His breakout hit, 'Must Be Nice,' a bittersweet tale of a vicarious romantic, is sweet enough to make married women swoon, yet sad enough to make lonely men cry. Hints of Al Green can be heard in love ballads such as 'I Can't,' while the ghost of Sam Cooke haunts 'Cry.' The melancholy of '26 Years and 17 Days' feels both earned and riveting. Though it would be somewhat inaccurate to call Lyfe 268-192 neo-soul - it's very much pop music - it does convey a reverence for classic soul and gospel music. After being released, the singer immediately began pursuing his music career: he recorded a demo on his second day after release and a month later he was performing before a national audience on the television program Showtime in Harlem (at the Apollo). Lyfe had previously hinted that this album would be the final release of his stories career, so only time will tell on if this is his last.

His third LP of the 2010s, 777 (2019), was promised to be his final statement. Jennings spent his time behind bars wisely, learning to play the piano and even starting up a music program for other inmates. Veteran singer Lyfe Jennings has just released his latest album 777. Since achieving takeoff at Harlems Apollo Theater, Jennings has hit the upper reaches of the R&B/hip-hop chart every two or three years with albums such as Lyfe 268-192 (2004), the gold-certified The Phoenix (2006), and Lyfe Change (2008). After being convicted of an arson charge, Jennings spent much of his early adulthood in prison - in fact, his debut album is named after his inmate number. Tracklist with lyrics of the album TREE OF LYFE 2015 of Lyfe Jennings: I Love You - She Dont Wanna - Hashtag - Were Not The Same - Talkin Bout Love.

It could have been tighter and more approachable, but few debuts hold this much promise.Sure, Lyfe Jennings' tenor isn't perfect - it's rough and somewhat nasal - but it manages to convey a certain emotional resonance that isn't there in more technically proficient singers it's effective, but it's also appropriate considering the singer's back story. A couple tracks refuse to get to the point and too much narration gives sections of the album the repeat listening appeal of an audio book. The metaphor-free track is a stark portrayal of 'this crazy, lazy lady' who is using a baby for revenge, and when Jennings sings about his friends dismissing him as a worrywart, it captures with crystal clarity the isolation that so many experience when confronting a crisis. It's only one side of what is a most definitely a complicated story, but 'Greedy''s tale of being chased by the cops for child support is a chilling can of worms few artists could open so confidently. 'Made Up My Mind,' 'She's Got Kids,' and 'Must Be Nice' all display the kind of Gil Scott-Heron realism meets D'Angelo smokiness and Bilal soul-searching that had Jennings take the amateur title five times at the Apollo, but 'Greedy' is the album's centerpiece. What makes it worth it is Jennings' honest, poignant, and warm writing, empowering at times and occasionally heartbreaking. A couple listens later and you'll get him, but few debuts are this wandering and deep from the get-go. The biggest problem with this smooth, thinking singer's debut is that there's no prologue or 'hey, how ya doing?' Instead, Jennings vividly pours out his troubles with little background, assuming you're down. Quit worrying, because what Lyfe Jennings has to say is worth hearing, well presented for the most part, and you only have to excuse some overeagerness. Opening with an intro and going right into a talky interlude, you just know Lyfe 268-192 is a heavy-with-message, ambitious album that's going to flirt with ponderous disaster.

Lyfe jennings albums and release dates