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| | Point of No Return | | | Music Artist : | | Shareefa | | Music Style : | | General | | Record Label : | | DTP / Def Jam | | Release Date : | | 2006-10-24 | | Store Price : | | $10.99 | | Artistopia's Price: $10.99 | | Usually ships in 24 hours | | |
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CD Tracks/Songs
Disc 11. The Start
2. Cry No More
3. U Told Me
4. Need A Boss
5. No One Said Prelude (Skit)
6. No One Said
7. Butterfly
8. How Good Luv Feels/Shareefa Interview 1
9. Phony/Shareefa Interview 2
10. Assumptions
11. Hey Babe (Give Me Ya Lovin')
12. Eye Wonder
13. Trippin'
14. Fevah (He Dont Know)
15. The End
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Other Artist Albums
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Customer Reviews of This Album/CD |
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 Buen comienzo!
Submitted on: 2009-05-17 |
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| El cd me gustó pero los 2 primeros singles (Need a boss y Cry no more)sobresalen sobre el resto!!!! |
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 Cool CD
Submitted on: 2008-06-08 |
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Ive always liked "Need A Boss" and "Cry No More" but after those tracks came out I forgot about her. Then I heard her "Diamond Girl" remix (go to her myspace) and thought -- oh yeah Shareefa! What happened?
Got the CD and Im feeling it. I personally love Shareefa's voice because it is gritty and she sings so powerfully. Or rather she sings with emotion. But if youre into "Hip Hop Soul" -- you know artists like Sunshine Anderson, Alicia Keys (from her first album), Keyshia Cole and people like that -- well you would appreciate this album. You have to be an R&B head for real.
Tracks I like:
1. Need A Boss
2. Cry No More
3. Phony
4. Fevah (He Dont Know)
5. Assumptions
No One Said and Butterfly are decent too.
This album could be better, but it isnt garbage. If its on sale, which is probably is considering that Im writing this in 2008, then definitely get it! But I definitely cant wait until her new album. |
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Promising new singer: 3 ˝ Stars
Submitted on: 2007-02-14 |
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Shareefa seems to be one of those R&B singers that comes out of nowhere and gets lost in the mix of all the "noticed" new R&B singers and the "vets" in the business. It is unfortunate because Shareefa has some pipes on her that trumps a number of other new R&B singers, though she doesn't receive the recognition (commercial success) that the other singers do. Her fellow DTP labelmate Bobby Valentino managed to get a top ten single with "Slow Down" (I believed it peaked at #8) as well as a top five album (DTP PRESENTS BOBBY VALENTINO debuted at #3 with 180,000 copies) that went on to be gold certified. It is arguable that POINT OF NO RETURN is stronger than Bobby's album, but its subtle #25 bow doesn't exactly speak volumes and it's lone charting single "Need A Boss?" featuring Ludacris wasn't exactly a success. Despite that, the statement "quality over quantity" or in this case "quality over commercial success" still holds to some extent, but for a first album, one only wishes that Shareefa's efforts were truly appreciated and embraced by fans.
The first comparison people make about Shareefa is that she is trying to pattern herself after Mary J. Blige. While this is true, she isn't quite at that level or quite as convincing as the great MJB, but she does show promise, just like Keyshia Cole did two years ago when her platinum certified THE WAY IT IS paved the way for her. "Cry No More" is a more characteristic performance of this MJB influence. It is a great choice for a second single, better than the somewhat clunky, odd "Need A Boss", which features Ludacris. I understand exactly why "Need A Boss" was chosen as a single; it features big name Ludacris (multiplatinum selling rapper) there to "endorse" new and upcoming singer Shareefa. It isn't bad, but it isn't incredibly catchy or memorable, which perhaps hindered sales of POINT OF NO RETURN. So "Need A Boss?" isn't the best track on POINT OF NO RETURN, but there are a number of highlights.
"U Told Me" doesn't eclipse the great "CRY NO MORE", but it isn't bad by any means. "No One Said" features exceptional neo-soul production work using a killer sample with Shareefa's alto vocals riding on top of the production. A catchy chorus highly benefits this number. "Butterfly" isn't a bad track either, and is pretty well written. Again, I think the aim to make Shareefa a "soul revivalist" as opposed to a merely contemporary R&B singer is the right notion. The emotion of such songs such as "Butterfly" make this notion correct. The Bobby V./Shareefa duet "Hey Babe (Give Me Ya' Lovin')" is perhaps one of the very strongest tracks on the album, yet it will probably be incredibly underrated, which is sad. Other standouts include the great "How Good Love Feels", "Phony", and "Assumptions".
There is nothing truly bad on POINT OF NO RETURN, but there is sometimes a lack of truly memorable material, which does hold Shareefa from bringing up her talent to the next level. Overall though, Shareefa has great promise that shouldn't be overlooked by any means. 3 ˝ Stars. |
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The Title Of The Album Speaks Volumes!!!
Submitted on: 2007-02-08 |
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Listening to Shareefa's album was certainly an eye-opening experience. From the opening tracks of Point of No Return, you get a sense that Shareefa has had her fair share of bad times. The introduction has her behind bars, swearing that she's gonna right the wrong that has happened. To the casual R&B listener, this is a little bit jarring but certainly doesn't demonstrate her ability as a singer.
So leading right into the first track "Cry No More," you immediately feel compelled to compare her to the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul. The raw, gritty voice of Shareefa will appeal mostly to those who haven't grown up with old school R&B. She hits most of the notes but misses others completely. This continues on "Need A Boss" featuring Ludacris, a song that also suffers from production is entirely too experimental. Again on "No One Said," her voice struggles to stay in a comfort zone and finds its way into the dangerous territory of "cringing." "Butterfly" is a wonderfully written song that could have been better if Faith Evans or Syleena Johnson were singing it. This same problem occurs on "How Good Luv Feels," a song that has the potential but lacks the polished feel that it certainly needs. There are other songs where the background singers carry the song, namely "Trippin" and "Eye Wonder." But some tracks like the ill-fated "Phony" and "Fevah" shouldn't have seen the light of day. The duet with Bobby Valentino for "Hey Babe" is only okay and does little for the album in general.
Some have argued that Mary J. Blige was raw and street when she first hit the music world. And I would agree 100% with those people. But Mary has since improved drastically from her humble beginnings and amassed a worldwide listening audience that loves and respects everything she puts out. So to totally dismiss Shareefa after one album would be unfair and biased. But one thing is for sure....she's got a lot of work ahead of her if she wants to be the next MJB. And after listening to Point of No Return, that's clearly the person Shareefa's trying to be like. But so is Keyshia Cole, Lil Mo, and others...so you can't really knock her for trying.
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 I had no idea.................
Submitted on: 2007-01-30 |
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| The only reason I picked up this Cd is because it was 9.99 and I liked that song with her and Ludacris. But after listening to it I absolutely love this CD. My favorites are Cry No More, Need A Boss, No One Said (my fav), How Good Luv Feels, Phony,you know what I love everything about this release. I can't wait for her second CD. |
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