It was ten years ago that we were introduced to R&B singer Keke Wyatt, who, at the tender age of eighteen, covered the René & Angela classic “My First Love” with R&B crooner Avant, which helped propel them both to success. But a lot has happened in the last decade, though.
In 2001, Keke released her certified gold debut album, Soul Sista, which was recorded in only two weeks. On Christmas Day 2001, she stabbed her husband and manager Rahmat Morton during a domestic dispute but was acquitted of second degree assault on March 25, 2002. By 2004, Keke had signed with Cash Money Records with plans of releasing an album in May 2005. But the album was shelved, and Keke signed with TVT Records prior to the label going bankrupt February 2008. She joined Shanachie Records last year, and today she’s releasing Who Knew?, the long-awaited follow-up to her debut.
“I’m sure that ya heard the rumors ’bout me. Word on the street is I’m that ‘B,’” Keke opens on the title track, one of the album’s finest with Keke commenting on an unexpected relationship. “Weakest” continues the sentiment only in a smooth, ballad form, and she also delivers a great rendition of Rachelle Ferrell’s “Peace on Earth” with the assistance of an acoustic guitar.
However, the rest of the album generally feels dated and stale, which isn’t completely Keke’s fault. The production team, which includes The Underdogs, L. Young, Dream Team and Troy Oliver, among others, is also at fault for offering up these tracks which sound like rejects from the 1990s albums of songstresses such as Faith Evans, Brandy and Deborah Cox, just to name a few. As long as it’s taken Keke to be in a position to be heard again through no choice of her own, though, you’ve gotta cut her a little slack because her voice still sounds good.
The one attempt at an updated sound (“Getting It”) fails miserably, though, sounding completely out of place on an album that is, for the most part, calm and subdued. While listeners can appreciate the absence of overused samples and overshadowing beats which would hinder Keke’s voice from being heard and distract from the generally smooth ballads, who knew Keke Wyatt would return only with material that sounds like something we heard years ago?
love me some keke wyatt!! that song “who knew” is the shit!! “i’m sure that you heard the rumors bout me…”
i agree when i heard it i said i liked the songs but they sound like the 90′s but that was feel good music so i cant be mad but it not music for this day n age so i doubt it will chart well but i love her voice
Good review J.Dakar. Most of the production does sound reminiscent of the 90′s (stale) but I love that type of production, so I loved the album. “Getting it”, was so garbage. That could have been left off the album.
Totally love her….
Can’t wait…I love her. On my way to get the album as soon as stores open. Im ready to hear some real music.
Just from listening to the clips, I really like where KEKE is going with this album. I disagree with the review of the album, but I understand. It is like the 90′s music in the sense of the songs with actual music, lyrics, substance, verses, hooks, and vamps. Well Done! I don’t think it’s boring at all. These songs are a lot harder to produce than the pre-fab songs we hear now. I do agree with a previous poster though…I don’t know how much radio time she will receive….Shame. Good Music.
i dont agree with this review at all…the 90′s is when music was actually good so i will def be buyin this album..i hate most of the stuff that is put out today so it will be nice to bump something that takes me back to a time when music had substance and artists were successful cuz they were actually TALENTED…the few songs that have leaked i have loved so im buyin…
i personally am glad she didnt jump on the music bandwagon and tryin to sound like something she isnt..
It’s a solid album! Surprisingly, I like “Gettin’ It.” Once you hear it enough, it sticks in your head.
I don’t agree with CL’s review at all.
she is very talented…so if u like real music this cd will work for u still
Girl go sit down and let Bey keep doing her thing! You gone!
i like B but who wants to listen to her all day everyday. this is the type of music i really enjoy listening 2
She looks great and her vocals are serious.
Good for her, hopefully good music is making its way back into the industry.
I am so tired of this drop it, flip it, smack it, pay my bills, put a ring on it, booty music.
After listening to the preview, I have to disagree with CL’s review. It’s a good album with substance and she has a great voice. The “music” today is trash, most of it anyway and what’s not trash, sounds likes this….real music and I think Keke accomplishes a solid sound with this album (besides the track Getting In, I agree this song fails). To be set apart from today’s “music’ I think is actually a compliment. I will be buying Keke’s album because I enjoy good music and music with substance.
