say what you say but something you CANNOT deny R Kelly is TALENT. Based on that, I expected this track to be a straight mellow, slick hit. Instead, it's a mid tempo, guitar-driven track similar to the ones found on "TP2.com" and "The Best Of Both World", which indeed lacks in originality. Yet the catchy hook coupled with R Kelly's welcomed vocals and Truth deceptively honest assertions makes it for a good ride... for lack of a ghetto classic, "Be Careful" style...
3.5/5

12) REAL - Produced by Timbaland; Co-produced by Scott Storch
** Mixed by Dr. Dre; Written by Static from Playa
When all is said is done, Timbaland is BY FAR the best "Hip Hop AND R&B" producer today. JD is aight, Quik has some good R&B moments and Dre's gettin' there R&B-wise, but Timbaland got BOTH genres on lock. Proof is in this banger, which sounds like a perfect second single, for it brings a ridiculous backdrop (complete with percussions and all) and a lead singing Truth, who imbues the layered rhythmn gracefully and delivers a catchy-as-hell, easy-to-love hook. Mainstream R&B the way it SHOULD be.
5/5

13) HOLLYWOOD ft Dr. Dre - Produced by Hi Tek
** Mixed by Dr. Dre; Written by Truth Hurts
Hi Tek provide a bumpin' Hip Hop joint (the bassline is ridiculous!) that leads both Truth and Dre into a straight Hollywood bashin'. The Doc in particular is in excellent lyrical form. Simply put, he shows more passion than you taught he could ("...I'm the CEO, judge, jury and plaintiff saying: fukk!...") and both his verses and Truth passionate singing alternate in a way that makes you wonder how bullsh1t Hollywood really is. Not that the song makes a particularly STRONG statement. But it's banging nonetheless...
4/5

14) DO ME: Produced by Focus
** Mixed by Focus; Written by Focus
A lush, minimalist number, this track perfectly closes the album with Truth again, showing deft vocal range. BTW, Focus is a producer to follow...
4/5


CONCLUSION: Somewhat of a hybrid, edgy album, "Truthfully Speaking" succeeds because of its sheer originality. You can't REALLY categorize this joint. It doesn't really fall under the "Neo-Soul" umbrella, but it ain't Ashanti or Jagged Edge either. More remarkably, Truth Hurts is a very strong vocalist who could back her powerful studio riffs with a live, "in yo face" performance Alicia Keys-style, and rides the raw, custom-made, unique sound found on her debut. Still, one thing missing from the piece is one or two TRULY beautiful love song (like Jill Scott's "The Way" or Jaguar Wright's "Stay" or Alkicia Keys's "A Woman's Worth") that would put her right up there with the very best female vocalists.
Still, the songstress is just one block away, for she already proved that she could carve her own very specific niche in the all-too-crowded R&B/Soul field. Which is more than refreshing...

FINAL SCORE: 4/5 (could become a 4.5)


http://www.sohh.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=1941047#post1941047

[Nima - Dubcnn.com]

wow thats a tight review!!

[LyRiCaL_G]

yeah dope review, but i disagree on a few things...........that timbaland beat aint no 5 mics beat at all, its kinda wack-ish...seams really similar to alot of his latest shit and tired fro me has the best beat on this album - 5 mics rnb beat with the pianos and shit and like with addictive, next to me and hollywood and jimmy are the best tracks on the album........but yeah i mostly agree.

peace

[Ant]

yeah that dude likes timbo a lil too much im thinking..

i hated that track... timbaland did much hotter shit for other people

how can u say thats a dope beat after hearing his shit he done for ginuwine and aaliyah etc