Given the various new girl groups on the R&B/hip-hop/pop horizon—including TG4, LovHer, Exhale, and Lyric—it will be interesting to see which one emerges as the new leader of the pack. Isyss (the acronym for Intelligent Sexy Young Soul Sisters) stakes its claim with this debut crafted by beat-conscious producers Kevin “Shek’spere” Briggs, Dent, and Christopher Henderson, among others. While some cuts come off as formulaic, there’s no denying the songwriting foursome’s penchant for smooth, angelic harmonizing on the teen-angst subjects of love (the catchy “Day + Night” with Jadakiss, “Single for the Rest of My Life”), a roommate from hell (“Oh No She Didn’t”), date no-shows (“Stood Up”), and that special someone (“Beautiful U”). As long as they steer clear of the cookie-cutter trap, Lamyia, Letecia, Ardena, and Quierra—winners of the 2002 Soul Train Lady of Soul Award for best R&B/soul or rap new artist—stand a good chance of making it.—GM
