First off, I was never a Sammie fan to begin with because he sounded like he was whining and the fact that he was paired with my least favorite rapper of all-time, Soulja Boy didn't help his case either. But then one night he was in the studio as a guest on producer Troy Taylor's (Trey Songz producer) ustream and sparked my interest as he showcased some hidden vocal ability. From there he announced that he would be releasing a free batch of music to build anticipation for his upcoming 2010 album. Hence, the It's Time EP which is R&B singer/songwriter Sammie first attempt to reintroduce himself into the game. Yet its slim tracklist, It's Time is a great body of work which showcases Sammie's soulful vocals and inept songwriting ability.It's Time starts off with, "Sexin In The Rain" which is a clever conceptual song which I believe everyone(of age) has fantasized about at one point. Between the vocals and smooth production, you are sure to get lost in the song, but just as you do you are forced to snap out of it and transition into the next song, "Magic Show."Here Sammie indulges into more adult content and does a impeccable job. He uses his falsetto just right midway through the song when he croons, "Girl if you let me show you whats in store....." Two songs in, he shows he can more than hold his own when it comes to making bedroom bangers that aren't overtly sexual. "Slow Motion" is also a nice mid-tempo that is sure to solidify my previous statement.
On track number 3, "Old Thang Back" Sammie strays away from the previous sexual songs and delivers a honest and reflective song, in which he pleads to his ex, "I'm standing here looking in the mirror, cuz i don't recognize just who I've become/and i was supposed to be your superhero, now I'm the cloud that's blocking your sun." Lyrics such as those as well as, "Time Machine" and "Wake Up" showcase mature side of the young artist who is wise beyond his years.
My personal favorite track comes on, "Put It On My Tab"as Sammie recruits Trey Songz to hit the club at what I'm deeming, "Say Ahh" Pt. 2. This song has up and coming producer, Young Yonny, returning as the beat maker and finds Sammie showcasing his ability to ride a beat just as well as he does on his ballads. The second uptempo, "It's a Party" seems to be a little out of sync as far as where it should have been placed on the tracklist, but it is decent none the less.
After listening to the EP, I come away thinking that if Sammie can stay consistent with content and keep improving his vocals, he shouldn't have a problem falling into the top 1o male r&b artists in 2010. I know it's going to be haters that wont give him a chance simply because they want to remember him as "LIL SAMMIE". But as listeners we all have to embrace the simple fact that we ALL get older, it's a little something we call life. Trust me, give Sammie a chance with this EP and i guarantee that you wont come away disappointed.
