The well-known story of growing up in a bad neighborhood and a difficult childhood also applies to Keyshia Cole. But the young singer from Oakland, California knows how to use these experiences in a positive way, with her debut CD The Way It Is as a result. Cole stands out because, unlike many of her R&B colleagues, she comes across as 'real' and credible. With a problematic love life as the
… main subject, The Way It Is may not be thematically original, but Cole delivers it in a very convincing way. The most obvious comparison seems to be Mary J. Blige, in whom conveying feeling also takes precedence over pure or perfect singing. The Way It Is features contributions from Eve, Jadakiss and Kanye West and John Legend, among others, who wrote and produced the first single I Changed My Mind. (IV)more
