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When the O'Jays-sampling, Common-featuring "X.O.X." was released by Def Jam in 2013, Elijah Blake was a rather new name in R&B. The young man behind that alias, born Sean Fenton and also known as Redd Stylez, had been around for several years, however, as a songwriter and artist. At that moment, his greatest accomplishment was the co-composition of "Climax," a number one R&B hit that earned Usher a Grammy for Best R&B Performance. Blake also had a hand in Marsha Ambrosius' "Cold War," an excellent non-album track that should have been as popular as later Tamar Braxton hit "Love and War." Over two years in the making, Shadows & Diamonds also follows an appearance on Common's Nobody's Smiling, an introductory 2014 EP titled Drift, and additional material written for Trey Songz, Keyshia Cole, and Rihanna, among others. Blake is called upon to pen hits, and is signed to Def Jam, so his solo work here is naturally heavy on the type of blunt, brow-raising, dramatic content heard on high-wattage radio stations. Superficial relationships and intoxication fuel much of it. His girlfriend walks in on him cheating with his ex, then snags her ("The Otherside"). Perhaps said ex had bailed after she was asked to keep her mouth shut and spread her legs ("I Just Wanna..."). Later on, a faltering relationship -- or the condition in which it exists -- is likened to the final battle between good and evil ("Armageddon"). For all its traits that are standard for mid-2010s pop-R&B, Shadows & Diamonds is one of the more promising debuts in its field. Blake can tell a story and isn't above humbling himself, and he's equipped with a voice that can express anguish and delight with small changes in inflection. Another quality that makes this album distinct is an uncommon combination of slightly gritty sonics and reverb heard within many of the tracks. There's more to appreciate here than what's on the surface.
© Andy Kellman /TiVo
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Paul Simon, ComposerLyricist - JIM CARUANA, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jean-Marie Horvat, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Sean Fenton, ComposerLyricist - Tim Bailey, ComposerLyricist - Elijah Blake, MainArtist - Casey Cuayo, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Anthony Charles Williams II, ComposerLyricist - Darrick Baker, ComposerLyricist - Bslade, Producer, Co-Producer, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Beat Traffickers, Producer
℗ 2015 Def Jam Recordings, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc. (ARTium Recordings)
JIM CARUANA, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jean-Marie Horvat, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Sean Fenton, ComposerLyricist - Jazmyn Michel, ComposerLyricist - Elijah Blake, MainArtist - The Order, Producer - Brian Soko, ComposerLyricist - Andre Proctor, ComposerLyricist - Rasool diaz, ComposerLyricist - Casey Cuayo, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Amber Sauer, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Nathalie Prospere, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2015 Def Jam Recordings, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc. (ARTium Recordings)
JIM CARUANA, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jean-Marie Horvat, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Sean Fenton, ComposerLyricist - Elijah Blake, MainArtist - Carlo Montagnese, ComposerLyricist - Casey Cuayo, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Carlo "Illangelo" Montagnese, Producer - Kirby Dockery, ComposerLyricist - Michael Law Thomas, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2015 Def Jam Recordings, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc. (ARTium Recordings)
Lyrica Anderson, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer, ComposerLyricist - JIM CARUANA, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jean-Marie Horvat, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Floyd Bentley, ComposerLyricist - Sean Fenton, ComposerLyricist - Elijah Blake, MainArtist - Djemba Djemba, Producer - Andrew Swanson, ComposerLyricist - Casey Cuayo, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Colby Zinser, Producer, ComposerLyricist - Anthony Charles Williams II, ComposerLyricist - Bslade, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2015 Def Jam Recordings (ARTium Records), a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.
