Ghetto Hymns: Deconstructing Jaheim's Blue Collar Soul
Once upon a time, a slew of love men ruled the early 2000s R&B scene. A June 2004 Vibe Magazine article ("Star Search") noted their distinctive attributes: handsome, talented, successful and forgettable. In danger of being swept away in a sea of anonymity, their capsized career highlights read like a epitaph: almost famous and unidentifiable. Destined to "languish in a murky zone of semi-stardom . There were a few glaring exceptions---R. Kelly was crowned "the undisputed king." Usher was hailed as "this year's Michael Jackson." Also on the short list of "bonafide superstars" was New Jersey crooner Jaheim aka "the blue collar lover." As contemporary soul competed with Jadakiss' raspy charisma and Jay-Z's detached cool pose and DMX's grit, Jaheim cut across polarizing lines. Sexy enough for the ladie