J.R.

Life by Stereo
Cross Movement Records

“Life by Stereo” is a great sophomore effort from eclectic R&B artist J.R. The smooth, radio-friendly hip-hop-rooted sound is what you’d expect from the cover, which depicts a wild-haired J.R., sunglasses on his face, bright red calculator watch on his wrist, a vintage boom box on his shoulder, looking like a slightly less funky Black-Eyed Pea. A lot of the songs are similar at times to mainstream OutKast hits, but the hip-hop elements all but disappear on songs like “We Need You,” which reveal a John Legend-esque crooner. J.R. is filling a void in urban Christian music noticed only because he’s so good at filling it.