Singer-songwriter, Chrisette Michele, is the truth, and I Am is her testimony. The 24 year old Long Island, New York native made her highly touted, professional debut providing her lush vocal styling to Lost One, the second single from Jay-Z’s, most recent, multi-platinum 11th LP, Kingdom Come [2006]. The fiery songbird then went on to appear on three stand-out tracks; the will.i.am helmed, Can’t Forget about You, Still Dreaming, a Kanye West entry, and the inspiring, Hope, from label-mate, Nas’, controversial hit opus, Hip Hop is Dead. Now…it is finally time for Chrissy, as family & friends call her, to shine, only this time she’s doing it all by herself.
On the slinky opening number, Like a Dream, the L.A. Reid {Chairman of Def Jam/Island Records} discovery dreamily fantasizes about a crush after the pair exchange glances briefly. That number is followed by the lovely slow flow of Work It Out, a song that emphasizes to do just that when things in a relationship go awry. Next, Best of Me, the set’s follow-up release to its first offering, the romantic, If I Have My Way, is a groovy mid-tempo jam that finds Chrisette moving on, and finding herself, after a very emotional break-up.
Elsewhere, there’s the sentimental, Your Joy, a tear inducing dedication to her father, Golden, a future wedding staple, is a heartfelt, yet reflective, ode to them ‘olden days when commitment was golden,’ Be Ok is a feel-good ditty that features a rap by, the above mentioned, Black Eyed Peas’ front-man, and, Let’s Rock, which rides an infectious jazzy beat, perfect for family get-togethers or summertime cook-outs in the park.
With a voice that evokes the sounds of legendary icons; Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, and Natalie Cole, and sonic back-drops provided by such luminaries as; Babyface, Salaam Remi, and John Legend, I Am, the musical ingénue’s much heralded outing, is a true & joyous celebration of life, love and (great) music, and is the perfect body of work from one of the recording industry’s biggest & brightest, future, stars.