Music Review

Ryan Leslie (2009)

EW's GRADE
B

Details Release Date: Feb 10, 2009; Lead Performance: Ryan Leslie; Genre: Pop

 He\'s got the beat: Ryan Leslie
He's got the beat: Ryan Leslie

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

Download This: Listen to the song ''Addiction'' on imeem.com

Originally posted Feb 11, 2009 Published in issue #1035 Feb 20, 2009 Order article reprints

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