Craig David: "22" and beyond.

When you mention the name Craig David, a lot of people only expect to hear those 2step/r&b/pop records from back in the day. But music evolves. We evolve.

I grew up listening to Craig David and his first records are some of my all time favorite records. "Born To Do It", "Slicker Than You Average" and "The Story Goes..." are still on repeat today. I still remember each adlib of every song. I still remember how each song made me feel. These albums were a big game changer in the music industry and they will continue to have a huge impact on people’s lives.

I kept following what he has been doing these past couple of years and he never let me down. He kept releasing big songs and he continued to be one of the best vocalists/songwriters in the game. "GOT IT GOOD", "Heartline", "Ain't Giving Up", "Couldn't Be Mine", "Sink or Swim", "I Know You" are songs I cannot stop listening to. I love how he can go from pop to r&b in such a clever way, and without any effort. Craig David always had that great versatility in his music, which is very rare. He’s GREAT at what he does. He's always been this incredible talent who has been inspiring numerous artists across the globe. But no one can do what Craig David does.

22 has only been out for a few weeks but this album has been playing on repeat for days. Every time I listen to a brand new album, I always take the time to listen to it a couple of times before giving an honest opinion. I was talking about his versatility and this album perfectly reflects what this artist is capable of musically. You hear those big r&b tunes like “G Love”, “What More Could I Ask For?” and “21” and those massive pop bangers like “DNA” and those house/pop bangers like “My Heart’s Been Waiting for You”. A smash.

You also have those guitar tracks: "Gold" and "Maybe". I've always been a fan of his guitar tracks and when I heard “Maybe” for the first time, I immediately thought “this one is going to be one of my favorites for sure”.

And you have that huge r&b ballad, “Yes”. This one is definitely one of my favorites. It is mind-blowing. It reminds me of Brandy and her crazy harmonies from back in the day. Carmen Reece killed it.

But my favorite songs have to be those r&b/pop songs like “Give It All Up”. Timeless.

On 22, Craig David managed to combine all those old school influences with modern sounds. Craig David still has that unique musical signature we all recognize.

22 is fun. It feels nostalgic and refreshing at the same time. I honestly didn’t have any expectation when I first heard it. I ended up loving it. This album has something for everyone. I’m that girl who grew up listening to those classic r&b records and those timeless pop records. 22 combines all the things I love and I’m not mad about it.

Craig David continues to make a difference in the music industry. 22 years later, he’s still that artist who breaks the norm.