Luckett aims to fulfill solo destiny with “Letoya”

From just being known as a former member of the GRAMMY award winning groupDestiny’s Child to becoming a “Destiny’s orphan,” Letoya Luckett decides topack her bags, move out and deliver her self-titled debut album “LeToya.”

With production from mega-super producers Scott Storch, Tha Corna Boyz,Just Blaze and Jazze Pha, Letoya brews up a music stew that no r &b orhip-hip lover can refuse.

The set opens with the 56-second chopped and screwed Intro co-written byLeToya’s brother, Gavin.

“I’ve been patiently waiting for my time/Now I’m ready to go/Welcome to myworld.” This opens listeners ears for what is to come on her musicaljourney.

“U Got What I Need,” starts the album off on a high note. The Just Blazeproduced track creates a soulful sound reminiscent of an old school 1960srecord your parents used to spin at the family cookout

“Some may say that I’m crazy for loving you/ But they don’t understandwhat I do/It ain’t gonna change how I feel/ Cause I’m not gonna ride for noone else but you.”

The album’s lead single, “Torn” samples the Stylistics’ hit, “You AreEverything,” but adds a modern twist for today’s audience. The songcontinues to heat up the summer on urban and pop radio. “You got me torn inbetween the two/ Cause I really wanna be with you/ Everyone is telling me Ishould leave you alone.”

An album highlight is the Indian-infused song, “All Eyes on Me” featuringPaul Wall. The sexy, up-beat track gives listeners a taste of what herhometown, Houston, has to offer, which is also potent in the song “GangstaGrillz” featuring Mike Jones and Killa Kyleon. These songs both have thepotential to be additional hits under LeToya’s belt.

Just when you’re slowing down from all of the dancing to the hot tracks,LeToya slows it down and allows her voice to shine in the heartfelt ballad,”Obvious.” The song tells of a relationship where two people know it’s thebest to break up, although it may be difficult.

“Sometimes we want things that may not be right for us/ When you’re in loveyou seem to look over the obvious/ As bad as I want you to stay /I can’tgoin’ this way.

Another track worth a listen is the sultry “This Song” penned by JermaineDupri and Bryan Michael Cox. The song will definitely cause the lights todim during a candlelight dinner.

Other album must-listens is second single “She Don’t” and Tear Da Club Up.”The only downfall to the 15-track set is the lackluster vocals, which isdisplayed in her hit single, “Torn.”

With an above average debut under her belt, rest assured that LeToya is notjust a one-hit wonder, but a reemerging force in the music industry to bereckoned with.

Grade: B+

Nyerere Davidson is a fourth year public relations student from Milwaukee. He can be reached at nyejournal@hotmail.com