Ordinary People by johnlegend published on 2011-09-20T01:19:43Z If you've listened to Top 40 radio or flipped through the video channels during the past few years, odds are pretty good you know something about John Legend. He played piano on Lauryn Hill's "Everything Is Everything" and might as well be considered Kanye West's sidekick, having assisted the producer and MC on several sessions — Jay-Z's "Encore" and Slum Village's "Selfish" being two of the more prominent 2004 singles featuring his work. A former choir director, he has also released a handful of energetic live discs, some of which are credited to his less hubristic birth name, John Stephens. And though he claims "I've got something new," you've also heard substantial chunks of Get Lifted in records made decades ago by Sly & the Family Stone, Curtis Mayfield, Quincy Jones, and Bill Withers. This might not be a problem for listeners who crave anything that recalls the music they first heard in their youth, but Legend's over-reliance upon his inspirations is an impediment as much as a slick way to grab attention. That's because he has more than enough talent and charm to get by on his own. His own lyrics and hooks are unique and clever enough to get the point across that he's no everyday R&B artist and, just as importantly, he has a personable and instantly fetching voice you could listen to all day long. However, the association with West — whose Sony-distributed boutique label released the record — is very helpful. Without it, Legend would likely be zoned into neo-soul (2003's Live at SOB's New York City really makes this notion apparent), thereby standing little chance of reaching the ears of anyone younger than 30. The production work supporting his songs strikes a fine balance between soul and hip-hop, allowing him to appeal to those who are coming from either angle. This is a very good record. It's a given that Legend is destined to make at least two others that top it. Genre R&B Comment by Tommy 🔊 2024-04-22T21:02:58Z Comment by KolorMarie 🤎🤎🤎🤎 Still hits the same 2024 2024-04-02T05:57:06Z Comment by Payton Mayers is this app better than spotify? 2024-03-30T21:57:18Z Comment by trinroslyitlocbur 👄💟💘🍓 2024-03-23T19:15:34Z Comment by ColdWorld Neal Reality ... True Words 💪🏾💪🏾 John Legend ❤️ 2023-06-21T22:57:46Z Comment by Snapchat@thebest_smokee2 Lmk🗣️⛽🍁🍫🍄💊🍒💨💦🏈🧢 2023-06-08T10:56:39Z Comment by LIBRAFIGHTERJET So good 2023-03-08T00:46:58Z Comment by heaven 🤎🤎 2022-12-25T02:26:12Z Comment by Shannon Detrick 💚its VeeRY DooPee😍 2022-11-15T01:23:30Z Comment by Sarah Wade ❣Come And Seee Me...💚 2022-09-07T12:53:03Z Comment by denis Santos 😊 2022-07-04T02:48:08Z Comment by Karen Cosby ️its Supeerbly❣ 2022-07-03T13:27:27Z Comment by YRN_Evan John Legend>> 2022-06-18T15:42:07Z Comment by Tracy Knox 🍓so VeeRY DoPe❣ 2022-06-14T04:25:23Z Comment by Adrienne Young 💚woow Amazing!❣ 2022-06-12T12:26:21Z Comment by Laide Daniel Sitoe Feeling music 2022-05-15T16:24:30Z