Faith Evans: Faithfully : Music Reviews : Rolling Stone

Album Reviews

Mary J. Blige may sit upon the hip-hop soul throne but fellow P. Diddy protegee Faith Evans has always given her stiff competition for her royal title. With her third disc, the gospel, jazz and hip-hop sprinkled Faithfully, Evans continues to challenge Blige's now drama-free reign. Although Evans debut disc, the R&B classic, Faith, spawned the quiet storm staples "Soon As I Get Home" and "You Used to Love Me," she lost her way to the hit factory on her sophomore disc, Keep the Faith, which was released a year after the murder of her estranged husband, rapper the Notorious B.I.G. With Faithfully, however, the remarried songbird has regained both her composure and her musical direction. The disc's minimalist, old-school soul production style helps push her pulpit-honed, honey-glazed vocals to the fore. Highlights include the pretty (if now slightly dated) J. Lo-penned Diddy tribute, "I Love You," and the OutKast-sampled, organ-accented "Don't Cry." Musically, the disc pays homage to Big Poppa on the sentimental title track and the dance-floor ready "Alone in This World," which sample Biggie's "Juicy" (itself based on Mtume's funk classic "Juicy Fruit") and "Who Shot Ya," respectively. Evans has experienced her share of heartache, but on the bluesy "Brand New Man," she encourages sistas to "keep your head up/you'll find love." From the sound of Faithfully, the regal diva has done just that.

TRACY E. HOPKINS
(November 5, 2001)