LeToya

Love this Chick And this Project, Ive Had the pleasure Of meeting her on two occasions and she is very nice, Cant wait For her new Project 2009

This is a good album of danceable tracks from the "H-Town". LeToya has a sweet high pitched voice that sounds great over the heavy club beats. It is a bit ghetto but not in a bad way. She has a lot of rappers as guest stars so if you don't like that, beware. Overall, it is a solid buy if you like this type of music. It is not grammy material, but who cares.

This is a great CD! She has a very lovely and passionate voice. She does not overstrain her voice and sing too loud. I don't know why some R and B artist think that their voice is not good if they are not super loud and over straining to the point where their voice cracks. Just because something is loud does not mean it sounds good. Like I said again she sings great none of that over the top drama. Her voice is soothing and moving. Real talent does not need gimmicks. She sings with soul and her CD has a good mix of upbeat dance music and ballads to keep everyone happy, no profanity, up to date, and classic R and B. She shows that women of faith can have fun and still be classy!

Hey Fella - nice beat, like the thuggish feel thanks to slim
Torn - nice ballad
Tear Da Club Up (H-Town Version) - does what it says
are great highlights off the album.

I like her voice as its not as annoying as beyonce's!!!

LeToya Luckett may be one of the artists who had the most to prove with her debut album. A former member of Destiny's Child, LeToya had the misfortune of finding out about her dismissal at the same time as the fans: when she saw herself replaced in the video for "Say My Name". Even while she was in the group, LeToya was widely ignored in favour of the showier Beyonce, and, to a lesser extent, Kelly Rowland. As such, her abilities as a singer were quickly called into question when it was announced that she was making a solo debut. Featuring an all-star group of producers, LeToya sets out to prove to the world that she can be a successful singer in her own right, with somewhat mixed results.

The intro sets the tone of the album, with LeToya stating "I've been patiently waiting for my time, now I'm ready to go." Right off the bat, we are reminded that this offering from LeToya has been a long time coming. This is followed by "U Got What I Need", a version of which leaked about a year before the album dropped. Luckily, it was remastered and comes back as a superior incarnation. This song features a rather prominent sample of "Walking In The Rain (With the One I Love)", which actually sounds good, despite being sung in chipmunk-like vocals. I wouldn't call it a classic song, by any stretch, but it is a good start. The ironically titled "So Special" hints at LeToya's vocal capabilities, in the verses at least. However, there is nothing about this track that really stands out. Although it is good as you listen to it, it is quickly forgotten after a few more tracks, and does not really inspire much need to play it again. "Torn" is an interesting take on the overused "You Are Everything" sample. This track truly showcases LeToya at her best. Her vocals are understated, yet strong enough to show that she can sing. The lyrics are simple; yet they suit the track impeccably (especially the bridge).

"What Love Can Do" is a personal favourite. This was another track that leaked long before the album was due, and was remastered for the better. This is another song that showcases LeToya's vocal skill. By now, it is evident that LeToya is not a powerhouse, but she is definitely capable of holding her own. As with the track above, the bridge is one of the best parts of the track (although the second verse is a strong contender as well). "She Don't" was the rather overrated, not to mention overplayed, second single. The biggest problem with this track is that the topic so played out. It discusses seeing an ex, and thinking that his new girlfriend isn't as good as LeToya was. It again shows off LeToya's voice, as a matter of fact, her vocals are quite pretty in this track. It could be a stunning song if it weren't for the overdone nature of the subject matter. "Tear the Club Up" kicks off a series of rather generic club tracks, which probably would have fared better had they been spaced through the album instead of lumped like this. While LeToya handles the song well, it really doesn't go anywhere. It seems more like the obligatory song about partying in the club, but does not fit well with the earlier tracks. I must say though, LeToya's singing of "tear the club up" over chants of "alright" and "do it shawty" sounds very pretty.

"All Eyes On Me" fares somewhat better, probably because the production is a little more interesting. In terms of subject matter, it is easily a continuation or even a carbon copy of the previous track. However, the beat is a little less generic, making it a slightly better listen overall. LeToya's voice does end up partially masked by the beat, although in this case it works to her advantage. "Hey Fella" brings us back to the realm of the generic, although the production is rather interesting. (On closer listen, however, it sounds vaguely like a watered down version of Aaliyah's "We Need A Resolution"). This is another track that sounds fine, but doesn't really go anywhere. The result is a decent cut that is good enough to listen to, but doesn't really have much repeat factor. It is rather repetitive, and the lyrics are on the weak side. "Gangsta Grillz" is a fan favourite, and was commonly viewed (by fans at least) as single material. I have never really seen the appeal of this song. It sounds fine, but it also sounds like much of the material that was on the radio at the time. This is another track that had potential, but settles for being merely average.

