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Having lost his father at a young age, Jennings' childhood was marred by hardship, receiving a ten-year prison sentence for arson at the young age of 14. His time spent in jail helped to change his life around, developing a deep passion for music, finding solace in the honest and emotive sound of Erykah Badu, which would be reflected in Jennings' own musical style. Being in jail led to Jennings to develop a very introspective and deeply conscious sound, reflecting upon the hardship he endured and the lessons learnt.
Upon his release in 2002, he recorded a four-song demo and began to perform live, appearing at the famous Apollo nightclub. After an audience response that was initially negative, due to his appearance walking on stage with an acoustic guitar, the crowd were quickly swayed by his gritty, textured voice, often singing in falsetto alongside his heartfelt songwriting. Lyfe claims he went on to sell over 1,000 copies of his demo CD during his time performing at the Apollo, leading to significant hype around the artist.
Producers and record labels were eager to make contact with Jennings, persuading him to move to New York City, US to attempt his hand at a music career and major-label recording contract. Columbia Records went on to secure the deal, releasing his debut album, "Lyfe 268-192" (his inmate number), in August 2004.
This record was followed by "The Phoenix" in 2006, which looked more towards Hip-Hop for influence, featuring guest appearances from Three 6 Mafia and Young Buck. This was followed by "Lyfe Change" in 2008, which played host to a number of new collaborations with various producers. Moving to Warner Bros., Lyfe Jennings released his fourth album, "I Still Believe" in 2010, with guest appearances by Bryan-Michael Cox, Bobby Valentino, Ludacris and Jazmine Sullivan. Following another stint in prison, Lyfe jennings returned in 2013 with "Lucid," released on the Mass Appeal label.
Underrated. The first word that popped into my head when I jumped onto my laptop to write this review about American Soul singer, Lyfe Jennings. I remember as a teenager back in 2006 hearing and seeing the video for his single 'S.E.X, a cautionary R&B tale warning youngsters about the consequences of sexual related peer pressure. Asides from the inspiring lyrics and message of the song, I vividly recall his superb husky 'Motown'-like voice contrasting with his modern street hip-hop image. I was an instant fan and began to follow his career as he collaborated with artists such as Alicia Keys. Lyfe Jennings was the new guy on the block bringing an old school sound and vibe into the new school. Al Green with a time machine. Like the title of his 2nd studio album 'The Phoenix', Lyfe Jennings has burst back onto the scene and if his latest live shows are anything to go by he is still in a league of his own. Despite having seen him in a medium sized venue with a great turnout, the atmosphere was very intimate and mellow. Lyfe Jennings' flavourful and stirring performance has a way of making you feel like you are chilling in your room with headphones on. Every soulful note and lyric can be heard by you, and only you, in a room filled with people. His personal life experiences on songs such as 'Boomerang' and 'Cry', combined with a genuine spirit and raw tone make for a great live show. Moreover, his incredible live band had a way of making him seem like he was on stage alone. This was felt even more so when he brought out his guitar for an acoustic version of his song 'Must be nice' and an excellent cover of Michael Jackson's hit 'Human Nature'. Still sporting his laid back style combo of baggy jeans and a baseball cap, Lyfe Jennings delivered a blues performance similar to an old great wearing his sharpest suit and fedora in an underground club in Harlem. He continues to bring the old school sound to new school audience. His latest album 'Ten Years Later' (2014) is timeless and is a must have in any R&B collection. Underrated.... A Lyfe Jennings live show is not to be missed.
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