Audio CD review:
Craig David - Born to Do It

Craig David - Born to Do It

Band: Craig David Title: Born to Do It Rating: Release Date: 17 July, 2001 Media: Audio CD Tracks: 1: Fill Me In 2: Can't Be Messing 'Round 3: Rendezvous 4: 7 Days 5: Follow Me 6: Key to My Heart 7: Last Night 8: Walking Away 9: Time To Party 10: Booty Man 11: Once In A Lifetime 12: You Know What 13: Rewind

Editoral Review K. After laying down a memorable vocal on Artful Dodger's "Re-Wind," the biggest hit to date of the latest U. -spawned dance craze known as two-step, Craig David's debut record carries lofty expectations. Born out of the R&B/hip-hop and U. K. garage styles of artists like Romanthony, MJ Cole, and Timbaland, with dashes of spastic drum & bass-style rhythms and DJ scratches, two-step is waiting for its first major breakthrough. On his debut full-length, Born to Do It, it's immediately obvious that this breakthrough won't be supplied by David, only because his style isn't really proper two-step at all. His smooth tenor and hip-hop-oriented, verse-chorus-verse song structures are much more in line with the urban soul and new jack swing sound of artists like R. Kelly, Sisqo, and D'Angelo. Still, for an artist who just turned 20, this is an incredibly assured record with a sweet, romantic core that only a cold cynic could deride as youthful naiveté. In addition, while only occasionally hinting at the darker passions of true two-step, the record drips with an advanced rhythmic sense that manifests itself everywhere, from the clever wordplay in the lyrics of songs like "Fill Me In" and "7 Days" to the bells-and-whistles production on the giddy "Time to Party. " For those after a true introduction to two-step, there are better choices (start with MJ Cole's Sincere, the Vital 2Step collection, or just jump a plane to London and go club-hopping), but still enjoy this record for its boyish pleasures, teasing sexuality, and irresistible grooves. --Matthew Cooke .. You can see a complete list of all Craig David discography, or go back to the Craig David tabs