GHETTO HYMNS (EX)

Personnel includes: Dave Hollister, Darrell Adams, Jazze Pha. T. "Sonnyboy" Turpin, Shanell Brown, Eric Williams, Cliff Lighty (vocals); Bob Robinson (acoustic guitar, Fender Rhodes piano); "Spanky" Williams (guitar, background vocals); Levi Little (guitar); Tim Kelley (Fender Rhodes piano, bass, drum programming). Producers include: Dave Hollister, Erick Sermon, Stevie J., Teddy Bishop, Jazze Pha. Engineers include: Serben Ghenea, Troy Hightower, Tim Smith. On his debut solo album, GHETTO HYMNS, former Blackstreet lead singer Dave Hollister schools listeners in what it means to be a real man. "Babymamadrama" is the clearest example of this is. Hollister recognizes the responsibilities that attend being someone's "baby daddy." But he flips the script on his baby's mother, calling her out on all the drama that she's put him through. On the Stevie J.-produced "My Favorite Girl," Hollister sings to the other woman about a one night stand gone wrong and proclaims to already have a girl that he just isn't going to leave. GHETTO HYMNS offers further proof that Hollister surpasses the average R&B singer in sheer vocal talent. He has already mastered the ballad, but he gives equally noteworthy performances on the mid-tempo joints. The album's production--handled by Jazze Pha, fellow Def Squad affiliate Erick Sermon, and Holister himself--is also memorable. Thanks to their smooth, up-tempo grooves, such songs as "Call On Me" and "Came In The Door Pimpin" (which features Too Short) are a pleasure to hear. Hollister was once a background singer for such artists as Mary J. Blige, and the solid GHETTO HYMNS more than complements his already impressive resume.