Unpredictable [Content/Copy-Protected CD, Explicit Lyrics]

Greetings to all my fellow amazon users and ecspecially those whom share a love a music and brother foxx. I must say I'm elated and delighted to be able to do this review.

Many of us on here already know Mr.Foxx(a.k.a Eric Bishop)'s history. He was born in Dallas and raised in small Terrell Tx. He was trained on piano by his very loving Grandmother Estelle Talley and too raised by her and his grandfather. He took a liking to the playing of piano and also began singing and thus birthed the man from all of those ingredients we know as Jamie Foxx. He would later leave his loving Grandmother a short time after the death of his Grandfather to accept a scholarship he received for his piano ability. After attending and excelling in college in San Diego he dropped out after his 3rd yr to begin working on comedy and the rest is....... well you know the cliche. Enter In living colour(after being rejected by Keenan at first he later was accepted after doing the Wanda character). After the shows cancellation he went on to do his own t.v. series and star in a host of films from Any given Sunday to his most applauded performance as Ray in Ray Charles earning him an Academy Award. He dropped in July 95(I recall because I'm a july child a widely ignored album entitled peep this. Which was Jamie's first venture into music(his first love). Although the single infatuation did climb the charts the album subsequently didn't and it would be 10 yrs before Mr. Foxx would release another album..........enter UNPREDICTABLE!

I must say being a Tx person we rally behind our own people emphatically. Being that I'm 10 yrs younger than Mr. Foxx I've basically been as many have able to see him blossom from Wanda to Jamie Foxx superstar. With that being said I have the brotha's first album which isn't all bad(get one or a copy if you can). I can say it helped put a smile on the face of a certain lady I'd been interested in who is an avid Foxx fan.

Well in my opinion Unpredictable his latest and second effort is a very strong and smooth effort. Mr. Foxx transitions through the c.d. with ease due to his very matured voice.

I have to say right off that numbers 14 and 15 the last two tracks are nothing short of beautiful. 14 entitled heaven is most assuredly the song for any man who wants to propose or to let the one woman that has his heart know that it's all hers. 15 is a song that is dedicated to his late Grandmother and is nothing short of heartwarming and beautiful. As he said when receiving his Academy Award "I still talk to my Grandmother in my dreams" and you can tell by the fondness in which the song is written.

The title track with Luda #1 is what grabbed all our attention it's flat out catchy and Foxx's smooth vocals only add to the sensation of the beat.

I did enjoy the tracks with #7Kanye and #13Common although in my opinion the kanye featured track isn't one of the strongest and felt as though it could've been a better one but forulate your own opinion.

I really enjoyed the collaboration of Foxx and M.J.B #6 whose album I also purchased. It's a nice track vaguely reminiscent of Cherelle and Alexander O'Neal or a Peaches and Herb type duet an all over feel good song reminding us how love does change.

Tracks #2,4, and 5 are good and the addition of snoop and game isn't as bad on #4 as would seem. The vulgarity on the album could be worse but thankfully it's tasteful for the target crowd I believe Foxx is trying to reach(perhaps ages 25-35) It is an adult album and does say Explicit Content.

My personal favourites though are #3,8,9,10,11,& 12 but not necessarily in that numerical order. I love the addition of the wordssmith flamethrower Twista on # 3 it's very nice and you can tell Foxx is really trying to inspire the object of his desires to leave her man and go with him.

I don't think I can say enough about #8 except S-E-X and the comedic part of Foxx to throw in $39.99 on dvd was genious to show the extent of his obsession.

Get this money #9 is an ode to the strip club. Although this could have been a raunchy song of flesh showing and whore-mongering Foxx keeps it pretty classy.

VIP #10 is in homage to Foxx's star power and status as he bravely boasts about 10 of the ladies catching his eye and how he may show them the time of their lives. He also name drops some of his celebrity high profile pals(male and female).

#11 Do what it do had me smiling beginning to end because this is ear candy for any woman if you're trying to set the mood. It's sensual and as he says in the likeness of Ray Charles "I'm gone make it do what it do baby" and Foxx pulls it off.

#12 Forecass(storm) is my personal favorite right up there with #14 and 15. It's a beautifully written song I believe definitely worth putting on repeat when it comes to bedroom olympics. A nice slow song you can really get your groove on with and too and it's a nice ingredient witht he voice samples or thunderstorms and forcesasters in the backdrop.

