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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Another Solid Album for Ja, December 20, 2007
First of all, I consider Jaheim to be one of the standout male R&B singers of our time. Unfortunately for Ja, he hasn't found commercial success easily. Sure, GHETTO LOVE and STILL GHETTO went platinum, but it took time and airplay. Last year's GHETTO CLASSICS landed Jaheim in the top spot of the Billboard Chart yet it only went gold (and its chart stay was brief as well)and none of his excellent singles made a splash at radio. Sad considering "Everytime I Think About Her" and "The Chosen One" were both fine songs, among Jaheim's most soulful. This time around, Jaheim lands at Atlantic and the difference is noticeable. Sure, Jaheim sounds as refined yet soulful at the same time, but the production doesn't feel as bombastic or bright as it did on last year's GHETTO CLASSICS. It's not a bad thing, but despite this album being as consistent as any Jaheim album, it at times feels too safe and reserved. Vocally Jaheim is refined and never overdoes melisma, but you sometimes wish Jaheim would give just a bit more.
The material is overall fine, but a bit safe. The opening "Voice of R&B" has a nice vintage soul feel to it with the horns and 1970s feeling production. Jaheim still possesses his street-savvy persona here despite the soulful underlying production. On "Hush", Jaheim gets his R. Kelly on (literally), though it isn't a complete successin my eyes. Sure, Ja pulls it off pretty good, but I think Jaheim is better suited with soul-samples and vintage production work - nothing against Kells. It's not bad though, just different. "Have You Ever" and "Lonely" start to really heat things up while "Life of a Thug" truly brings the heat with its wah-wah clavinets, strings, and synthesized horn production.
"You Just Don't Get It" isn't bad, though the highlights that follow are incredible. "She Ain't You" is absolutely beautiful and is my personal favorite. "Never" is a bit subtle, but maybe it is the subtlety that makes it so great. Jaheim vocal control is phenomenal here. "I've Changed" features an as of late ubiquitous Keyshia Cole and proves to be solid as does "What You Think of That". "Make A Wish" and "Back Together Again" are solid as well, if not as exceptional as the aforementioned best ("Have You Ever", "Life of a Thug", "She Ain't You", "Never", and "You've Changed".
Overall, THE MAKINGS OF A MAN is Ja's fourth consistent effort. Again, the material is good but safe in a couple of cases. This isn't a bland effort, but it is even less ornate than GHETTO CLASSICS and there is no "Could It Be" this time around. With that said, there are enough solid numbers to make this album overall enjoyable. 4 stars Ja.
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by Jaheim 
