Customer Reviews

In & Out of Love

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Oh, how an artist signed to Bad Boy Records suffers and waits. Cheri Dennis has been signed to the label since 2001, or possibly even earlier, and she has not seen any of her hard work or time come to fruition until now? Well, I must give her props for patience! In the fall of 2005, she finally released her debut single "I Love You," which was a minor hit. It's an alright track, but definitely not the type I would introduce an artist to the world with, especially since Jim Jones and Yung Joc took time away from Dennis showcasing herself. Anyways, after a week or two, that song came and went. A slew of new artists and albums came out on Diddy's label--including himself and Danity Kane--yet Dennis was put on the back burner and it seemed she would most likely drop off the face of the earth without ever having a disc with her name on it. However, around November of last year a video for "Portrait of Love" came out of nowhere. It was a very new sound for her and quite refreshing to my ears; it's a laid-back, 80's synth pop inspired groove that is undeniably catchy. It fared a little better on R&B outlets and channels like VH1 Soul, but it still didn't make much impact elsewhere. A few days later, the album In & Out of Love was released... only on iTunes, though. Imagine that: six plus years of sitting around for an iTunes only release! Luckily for me and many others who prefer having physical releases, this was eventually released in CD form in February 2008.

To be completely honest, although I really had been anticipating this album since 2005, I also really wasn't expecting much. At most, I thought it would be an average album with standard female R&B fare without much personality; at worst, it would be a typical Bad Boy release with a few good songs and a whole lot of filler. Anyways, I bought this the day it came out, but it actually took me a month or two to actually listen to any of it. (I was a little pre-occupied with the new Erykah Badu joint.) But when I did finally give the disc a spin, I was pleasantly surprised.

Sure, there are a few of the same-ol'--but good ol'--formulaic female R&B songs that we've grown accustomed to over the years. There are the two or three ballads and "baby-making" tracks at the end of the album ("Showdown," "Ooh Ooh," etc.) and unnecessary rap cameos from Yung Joc, Jim Jones, and Gorilla Zoe; still, there are also an equal amount of tracks where Dennis steps out of the box a little bit and makes a stellar track. "Portrait of Love" is one of those to me and even after hearing this song way too many times--and I mean way too many times--it still appeals to me. "Remind You," which I believe may have been the third single, packs a punch with horns, staccato piano notes, and quite forceful vocals and lyrics filled with attitude that I wasn't expecting from her. "All I Wanna Do" and "Dropping Out of Love" both are mid-tempos with bouncy grooves that remind me of something I can't quite put my finger on. (A modern version of What's the 411?, possibly?) "Pretend" is a heart wrenching and dramatic power-ballad drenched with soul and nice harmonies. Both interludes are fantastic and I wish they were extended into full songs. However, "Spaced Out" is by far my absolute favorite track of this set. I see that other reviewers aren't really feeling it but I cannot resist. The production sounds a bit like the Neptunes full of spacy synths and crisp percussion. The song is like something Kelis, Outkast, or maybe even Janelle Monae would do. Even the lyrics are quirky and Dennis owns the track, unapologetically bragging about her unique swagger that is lightyears ahead of everyone else's. To put it quite simply, it is three minutes and forty seconds of pure, other-worldly perfection on my ears. Also, most of the production on this album is top-notch quality stuff. Ironically, some of the most underwhelming beats here to me are on the Timbaland-produced "Act Like You Know."

The bottom line: I didn't expect much from this album quite honestly, especially after all the delays. I thought if I was lucky it would be a decent album full of the usual female R&B clichés. (And there's not necessarily anything wrong with that if it's executed correctly... I'm a sucker for that stuff!) While this applies to a few tracks on In & Out of Love, there are just as many tracks that bravely venture out into a bit more daring territory and that's when Dennis truly shines. The songs are generally great, as is the production. Cheri's vocals sometimes get a little thin, but at most points, her instrument is strong and controlled.

