Fortune & Fame

AMG Review of Fortune & Fame

Alex Henderson
All Music Guide

Hip-hop purists can be every bit as rigid as jazz purists, and they have about as much use for crossover rappers as jazz purists have for Kenny G. A pop-rapper who recorded for two southern labels -- first Malaco, and then Ichiban -- Lance Romance is exactly the type of artist that hip-hop's hardcore loves to hate. His image was clean-cut, and his subject matter isn't much different from what you'd find on a Paula Abdul album. But then, Fortune & Fame wasn't recorded with hip-hop's hardcore in mind -- the CD was obviously aimed at fans of urban contemporary, new jack swing and dance-pop. That fact alone doesn't make it a bad album -- pop-flavored rap can be creative (Young MC, Betty Boo) or not so creative (Vanilla Ice). The thing that brings this album down is its generic nature. Drenched in elements of new jack swing, contrived tunes like "Treat You Right," "Baby Tonight" and "Concentrate on You" simply aren't very memorable. Romance's rapping skills are limited, and his lyrics are as lightweight as his rapping. If you're in the mood for commercial pop-rap, it's best to get into Hammer or Young MC and skip Lance Romance.