Man she’s lost a lot of weight, she looks great!!! I agree the album is dragging a bit, she’s going to need a lot more if she wants to step her foot back in this game…but she may not be doing it for the fame but for the way music used to be…I can dig it!
Co-sign w/ #12!!!!!! Also, I would much rather read a review done by Latifah Muhammad. JMO
She’s hot to me! I’m coppin!!
She looks nice on the pic. *off topic* I haven’t been to this website in a while because I got sick of the pop ups…and guess what? As soon as I click on “continue reading” here comes a Tide pop up…Jeez!
I like who knew but the rest is garbage I wouldn’t pay 5.00 for the album honestly
Whoever mentioned Beyonce please note KeKe could go head to head w Beyonce vocally. Now this new disc I previewed it an wasn’t impressed. Sorry I agree production and songs are not the business at least to me. Hopefully, next time she could work with some better producers.
She is GORGeOUS!!!!!!!!!!
I love Keke and I agree she can totally go toe to toe w/ the best of the but since this is about her I feel we should focus on the fact that she has made a comeback and “Who Knew” is awesome!
BLAHHH
I heard the leak a week or so ago. Aww, shucks, because I kind of agree with the review – kind of. I do love the ‘Peace on Earth” song, it made me cry the first time I listened to it. That’s definitely one of my favorite songs now. I had no idea Rachel Farrell initially wrote and recorded the song. The “Getting It” song was out of place, but it’s a nice jam. “Who Knew” is definitely the jam. Over all, the lyrics were nice to listen to: inspirational, expressed genuine emotion, etc… I appreciate any artist out here who puts out new music that isn’t abrasive to my ears and soul. Thank you Keke Wyatt!
This album for me, salvages the kind of R&B I grew up listening to. I guess you can say the sound is old, but all music is recycled. What’s old is always being made new. It’s not a bad album, at all, I just expected a little more. Maybe I wanted to hear more composed songs with raw instrumentals and runs. Maybe I expected them to experiment more with Keke’s vocal range and ability, especially at this stage in her career.
I’m still going to buy the album to show my support because she’s awesome – her voice is amazing! I hope to see her perform live.
Taking into consideration the type of talent out her now, that is the talent minus all the hype as well as the overall crass nature of most of the material out now, KeKe Wyatt’s album gets 5 stars out of 5.
CAN YOU SAY PHOTOSHOP?!?! When she released that video 2 weeks ago she was MUCH thicker than that…now she looks like a toothpick? she photoshopped the hell out of that picture…I can’t believe no one noticed!
“Getting It”, does sound out of place,and for me, the better song on the album just because of the other songs being so non refreshing. KeKe is a diva. Shanachie and producers/writers, don’t be afraid to use Keke’s range and big voice. She could chart well like the rest of the songbirds with the right songs. I think it’s the record company’s fault. Her voice is still fierce and she looks gorgeous as ever. She has that look and voice that could make her at least a gold selling artist again. So Shanachie, turn ya game all the way up!
She has a remarkable voice and I wish her the best
But I also like tracks 1 and the last one. I was just expecting something more, but she still gets up a thumbs up for her new look. She never lost that extraordinary voice.
Nice lacefront! Near perfect!
Tell me what kind of diet she went on so I can bottle it up and sell it… Wasnt she really big at one time…
Anyway, she is a great singer and I cant wait to her more from her.
????? . . . . Photoshop?
i love her music/voice… and she’s really beautiful! best wishes to keke. glad she’s back.
@ Ms. AtlantaGeogia!!!! Girl Bye! Fawk Beyonce….KeKe will eat Beyonce Alive Vocally. Beyonce is wack as hell compared to KeKe…Geesh i wish everyone would stop riding Beyonce’s Victoria Secret Bra Strapl Its not that serious for her…wach as Concert DVD…I coudn’t even watch all of it because it was putting me to sleep. Go head KeKe….I love you boo!!
Your review is dead on J. DAKAR!!
