Who is an artist name, like John Legend At length, which must be very confident of what he can and what league he wants to play. John Legend, his parents called him John Stevens, has such Sebstbewustsein, and rightly so. Rarely a so competent and mature Nu-Soul-publication as a debut CD was presented. If the budding star in America, a real hype has kindled around him, but even with Alicia Keys, Jay-Z, Slum Village, Lauryn Hill, Janet Jacksen and Britney Spears worked as a keyboard player and backing vocalist. Not enough, the Grammy winner Kanye West, certainly the currently most sought-after R & B and hip hop producer, has John Legend added to his new label "Getting Out Our Dreams" and produced this CD together with Legend. All items are from artist himself wrote, his influences are unmistakable Sam Cooke, Marvin Gaye, Steve Wonder and Curtis Mayfield, all of which he quite naturally is sampling and copied. But as important as these roots are in classic R & B and for the Nu-Soul, the mixture with the R & B Street Sounds of today make the quality of this CD. Here John Legend shines with its smoky, impressive voice, his gospel-tinged harmonies and its very subtle, such as excellent piano playing. This is an extremely strong release of a new, highly talented artist with great plans for the future, the will no doubt enrich and develop the Nu-Soul. Whether it is enough to legend, the future will tell.
