{blackbabes} Listen Up: Keyshia Cole's 'Calling' basks in healing

On her fourth album, the 29-year-old R&B singer is turning the page on heartache and embracing happiness.

Keyshia Cole, Calling All Hearts
* * * A BROKEN HEART CAN MEND

Keyshia Cole has earned three platinum albums by sharing her heartache. On her fourth album, the 29-year-old R&B singer is turning the page. When she started the project, she was fresh off a breakup, but she met her fiancé, Cleveland Cavaliers guard Daniel "Boobie" Gibson, in 2009 and gave birth to their son in March. Hearts reflects that evolution as she's touching on both the hurt she suffered and the joy new love has given her. Her passionate vocals still pack a wallop, even though they are no longer fueled by angst.

On the edgy Tired of Doing Me featuring Tank, Cole yearns for companionship, and she's cautiously optimistic on Long Way Down. She catalogs her requirements for a man on If I Fall in Love Again, which features fellow vocal powerhouse Faith Evans, and anticipates being swept off her feet on Take Me Away. She's clearly found what she was searching for on What You Do to Me and Better Me. It bears watching whether fans used to hearing about her troubles can get used to her being happy for a change.

> Download: Long Way Down, Tired of Doing Me

OTHER NOTABLE RELEASES:

Ghostface Killah, Apollo Kids
* * * ½ FROM BACK IN THE DAY

While some sleek new rap releases (Kanye West, Diddy-Dirty Money) have pointed toward hip-hop's future, Ghostface Killah offers a reminder of its gloriously gritty past. He unleashes a torrent of typically vivid verses over vintage soul samples that also help recall rap's roots. Joining him are fellow Wu-Tang Clan members Method Man, Raekwon, U-God and GZA, plus Black Thought, Game, Jim Jones, Redman and Busta Rhymes. These Kids take rap back to the streets. — Steve Jones

> Download:Superstar, In Tha Park

Keri Hilson, No Boys Allowed
* * ½ LADY'S CHOICES

Don't let the title fool you: It's raining men on Hilson's sophomore voyage, with executive producers Timbaland and Polow Da Don joined by guests and collaborators such as Kanye West, Chris Brown, Rick Ross, Ne-Yo and John Legend. Given Hilson's record as a hit-shaping tunesmith for other stars, in fact, it's ironic how little of her own voice comes through on this set of smart and pleasurable but mostly disposable pop-soul candy.

> Download: Pretty Girl Rock, Lose Control (featuring Nelly)

Jamie Foxx, Best Night of My Life
* * ½ AVERAGE OUTING

Foxx's third album feels more cranked-out than crafted, but there are enough strong moments to seduce the party animals who made his first two works top sellers. Best Night's mix of sexy R&B ballads and R-rated raps gives a sense of what it's like to hang with or be hit upon by Foxx. That's fine as far as it goes, but Kanye is showing us how fascinating it can be to dig a little deeper.

> Download:Best Night of My Life, Winner, Gorgeous