Love Behind the Melody by Raheem DeVaughn

Raheem DeVaughn is a quintessential artist and orator, a master of figurative language and uniqueness that breathes fresh air into an oversaturated market. The self-proclaimed "R&B hippie, neo-soul rock star" is an old soul, crooning over heavy instrumental tracks that graciously showcase the range of his gritty words and sentimental notions of decades past. In the midst of a barrage of sexually-explicit, raunchy rap and R&B, Raheem stays true to what he calls "music to last a lifetime". Through the entire CD, he puts on a lyrical performance that transcends time as it escorts you from the 60s to the present.

At 32 years old, Raheem is a young man whose expertise at storytelling belies his age. His last job at Tower Records (just a few short years ago) in his hometown of Washington, D.C. provided a musical haven that allowed his creative juices to flow. I had the pleasure of watching Raheem perform in concert in Oakland in March of this year headlining for Jill Scott and in San Francisco in May as the headliner with Chrisette Michele.

Not only is he a passionate performer that makes an indelible connection with his fans, but he gives absolutely everything he has to his audience. His melodic monologues send you through a romantic journey full of beautifully deliberate declarations of love. An eclectic mix of ballads and up-tempo grooves, his sophomore CD is appropriately titled "Love Behind the Melody" as it is superbly moved by unadulterated passion and devotion, and less by the commercialization of pop music.

Although it's a close race, my absolute favorite song on the CD is track number seven. Completely oblivious of present day machismo lyrical standards, Raheem pours his heart out over a Motown-era production full of do wop and dreams on the absolutely sublime "Mo Better". For seven plus minutes he utters words of undeniable passion and commitment over violin strings, light horns, and playful piano notes. Thumping percussions and a bass guitar laced with grit and grime intoxicate the senses as Raheem insists that his lady love makes life better. During spare moments, Raheem takes his time, and releases all of his emotions in song; reminiscient of Jay Z's "Song Cry". The emotion grows with the increasing rise of the instrumental arrangement that sounds more like an old school studio session and nothing like a digitally-enhanced, canned production.

The melody delicately builds, and then slightly above a whisper Raheem softly announces, "Even if I don't have much to my name, and through the ups and downs that come with fame, you pat me on the back and rub away the pain because you're my baby, my darling." The rise and fall of the music and heartfelt words whip you around like a roller coaster, twisting and turning through high emotion, vulnerability, and urgency. Her friendship is priceless, and with her love and support "life ain't so bad at all". She brings him joy with her smile, and by saying that things will work out somehow.

The song chronicles the life of and up and coming musical genius plagued by long hours and even leaner paydays, promising his lady bigger and better things in the near future. By the time he pronounces that "Fairy tales come true", Raheem has you completely captured by his sensitivity and uncanny ability to manipulate words into an experience. When I heard this song for the second time, and completely focused on the words and the feeling that they created in me, it evoked unexplainable tears, weeping for his vulnerability, the raw emotion, and his youthful naiveté.

The third track, aptly titled "Love Drug", uses addictive metaphors to set the stage for the tale of a man stalked by a debilitating disease which leaves him defenseless; unable to shake this addiction-his weakness, his drug of choice is love. Produced by the multi talented Scott Storch, the song takes you back to a time when grown ups sporting bell bottoms and dashikis barricaded themselves in wood-paneled basements with dull, red lights, nursing the high that allowed them to temporarily escape the rigors of daily life. The slow, jazzy melody itself is addictive, stretching itself out over five minutes of easy vocals and pleasing background harmonies. In this tale of an all-consuming, crippling state of adoration the feeling is mutual and surprisingly fulfilling, atypical of the contemporary love ballad.

The feel-good "Friday (Shut the club down)" borrows the musical track from the legendary Temptations' "My Girl". The second ballad on the CD "Customer" offers up anything that the woman of Raheem's dreams desires with all of the simplicity and hopeful urging of a would-be suitor. Although the track closely mimics the instrumental arrangements of some of the other tracks, it doesn't follow Raheem's usual recipe of subtle beginnings, followed by large musical culminations smoothed out by velvet-cloaked sweet nothings and heavy repetition; it's an upbeat party song from beginning to end.

The decadent and luxurious "Desire" is Raheem's first of two sensual tracks on the CD (the other being "Marathon") where he personifies lust and a deep longing for a sexual connection. Sidestepping any confusion he fervently asks, "Desire, where are you when I need you most?" and later, "Please tell me why do you make me beg?" In an unforgettable and all too familiar state of overwhelming afterglow, Raheem declares, "It feels so damn good to be used." For nearly six minutes he begs and pleads for Desire, constantly repeating the word, the name, the feeling of imminent satisfaction from a woman. The play on words and the skillful use of personification are both titillating and incredibly sensual without being uncomfortably graphic or obscene.

"Butterflies" is a heavy guitar driven, 70s inspired happy tale about a girl who unknowingly gives Raheem stomach flutters when he sees her. The whimsical "Try Again" finds Raheem trying to convince his lady to give the relationship another chance. He opens his heart up and out of his mouth comes the words that most men would never utter, words that stand larger than pride and ego. "Empty" is a contemporary, funky track (produced by mega producer Brian Cox) about the emptiness of a man when a relationship has ended; the semi ballad is tempered with lovesick yearnings that would bring any recently separated woman to tears. "Energy" is as close as you're going to get to a speaker rattling, bass bumping creation from the collaboration with Atlanta rapper Big Boi from Outkast. This is yet another truly artistic and sexually themed song that creatively talks about sex without making you feel like you need to take a cold shower.

The other sexually explosive ballad comes from the thoughtful collaboration between Raheem and the female duo Floetry. "Marathon" describes the act of lovemaking as being "a zone, a rhythm, music, a movement, devotion". The jazzy treat is full of innuendo and double entendres, innocently flirting and keeping your attention as the artists seemingly weave in and out of a musical give and take. Floetry floats throughout the song like an exotic butterfly as Raheem's distinctive tenor lays the foundation and dominates the relationship.

Clearly, Raheem is a force to be reckoned with; numerous critics have even compared him to the illustrious Marvin Gaye. As a songwriter, Raheem's ability to use a plethora of literary devices makes his music authentic, based on legitimate elements of writing: theme, tone, imagery, symbolism, similes, metaphors, personification, etc.

No expense was spared on this CD, featuring production from the best in the business and collaborations from label mates as well as fellow industry favorites. Raheem is on the Jive Records label along with superstars like Chris Brown, Usher, Ciara, T-Pain, and Justin Timberlake.

Raheem received a 2008 Grammy nomination for "Woman", and was recently nominated for the 2008 BET Awards for Best Male R&B; although he did not win that award, he was presented with the award for the 1^st Annual BETJ Award. As some might say, Raheem is deep and he keeps it real. From his eccentric style to his avant-garde musical cache, his originality and willingness to step outside of the R&B box has been well received and greatly appreciated. You've been put on notice, so don't sleep on Raheem DeVaughn. While you're at it, go cop his first CD from 2005 "The Love Experience" and pay special attention to "Guess Who Loves You More".