R&B songstress Keke Wyatt is back with a brand new album Who Knew? – and a brand new look. She still remains to have that soul soothing, exhilarating voice she had when first made her debut feature on Avant’s first album, My Thoughts (2000) on the cover of René & Angela classic “My First Love”. I personally first fell in love with Keke Wyatt’s voice when I heard her on another duet with Avant, “Nothing In This World”. Her voice blew me away, she has always been my definition of an R&B artist with a beautiful strong voice.
Her first album Soul Sista was released in 2001, which debuted Certified Gold and went on to place in the Top 5 on the R&B album charts. Even that album did not meet my standards of what I expected from her – I knew that she could deliver more – and her new album Who Knew? definitely compensates for that.
Kicking off with her first single and the album’s title song, after hearing “Who Knew?” and watching the video you’ll probably want to hear more music from her too…..
On another highlight of the album, Keke beautifully blesses and compliments the Rachelle Farrell song “Peace On Earth” with her flawless voice. My overall favourite song is “Weakest”, a smooth slow jam which sets the mood and stays on repeat.
The album has only 10 tracks; it is not quantity but quality – which the album is, in my opinion. This album has an old school swing, a more ’90s theme, which people may either hate or love, but I love. Lyrically she keep’s it sexy and simply which makes it easier to create an imagination with each song.
“Getting It” is the only contemporary, upbeat track on the album which did not suit Keke Wyatt’s voice nor the style of the album, which is predominantly R&B and slow jams. Hopefully this album will put her on the map as I think that she is another under-appreciated artist. Her vocals are still amazing, her image is brand new and I hope to hear a lot more from Keke Wyatt in the near future.
–Diana Ayok
Who Knew? is out now on Shanachie Records