Horace Brown - Horace Brown (1996)

Horace Brown's self-titled debut is an impressive collection of contemporary R&B. With the help of Jedci's Devante and Motown's new president Andre Harrell, Brown constructed a seamless fusion of soul, R&B, and hip-hop. Several star producers and songwriters -- including Sean "Puffy" Combs -- came up with the material for the album and, for the most part, their contributions are first-rate. The sound of the album is smooth and seductive and is nearly as impressive as Brown's honeyed voice. However, the material on the record isn't always up to par -- several of the songs fail to make any impression whatsoever. Although the album is fairly inconsistent, its best material is as good as any other urban soul from the mid-'90s.