I worked on the album on and off for more than a year. I heard each of the songs probably a hundred times before I was completely happy with them.

Did you know Keith Sweat’s real name is Keith Sweat?

Nine years and three albums after his debut Make It Last Forever, a landmark release in new jack swing, Mr. Sweat dropped a bomb with “Twisted”. Enlisting the help of his group Kut Klose, the hopping single reached #2 on the Billboard Hot 100, and it leads off the fantastic Keith Sweat album. Keith is absolutely in his bag here, delivering a succinct and supreme collection of 90s R&B.

Sweat is the king of “begging”, a style of adlib runs that he pioneered on his debut. “Yumi” is already a silky smooth groove, but the vocals added in-between lines are masterful touches. Sweat does his begging like a great jazz artist solos, switching between lower and higher registers, moaning, ooh-ing, absolutely catching a vibe. “Freak With Me” has some extremely 90s rap verses while interpolating “(Not Just) Knee Deep”. The legendary Ronald Isley provides the assist on “Come With Me” – did you think it could get any more sensual? Just listen to this. Absolute liquid sex.

The last three songs here are a veritable triple threat. “Show Me the Way”, the lone track here produced by Sweat, is a simple and effective track that also acts as a prelude for “Nobody”, the album’s climax. “Twisted” is great, but “Nobody” is a masterpiece. Sweat and Athena from Kut Klose duet over a deep slow jam with a knockout refrain. The verses show some restraint, but the begging intensifies gradually as both artists build to a vocal showcase in the final minute. “Chocolate Girl”, then, acts as a sort of comedown to close things out. The pace is slow as molasses (chocolate syrup?), but it could be a minute or two longer and I wouldn’t mind. I adore this album.

Listen to Keith Sweat here.