Free Yourself
From AwardAnnals
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| Artist(s) | Fantasia Barrino |
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| Label | J-Records |
| Honors | |
| Few would accuse Fantasia of a reluctance to abide by the wisdom that what you’ve got, you should flaunt, and the vocal gusto she slathers over her full-length debut gets partial credit for earning—and keeping—your attention. To a greater extent, though, the high-wattage help heaped over the Idol 3 champ and Patti LaBelle-sound-alike makes the disc dazzle. In addition to pitch-ins from Missy Elliott, who produced and co-wrote three tracks and busts out a two-snaps-up rhyme on “Selfish (I Want U 2 Myself),” Jazze Pha duets on the ultra-mod “Don’t Act Right”… | |
Honors
Reviews
Amazon.com
Few would accuse Fantasia of a reluctance to abide by the wisdom that what you’ve got, you should flaunt, and the vocal gusto she slathers over her full-length debut gets partial credit for earning—and keeping—your attention. To a greater extent, though, the high-wattage help heaped over the Idol 3 champ and Patti LaBelle-sound-alike makes the disc dazzle. In addition to pitch-ins from Missy Elliott, who produced and co-wrote three tracks and busts out a two-snaps-up rhyme on “Selfish (I Want U 2 Myself),” Jazze Pha duets on the ultra-mod “Don’t Act Right” and Jermaine Dupri wrote and produced the smolderer “Got Me Waiting.” Surprisingly, though, it’s not those tracks or even the Idol-propelled cover of the Gershwins’ “Summertime” that will stick with listeners most. Instead, first single “Truth Is,” a sweet, old-school R&B lament directed toward a lost love, and “Baby Mama,” a spirited shout-out to hard-working single mothers, snare standout status with their from-the-gut authenticity. Keeping it real is what won Fantasia the hearts of millions on TV, and despite Free Yourself’s likable slickness, it convinces that—hot commodity or no—she’s not about to forget it. —Tammy La Gorce
