Brotha

Rack up another hit for J Records as R&B innovator Angie Stone makes her debut with the sumptuous "Brotha." Stone, one of the acts that defected from Arista with Clive Davis' launch of J Records, serves up a tribute to strong men of color, paying homage to the everyday men who make life easier for their female counterparts: "Black brotha, strong brotha/There is no one above ya/I want ya to know that I'm here forever true." In a time when many of R&B's chart-topping girl groups and divas take turns bashing their men—and how tiresome is that trend?—it's a pleasure to see Stone take the high road. Producer Raphael Saadiq crafts a bare-bones, guitar-driven midtempo track that acts as the perfect sidecar for Stone's breathy vocals. This elegant lady of soul, who scored her first hit with "No More Rain (In This Cloud)," should have R&B radio and fans alike eating out of the palm of her hand with this one.—RH