Key tracks: Spaced Out, Portrait of Love, Pretend, Remind You.

Cheri Dennis has a good voice, the production is good on this debut but the lyrics are lacking. She is alot better than some of the other girls out. She is solely R&B. Overall a solid debut even if she is on Bad Boy, give her a chance.

Stand out tracks are
1. I Love You
2. Portrait of Love
3. In and Out of Love (Interlude)
4. Pretend
5. Remind You
6. Dropping Out of Love
7. Show Down
8. Ooh Ooh

Well, 8 out of the 16 tracks on the album ain't bad.

The name sounds familiar...and it should. Cheri Dennis has been featured as both a vocalist and songwriter on previous Bad Boy releases. She was featured on songs for Mase's Double Up and the Forever album by Diddy (then named Puff Daddy) back in 1999, The P. Diddy And The Bad Boy Family album The Saga Continues... and Olivia's self-titled release back in 2001, and later projects like Biggie's Duets album, The Black Rob Report, and most recently the song "Back Up" by Danity Kane on their debut album (Dennis co-wrote the song and originally recorded it for herself but it was later given to the supergroup to use.) Now it's her turn at the spotlight after years of being put on the back burner at Bad Boy with the release of In And Out Of Love. "I Love You" featuring Jim Jones and Yung Joc is a decent track, but nothing to write home about. "Portrait of Love" featuring Yung Joc and Gorilla Zoe sounds a bit dated with an over-emphasized bassline and annoying synthesized keyboard for the background music. "Remind You" is a great, hard-edged track that complements the raw delivery of Cheri's lyrics for the song. "All I Wanna Do" is another outstanding track that utilizes the beat from 2pac's "Got My Mind Made Up" very well. "Alright" is...well...an alright upbeat cut, while "Dropping Out of Love" is a touch better, probably because it borrows the beat from "Sky's The Limit" from The Notorious B.I.G. (which contained samples itself). "Pretend" is in the same vain as an upbeat Keyshia Cole track and you'll probably think it sounds a lot like Keyshia too. "Spaced Out" lives up to the name, leaving much to be desired after painfully listening to it the one time that it'll get played in your stereo. "Act Like You Know" is a Timbaland-laced track that also has it's oddball tendencies, but clocking in at under three minutes makes for a brief offering. "Showdown" is probably the best track on the album with a mellow, seductive melody that goex along with Cheri's brazen lyrics about getting down to business in the bedroom. "Ooh Ooh" is a nice, subdued track that has hints of old school soul throughout. She closes with the moderately enjoyable cuts "Caught Up" and "Waiting." Cheri Dennis does a respectable job on In And Out Of Love. With a little fine tuning and some serious backing from Bad Boy, Cheri Dennis could very well be the R&B superstar that we so desperately need in the music industry.

i luv dis album by ms.cheri. she's a true r&b artist. i wish her lots of sucess. fav. tracks are

i love you
portrait of love
all i wanna do
in and out of love
dropping out of love
pretend
spaced out
showdown
ooh ooh
caught up

dats almost the whole album lol

I really enjoyed this album. It's good just to cruise with your friends; it has a 90's type of vibe. I just felt that her album wasn't promoted enough by bad boy records.

1st of all has any noticed her 1st single so complete isnt even on the album. i think aginst all odds cheri has put out a decent album with little help form diddy(i cant stand that dude) for years he ha pushed her to the back and put out aritsts like cassie who cant even sing and danity kane whos album came out straight after making the band. it is so unfortunate that he doesnt rate good music over looks and sex appeal which cheri does have too. i think she should ditch bad boy look at its history and the long line of artist wounded after their departure (loon, faith, the lox, 122) and find a label who belive in her enough to give her, her time to shine this album is good but cheri definatley has the potential to do better i look forward to her future efforts.

