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Lumidee - Unexpected
- Rapper/singer Lumidee’s sophomore album, Unexpected, lives up to its title. This Spanish Harlem artist’s debut single, “Never Leave You (Uh Oooh, Uh Ooh),” from her 2003 album, Almost Famous, reached number three on the Billboard Hot 100 list. Unexpected was slated to be released only overseas, but commotion from U.S. labels expedited its release in the states. This Latina’s mixture of sultry crooning and get to it rapping makes for a combination that is sure to be a show stopper.
“So Cool...Hollywood” has keyboard work from Sedeck Jean, Jarred Elioseff, Logic and J. Mizzle and kickin’ percussion play from Pablo O. Bilbraup. The intro also has wind like sounds that add to the build up. Lumidee then goes into high gear as she proclaims that she sees through her man who rendered himself as something he wasn’t. Lumidee contends that she discovered out his real motives, with lines like, "So you thought you could own me. Tried to control me, almost let you mold me, but found out you was phony.” Her sweet yet persuasive tone enables the message to get across, along with a danceable beat. It is the song for women who want to let their man know they won’t be played for a fool.
On “In It For The Money,” Snoop Dogg lends his unrivaled rhyming skills throughout, most notably on the intro where he states, “Let me get this money together real quick…Big snoop d o double g with my homegirl Lumidee. We in it for the money. I wake up every mornin’…Money is like a drug, it’s the root of all evil my people tell me what it does.” Lumidee then enters seamlessly with her smooth and driven lyrics such as, “Been in the hood…Man, listen look I came in the game with the same dudes now heard my name. But it nothin’ to a girl like me, love me or hate me but I’m gonna still do me…I’m only in it for the money, this whole industry is funny, it got me turning off the radio don’t watch no videos I can’t rid of it yo.” In between Lumidee’s affirmation as to why she is in the business, there is slight percussion work from Bilbraup, along with guitar play from Rich Keller, Sean Harkness, Keith “Lil Wonda” Duplessis, John Lardiari, Mintman and Samuel Jusino Jr. A techno sound is achieved through the keyboard work of Jean, Elioseff, Logic and Mizzle.
“She’s Like The Wind” was the first single off the album to crack the Top 100 chart. Tony Sunshine, a member of Terror Squad, lends Lumidee a hand on this unique remake of the Patrick Swayze smash. Lumidee begins the song with a disclosure, but does it in an unmistakably sultry voice that will make male listeners take notice, with lines like, “Listen baby I been around I betcha you like how I wear my crown…We could be tough why would you doubt it.” Sunshine then enters the mix with his smooth rendition of Swayze’s hit, with lines such as, “She’s like the wind, through my tree. She rides the night next to me, like you won’t believe.” Sunshine’s spin on these memorable lyrics gives the song a different vibe and brings this classic to a new flock of fans.
Lumidee’s Unexpected has guest artists that give each track their own flavor. But Lumidee holds her own with her sensual tone and rhythm. Her brand of songbird and rapper extraordinaire makes Unexpected one album people might find as an unforeseen favorite.
Reviewer: Sari N. Kent
new
Reviewer's Rating: 9.5
Reader's Rating: 10.00
Reader's Votes: 1
Added: 21-Apr-2007
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