A Different Me by Keyshia Cole
A Different Me is the third studio album by American R&B singer Keyshia Cole, released on December 16, 2008 in the United States. The album has been certified platinum by the RIAA. A Different Me focuses less on heartache and more on maturity of her vocals and lyrics. Cole explained that, "The first two albums were more…painful. It's a different me this time: a young woman who's still growing and finding myself, exploring life through different routes musically and in other areas. I wrote more about other people's situations than my own. I'm moving forward." On the songwriting process, Cole stated, "When I hear something, I hear it—it doesn't take me three, four, five times to hear a song and say, 'OK, let's write.' If I don't write to it right off the bat, it's not working." All the songs on the album were written or co-written by Cole. Guest appearances include Amina, Nas, Monica and 2Pac. Along with the album, Cole is developing a movie based on her life. A screenwriter will develop the script with Cole in 2009. The lead single of the album, "Playa Cardz Right" featuring Tupac, was released on October 21, 2008. It originally appeared on Tupac's Pac's Life, but was rearranged by Cole and producers Ron Fair and Carvin & Ivan.
For her third outing, Keyshia Cole grows up, swapping her girlfriend persona for a softer, sexier, more measured approach—something she outlines on the album intro. She celebrates her womanhood and sensuality on the dramatic “Erotic”, seasoned with sharp violin stabs and honeyed vocal tones, while on “Make Me Over” she explores her burgeoning sophistication against a hopping, retro swing beat. And it wouldn’t be a Keyshia Cole album without a few guest turns, including Monica collab “Trust” and a posthumous appearance from 2Pac.