Plainly put, I am not impressed with the debut album from Cheri Dennis. Most of the beats sound like typical studio production, the lyrics are the same stories we have all heard many a day in song, and her vocal delivery is very lazy to me. I listened to her vocals very closely and intensely, and I do not see why she was signed because she's just another pretty girl who can hold a note. Her voice has no personality, she can simply just hold a note. Bad Boy released this album's best song to radio (something they usually always do) and that song is called "I Love You." What truly makes this song is the beat. There's no doubt, that's a hot beat. The hook is memorable and the lyrics are decent. Most of this album is piano-filled beats blended with Dennis's vocals. "Remind You" has a very heavy piano-laced beat that jumps out at you from its beginning. This mid-tempo is a decent offering. "Caught Up" and "All I Wanna Do" are typical R&B songs that are too decent. We are reminded of Biggie on this album because "Dropping Out of Love" samples his hit called "Sky is the Limit." He and 112 did a much better job with the beat, but she should be given credit for an alright track. This song is about a relationship that is difficult to stay in because of all of the problems.
I recommend this album to fans of Rihanna, Cassie, Ciara, Danity Kane and Cherish. It is an okay album, but there are a dearth of highlights.

Mikeisha's Top 5

1. "I Love You"
2. "Dropping Out of Love"
3. "Pretend"
4. "Showdown"
5. "Ooh Ooh"

This is one of the most anticipated album's on the Bad Boy roster. Most of the songs I heard through Mixtapes and Radio. Love her sound and love her work!. I just wish it would have come out sooner!. If you haven't got it please go pick it up it's work listening too!. BBFL!!

this is a superb debut...like seriously i can't rate my favorites on this album because i love them ALL! & it's so sad it took Diddy SEVEN WHOLE years to release it. this young lady has potential to be legendary, but she needs better people behind her...bad boy may not be the place for her to call "home".

When people talk about the artist that got shafted the most at Sean "P. Diddy" Combs' record label Bad Boy Entertainment, everyone refers to Craig Mack. However, the person who got it the worst was singer Cheri Dennis- an R&B chanteuse who had been signed to the label since 2000, but has seen everyone release an album- including her label boss- except her. It all started for her when she made her debut on P. Diddy & The Bad Boy Family's 2001 album "The Saga Continues..." on the song "So Complete". A few years later, Bad Boy would cut distribution ties with Arista Records for a distribution deal with Universal Records in 2003. The following year, her debut album was promoted in the liner notes of albums by her then-labelmates Mario Winans, Eightball & MJG, Carl Thomas and New Edition. She suffered the first setback after Bad Boy left Universal over poor promotion and sales and inked a distribution deal with Atlantic Records in 2005. She then released her debut single, the Ryan Leslie produced "I Love You"- only to see her debut get pushed back yet again. After a year passed, she released the second single "Portrait Of Love", with the debut "In And Out Of Love" following in February 2008.

Cheri's debut album walks the fine line between urban contemporary R&B with splashes of synth heavy electro funk. On "In And Out Of Love", there are big name producers on a few songs- such as Rodney Jerkins on the percussive "Remind You" and Timbaland on the brief "Act Like You Know". She uses a sample of 2Pac's "Got My Mind Made Up" on "All I Wanna Do"- which is ironic given the tumultuous history of Death Row Records and Bad Boy Entertainment. She sings of wanting to end a bad relationship on "Dropping Out Of Love", which is her essentially singing over the instrumental of The Notorious B.I.G.'s "Sky's The Limit".
She works with producer Eric Hudson (best known for Kanye West's "Flashing Lights" and Omarion's "Entourage") on "Pretend", while getting sensual on the ballad "Showdown". She sings of being torn between the feelings of two men on "Caught Up", which was produced by former Cru member/Hitmen producer Yogi- who is best known for producing G. Dep's "Let's Get It". Overall, there are some good songs on her debut, but this album flew under the radar due to numerous setbacks on a corporate level. Cheri Dennis' "In And Out Of Love" is one record that could have taken her far if the record label was willing to cooperate. Hopefully, she will get better promotion the second time around.