Kanye West protg John Legend is quickly becoming the next big thing in R&B, due to the success of his sophomore album, “Get Lifted.” Although audiences are just now sitting up and taking notice of the neo-soul newcomer, he’s already played and sometimes written for people like Jay-Z, Alicia Keys, and Lauryn Hill. He’s also been making his own music as well as playing the piano since he was only five year’s old. Going by the name “Legend” may seem arrogant, but he was actually dubbed that by his fans because of what they thought to be his old fashioned sound, and it’s true that his music does have an old school vibe unlike that of most other hip-hop imitating R&B artists.
The given epithet may put pressure on the singer, born John Stephens, but it appears that he will have no problem living up to his name. “Lifted” is a soulful album that sounds like pure rhythm and blues, despite appearances by hip hop artiststs like Snoop Dogg, violinist Miri Ben Ari, and, of course, Kanye West. His second single, “Ordinary People,” is the simplest and, in my opinion, best track on the album. Comprised entirely of the piano and his voice crooning lyrics of relationship troubles like “We’re right in the thick of love/ At times we get sick of love/ It seems like we argue every day . . . We’re just ordinary people/ we don’t know which way to go/ Cuz we’re ordinary people/ Maybe we should take it slow.”
That song is the reason I bought the CD, but “Get Lifted” is also full of other great tracks like “I Can Change,” “Used To Love You,” (his first single) and, another one of my favorites, “Number One,” a song written in humorous defense of infidelity.
Anyone who likes artists like Alicia Keys (for whom Legend is opening on her “Diary” tour) will probably love the 14 tracks of great R&B that comprise “Get Lifted.