"Just trying to keep it real," Dave Hollister vows in the middle of Real Talk's title track. Though the former Blackstreet member's fourth solo album deals in a fair amount of clichés--the first few cuts seemingly bre... more »ak all records for use of the word "ghetto" as both noun and adjective--he does seem to be telling his own story. Much of the rest of the material is quiet-storm stuff of varying quality, though "Winning With You" has a, yes, winning chorus hook and "Karma" depicts our man as a two-timer convinced he'll get away with it. Hollister seems most impassioned, however, on the opening "Big Payback," where he goes off on at least one record-industry foe who apparently kept him from getting his own. Perhaps a little inside-baseball, but also an intriguing direction that's more real than those of many recent R&B discs. --Rickey Wright« less
"Just trying to keep it real," Dave Hollister vows in the middle of Real Talk's title track. Though the former Blackstreet member's fourth solo album deals in a fair amount of clichés--the first few cuts seemingly break all records for use of the word "ghetto" as both noun and adjective--he does seem to be telling his own story. Much of the rest of the material is quiet-storm stuff of varying quality, though "Winning With You" has a, yes, winning chorus hook and "Karma" depicts our man as a two-timer convinced he'll get away with it. Hollister seems most impassioned, however, on the opening "Big Payback," where he goes off on at least one record-industry foe who apparently kept him from getting his own. Perhaps a little inside-baseball, but also an intriguing direction that's more real than those of many recent R&B discs. --Rickey Wright
CD Reviews
Good, but not the best.
Kiande Jakada | Las Vegas | 11/25/2003
(3 out of 5 stars)
"First, I am a huge Dave Hollister fan. I have loved his voice since his days with Force One Network. I feel he is totally overlooked, especially when people like Jaheim get attention for something Dave has been doing for years. His voice is always incredible, raw and full of conviction. But I do think it's time to try some new things musically, not to change his style, but to expand on it. I fell in love with his debut, which was brilliant, but only the 3rd CD (Things In The Game Done Changed) can rival the debut. I feel this CD only recycles what he has done in the past. Not that the music is bad, but I feel as if I heard it all before. I'd like to hear him expand lyrically, melodically and musically, a live band with extended jams would be nice. I still love Dave, but it's time to flip it up a little. Peace..."
Will the REAL Dave Hollister please stand up?
Anthony Rupert | Milwaukee, WI | 10/29/2004
(3 out of 5 stars)
"I've been a fan of Dave Hollister ever since his BLACKstreet days. Still, when it came to his solo albums, I never seemed to give him as much attention as I should have. I didn't hear Ghetto Hymns but I LOVE Chicago '85...The Movie. I never got around to picking up Things In the Game Done Changed but I got my hands on Real Talk. But unfortunately, for this album, there really isn't much to talk about.
People may look at my rating and think I'm crazy for giving Dave three stars. Well, if we were talking about his voice only, then that would be five stars easily, but this ALBUM is very disappointing. Not only are there really no standout singles, but the songwriting isn't all that good. The first four songs on the album are poorly told ghetto stories, and he has a habit to keep saying things like, "Let me know if you feel me." We heard you the first time, Dave.
One strange thing about this album is that most of the songs on here are written by Tank. Unfortunately, we all know the problem with Tank's albums, too: great voice, god-awful lyrics. Maybe Tank thought, Hey, the songs didn't work for ME, so maybe they'll work for someone else, right? WRONG. His contributions are sexually charged metaphors gone wrong, like "Case Is Closed". And "Reason With Your Body" has Dave saying things like: "Girl, I'll make you scream like a scary movie's on."
Dave should know that he doesn't have to be so ghetto, because that really didn't work for him in the past (ever hear "I Don't Want to Be a Hustler" off Chicago '85?). Maybe he was following the example that BLACKstreet used for the horrendous Level II. At any rate, while he still has a wonderful voice, Real Talk should only be purchased to complete your Dave Hollister collection.
Anthony Rupert"
Dave...what happened?!
Med student | Atlanta, GA | 02/21/2004
(3 out of 5 stars)
"I'm a huge Dave Hollister fan. I first noticed Dave on his solo project "Ghetto Hymns" (which I still play at least twice a week in my car). His second solo album, "Chicago '85...The Movie" was a masterpiece and a shining point in his career, and he continued this success on his third album. Because of this, he's one of the few R&B singers that I feel keeps it realer than real. He personifies that "realness" on this album, but it becomes repetitious and boring after the first few songs we hear it.Moreover, the second half of the album contains the same boring R&B cliches that have plaqued the industry. I felt Dave should have stuck to his roots--eschewing the carbon-copy commercial singers for the style that has gained him his fan base. I hope Dave will return to his quality music on his next album. In sum, buy this album if you are a HUGE Dave Hollister fan, otherwise, stay away from it."
SOUL
AKEFROMTHENATI | 01/21/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is a good album, I don't understand were people get off saying anything negative about this man and his music. Dave Hollister has been in the game a long time and has put out good music. Not one of his albums are poor. This particular album is filled with pain, joy, and soul! If you want to hear real music from the soul and not that played out "POPCORN" music this is the album for you. Track number two is a TONE setter! Pick this album up and listen to what real R&B music should be!
PEACE
ONE LOVE"
He got pipes from the windy city!!!
Irvin | Chi-Town (concrete jungle) | 11/24/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"My mans from way back he just gets better and better. The true soulful sound that stirs your soul; only a handfull of artist throughout history have been able to do that and he's one of them. His vocals resonates in your soul...cop it before its gone! You make us look good!Thanx for keepin it truely soulful for us folk.."
Track Listings (12) - Disc #1