REAL TALK (ED)

Personnel includes: Dave Hollister, R-N-LA. Producers include: Tank, The Rocket, Blink, Bryan Michael Cox, Mike City. Principally recorded at Westlake Audio, Los Angeles, California. Audio Mixers: Manny Marroquin; Dexter Simmons; Jean-Marie Horvat; Kevin KD Davis. Recording information: Larabee West, Los Angeles, CA; Majestic Studios, North Hollywood, CA; Unsung STudios, Sherman Oaks, CA; Westlake Audio, Los Angeles, CA. Photographer: Anthony Mandler. Dave Hollister's REAL TALK opens with "The Big Payback," as the able vocalist smoothly boasts his magnificence over a horn-laden, hip-hop-infused backtrack straight out of the Blackstreet book. While Hollister is an original member of Teddy Riley's new jack swingsters, the song's feel is somewhat misleading, since the Mayfield/Isley-influenced crooner shows off a sound wholly his own, as he did on his first two albums. REAL TALK does not veer from this path; in fact, it stands along with Anthony Hamilton's COMIN' FROM WHERE I'M FROM as one of the strongest neo-soul releases of 2003. Hollister prides himself as an antidote to the large portion of the hip-hop and R&B world that propagates the myth of endless riches; the Chicago native prefers to sing about a subject that's more down to earth--life in the ghetto. "Good Ole Ghetto" captures the feel of the 1970s message songs, featuring earnest lyrics over hooks layered upon more sweet hooks, aptly referencing the classic "Be Thankful for What You've Got." The single "Doo Rag (Never Gonna Change)" soulfully reaffirms his attachment to what's real. Best of all, Hollister shows he can still deliver a Pendergrass-style torch song on the excellent title track.