This was felt even more so when he brought out his guitar for an acoustic version of his song 'Must be nice' and an excellent cover of Michael Jackson's hit 'Human Nature'. Moreover, his incredible live band had a way of making him seem like he was on stage alone. His personal life experiences on songs such as 'Boomerang' and 'Cry', combined with a genuine spirit and raw tone make for a great live show. Every soulful note and lyric can be heard by you, and only you, in a room filled with people. Lyfe Jennings' flavourful and stirring performance has a way of making you feel like you are chilling in your room with headphones on. Despite having seen him in a medium sized venue with a great turnout, the atmosphere was very intimate and mellow.
Like the title of his 2nd studio album 'The Phoenix', Lyfe Jennings has burst back onto the scene and if his latest live shows are anything to go by he is still in a league of his own. Lyfe Jennings was the new guy on the block bringing an old school sound and vibe into the new school. I was an instant fan and began to follow his career as he collaborated with artists such as Alicia Keys. Asides from the inspiring lyrics and message of the song, I vividly recall his superb husky 'Motown'-like voice contrasting with his modern street hip-hop image. I remember as a teenager back in 2006 hearing and seeing the video for his single 'S.E.X, a cautionary R&B tale warning youngsters about the consequences of sexual related peer pressure. The first word that popped into my head when I jumped onto my laptop to write this review about American Soul singer, Lyfe Jennings. Following another stint in prison, Lyfe jennings returned in 2013 with "Lucid," released on the Mass Appeal label.
Moving to Warner Bros., Lyfe Jennings released his fourth album, "I Still Believe" in 2010, with guest appearances by Bryan-Michael Cox, Bobby Valentino, Ludacris and Jazmine Sullivan. This was followed by "Lyfe Change" in 2008, which played host to a number of new collaborations with various producers. This record was followed by "The Phoenix" in 2006, which looked more towards Hip-Hop for influence, featuring guest appearances from Three 6 Mafia and Young Buck.
Columbia Records went on to secure the deal, releasing his debut album, "Lyfe 268-192" (his inmate number), in August 2004. Producers and record labels were eager to make contact with Jennings, persuading him to move to New York City, US to attempt his hand at a music career and major-label recording contract. Lyfe claims he went on to sell over 1,000 copies of his demo CD during his time performing at the Apollo, leading to significant hype around the artist. After an audience response that was initially negative, due to his appearance walking on stage with an acoustic guitar, the crowd were quickly swayed by his gritty, textured voice, often singing in falsetto alongside his heartfelt songwriting. Upon his release in 2002, he recorded a four-song demo and began to perform live, appearing at the famous Apollo nightclub. Being in jail led to Jennings to develop a very introspective and deeply conscious sound, reflecting upon the hardship he endured and the lessons learnt. His time spent in jail helped to change his life around, developing a deep passion for music, finding solace in the honest and emotive sound of Erykah Badu, which would be reflected in Jennings' own musical style. Having lost his father at a young age, Jennings' childhood was marred by hardship, receiving a ten-year prison sentence for arson at the young age of 14.
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