Stronger Everyday * - Jon B. (CD 2004)

You probably remember Jon B as that cool white dude that sang the ballads that made all the girls at your high school swoon. Well, he's back, but he's not what you expect. He's matured, both lyrically and vocally, and it shows on his latest CD, Stronger Everyday. Featuring production by Rocafella mainstay Just Blaze and appearances by Dirt McGirt, Beenie Man, Tupac, and Scarface, Jon B's latest effort is a brilliant mix of club bangers, smooth grooves, thought-provoking lyrics, and soul baring jams.

The hottest joint on the CD has got to be "Everytime" featuring Dirt McGirt. Produced by Just Blaze and lyrically reminiscent of Jon's 2001 hit "Don't Talk", "Everytime" starts off slammin and gets better and better as it goes on. By the time Dirt McGirt is demanding that you "get nasty, get crazy, just jump it off", you're wishing you were in the club and not in your car jammin by yourself.

But Jon B doesn't just stick to booty shaking jams. Known best for his slow jams, Jon takes it there on Multiple, featuring a sample of Toni Braxton's "How Many Ways". If you put this one on, you better be prepared for it to go down!

Jon lets us know why he's been gone so long on the three most heartfelt songs on the album, "Part 2" featuring Tupac, "Stronger Everyday" with Tank, and "Through the Fire" with Scarface. These three detail his marital troubles, the loss of his recording studio in a fire, and his self doubt after losing everything. You feel like you're reading the man's private diaries. These songs are so beautifully produced and emotionally true, they're almost painful to listen to.

Bottom line, Stronger Everyday is everything you want from R&B today. COP THAT!