MUSIC REVIEWS
Trey Songz - I Gotta Make It
David Allun Jones
His clever unauthorized re-interpretations of R. Kelly's "Happy People" (re-named "Ghetto People") and "Trapped In The Closet" as well as Trill Ville’s "Some Cut" and Teairra Mari's "Make A Girl Feel" made Trey Songz a major hit with downloaders over the past year. Now with his promising debut, I Gotta Make It, the 19-year-old talent stands out as yet another strong R&B newcomer with the perfect balance of old school essence and new school hipness.
It's evident that the young Trey has come into the business with his heart set on a long and illustrious career. Unlike most singers his age, he has a strong sense of self, knows how to appeal to crowds both young and old without sounding silly and has borrowed the best bits from his most obvious mentor R. Kelly (down to the silky tenor, warm soulful grooves and awkward mature themes).While the argument can be made that the Pied Piper mimicking takes away from his own validity as an artist, Trey's superior and original writing skills throw that notion to the wolves.
Riding over a seamless mixture of 70's soul samples, bombastic hip hop beats and lush "stepping" arrangements, Trey represents the young male well. He's growing up, discovering love for the first time, raising questions and following his dreams. If he hadn't had a hand in writing all the songs, the album probably wouldn't stand as solid and unique as it does since it's his own unique spin on situations that keeps the disc from falling into the tried and true. The title track is the album's stand out offering as Trey tries to convince his lady to stand by him as he pursues his life long goal of securing a record deal. He almost sounds like he's trying to convince himself to remains focused as well, daydreaming about the superstar life as he struggles to make it" in the real world through his own stubbornness ("A suit with a smile just don't fit me/ Taking the bus for these miles is gonna kill me"). It's a footnote moment in his career and not the only glimpse of surefire talent found throughout the album.
The un-apologetic "From A Woman's Hand" tries to justify a boy's love for his mama while his father's absence leads him to the streets while the straight-faced humor of "Comin' For You" finds him desperately trying to get home to his girl as he deals with an obstacle course of events thrown his way en route. Everything that comes out of his mouth doesn't always fall on the side of the most ear pleasing, but there is a certain charm to his often embarrassing awkwardness. Especially when ogling over the opposite sex ("You be running through my mind all day/ And all I can see is your behind") and making strange declarations of love ("If I could be anywhere in the world/ I would be/ Inside your skirt/ In you girl/ Between your knees") or cherishment ("If I was standing on the block/ I'd keep you in my sock").
With an ambitious persona set firmly in place, Trey needs a little fine-tuning to really become the legend he yearns to be. Continuing to stay true to himself and study greats like Marvin, Stevie, Donny, Otis and The R., Mr. Songz could be joining their ranks in no time flat.
