Cold Blooded contains some stunning moments, but more often than not, it reflects the problem the artist was having trying to simply to focus. And just because I use the word "stunning" I don't mean it in a good way. "U Bring The Freak Out" is a perfect example - the backing music is a cheap mechanized Prince imitation, driven by an oddly effective but dumb party chant-style chorus, and the message of the song blames his sleazy lifestyle on the groupies he regularly hooks up with. But there are quite a few winners here as well - "Ebony Eyes", the duet with Smokey Robinson, is fun overwrought R&B theater, and "P.I.M.P. the S.I.M.P." (with Grandmaster Flash) was one of his better social message songs. The duet with Billy Dee Williams "Tell Me (What You Want)" is just a boring-ass Isaac Hayes imitation. "New York Town" has that super-sleazy feel where he takes you to all of the night spots where all the drugs and money go down. As mentioned before, there are plenty of moments where James' talent gets through despite his flippant approach, but definitely more signs of trouble ahead.