The pictures on Ashanti's album covers mean something -- not just because she's gorgeous, but because they signal in which musical direction she's heading. On her first album, she was a streamlined, diva-esque spin on Alicia Keys; on her second, she was styled like BeyoncT Knowles, the Destiny's Child leader who had released her solo debut a week before Chapter II. Ashanti is malleable like that. She has a sweet, appealing voice that has no defining characteristics -- she doesn't have the...   [ read more ]

CD $13.25

Poised as the consummate warrior-priest of modern reggae, Sizzla Kalonji makes it a point to be just as militant as he is pious. Proclaiming that "the truth shall chastise all betrayers," he literally speaks in tongues as he channels the spirit of Rastafari into his frantic yet beautiful lyricism. On tracks such as "Courage," "Grow U Locks," and "Attack," Sizzla works the minimalist production of Fattis Burrell into a fevered frenzy. Meanwhile, his more genteel nature is expressed thro...   [ read more ]

CD $15.18

After a year filled with controversy, allegations, and investigations, Murder Inc label head Irv Gotti finished it on Ashanti's Christmas. Ashanti's voice fits sweet holiday music well, and multi-instrumentalist Demi "Doc" McGhee provides the accompaniment in total, seemingly emulating a whole orchestra with what sounds like a lone synthesizer. Ashanti contributes four new compositions with "Christmas Time Again" and "Sharing Christmas" being simple and sweet, although her {&"Hey...   [ read more ]

CD $18.03