After stealing hearts and minds on s Kush and Corinthians, BJ the Chicago Kid, aka Bryan James Sledge, has since carved out his niche as a God-fearing hook singing aficionado. His talent is more than choruses and covers, even if he’s known for his masterful rendition of MGMT s Electric Feel.”
Sledge’s major-label debut In My Mind takes its cue from the classic R&B albums reminiscent of the Motown era. Heartbreak, love and loss makes an easy R&B formula, but where BJ the Chicago Kid shines is his authenticity. On Jeremiah, he turns away from unrequited love, choosing to focus instead on spiritual self-reflection; on James Brown s A Man s World, he flips the script, instead calling attention to the Woman s World.
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It s refreshing to hear a singer confident with his style and persona in an industry where most artists are manufactured to sound and look a certain way. Make no mistake about it, BJ the Chicago Kid firmly believes in himself, a sentiment he details with resolve on The Resume, featuring Big K.R.I.T., and he s positively brilliant on Church featuring his Chicago brethren Chance The Rapper.
Kendrick Lamar makes an appearance on The New Cupid, a track with the album’s best moments of old soul, but not even Lamar can outshine BJ the Chicago Kid s searing vocals.
Despite the scattered high points and adherence to the music of R&B greats, “In My Mind” rarely holds a candle to the source material it cherry picks. One spin will likely do you.
