Watch the Video or download the full Concrete Rose album here!

One of R&B's youngest superstars, Ashanti has always seemed out of place on her record label, as derivative of R&B as the Inc is.  Among Ja Rule, CMC, Cadillac Tah, and Blackchild, Ashanti seemed to be the sore thumb poking out.  Yet Concrete Rose is her third release on the label, as she tries to single-handedly hold the label on her slender, girly shoulders.  And, music quality-wise, they were nowhere near strong enough to carry them.  However, in modern day R&B, it's all about the technology.

Ashanti has a built-in problem with all of her albums: her singing skills are not even American Idol-level, much less that of an international pop superstar.  Yet, thanks to the beautiful technology record labels now possess, she has been able to glide by on charisma, sex appeal, and production.  So for Concrete Rose, the Inc decided to put any out-standing beef aside and rehire the eccentic, former in-house producer 7 Aurelius to help on the boards.  He ceases to dissapoint, as he gives Ashanti the track of a lifetime on the pounding, breathtaking single "Only U".  The filtered eletric guitar sounds as if it's duetting with the whispery voice of the Inc diva on this gem.  7 also puts in his work on the excellent b allad "Don't Leave Me Alone", where he even contributes his own vocals to Shanti's many-times-told tale of broken love.  She also works well with her production on tracks like her duet with label mate Lloyd, "Take Me Tonight", a sure-fire follow-up single.  It all comes together best on the finale, "Freedom", though; her lyrics have never been nearly as poignant as they sound here.  Unfortunately, there are just as many dissapointments as there are pleasant suprises.  "Still Down" is a lackluster collaboration with the Southern MC T.I., where Tip phones in a verse he shoul have left in the rhyme books.  The boring, soundalike songs that incessantly-say-baby category as a few contestants, with "So Hot", "Every Lil' Thing", and "U".  Yet the album hits the lowest of all lows on "Love Again", with the line "Cause once you put your hands in certain places/ Boy, I can't help but make those silly faces/ Cause what you're doin to me, it should be a sin".  Lines like that are nothing but sinful to have ever put to record.  This album can be summed up easily: Concrete Rose suffers when it's production suffers.

After two less-than-stellar album, this is undoubtedly her best album, as it incorporates some new and fresh ideas, something the Inc isn't exactly known for.  However, in R&B, the most cookie-cutter genre of music,  "some new and fresh ideas" aren't enough to be great.  For now, Ashanti will have to settle for average, but this album shows potential for the superstar to become pop's newest stud.

iPod Worthy:  "Only U", "Take Me Tonight", "Freedom", "Don't Leave Me Alone"

Skip 'Em:  "Still Down", "Love Again", "U", "So Hot"

Overall:  3 Out of Six Shots

Watch the Video or download the full Concrete Rose album here!