This is a lesson for hip hop groups whose members sound too alike. Here we have three, not superstars exactly, but established veterans, who have together distinction and varying vocal ability. Tyrese is more of an actor these days, but still puts out an album every now and again. Ginuwine is probably the most well known (in terms of music), has been around the longest and stands out on a number of songs, and Tank has been as much a producer/writer as a singer over his career, producing some songs on this album as well. The album itself takes it back to what I like. In an age where some of the most popular R&B has become one paced/boring, this is just ballads. It begins well, slows down a bit in the middle and then finishes at a fast pace with some of the best the album has to offer. It seems like the trend of pointless interludes has continued here though. These feature a women speaking some indistinguishable language for most of it. If you like any of these artist's solo work, R. Kelly, Boys 2 Men, Dru Hill, basically any ballad/slow R&B of the '90s really, this is worth checking out. There are many songs I'd be happy to hear over and over again. Best Tracks: I Need, Next Time Around, Running Back, Burn Out, Tearing It Down, Our House

The Hook Master Best Tracks: Free Will, Broken Hearted, 4 the Thrill, Marriettas Trench

This is her best album, thanks to R. Kelly's genius, but it's still not an amazing well-rounded project. It's fairly hit or miss for me. The best will never get old, but everything else isn't anything I go back to. 'Old School''s rhythm borrows heavily from The Isley Brother's 'Between the Sheets' making that instantly catchy and the other classics are listed below. If you compare Aaliyah to her mentor, the voice is lacking. A lot of R. Kelly songs build up and allow him to share his brilliant vocal range (see 'When a Woman Loves' or 'I Believe I Can Fly') but Aaliyah's doesn't seem to stretch very far. I've thought the same thing with her two follow up albums. Best Tracks: Back & Forth, Age Ain't Nothing but a Number, At Your Best (You Are Love), Old School

I've loved some of K-Young's previous projects. Great ballads, build up and memorable choruses - pretty much what I want from R&B. Most of these tracks though feel more one-paced, with an absence of build up. It isn't a boring listen, but it kind of comes and goes more than I expected from an artist who I like. Best Tracks: Angel, The Weekend, Nothing Lasts, Forever, Psychopath

I heard their last LP, and this is pretty much same sort of thing. A few good songs like 'Take It Slow' and 'Dangerous' to name a couple, but most are all songs you can live without hearing. Most tracks are ones that are good for the club or pumping out of your sub, but if you are just listening to it and the lyrics closely it ain't anything. Chemically Imbalanced also doesn't feature the few top tracks that their previous had.