@Meat, that is her real hair!! lol She is biracial. Why every black girl with long hair have to be wearing a weave or a lacefront!? Geesh
Thanks S. Dot. I just watched that Chris Rock documentary on good hair and, well, you know…it’s hard to tell the real stuff from the real stuff from India.
Nothing wrong with 90′s music. But this album is dry. The songs I heard like “Who Knew” and “Peace on Earth” I liked. All the others are just bad songs. Nothing here to make you groove or anything.
I love Keke Wyatt. The gurl can sing. But this CD is garbage all around. I could have went for some more tracks like “Nothing In This World” and “My First Love”. It seems that Avant has distanced his self from her. But he himself isn’t selling records like crazy either so its kind of funny of him to do so.
She needs a new manager or record label because the CD is just garbage. Sorry Keke.
THIS ALBUM IS GOOD I LISTENED TO IT MORE THAN ONCE AND THATS A GOOD THING MUCH BETTER THAN KERI HILSON’S ALBUM. KEKE WYATT IS VERY TALENTED BUT UNDERRATED AS WELL JUST LIKE TEEDRA MOSES SO LETS SUPPORT KEKE AND BUY THE ALBUM!! ONLY 9.99 SO SUPPORT HER!! FOR THOSE THAT APPRECIATE REAL MUSIC!
Ok so I have a really nerdy comment to post, but that was a really well-written review. A lot of blogs and online magazines get lazy when it comes to reviews and don’t really make it flow, so pat on the back.
About Keke…it’s her first try in awhile, and sometimes it’s hard to get out the gate. With a voice like hers, I’m sure she’ll do better. I do have a problem with her stylist and hair dresser. That weave is a no. She also needs to be coached when giving interviews, because although she does have personality, she seems kind of inarticulate at times, and judging by the way she answers hard questions, she’s smarter than that…
long awaited? please..FLOP!
LOL, good luck though
@ OMG!
CO-SIGN. BEYOUWOLF CAN’T HOLD A CANDLE TO KEKE WYATT VOCALLY. HER STANS NEED TO STFU. IF KEKE WAS A LOW CLASS WANNA BE STRIPPER SHE WOULD BUMP, GRIND, AND POP HER PUZZY ALL OVER THE PLACE WHILE WEARING HOOKER CLOTHES TOO. SHE LET’S HER VOICE SPEAK FOR ITSELF BECAUSE SHE IS A REAL SINGER.
1st everybody’s slamming at the “bubblegum music” NOW people are slammin’ 90s music.
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I’m starting to think that certain types of people just like to have an opposition. If I say mustard is good, you’ll say it’s gross. If I say mustard is gross, you’ll say it’s good! lol
Any1 who says keke is a better singer/ has stronger vocals/ act better on stage than bey once, i have 2 sit up straight n curiously listen.
Thank you #32! Her voice is crazy. She is has always had a gorgeous face, and she’s in great shape now.
i like those earrings she has on that’s all i know
Who cares!!! My boyfriend thinks the same with me. He is eight years older than me, lol. We met online at~ A_g_e_m_i_n_g_l_e.c o m ~a nice and free place for younger women and older men, or older women and younger men, to interact with each other. Maybe you wanna check out or tell your friends.
Thanks J Dakar
at least she doing real r&b. im happy for keke and monica
Were are the political post Daker? There is so much going on in the world and they got you reviewing “Keke”. Lets talk about health care , the trillions in debt, inflation, devaluation of our currency, China, Treasury bonds, fiat currency, Obama’s mistakes, Obama’s wins, the fact that Dem’s may lose the house and the senate if folks don’t get out of this extended euphoria and start knocking on some doors. Come on man, they need to bring the political posts back
Keke Wyatt has a beautiful voice. BUT, you can’t dis the Black community and then expect us to sing your praises. Even though, it’s jacked-up, you need more than talent to be appealing and sell records. Beautiful voice but her controversy outshines her talent and not in a good way.
^^What did KeKe say about the “black community” ?
