Jodeci

It's tempting to say that the difference between Jodeci and Boyz II Men, contemporary R&B's
other leading male vocal group, boils down to this: Boyz II Men want to make love to you;
the guys in Jodeci wanna freek you, baby, in every freek'n way. So go the lyrics of
"Freek'n You," the first single from Jodeci's third album, the suggestively titled The Show,
the After-Party, the Hotel (you can guess where most of the action on the LP tak... More >

No way does the sex on this concept album recall Prince or Marvin Gaye--spiritually, its precursors are Kiss and Judas Priest. Rather than lust between equals, it's powerful men manipulating starstruck girls. And since the backstage adventure with the lawsuit attached somehow goes unrecounted--supposedly, DeVante pointed a gun while K-Ci felt the complainant up, with both love men pleading guilty to less specific charges--only a fool would take their word about how knowing their honeys are. So here's hoping your mama didn't raise no fools. And here's hoping this papa didn't either. (Grade: B-)