Anyone under the age of 25 will probably be hard pushed to place the name Charlie Wilson, but this former Gap Band singer is something of an R&B legend that mum and dad will clock in a heartbeat. So it’s fair to say becoming relevant to the MTV generation requires both genius and musical botox, something Charlie has gladly submitted to on Charlie, Last Name Wilson.
Guest spots from Twista (So Hot), Justin Timberlake (Floatin’)and Snoop Dogg (You Got Nerve) plus R Kelly as executive producer look smashing on paper, but the better tracks are those that stay faithful to the new jack swing sound he heralded, opening the doors for Keith Sweat, Teddy Riley and Mr Kelly himself.
All in all, it stands as a promising effort, but sometimes these grown-ups really shouldn’t try to get down with the kids - it’s a tad contrived.
Rating: 3/5
Release Date: 30th January 2006
Record Label: SonyBMG
Words by: Matilda Egere-Cooper