Much like our ‘Retro Rewind’ and ‘From the Vault’ segments, readers of That Grape Juice know what avid music lovers we are – especially of hits past.  So, in a quest to re-spin the gems and jams of yesterday we introduced a new retrospective segment – ‘TGJ Replay’.

Unlike its ‘Rewind’ and ‘Vault’ predecessors, ‘Replay’ looks to dust off and showcase albums (and eras) from a library of pop music hits.  Today’s offering revisits the modern R&B classic ‘The Evolution of Robin Thicke’ by blue-eyed-soulster Robin Thicke…

While Justin Timberlake was wooing the masses with his Pop/R&B suffused offerings, another blue-eyed crooner was taking the more traditional R&B route – Robin Thicke. 

Indeed, the son of famed actor Alan Thicke (‘Growing Pains’) had already won fans over with modest hits like ‘When I Get You Alone’ in the early 2000s, but it was his 2006-spawned sophomore set ‘The Evolution of Robin Thicke’ that really brought the R&B beau to widespread recognition.

Yes, the album may have started off to a slow start with its criminally underrated lead single ‘Wanna Love U Girl’ (ft. Pharrell)…

“Wanna Love You Girl”

But, it was the sexy, slow-jam ‘Lost Without You’ that found the singer/songwriter soaring on charts.  Accompanied by his signature falsetto and a video featuring wife Paula Patton, the tune saw Robin perched atop many-an-Urban tally including R&B singles charts – eventually helping propel the album to top 10 status.

“Lost Without You”

Enlisting the likes of Faith Evans and Lil’ Wayne, ‘Evolution’ was just as its name implied – showing a new “grown & sexy” Rob with haircut and swag to match.  An album hailed by many critics as one of R&B’s best collective offerings of the 21st century, the album still spins on a regular here at TGJ HQ with cuts like ‘Ask Myself’, ‘All Night Long’, and of course, fan favorite, ‘I Need Love’…

“I Need Love”

Unlike so many before and after him, the consistency in Thicke’s work is what sets him apart from the competition.  His unmistakable cool is what keeps him in mention with R&B’s top crooners – despite (unfortunately) not always having the sales to match.  Here’s hoping as R&B begins its resurgence on charts that Thicke is finally awarded his long overdue recognition…

“Shooter” ft. Lil Wayne

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