There’s more to Jeremih’s debut album than “Birthday Sex,” a bedroom ballad that became a major summertime crossover hit a la J. Holiday’s “Bed.” Outside of the startlingly direct delivery of its title and the stuttering effect that comes into play whenever Jeremih sings lines like “I know you want to cry-y-y out” and “Girl you know I-I-I” — a twist on the-Dream’s oft-deployed stammer — “Birthday Sex” is a basic but ingratiating slow jam built over Mick Schultz’s gently rocking lullaby beat, rather “Bed”-like. – AMG
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REVIEW OF REVIEWS
The 21-year-old Chicago singer’s debut track “Birthday Sex” is a Top 10 radio smash, thanks to its slinky R&B groove and Jeremih’s X-rated tale of giving his lady a special gift for her birthday. (Dude also gets bonus points for cribbing Rihanna’s “Umbrella” with his catchy repetition of syllables like “aye-aye-aye-aye.”)
Jeremih, for one thing, is young and has every quality as a performer. Apart from being academically intelligent, the 21-year-old masters a lot of music instruments that enable him to craft his own music. “I wouldn’t say I was forced into music, but while other kids were getting video games and toys for Christmas, I was given musical instruments,” he testifies. “Mom worked hard to make sure I had all the tools available to develop a talent she saw in me even then. Within no time I had all the essentials of a band.”
Asked to perform before L. A. Reid and executive vice president of A&R Karen Kwak, Jeremih soon found himself among Def Jam’s seedlings. In a month time, “Birthday Sex” was released and radio picked it up for heavy spins. Jeremih’s history was in the making.
TRACKLIST
1. That Body
2. Birthday Sex (Album Version)
3. Break Up To Make Up
4. Runway
5. Raindrops
6. Starting All Over
7. Imma Star (Everywhere We Are)
8. Jumpin
9. Hatin’ On Me
10. My Sunshine
11. My Ride
12. Buh Bye
13. Birthday Sex (Up-Tempo)
VIDEOS
BEST SHOTS
by NeeReePhotos on Flickr
by mihdell on Flickr
