• Artist: Keyshia Cole
• Rating:
• Styles: Urban, Contemporary R&B
• Track Picks: "(I Just Want It) To Be Over," "I Changed My Mind," "Love, I Thought You Had My Back"

Review

An advantage Keyshia Cole has over a lot of her young contemporaries is experience. As a foster child growing up in Oakland, she went through a lot of downs, and from the sounds of The Way It Is, her first album, she's had her share of complex relationships. Cole had a hand in the writing of just about every track, and she has a number of major players -- Kanye West, John Legend, Alicia Keys, Ron Fair (Christina Aguilera, Mya), E-Poppi (Missy Elliott, Destiny's Child) -- in her corner. With only a couple exceptions, The Way It Is is about the ugly parts of a romantic relationship, so there's little room left for upbeat material. From the opener, "(I Just Want It) To Be Over," the album seems to be set up like a linear narrative about a crumbling relationship, but it doesn't quite play out that way, with the scenes shuffled out of order. ("Love," one of the positive songs, comes after the song where the punk gets dumped and before the song where he's called out for changing.) None of it's all that profound, but Cole sells it all extremely well, especially on "I Should Have Cheated," where she tires of an accusing and hypocritical lover ("I should go have my fun and do all the things you say I do"). Cole's voice is sweet and ringing, like a wiser version of Lil' Mo who has had to weather a tremendous amount of drama. She could be around for a while. ("Never," her hit song from the Barbershop 2 soundtrack, is included.) [A clean version of the album was also made available.] ~ Andy Kellman, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	iTunes	Composers	Performers	Time
(I Just Want It) To Be Over		K. Cole	Keyshia Cole	(4:01)
I Changed My Mind		K. Cole	Keyshia Cole	(3:18)
Love, I Thought You Had My Back	...	C.J. Johnson, K. Cole	Keyshia Cole	(4:10)
I Should Have Cheated			Keyshia Cole	(5:27)
Guess What?	...	S. Garrett, K. Cole	Jadakiss, Keyshia Cole	(3:45)
Love		K. Cole	Keyshia Cole	(4:15)
You've Changed		K. Cole	Keyshia Cole	(4:16)
We Could Be		K. Cole	Keyshia Cole	(3:11)
Situations	...	A. Parker, K. Cole	Chink Santana, Keyshia Cole	(4:46)
Down and Dirty		K. Cole	Keyshia Cole	(3:51)
Superstar		G.M. Cole, K. Cole	Keyshia Cole	(3:47)
Never		Keyshia Cole	Eve, Keyshia Cole	(4:04)

Credits

Bruce Dukov (Violin), Sid Page (Violin), Charlie Bisharat (Violin), Jacqueline Brand (Violin), Brian Dembow (Viola), Joel Derouin (Violin), Stephen Erdody (Cello), Ron Fair (Organ), Ron Fair (Harmonica), Ron Fair (Percussion), Ron Fair (Producer), Ron Fair (Executive Producer), Ron Fair (Vocal Arrangement), Ron Fair (Horn Arrangements), Ron Fair (String Arrangements), Ron Fair (Mixing), Ron Fair (A&R), Ron Fair (Vocal Producer), Armen Garabedian (Violin), Berj Garabedian (Violin), Julie Gigante (Violin), Endre Granat (Violin), Gary Grant (Horn), Alan Grunfeld (Violin), Clayton Haslop (Violin), Jerry Hey (Horn), Dan Higgins (Flute), Dan Higgins (Horn), David Low (Cello), Rene Mandel (Violin), Robin Olson (Violin), Simon Oswell (Viola), Dave Pensado (Mixing), Joel Peskin (Horn), Katia Popov (Violin), Anatoly Rosinsky (Violin), Josephina Vergara (Violin), Kenneth Yerks (Violin), Gayle Levant (Harp), Marlo Fisher (Viola), Matt Funes (Viola), Suzie Katayama (Cello), Mario de Leon (Violin), Loren Hill (Producer), Kevin Veney (Producer), Jason Clark (Design), Natalie Leggett (Violin), Chapman Baehler (Cover Art), Chapman Baehler (Inlay Photography), Vicki Miskolczy (Viola), Daron Jones (Producer), Nico Carmine Abondolo (Bass), Darrin McCann (Viola), Sara Parkins (Violin), Alan Grunfield (Violin), Ann Mincieli (Engineer), Phillipe Levy (Violin), Kanye West (Producer), Anthony Kilhoffer (Engineer), Roberto Cani (Violin), Michelle Thomas (Label Design), J.D. Andrew (Assistant Engineer), J.D. Andrew (Vocal Engineer), Steve Rodriguez (Guitar (Bass)), Tal Herzberg (Bass), Tal Herzberg (Producer), Tal Herzberg (Engineer), Tal Herzberg (Digital Editing), Tal Herzberg (Vocal Producer), Sarah Thornblade (Violin), Chink Santana (Multi Instruments), Chink Santana (Producer), Jun Ishizeki (Engineer), Jun Ishizeki (Assistant Engineer), Rich Shelton (Producer), David F. Walther (Viola), Songa Lee (Violin), Keyshia Cole (Executive Producer), Keyshia Cole (Vocal Arrangement), Shannon Braxton (Engineer), Ariel Chobaz (Mixing Assistant), Justin Siegel (A&R), Sean Garrett (Producer), Sean Garrett (Vocal Producer), Steve Erody (Cello), Danielle Demmerella (Coordination), Ashley Fox (Label Design), Deb Fenstermacher (Production Coordination)