HONEY DROPS (Universal) Rating: NNN Rating: NNN
There is no questioning the importance of the Honey Jam. The annual showcase has given Canadian women a crucial first break into the hiphop and R&B world. Occasionally, as in the case of Nelly Furtado, who was scooped up by her management at a Honey Jam showcase, it works. Honey Drops collects 18 of the series’ best performers onto one CD, and while the intention is good, the quality of the material here is too uneven to make this more than just a glorified demo CD. The best tracks, including Motion’s floor-shaking Feelin’ It, Tara Chase’s Like It Like and Jemini’s hilarious No More Dating DJs, are by artists who’ve taken the next step and aren’t simply imitating proven styles. The amount of raw talent is promising. Considering how important the series has become, though, I’d expect a bit more respect from those who’ve become successful. Canadian hiphop royalty like Maestro, the Rascalz and Solitair phone in — literally in Furtado’s case — their endorsements of the showcase, while Jully Black takes the opportunity to crassly plug her own album.