I gave Mr. Foxx a four mostly based slightly vulgarity and I felt as though some of the writing could've have been better. Those though are my only arguments. No mistaking his voice has matured and even more peaked where he was on Peep This. Not comparing him though to his first effot but saying that he has grown. I appreciate as a music fan Mr. Foxx actually went in the studio and gave a serious effort. It was good not to hear the comedic or thespian side on the album but rather have it built solely on one of his many gifts this one being that of voice and sound.

I do hope this review has aided anyone not only on the album but on some of the lesser known things on Mr.Foxx. I already anticipate his next album and look forward to seeing him fo years to come on the big screen.

One luv and GOD BLESS to all who read this.

I'm not sure of how many albums Jamie Foxx has produced over the last few years, but clearly this is the most highly publicized of them all. He was on just about every talk-show there was this week like a promotion-machine. I heard half the album on TRL and Oprah alone. Jamie, of course, performed "Unpredictable" live on both shows, which he spices up a little with a different bridge... unfortunately that isn't the one on the album.

Nevertheless, the album's title track "Unpredictable" is a good choice for the first single. It's one of the best songs on this album, with a sample-laced beat that is sure to get you to at least snap your fingers. The lyrics aren't all that great, but Jamie makes up for it with his vocals, and the arrangement here is also pretty well done.

However, each time I listen to "Unpredictable", I wish that the song was longer. First, because it's a fun song. Secondly, because it'll at least stall until the album's second track "Warm Bed" comes on which is anything but unpredictable (Sorry for the cliche). "Warm Bed", along with many other tracks on Foxx's album sound very familiar, which is disappointing because you expect so much after listening to "Unpredictable".

As I listened, while reading the liner notes, I began to wonder how it takes three or four people to pen mediocre songs like "Warm Bed" and "Three Letter Word", and then have Jamie, on his own, produce a jewel like "Heaven".

Maybe that is the problem here. Foxx's album seems so overproduced that it comes out very commonplace, and at times boring. Even the album's guests can't save some of these songs, "With You" featuring Snoop Dogg is one these. What is Snoop even doing in this song? It's evident again as you listen to Timberland-produced "Can I Take You Home". The beat is killer, but it sounds so much like a Jodeci song that I have to turn it off. Don't get me wrong, I loved Jodeci, but what I want here and now is Jamie Foxx.

Occasionally you get Jamie Foxx. His song "Heaven" is a smooth and beautiful ballad which he says was written for his daughter. The lyrics, written by Jamie himself (and only Jamie, Thank God), are absolutely mind-blowing. This is the kind of Jamie that you'd hoped for after hearing "Unpredictable".

A few other songs that work for Jamie are "VIP" which has mellow and soulful sound to it, and "Extravaganza" which features Kanye West. It's clear here that Kanye and Jamie really gel in the studio. The sounnds very original and Jamie is vocally at his best, in my opinion. The lyrics are also quite catchy, clever and comical to me... (I had one too many drinks/ and ended at the Embassy/ with this pretty lil thing). It sounds like the perfect storyline for a one-night stand.

Another song that works on Foxx's "Unpredicatable" is "Wish You Were Here", an ode to his grandmother. The song is so genuine that you might actually be moved to tears. Like "Heaven", it is a slow song with personal subject matter, and I think that is when Foxx is at his best.

I hope on his next album Jamie Foxx includes more of the piano and lyrics of his own. I'll take Jamie with a piano solo and a silky smooth ballad over a raunchy Jodeci-esqe song anyday.

What can I say, Jamie is and always will be talented. I never have let the fact that Jamie, being a great actor/comedian forshadow that he can sing. A lot of people don't take his music seriously because he's an actor and/or comedian....Nah, that sounds more like an excuse to me.

Anyhow, "Unpredictable" is a very ballad heavy album, and that's not a bad thing either. This album has a lot of great songs. Unpredictable is definatly a must buy album!

My favorite tracks in order:

Track 10: VIP 10/10 Great beat, great lyrics/vocals...I just love songs with violins in them.

Track 7: Extravaganza 9/10 Catchy song, great lyrics/vocals with a nice rap peice by Mr. West!

Track 1: Unpredictable 9/10 Great first single. Love this song and Ludacriss rap verse adds.

Track 2: Warm Bed 9/10 Another great song, nice dance feel to it. Party jam.

Track 11: Do What It Do 9/10 Great slow jam, love this beat. great vibe and lyrics to match.