Japanese-American hip-hop lifer Lyrics Born may never top Later That Day . . ., his career-defining 2003 album, but he still puts in an honest year's work. Now he's setting his rich-baritoned soul-rap verbosity over Eighties electro funk that recalls Cameo, Rockwell and "Party Train" Gap Band. He comments on fame's "bourgie" temptations in "I've Lost Myself" and prescription addiction in "Pillz" — music-biz sleaze in two skits. Money's on his mind too: nonexistent benefits and pension, a lady who bounced when the economy went south. But in "Something Better," he swears pessimism and cynicism aren't the answer. Corny, sure, but inspiring.

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“He Will Break Your Heart”

A lightly swinging Latin-influenced, almost cha-cha groove and close harmonies decorated Jerry Butler's early soul hit "He Will Break Your Heart," delivering a stately warning that his rival would never love his girl like he did. The melody came to Butler as he was driving on the highway from Atlantic City, New Jersey, to Philadelphia with Curtis Mayfield, and as Butler told Rolling Stone, "I just sang the melody and Curtis put the chords to it." The song's premise, Butler added, "was something that I'd lived ...The lyric was an experience rather than a revelation. Whereas music is usually a revelation."