Ryan Leslie (2009)

Considering the résumé he's built up as a producer and songwriter (Beyoncé, Britney), Ryan Leslie could easily have sold the effervescent beats on this solo debut to any number of willing artists. He's got his sights set on stardom, though, so he decided to sing over them himself. Evidently no one in Leslie's circle was eager to tell him that he's a competent vocalist at best, a fact that no amount of self-confidence can hide. But oh, those hooks! It's a testament to Leslie's extraordinary melodic instincts that the disc has as much replay value as it does. B

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