Search - Brooke Valentine :: Chain Letter

Akasha A. (GirlieGirl) from GLEN ALLAN, MS
Reviewed on 3/8/2007...

Brooke's Debut album entitled Chain letter with super hits like Girl Fight and as long as you come home. It also Features soft hits like dying of a broken heart and American girl, and some revengel ones like I want you dead and blah blah blah. Brooke shows she is worthy of superstardom on this one.

2-1/2 stars -- The return of the hardcore R&B songstress

Anthony Rupert | Milwaukee, WI | 07/12/2005

(2 out of 5 stars)

"19-year-old Brooke Valentine is one of the newest members to the R&B game. Since I don't get to watch videos as much as I used to, I didn't really know who she was until I saw that her album, Chain Letter, debuted at an impressive #14 on the Billboard 200. Not long after that I heard her song "Girlfight", which isn't the greatest song in the world (especially with Big Boi's mailed-in verse), but love it or hate it, you have to admit that it's rather unique.



The thing is, though, if you don't like that song, you're probably not going to like the rest of the album. Because several of the songs use that you-don't-want-none-of-this style, like "Whatcha Lookin At" and "Ghetto Supastarz" (by the way, the small skit depicting a tryin'-to-be-cool-but-isn't girl at the end of that song isn't funny). With songs like these, it almost makes you wonder if Brooke is still in high school.



It's not much better when she changes the subject matter. Some of the songs are too creative for their own good. "American Girl" takes a lot of television show references and turns itself into a completely incomprehensible song, and "Blah Blah Blah" (featuring the late Dirt McGirt) is full of just that. "Long As You Come Home" has Brooke saying that she doesn't care if her man sleeps around or doesn't love her as long as he comes home to her, and I don't know how many other women will be able to relate to that. And as soon as I heard "I Want You Dead", I was like, "Who the F wrote this?"



I really didn't know how to rate this album. I was thinking about giving it a 2 because more than half of the songs are questionable, including failed party joints like "Taste of Dis" and "Playa" (I mean, come on; even Jermaine Dupri outshines her in that song). But then I wanted to rate it a 3 because despite all that, Brooke does have a nice voice (see the impressive ballads "Cover Girl" and "Laugh Til I Cry"). So it looks like I'm playing it neutral by rating it 2-1/2. Basically, this is another one of those albums that seems tailor-made for 106 & Park, so if you're not from that generation, then you probably won't want to be the one to catch this chain letter.



Anthony Rupert"

Refreshing!!!

Miss Sonya | Boston, MA | 03/20/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Chain Letter, an album that emcompasses a quirky Outkast flavor, is an ecclectic record that is too long overdue. Brooke takes it to the streets with Girl Fight, gets so emotional with the euphonic Cover Girl, empowers the broken-hearted with I Want Him Dead, while Taste of Dis has the Missy Touch all over it, Long As You Come Home simply says loving you ain't wrong, and Laugh Til I Cry will choke you up! Packed with beats to make you bounce and harmony that touches your soul, Brooke's edgy voice, style and range shows her versatility. Don't pass it on, COP YOUR OWN! You will not be disappointed. Chain Letter is a bona fide hit in the leagues of CeCe Peniston, Jody Watley, and Crystal Waters. It's reminiscent of Aaliyah!

"