Classic.Ghetto.Soul. is the perfect title for Mojoe's debut album. The Texas duo, Easy Lee and Tre, originally released the LP in 2003 on the underground circuit in their home state, but now with Music World, they have re-released an official, re-mastered version for everyone's listening pleasure.
The group's sound has been described as The Roots meet Outkast over dinner with Marvin Gaye at D'Angelo's house, which is a good summation. They skillfully created a unique sound by combining hip-hop, blues and soul. They can really sing and their lyrics and music are good however, it's not spectacular. It sometimes seems as if they are trying too hard to push their throwback funk and soul meets modern day hip-hop and R&B, and it's easy to wonder if the art is truly coming from Mojoe.
That shouldn't be a deterrent, though. The music, provided by a live band, is good. The vibe of the whole album feels like lounging in The House of Blues. The most standout tracks are "A Cool Poem," which is basically a freestyle centered around being "cool," "Gumbo Groove," a grown and sexy, laid-back dance song, "Yesterday," the trumpet-laced ode to reminiscing on good love, and "Sweetwater," a soulful look back at the days of childhood which they described as "sweeter than sweetwater in your milk jug."
Classic.Ghetto.Soul. is a strong introduction to Mojoe and is an indicator for good things to come from them. It wasn't spectacular, but it's definitely good and may have even made someone a good stocking stocking-stuffer this holiday season.
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