★ ★ ★ ★ out of 5
Jennifer Lopez, Jenny from the Block, J.Lo...whatever you want to call the Latin diva... has finally unleashed her innovative, eclectic, genre-pushing tenth studio album A.K.A, three years following the release of her heavily pop/dance-influenced comeback. For the new record, however, the "Waiting For Tonight" songstress does not stick to just the sugary confines of pop music, but instead journeys back to her roots with R&B, hip-hop and urban influences thrown into the mix.
Preceded by two singles, "I Luh Ya Papi" and "First Love", both of which have under performed on the charts since their release, the new record seems to be a polished, well conceived collection of tracks that do a great job at painting the complicated picture of Lopez as an entertainer in the music business for the last 15 years. With featured guest appearances from Pitbull, Iggy Azalea, T.I., French Montana and Rick Ross, the album definitely gives the artist her street cred back.
Opening with the title track, "A.K.A" is an interesting mix of urban and EDM influences colliding to produce a hard-hitting number where Lopez declares she is not the same girl fans have come to know. With an impressive rap verse from T.I., the song becomes a smooth yet infectious beginning to the artist's musical reinvention. Title tracks are usually a snooze, but this one does not follow the same unfortunate path as the others.
"First Love", the album's current second single, shows the artist mature on a glorious pop number with welcomed R&B flavor, a genre Lopez singlehandedly crafted herself a decade ago. The track is well-crafted, a soaring effort which highlights the artist's loving vocals and an adorable message of love and happiness. While it has yet to make the impact it needs to, the single stands alone as high-quality, radio-ready release.
Though the artist has always been criticized for her slow ballads in the past, "Never Satisfied" definitely stands out for all the right reasons. "I'm never satisfied, honey my appetite, is keeping me up at night, I'm going crazy for more of your love," Lopez sings on a chorus that makes the song and shows the singer has stepped up her game to prove her harshest critics wrong. It's raw, it's beautiful, it's totally unexpected.
Lead single "I Luh Ya Papi" may have caused a serious problem for the English language upon release, but the song brought Lopez back to the top after the lackluster performance of previous single "Live It Up". The summery pop song was perfect for a day on the beach with added hip-hop layers and a guest appearance from French Montana. The single was a carefree, fun effort where the artist spends most of the time admiring her own physique. I luh ya mami!
Iggy Azalea is blowing up the charts at the moment, so an appearance on "Acting Like That" is not that shocking, especially given her love of Lopez. Instead of an uptempo pop/rap hybrid of a track though, the girls give us a slow, tough hip-hop performance as they put the men in their life back in their place. The pairing provides an unexpected end result as the song uses both of the artists' talents to its cool advantage.
Lopez has had enough, on the verge of falling apart on the Chris Brown-penned "Emotions". The songwriting is honest and powerful, a true highlight, as the artist shows a vulnerable side to her usually spicy exterior. The piano ballad is a strong, haunting cut for the new album, however, there are times when the artist does spread her voice too thin during the four-minute effort. It's a great track, but not without its problems.
Written while dealing with her divorce from Marc Anthony will put "So Good" into perspective for listeners. The track is another personal ballad for the album but this time supported by faster, slightly more upbeat production as she makes it clear to her former lover that she is fine without him. "Baby what you think about life, without me by your side, I bet you wanna get it right," she sings on the solid, story-telling verses.
"Let It Be Me" is another slow jam detailing the positives of a lovestruck relationship following Lopez letting loose about the heartache on the preceding tracks. Supported by acoustic guitars and a Spanish vibe, the artist delivers a romantic number that may be filled with soppy cliches, but that can be forgiven thanks to the beautiful, heartfelt delivery. The song is proof that Lopez does not need a loud, thumping beat to succeed.
The Rick Ross-assisted "Worry No More" shows both artists singing of the finer things in their extravagant life as Lopez gets slightly explicit over a hip-hop beat. Unlike the rest of the track list, there is no real chorus or hook to this track, but the artist makes up for the lack of "catchiness" with a Jenny from the Block powerhouse attitude and swag that she may have lost during the last album cycle.
The standard edition of the album closes with yet another Pitbull collaboration. "Booty" screams to be released as an official summer single as naughty, rump-shaker lyrics and an intriguing Middle Eastern beat surround the feel good party track. "I can guarantee you'll have the time of your life, throw your hands up if you love a big booty," the Latina sings on the infectious earworm that will definitely have everyone dancing before it comes to and end.
For the deluxe edition, Lopez includes four more diverse tracks. "TENS" is a fierce, campy, glamtastic dance track that will definitely be a future cult staple in the gay clubs across the country. The jazz horns supporting "Troubeaux" featuring Nas are the shining aspect of the hip-hop track. Good, just not memorable. The Sia-penned "Expertease (Ready Set Go)" is a slower, highly sensual and seductive offering with a soaring chorus, but definitely not a must-hear. "Same Girl" introduced the album and featured Lopez going back to her urban roots, but was not as attention-grabbing as one would have hoped.
A.K.A is a wonderfully impressive album that is all over the place in terms of inspiration. Lopez does not want to be pigeon-holed as only one type of artist, she's all of them. For fans of her last pop-filled effort, some may be disappointed, but for those who enjoy the classic, iconic J.Lo, there is a lot to love on the new record. From the pure pop aspects of the current singles to the rougher hip-hop moments sprinkled throughout the effort, the artist shows she can do it all, even those pesky slow ballads. The album is a fun, personal, emotional experience that once again showcases an artistic reinvention while providing some radio-friendly beats for good measure.
Tracks to Hear: "A.K.A", "First Love", "Never Satisfied" and "Booty".... "TENS" on the deluxe edition
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