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The RetrIever Weekly 10.07.08 ARTS 17 Jennifer Hudson: Living under her spotlight When people classify Hudson’s voice, power of her vocals as a climax to the a cameo. Rahne Jones they tend to group her with those with song and it gets the job done successful- One highlight of the album is “I’m STAFF WRITER booming vocals, like Jennifer Holliday. ly. “Spotlight” is currently number three His Only Woman,” a vocal battle of epic Historically, that kind of voice has not on the R&B Billboard charts. Someone proportions between J-Hud (Jennifer’s Four years ago, Jennifer Hudson was had that much appeal apart from leg- did something right. post-Oscar nickname) and fellow Idol unceremoniously booted from American endary songs such as “And I Am Telling While only one song has been re- contestant and winner Fantasia Barrino. Idol in a shocking turn of events, when You.” Holliday’s career, after her stint on leased publicly so far, there are several AMAZING! Missy Elliot and Jazmine the three divas of the season, Fantasia the Broadway version of Dreamgirls, was songs on the album that are worthy of Sullivan, another talented vocalist, co- Barrino, Latoya London, and Jennifer unsuccessful because producers found a chance at radio play. The gentle, “Giv- wrote the song, adding to its greatness. COURTESY ARISTA RECORDS Hudson herself, were voted into the it diffi cult to market her. Arista Records ing Myself,” written and produced by The contrast of their voices is ever pres- for. What we as fans have to remember bottom three. Upon her seventh place executive Clive Davis, who signed Hud- Robin Thicke, displays Hudson’s vulner- ent with the loudness and muscle of is that she is not Effi e White; she is Jen- departure, Hudson stated, “I don’t know son and discovered some of the greatest able side, while still blowing out your Hudson’s and the higher pitched and nifer Hudson, and it is about time we get when or where or how, but God has singers of all time, including Whitney speakers. Rap heavyweight Ludacris is jazzier style of Barrino’s. An Idol reunion to know who she is. something in store for me.” It looks as Houston, did not want her to fall victim featured in the funky and upbeat “Pock- -- awwwww! Hudson describes her voice as “a tree though that prediction was true. to the curse of the power vocals. The etbook” produced by Timbaland, while Hudson began singing in the church, with many branches,” and has tried Two years later, she would become album presents a different side of Hud- T-Pain makes an appearance on the mel- so in true fashion a gospel song, “Jesus in this album to appeal to everyone. the recipient of the highest honor in act- son, one that is a little different but still low “What’s Wrong.” One criticism how- Promised Me a Home Over There,” was However, not everyone is going to con- ing, an Academy Award, for her role as reminiscent of the “dreamgirl” we have ever, would be that T-Pain, while he is placed on the album and has a tradition- nect with the album because its overall Effi e White in the hit fi lm, Dreamgirls. come to love. great, is vocally not needed on the song. al church sound to it, complete with an sound is different from what was heard Her heart-stopping rendition of Jennifer The fi rst single released from the de- His synthesized voice is annoying more organ. And for those Dreamgirls fanatics, in Dreamgirls. She is far more versatile Holliday’s “And I Am Telling You” sealed but album, is "Spotlight," produced by than anything else, and would be better “And I am Telling You” is included and than anyone would ever expect. Bottom her fate as a rising star. From the fi rst famed singer and songwriter, Ne-Yo. in moderation. Hudson could have sung is just as amazing as ever. She almost line, the girl can SANG (you spell it this moment she opened her mouth and au- It has more of a pop feel, rather than a the song by herself and it would have cursed herself a bit by performing it so way for emphasis)! Since we are in col- diences heard and felt the sheer power of hard-core soul sound. Hudson does not been just as good, if not better. With that well in the fi lm and on the album, be- lege and everything receives a grade, Jen- her voice, anticipation of her own album showcase the power in her voice until being said, T-Pain is a force to be reck- cause she will have to sing it until her nifer Hudson gets an A-. Maybe she can resonated throughout the country. We the last minute and a half of the song, oned with in the industry, and it seems very last performance, no matter how add a Grammy to her trophy case. have waited long enough and are fi nally almost serving as a lure to keep people that everything he touches turns to gold, old she is. If she didn’t, she would disap- rewarded for our patience with her self- listening because of our familiarity with so why not? And he produced the song, point her fans, as it has become a sort Comments can be sent to titled debut album Jennifer Hudson. the heaviness of her voice. She uses the which might add to his desire to make of staple for her. It is what she is known [email protected]. Paper Trail imperfect, but still impressive song's original version. That's what T.I. waited anxiously by their computers for track about sex so meaningless that T.I. Charlie Griggs is capable of at his best. So the question the whole album to leak. Then, one day, couldn't even bring himself to make a SENIOR STAFF WRITER that arose was, could he do this on his a little Kanye-produced joint showed good song out of it. upcoming album Paper Trail? up on the Internet called “Swagger Like Despite the few pitfalls, like the Over the summer when I heard news Song after song leaked over the sum- Us.” T.I. was furious that this song had aforementioned “Porn Star,” when the of T.I.'s Paper Trail, I couldn't help but mer, each one supposedly aimed to be leaked and for good reason, too. The album reaches its high points it is fan- be excited. While some people didn't on this album, and the better half of song features Kanye, Jay-Z, and Wayne tastic. “Live Your Life” featuring Rihanna exactly swoon over his last album T.I. them were just garbage. “Kick It In The (in that order) before bringing T.I. in on (who sounds surprisingly good on the vs. T.I.P., I found myself listening to it re- Hotel,” “A Better Day,” and “Life of the the fourth verse, all four rapping over an auto-tuner) and samples the “Numa peatedly, even though some tracks were Party” feature R. Kelly. Each track got M.I.A. sample from “Paper Planes.” Numa Song” (or “Dragostea Din Tei” to less than impressive (“Touchdown” fea- me less and less excited for the album's The sample is a little unusual and our European friends) is one that I can't turing Eminem for example.) However, release date. took me a few listens to get accustomed help playing whenever I'm in the car. there was one song that, by itself, was And then I caught the authentic to, but there's no denying that this song It's upbeat and showcases T.I.'s smooth COURTESY ATLANTIC RECORDS able to keep me on the edge of my seat singles. “No Matter What” was good is just fl at-out good. With arguably the southern fl ow at its best. While T.I.'s albums may never be per- waiting for T.I.'s new effort. but didn't really impress me right away. four best rappers in the game collaborat- But the one track that makes this al- fect, I fi nd myself coming back to Paper Anyone who has heard Lupe's “Su- “Whatever You Like,” on the other hand, ing on one track are produced by one bum worth coming back to again and Trail whenever I'm at a loss of what to perstar” remix knows exactly where I'm was catchy, fun, and has a hilarious mu- the best producers in the game, the hype again is “Slide Show” which is graced by listen to. It's not as good as his 2003 coming from. No matter how good or sic video with a girl at a fast food place was suffi ciently built and the world (my- the phenomenal John Legend. Legend release Trap Muzik but it features some bad his previous album had been, T.I. fantasizing about T.I. sweeping her off self included) was ready for Paper Trail sings over the chorus bringing in the of the best music T.I.'s put out in a long proved himself as one of the leading her feet and spoiling her. As corny as to drop. perfect amount of R&B over some piano time and marks a defi nite step up from forces in hip-hop when he stepped up the line may seem in writing, when T.I. Now that it has, I've got to say I like music that exemplifi es Legend's sound T.I.

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