"Obvious" is another fan favourite, although personally it seems like more of a grower. At the time the album was released, it seemed to many that Bryan-Michael Cox could do no wrong, which may explain much of the songs appeal. That's not to say that it isn't a great song though, as it definitely is. This is the kind of song that you need to pay attention to the lyrics to really appreciate; otherwise it tends to fade into the background. As a whole, however, it easily remains an album highlight due to the vocals and lyrics. "I'm Good" is a rather disposable addition to the album. As with several of the offerings here, it is good while you listen to it, but is otherwise unmemorable. "This Song" was another grower, but is another cut which showcases LeToya's vocals. As with songs like "Obvious" and "Torn", the track gives another strong indication that LeToya is at her best with slower tracks. The laid-back vibe allows LeToya's voice to shine as she sings about writing a song specifically for making love with her man. The outro is the fairly typical "Thank God for this opportunity" type. The kind of thing we've heard many times before, but a nice touch. The album ends with a remix to "Torn", although other than the addition of a couple of rappers, the song sounds pretty much the same.

Overall Mark: 3.5/5

This is one of those odd albums that really could have been amazing, had the artist stuck more to her strengths than attempting to please everyone with obligatory, rapper-laden upbeat tracks. In particular, the five or so tracks in the middle (from "Tear the Club Up" to "Gangsta Grillz") sound like typical filler rather than adding much of anything to the album as a whole. None of the rappers are really remarkable, and honestly, I can never be bothered to check which rapper is on each track, which goes to show how minute of a contribution they realistically make. Ballads and mid-tempos are truly where LeToya shines, as it gives her the opportunity to show that she really can sing. Apart from that, those songs give a hint at substance, which make the songs considerably less generic. There is definite potential here, and if LeToya plays her cards right, she could have a truly incredible album next time around.

...a ONE-HIT WONDER.

Really.

She is.

I promise!

I like her enough but I heard her CD and was thinking that 2-3 songs were hot. 2 I remembered; Torn and She Don't, to a lesser degree and extent.

The rest was tired ballads and watered-down club jammers for the club, that tried hard and succeeded sometimes in drowning out the vocals in the forefront.

Cover Art: B+
Inside Art: ?
Songwriting: D
Vocals: C-
Vocal Emotion: F+
Vocal Acrobatics: D
Production: B
Length: C-
Price: D-

4 stars.

Overall: B-

...a ONE-HIT WONDER.

Really.

She is.

I promise!

I like her enough but I heard her CD and was thinking that 2-3 songs were hot. 2 I remembered; Torn and She Don't, to a lesser degree and extent.

The rest was tired ballads and watered-down club jammers for the club, that tried hard and succeeded sometimes in drowning out the vocals in the forefront.

Cover Art: B+
Inside Art: ?
Songwriting: D
Vocals: C-
Vocal Emotion: F+
Vocal Acrobatics: D
Production: B
Length: C-

4 stars.

Overall: B-

I was browsing bet.com and read there that she had the single. I watched the video and immediately fell in love with the song. I actually loved it so much that I purchased it on itunes. Now I have it on CD to play in my car, on my PC to play at home and on my mp3 player to play when I'm on the go. The song is great. Her voice sounds so good. She definitely was an integral part of the destiny's child sound - she sounds just like them. I'm glad she came out :)

This song really says a lot. I was very shocked for Latoya to come out with a song this strong. I hope people do not try to compare her to Beyonce who is overrated. I think it is time for Latoya to shine and get for under the thumb of Destiny's Child Break Up.

I'm so glad that LeToya is finally coming out with her own music. I love this single even though I think the vocal production could've been a lot better. I was listening to this song on her website long before it hit the airwaves. I've also heard some of her other songs that were leaked onto the internet, and I must say that I'm liking what I'm hearing so far. LeToya is finally doing her thing and I'm so proud of her. One thing that I admire about her is she's driven and ready to take on whatever is coming her way.

Can she sing? Yes, I think she can. She doesn't have the best vocals in the world but she can surely sing in my opinion. One thing that really pisses me off is so many people are comparing her to Beyonce. She's not Beyonce, she's LeToya. I'm sick and tired of people always comparing every young female artist to Beyonce. Everyone is their own person. Don't get me wrong, I like Beyonce and all but, she wasn't the first great DIVA and she surely won't be the last.

Overall, I love this single and I can't wait for more to come. YOU GO GIRL!!!!!!!!!