The '90s had plenty of amazing R&B and I feel there is so much I am yet to hear, whether it be full albums or standalone singles. This had been on my to-listen-to-list for a while as the incredibly underrated Bobby V is part of this foursome of young R&B singers. The biggest problem I have with this collection of songs is that one of the singers has a voice I don't like much. He sounds incredibly young and not the good MJ type of young. The others are enjoyable to hear croon, but when he comes in, I scrunch my face up. It's not enough to ruin the songs, but they'd be better without him. Nevertheless, this is a consistent album, but even the hit 'Blackberry Molasses' (that has the same/very similar drum pattern to OutKast's 'Pink & Blue) doesn't have me wowing. Best Tracks: Blackberry Molasses, Lady, What About Us, Crossroads, I'll Sweat You

I've generally found Gibb's acclaimed projects to be overrated and this is no different. He isn't a brilliant rapper. There are countless artists who rap with a smoother flow or have greater other strengths. The Telegraph calling him a "flawless MC" is a laugh. While some of it isn't anything new, I do enjoy some of the bars though and lyrical content. Some of the production gets tedious, which is a stronger criticism when you consider that a number of these songs aren't breaking three minutes. After three-four plays, no hook has really stayed with me either. Overall, it's mostly all likeable, but there isn't anything here that wows me. There is again the ridiculous thing artists do of adding interludes to the end of songs that are a pain after you've given the album more than a spin or two. I don't enjoy some of the features either like Ross, who raps with an annoying flow, Offset, who has a terrible artificial voice, Paak, who sings with a whiny tone, or Pusha, who has been rapping able the same fu**ing thing for 20 years!!! This is around a 3 out of 5 for me. If I liked a few of the better songs more, to a level where I could see myself reaching out to hear them again in a few weeks, I'd increase it, but it doesn't have any. Beats: ★★★☆ Rapping/Bars: ★★★☆ Hooks: ★★☆ Best Tracks: Space Rabbit, Rabbit Vision, Dark Hearted

J. Valentine is the singer, and Bailey, who we hear more of, is the rapper on this mixtape. It begins with the artists' own vocals over well known beats such as 'I'm Sprung', 'Stay Fly' and 'Can I Have It Like That', before getting into what I think are pretty much all original songs. It really does feel like an old mixtape from back in the mid '00s. I checked this out for J. Valentine and unfortunately none of his songs excel. As with his album, 'The Testimony', there is too much upbeat R&B that doesn't hit the mark at all, often with poor production, that is again a product of its time. 'Hide Me' has a catchy beat and the other better songs are carried by their famous production. Best Tracks: I Rep Da B.A.YYYYY, Hide Me, Bailey Freestyle (Run It)

That mother-in-law... WOW! The character almost makes this unbearable. Thankfully her time on screen isn't as prominent during the second half of the movie as the first. I can see this being fresh for audiences in the '60s but watching it in its totality for the first time in 2022, much of the comedy doesn't hit to any laugh out loud level and it drags on. For example, how long were Emeline and Melville trying to break out of the mechanic or the two men in the plane for? I mean, the opening credits, while creative, take 7 minutes! There are some chuckles to be had but everything just seems that touch drawn out. And what is with the son and girlfriend's dancing... 00 2.5-3/5

Before listening to this project, I'd just checked out 'Love & Other Drugs' and was hoping this would be more of the same. Unfortunately, there is a lot more upbeat R&B, and when there are ballads, they aren't as strong. A decent listen but there aren't enough high points. Best Tracks: Late Night, I Shoulda Been With You, She Worth the Trouble