B2K Albums (4)
What The Critics Say
With a mix of "street" attitude and squeaky-clean boy-band style, B2K serve up the soundtrack for their film debut on You Got Served. Centered around urban dance competitions, the film's soundtrack features more of the R&B balladry and hip-hop dance tracks that served B2K well on their first two albums. Still reminiscent of Jodeci and Craig David, B2K triumph over their somewhat generic image with songs that mix catchy beats and lyrics with concrete, realistic sentiments. To these ends, "Sprung" is a savvy love song about falling for an older woman in which B2K opine "Baby, it's official/I'm tired of lookin' at you on my window/I peep you when you're coming home from work with your high heels on/Louis Vuitton, girl you got it going on." Similarly involving is the dancefloor-ready "Do That Thing," which finds Lil' Kim and the boys ripping into a funky tango beat and proclaiming "Get a drink and your Mova/After that we gonna get to the (Range) Rovuh." Indeed. Add in Fabolous, Rufus Blaq, M.O.P., and other guest artists who make the most of their time, and You Got Served -- to paraphrase track ten -- certainly "smellz like a party." ~ Matt Collar, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Striking while the iron is hot, B2K were very busy in 2002, and Pandemonium! is the group's fourth album release of the year, following their self-titled debut, a remix collection, and a holiday EP. Their fast rise to the top of the pop heap is attested to by the advance single "Bump, Bump, Bump," which was produced, written, and arranged by R. Kelly and which is co-billed to rapper P. Diddy. The song is typical of the rest of the album, with its slow tempo, contrast of acoustic guitar with percussion, and choral parts. In the hands of their many writers and producers, B2K cover the usual concerns of male hip-hop music: lust ("Bump, Bump, Bump"); undying love ("One Kiss"); apology ("Sleepin'"); and, sung with the greatest feeling, accusations that the woman addressed is only interested in money ("Would You Be Here"). The writers are not shy about making use of the group's increased stature, notably on "Everything," in which one of the singers assures a woman that he still loves her even though he is now a big star, and he really wants to spend time with her, or at least talk to her on his cell phone, in between concerts and video shoots. "Why I Love You" is repeated from B2K's debut release, and an entire track, "Dog," is given over to singer Jhené, whose upcoming album is promoted with an insert in the CD jewel box. ~ William Ruhlmann, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
Epic Records definitely did its homework before unleashing B2K into the pop market. The boy band of clean-cut and suave young black men is everything a marketing department dreams about: attractive teens-becoming-men who make the girls melt with a little bit of a rugged, tough-guy attitude and flashy clothes. Of course, there are also the dance beats that are as much dance-pop as hip-hop; in fact, you might even wager a bet that the many producers and songwriters on this album had been listening to a bit of Craig David and other British 2-step pop stars. Plus, the group members are capable singers as well, which is another bonus. Overall, with the girl-magnet looks, the trendy radio-ready production, and the limitless vocal hooks, Epic Records has all the makings of pop stardom in B2K, including a market-testing hit single in "Uh Huh" that set the stage for the group's debut album. B2K, a self-titled album, gets off to a good start, jumping right into some of its best songs -- "Gots ta Be," "Understanding," and "Why I Love You" -- before unleashing the album highlight, the aforementioned "Uh Huh." From there, the album gets progressively long-winded, running through 17 songs in total, none of them overly distinct. Of course, that's the nature of pop albums, particularly boy band albums, and B2K definitely follows in the grand tradition of its predecessors: Jagged Edge, Dru Hill, Blackstreet, and Bell Biv Devoe. ~ Jason Birchmeier, All Music Guide
