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 Forget for a moment that Brooke Valentine is a tight bodied, doe eyed songstress that stormed the radio waves with yet another callabo with Lil' Jon. In those moments you should be able to tell that this isn't your typical r&b album. While the hit single 'Girlfight' (an outstanding track, by the way) may seem like another crunk cash in, it is actually one of the most honest re-tellings of female drama that listeners have heard in awhile...or ever for that matter. While Valentine instantly drew comparisons to newcomer Ciara, the two are nothing alike. Brooke, like the funky, eclectic r&b/rocker Kelis, would rather sound like Prince with breasts than another Whitney Houston style diva.
The electro bratiness of 'Blah, Blah, Blah' takes the album to an entire new arena, sounding like an 80's new wave concert rather than a bland faux-punk song. 'Cover Girl' is a deep fried southern ballad, complete with acoustic guitars and Brooke's uplifting lyrics about self-acceptance that never sound treacly. Of course, Jermaine Dupri always brings the funk, and on the song 'Playa' there is no exception. The bass heavy, rump shaking beat makes it a surefire club banger. It wasn't noted in the liner notes, but the song does sound as though it has a sample of 80's girl group Vanity 6's 'Nasty Girl' weaved throughout. Reaching back to seventies soul influences, 'Long As You Come Home' is a retro mid-tempo burner. It is further complimented by Brooke's honeyed vocals and sensuous harmonies. 'Taste of Dis' is a hand-clapping, hardriving dance song that calls all the wall flowers out to bump rumps and 'shake a leg.' 'Ghetto Superstarz' is another electro mish-mash with a hilarious spoken interlude done by Brooke at the end of the song. With the campy 'I Want You Dead', Valentine channnels Johnny Cash with her witty but morbid lyrics, stating 'I poked holes in your prophylactics' and 'Drove your car into a ditch.' It further proves that Valentine is able to step up the r&b hip/hop game much like Missy Elliot and Kelis have chosen to do. Short on gimmicks, but bursting with attitude, soul, and genuine individuality, this debut proves that r&b is a genre that certainly is expanding in terms of its recent risk takers. Valentine can send me all the chain letters she wants, because I will be sure to pass them along. Music fans shouldn't pass her up either.
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Well, when I first heard Girlfight I thought, "now Crunk&B is da nu thing, so every pretty face who does that kinda music gets all the attention". After listening to her album I realize that she has true talent, she has voice, I also saw live perfomances and she really can handle a note, and now I love girlfight, the album is a mix between Hip-Hop, R&B Pop, Urban in general.
When I first heard Brooke's "Girl Fight", I thought it was hot. When I saw her live on 106 & Park I knew I was gonna get this album. She can actually sing & she is very talented, though her album doesn't always reflect it. Besides "Girl Fight", I enjoyed "Long As You Come Home", "Blah Blah Blah" with Dirt McGirt & "Tell Me Why? (You Don't Love Me)". She doesn't ever really use her voice to its full potential and many times the beat is too loud over her vocals which is a shame. Her collaboration with producer Jermaine Dupri on "Playa" is decent as is "Million Bucks". The material on her album is very party oriented, at times immature, but then again Valentine is just 19. I wish there were more ballads and less party anthems so that Brooke had a chance to really show off her pipes. "I Want You Dead" is easily the album's worst track, here she is so off key its painful. Vocally, its the album's only weak moment. Overall the album is pretty good; I may be too nice in giving it 3 stars, but I'm in a generous mood at the moment.