JIM CARUANA, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jean-Marie Horvat, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Dave Lichens, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Sean Fenton, ComposerLyricist - Christopher Umana, ComposerLyricist - Elijah Blake, MainArtist - Casey Cuayo, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Anthony Charles Williams II, ComposerLyricist - Christopher "C4" Umana, Producer
℗ 2015 Def Jam Recordings, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc. (ARTium Recordings)
JIM CARUANA, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jean-Marie Horvat, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Floyd Bentley, ComposerLyricist - Dave Lichens, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer - Sean Fenton, Producer, ComposerLyricist - August Rigo, ComposerLyricist - Elijah Blake, MainArtist - Casey Cuayo, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Deondre Collins, ComposerLyricist - Trakmatik, Producer
℗ 2015 Def Jam Recordings, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc. (ARTium Recordings)
Ernest Wilson, ComposerLyricist - Steve Wyreman, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - No ID, Producer - JIM CARUANA, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - James Poyser, Producer, Co-Producer, ComposerLyricist - Sean Fenton, ComposerLyricist - Elijah Blake, MainArtist - Casey Cuayo, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Michael Law Thomas, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2015 Def Jam Recordings, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc. (ARTium Recordings)
JIM CARUANA, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jean-Marie Horvat, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Sean Fenton, ComposerLyricist - Elijah Blake, MainArtist - Billy Walsh, ComposerLyricist - Carlo Montagnese, ComposerLyricist - Casey Cuayo, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Carlo "Illangelo" Montagnese, Producer
℗ 2015 Def Jam Recordings, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc. (ARTium Recordings)
JIM CARUANA, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jean-Marie Horvat, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Sean Fenton, ComposerLyricist - Roahn Hylton, ComposerLyricist - Elijah Blake, MainArtist - Firstborn, Producer, Additional Producer - Casey Cuayo, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Joshua M. Blaxon, ComposerLyricist - Deondre Collins, ComposerLyricist - Trakmatik, Producer - Ted DIGTL, Producer, Additional Producer
℗ 2015 Def Jam Recordings, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc. (ARTium Recordings)
Happy Perez, Producer - Nathan Perez, ComposerLyricist - JIM CARUANA, Mixer, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Sean Fenton, ComposerLyricist - Elijah Blake, MainArtist - Casey Cuayo, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Seth Perez, ComposerLyricist - Michael Law Thomas, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2015 Def Jam Recordings, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc. (ARTium Recordings)
Steve Wyreman, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - SALAAM REMI, ComposerLyricist - JIM CARUANA, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jean-Marie Horvat, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - SalaamRemi.com, Producer - Sean Fenton, ComposerLyricist - Lyttleton Carter, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Elijah Blake, MainArtist - Casey Cuayo, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Michael Law Thomas, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2015 Def Jam Recordings, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc. (ARTium Recordings)
Ernest Wilson, ComposerLyricist - James Fauntleroy, ComposerLyricist - Steve Wyreman, Guitar, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - No ID, Producer - JIM CARUANA, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jean-Marie Horvat, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - James Poyser, Producer, Co-Producer, ComposerLyricist - Sean Fenton, ComposerLyricist - Eric Bellinger, ComposerLyricist - Elijah Blake, MainArtist - Casey Cuayo, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel
℗ 2015 Def Jam Recordings, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc. (ARTium Recordings)
JIM CARUANA, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Jean-Marie Horvat, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Sean Fenton, ComposerLyricist - Chris Loco, Producer, Keyboards, Programmer, Recording Engineer, AssociatedPerformer, StudioPersonnel - Elijah Blake, MainArtist - Christopher Crowhurst, ComposerLyricist - Casey Cuayo, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Kirby Dockery, ComposerLyricist - Anthony Charles Williams II, ComposerLyricist - Amber Sauer, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Nathalie Prospere, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2015 Def Jam Recordings, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc. (ARTium Recordings)
Happy Perez, Producer - Nathan Perez, ComposerLyricist - Tiyon Mack, ComposerLyricist - JIM CARUANA, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Neal Pogue, Mixer, StudioPersonnel - Sean Fenton, ComposerLyricist - Elijah Blake, MainArtist - Casey Cuayo, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Michael Law Thomas, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Amber Sauer, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer - Nathalie Prospere, Additional Vocals, AssociatedPerformer
℗ 2015 Def Jam Recordings, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc. (ARTium Recordings)
Album review
When the O'Jays-sampling, Common-featuring "X.O.X." was released by Def Jam in 2013, Elijah Blake was a rather new name in R&B. The young man behind that alias, born Sean Fenton and also known as Redd Stylez, had been around for several years, however, as a songwriter and artist. At that moment, his greatest accomplishment was the co-composition of "Climax," a number one R&B hit that earned Usher a Grammy for Best R&B Performance. Blake also had a hand in Marsha Ambrosius' "Cold War," an excellent non-album track that should have been as popular as later Tamar Braxton hit "Love and War." Over two years in the making, Shadows & Diamonds also follows an appearance on Common's Nobody's Smiling, an introductory 2014 EP titled Drift, and additional material written for Trey Songz, Keyshia Cole, and Rihanna, among others. Blake is called upon to pen hits, and is signed to Def Jam, so his solo work here is naturally heavy on the type of blunt, brow-raising, dramatic content heard on high-wattage radio stations. Superficial relationships and intoxication fuel much of it. His girlfriend walks in on him cheating with his ex, then snags her ("The Otherside"). Perhaps said ex had bailed after she was asked to keep her mouth shut and spread her legs ("I Just Wanna..."). Later on, a faltering relationship -- or the condition in which it exists -- is likened to the final battle between good and evil ("Armageddon"). For all its traits that are standard for mid-2010s pop-R&B, Shadows & Diamonds is one of the more promising debuts in its field. Blake can tell a story and isn't above humbling himself, and he's equipped with a voice that can express anguish and delight with small changes in inflection. Another quality that makes this album distinct is an uncommon combination of slightly gritty sonics and reverb heard within many of the tracks. There's more to appreciate here than what's on the surface.
© Andy Kellman /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 14 track(s)
- Total length: 00:56:20
- Main artists: Elijah Blake
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Def Jam Recordings
- Genre: Soul/Funk/R&B R&B
© 2015 Def Jam Recordings, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc. (ARTium Recordings) ℗ 2015 Def Jam Recordings, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc. (ARTium Recordings)
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