Search - 4Kast :: Any Weather

Where are they now? (4.5 stars actually)

Zeb91 | Seattle, WA | 03/21/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Female R&B groups always draw comparisons to the same artists: Destiny's Child and TLC. Well this group of four talented singers started at the same time as DC and is on a much different vibe as TLC. Four singers all with voices that could bring the roof down and some really smooth hip hop styled R&B production. After listening to this album I have to ask myself what is it that made DC blow up and keep these girls from making a second album together. Most of the time when I pick up an R&B CD I figure it to be some cookie cutter BS but on here you get some ladies that just want to sing about love and their men. Not the most groundbreaking of topics but they do it with class and the music that back em is great. The four interludes throughout the album hold it back a little bit from flowing perfectly but the two emcees that stop in for guest spots come correct. So once again I ask why did a group with so much potential not make it out the box? They even have one of puff daddy's "Hitmen" on board as executive producer. If solid lyrics, great voices, and good music (for this type of R&B) does not sell you to MTV I do not know what would."

Excellent debut from slept-on talent....

Jamaal A. Bivens | Jacksonville, Florida | 10/18/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"4Kast came at a time when the industry was flooded with girl groups (Destiny's Child, Allure, 702, et al.), so of course many people slept on this album. That's a shame, because this album is actually something worse listening to, easily one of 1998's most overlooked albums.



4Kast deliver harmonies that are reminiscent of En Vogue or Xscape. Even in the faster songs, they deliver well with excellent harmony. Check out the first (and, unfortunately, only single) "Miss My Lovin'". The song has a tight beat and the girls' vocals flow nicely along with it. Plus, you get 16 bars from a relatively unknown Mic Geronimo, who spits quite nicely. "You Know" follows that same format, with a decent cameo from Tracey Lee. "It's All Up To You" also has a decent beat with some good singing from the girls.



Even the interludes are tight. "Rain Drop" is a spoken word poetry interlude that is tight!! It sounds like something you would definitely hear in a coffeehouse with the incense burning and dreadlocks everywhere. Also, "Big Lez" is a male-bashing interlude that is actually a good listen.



All R&B groups have to have some ballads on their albums, and you can certainly tell that 4Kast's specialty is harmony, which shows beautifully here in the ballads. "Any Weather" has to be the best song vocally. The harmonies in this song are definitely on point, and the bridge is just beautiful, and it sounds like an Xscape song! Had this been released as a single, it would have easily done some wonders for them. "Rainy Daze" is another strong ballad with some seriously high harmonies. The leads never falter here either. Also worth mentioning is the song "The Rose", which has some lovely leads and strong harmonies as well. "Because I Love You" has some on-point harmonies with a lovely piano intro and backdrop. Sharissa, of "Any Other Night and "Ho Half Steppin'" fame, really delivers a strong lead on this song and the girls of 4Kast deliver some lovely harmony, as always. A classic ballad. 4Kast doesn't disapppoint at all when it comes to some harmony. One test of good harmony is an acappella song. Check out the last song, "Money", an acappella skit. The girls use that old doo-wop harmony to make song work, and if you listen it's actually a very funny song with a good skitbefore it. Definitely worth checking out.



Had 4Kast released one of their ballads and actually got better promotion from RCA, then they would definitely be amongst the legends of R&B girl groups. I, for one, would definitely llok forward to a sophomore album if I knew one was coming. These girls unfortunately faded from the light, but here's hoping that their "4Kast" is sunny days forever."