Contribution - Mica Paris

Mica Paris progressed considerably with her second album, Contribution, obviously benefitting from stronger production and better material overall. While hip-hop and house elements assert themselves more, Paris' vocals were still in a traditional R&B vein. This neo-soul approach -- hip, up-to-date production combined with down-home, earthy soul singing -- almost put Paris on an artistic level with fellow British neo-soul divas Lisa Stansfield and Caron Wheeler. Paris' singing is generally more confident and assured than before, and she soars on everything from the imaginative "South of the River" to a haunting Prince song ("If I Love U 2 Nite") to an unapologetically sentimental remake of Smokey Robinson & the Miracles' "More Love." Like "Where Is the Love" from So Good, this '60s Motown classic tests what Paris is truly made of -- and makes it clear that she's striving for depth and substance, not superficiality. Rapper Rakim of Erik B. & Rakim is featured on the title song, and the driving "Just to Be with You" was produced by Mantronik (one of rap's unsung heroes). Ironically, higher quality didn't mean higher sales for Paris -- Contribution didn't do as well as So Good. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide