Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Refreshing!!!, March 20, 2005
Chain Letter, an album that emcompasses a quirky Outkast flavor, is an ecclectic record that is too long overdue. Brooke takes it to the streets with Girl Fight, gets so emotional with the euphonic Cover Girl, empowers the broken-hearted with I Want Him Dead, while Taste of Dis has the Missy Touch all over it, Long As You Come Home simply says loving you ain't wrong, and Laugh Til I Cry will choke you up! Packed with beats to make you bounce and harmony that touches your soul, Brooke's edgy voice, style and range shows her versatility. Don't pass it on, COP YOUR OWN! You will not be disappointed. Chain Letter is a bona fide hit in the leagues of CeCe Peniston, Jody Watley, and Crystal Waters. It's reminiscent of Aaliyah!
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16 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
2-1/2 stars -- The return of the hardcore R&B songstress, July 11, 2005
19-year-old Brooke Valentine is one of the newest members to the R&B game. Since I don't get to watch videos as much as I used to, I didn't really know who she was until I saw that her album, Chain Letter, debuted at an impressive #14 on the Billboard 200. Not long after that I heard her song "Girlfight", which isn't the greatest song in the world (especially with Big Boi's mailed-in verse), but love it or hate it, you have to admit that it's rather unique.
The thing is, though, if you don't like that song, you're probably not going to like the rest of the album. Because several of the songs use that you-don't-want-none-of-this style, like "Whatcha Lookin At" and "Ghetto Supastarz" (by the way, the small skit depicting a tryin'-to-be-cool-but-isn't girl at the end of that song isn't funny). With songs like these, it almost makes you wonder if Brooke is still in high school.
It's not much better when she changes the subject matter. Some of the songs are too creative for their own good. "American Girl" takes a lot of television show references and turns itself into a completely incomprehensible song, and "Blah Blah Blah" (featuring the late Dirt McGirt) is full of just that. "Long As You Come Home" has Brooke saying that she doesn't care if her man sleeps around or doesn't love her as long as he comes home to her, and I don't know how many other women will be able to relate to that. And as soon as I heard "I Want You Dead", I was like, "Who the F wrote this?"
I really didn't know how to rate this album. I was thinking about giving it a 2 because more than half of the songs are questionable, including failed party joints like "Taste of Dis" and "Playa" (I mean, come on; even Jermaine Dupri outshines her in that song). But then I wanted to rate it a 3 because despite all that, Brooke does have a nice voice (see the impressive ballads "Cover Girl" and "Laugh Til I Cry"). So it looks like I'm playing it neutral by rating it 2-1/2. Basically, this is another one of those albums that seems tailor-made for 106 & Park, so if you're not from that generation, then you probably won't want to be the one to catch this chain letter.
Anthony Rupert
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
One of the Best!, October 5, 2005
Brooke Valentine's Chain Letter probably has the best assorsment of songs I've ever heard on a CD. She has a voice that most wish we could imitate. Every song to the last beat is off tha chain!
1) Girlfight(feat. Big Boi and Lil Jon)-Great club banger. Nice to listen to, and will make u wanna dance. 10/10.
2) Taste of Dis-Okay beat, really nice lyrics. Another song to dance to, as are most of the tracks on the CD. 8/10.
3)Long As You Come Home-Probably the best song on the CD. Really sad, love song. The lyrics are also bananas. 10/10.
4)Blah Blah BLah(feat. Dirt McGirt)- Moderate song...really killa beat...But McGirt MURDERED the lyrics! 8/10.
5)Cover Girl-Best slow song EVER! Really country vibe. Breathtaking lyrics and voice. Always find myself singing or hummin this to myself. 10/10.
6)Playa(feat. Jermaine Durpi)-The beat and lyrics are satisfactory...Loved Durpi's part though. Another one I like to sing to. 9/10.
7)Ghetto Superstars-Really nice vibe, loved the ending! Very funny. 9/10.
8)Tell Me Why You Don't Love Me-Amazing lyrics. Great beat you'll automatically bob your head to. 10/10.
9)Million Bucks-(feat. Queen Deliz)GREATEST SONG ON THE ALBUM! The beat is so crazy and the lyrics are really addictive. 20/10!
10)I Want You Dead-Agressive as hell! lol. Really tight lyrics though. Sort of funny in a sick twisted way...10/10.
11)Dying From A Broken Heart-Lyrics are really incomprehensible except for the chorus for me. Love the voicing regardless though. The pitch was on point. 9/10.
12)Pass Us By- Really sweet song. Nice vibe going with it too. Voice was satisfactory. 9/10.
13)Laugh Til I Cry-SADDEST SONG EVER!*tear, tear* **SNIFFLE** Another really good song. BEAUTIFUL LYRICS AND VOICE TO MATCH. 20/10!
14)American Girl-Okay song, but unclear to what it's about...I take a guess of dissing America. Cool pop-ish beat. 9/10.
15)Whatcha Lookin At(feat. Kilo AKA J.R.K.)- BANANAS BEAT. Another song to have you bobbin ur head. Really short though. 20/10!
BUY THIS ALBUM! If you like artists such as Aaliyah, Kelis and Amerie,get this! U won't regret it!
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by Brooke Valentine 
