KeKe Palmer's So Uncool: Good Debut From Young Singer/Actress

KeKe Palmer is an actress and musician mostly known for her starring role in the critically acclaimed feature film Akeelah And The Bee, also starring Laurence Fishburne and Angela Bassett. She was also featured in the Disney Channel original movie, Jump In starring Corbin Bleu. On both of these movie soundtracks, she was able to display her passion for music. On her solo debut album, So Uncool, KeKe intends to show the world that she is not an actress who sings, rather, a singer who acts. Is she successful in that attempt?

The first single is Keep It Movin' featuring up and coming teenage rapper Big Meech. The song is fairly standard urban fare. The song features two verses from Big Meech and verses sung by KeKe. The song is somewhat catchy but completely cliché and contrived. This was not the best choice for a first single.

The Game Song (Joystick) starts with a hard hitting beat and just switches into the pulsating sound of sound effects from video games. The song talks about KeKe losing her boyfriend to a video game. The concept is original and the song is fairly catchy. The concept alone makes the song worth listening to. On the track KeKe also stays age appropriate since she is only fourteen years old.

How Will I Know is the standout song of the album. The song allows KeKe to show off her vocal ability. The ballad is very radio friendly and could be programmed into rotation on any urban station. The song chances from a strict ballad to a more up-tempo ballad on the chorus. The song is incredibly catchy and sounds as if it was tailor-made for Ciara.

First Crush sounds very similar in nature to Usher's Burn. The song talks about her first crush and is a catchy song even in its repetitive manner.

Hood Anthem tries to change the negative stereotype of being from the hood. Instead of making the hood into a bad environment, the hood is glorified as a positive quality. She mentions the achievement to come out of it successfully. The song is positive and uplifting.