Reviewed by Kwaku

A new name to me, this one-time member of the El-Bethel Church Children's Choir, who's worked as a session singer for the likes of CeCe Winans and Michael MacDonald, shows off his rich, deep vocals on over 10 upfront R&B gospel tracks. On the ballads such as "Secret Place" and "I Can't Live Without You", which have some delicious female backing vocals, Hobbs sometimes sounds like Luther Vandross. And whilst the spiritual lyrics stand out best on the slow songs (though I think the lyrically charming song about Jesus, "Hero", does drag), he can get funky too. Cuts like the soulful opener "You're The One", and the contemporary R&B grooves "Come And Go With Me" and "Hold On" can rock the spot on the dancefloor with the best in the secular market. Nice to hear a new comtemporary gospel artist who uncompromisingly brings forth the good news without hiding behind ambigious lyricism. This is produced by the likes of Fred Hammond, Chris Rodriguez and Cedric and Victor Caldwell.

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