Raheem DeVaughn - Love Behind The Melody Review

Maryland's Raheem DeVaughn doesn't sound much like a contemporary R&B star: His second LP, Love Behind the Melody is almost devoid of oversexed squeals and strobing synths. Instead, he wraps his tenor around unusually sincere ballads like ''Friday (Shut the Club Down)'' — a riff on the Temptations' ''My Girl'' — and Grammy-nominated teaser single ''Woman.'' Had he been born a few decades earlier, he could have been a major pop sales force. For now, he'll have to settle for making music that transcends today's commercial rules....full text "The R&B Hippie Neo-Soul Rock Star" -- wait, isn't that Cody ChesnuTT? Or is that Van Hunt? Erykah Badu? Regardless, that's what Raheem DeVaughn is calling himself, and it's likely a catch phrase intended to gain some more of the attention the singer deserves. Despite reaching the Top Ten of the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, 2005's The Love Experience didn't crack the Top 40 of the Billboard 200, and none of its excellent singles (including "Guess Who Loves You More" and "You") came near the Top 30 of any chart. By word of mouth and persistent rotation on "grown folks"-type R&B video programs, DeVaughn gradually developed enough of a following -- including vocal admirer Alicia Keys -- to make his follow-up a rather anticipated release....full text I was introduced to Raheem DeVaughn when I heard the song "Guess Who Loves You More". The song sampled the classic Earth, Wind & Fire track "Can't Hide Love" and the song quickly became one of my favorites in the year 2004. I was anticipating the release of Raheem's debut CD but the project kept getting pushed back. I finally heard another track "Believe", which was a nice slow jam and finally in 2005 we were blessed with Raheem DeVaughn debut CD entitled The Love Experience....full text