Whoa Nelly! [10/24]

12/05/2000 1:00 PM, Yahoo! Music
Ken Micallef

Using the currency of hip hop to display her savvy pop sensibilities, 21-year-old Nelly Furtado goes slumming through styles on Whoa, Nelly. This talented song crafter/singer sounds like Rickie Lee Jones one moment, Mary J. Blige the next, and numerous hip-hoppers after that.

Not that she is anymore derivative than yer average hip-hop clone, Furtado just knows how to craft a clever hook, regardless of genre. The buzzing "Party's Just Began" could be Brandy; the lazy R&B and soaring chorus of the Macy Gray-ish "I'm Like A Bird"'s is given added grace by Furtado's chameleon-like vocal riffing. "Baby Girl" is memorable for its weird jewsharp and mariachi brass samples as well its nasal, riveting melody. "Legend" takes a left turn into bionic bossa nova, "Tryna Finda Way" is melodic robo-hip-hop. And Nelly keeps it up, from the Minnie Mouse buzz of "I Will Make U Cry," the older-than-her-years reggae sass of "My Love Grows Deeper" and the beautiful acoustic closing track, "Scared Of You."

Who says white girls can't sing hip-hop? Nelly Furtado is a new one to watch.