I will be honest..I do like Ke-Ke Wyatt but this is not the best that I have heard. And to #10, EVERYTHING IS NOT ABOUT BEYONCE!!!!!! There are so many other people in this world besides her.
I’ll just say that this album will not put her on the map. She will quickly seep back into the underground where she’s always been. Has talent, but talent is more than a voice. Sometimes you need creativity and writing skills. When all else fails, you need good beat makers and producers…
I am a Beyonce STAN, but please don’t mention her(#10). This is how wars get started for NO REASON. Anyway, I do agree with the Review. Yes, Ketura has a beautiful voice and it is the kind of voice that fits nicely for instrumentation. So why it isn’t used? And for people who say that the 90s had great music: Nah uh. The 90s is exactly why the industry is in the shape it is in. Pre-recording, lip-synching, over-sampling, and other than a few bands, a lack of commitment to instrumentation. Yeah, let’s go back to that. LOL. And there weren’t that much depth in it. Especially the Contemporary R&B version of the genre. Comtemporary R&B was stuck after Erykah Badu put out Baduizm. Let’s not glorify the 90s.
IMA NEED YA’LL TO CUT OUT THE HATERISM>>>KEKE IS A TALENTED VOCALIST…AND MY IMAGINARY WIFE!!!! SAVE ALL THAT BEYONCE SHIT…THOUGH SHE GOT A MEAN STAGE SHOW…KEKE GOT THEM MELT U DOWN VOCALS….I BELIEVE IN U KEKE AND I HOPE U BELIEVE IN TACO PETE!!!!!!!! “IM GETTIN IT< GETTIN IT>GO DO SOMETHIN ELSE…BUT TAKE YOUR CD WITH U< SO U CAN LEARN HOW TO GET IT TOO)
@ Bottom Line
She was asked by the interviewer (a black man) “as a fair skinned woman do you find that men are more attracted to you, do you get hate from dark skinned women?” To which she replied “all my best friends are black as tar and get just as much play”. She also said dark skinned women hate on light skinned women. Yeah ok.
The interviewer was ignorant to ask an irrelevant question like that instead of getting deeper into her art. And she wasn’t smart for comparing black beauty to tar. Tar conjures up thoughts of cancer, tobacco, unpleasant odors and all around negativity. Had she said ‘black as ebony’ I don’t think people wouldn’t have been so offended. I honestly don’t think she meant any harm. But the fact that she used that choice of word exposed a lot of how she feels inside towards darker skin. Also she has a limited vocabulary and lacks interviewing skills. The lollipop was unbecoming.
She needs to invest in a PR team quick, because at that rate she’s going to have to turn pop and market herself to white girls.
The FIRST mistake that’s made is ALWAYS trying to put our black female singers against each other! It’s their fans that start all the crap.
Keke is a beautiful woman with a HELL of a voice. Lets talk about that!
You can’t please everyone with the material that you put out. I for one am glad she isnt out there shaking and poppin. But hey…If it works for some then get it.
The difference is that this girl can SANG!
Now u are talking about her hair or her weight. Wow!
None of u can take away the fact that she is a awsome talent and if u ever get a chance to hear her sing LIVE its amazing!
But the cd and support a sista!
U dont see white people putting Madonna up against Celine or comparing other white singers! It’s always US in our communities …. Grow up….damn!
@ 24 For real! They photoshop-ed it so much that even the hair looks fake.
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CLEARLY I WOULD RATHER HEAR SOME OF THIS “90S” MUSIC THAT KEKE SO BEAUTIFULLY SINGS RATHER THAN THIS 2009-10 BULLSHIT SWEEPING THE AIRWAVES
HER ALBUM IS THE SHIT!!
I WILL BE COPPING!
AND SHE LOOKS SO BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!
MUCH KUDOS TO HER AND HER PRODUCTION TEAM FOR A MASTERPIECE!!!
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Off topic, but I read kiki auditioned to be one of the original members of Destiny’s Child, any body know if that’s true?
I found a HOTTEST club —–” R i c h m e e t i n g.C o m”—– for black Women and white Men, or black Men and white Women, to interact with each other. Interracial is not a problem here, but a great merit to cherish!