Don't Be Cruel
Santa Monica, CA : Geffen, 1988.
Format: Music CD
Description: 1 sound disc : digital ; 4 3/4 in.
Don't Be Cruel was to Bobby Brown what Control was to Janet Jackson -- a tougher, more aggressive project that shed his "bubblegum" image altogether and brought him to a new artistic and commercial plateau. With "My Prerogative" and the title song, Brown became a leader of new jack swing -- a forceful, high-tech blend of traditional soul singing and rap/hip-hop that's also associated with Guy and Brown's New Edition colleagues, Bell Biv DeVoe. Brown had been a strong advocate of rap since his days with New Edition, and on Cruel, he did even more rapping than before. But for all the tough-mindedness he exhibited on his new jack hits, the charismatic Bostonian hadn't lost his love of sentimental, old-fashioned R&B romanticism -- and he definitely excels in that area on his hits "Every Little Step," "Roni," and "Rock Wit'cha." Much of Cruel was produced by the ubiquitous production/songwriting duo L.A. Reid and Babyface, who've often been accused (and rightly so) of taking a formulaic, cookie-cutter approach to R&B. But here, their work is never less than inspired. ~ Alex Henderson
Contents:
Cruel people -- Don't be cruel -- My prerogative -- Roni -- Rock wit'cha -- Every little step -- I'll be good to you -- Take it slow -- All day all night -- I really love you girl -- Cruel reprise.
UPC: 076742218522
Availability | |||
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Call Number | Location | Shelf Location | Status |
CD POPULAR R&B Bro | Northeast Indoors | Music CD | In |
Compact disc.
Sound recording.
Sound recording.