“She was just entering that relationship with B.I.G., and a lot of her emotions were based around that,” Thompson explains. Wallace in August of that year after being in the relationship for only four months, and much of the emotion endured early in their union became the foundation of Faith ’s overarching theme. For Evans, the obligation of being a dedicated wife is something that was taken solemnly. Pillars of tradition in the church are utilized in a variety of ways even years after they are taught.
#FAITH EVANS ALBUMS MPE FULL#
Although her relationship with gospel serves as the framework for most of the album, Evans goes on to pay her respects to God with “Thank You Lord,” the album’s midpoint and interlude.Ī celebration of God in its purest form, the brief piano-backed session calls back to the thick gospel harmonies and power of simplicity found on “Come Over” and brings this piece of her artistry full circle. With Faith, Evans’ gospel footing hints at more than just a tale of young love.
Pressure is applied to this divine allegory on the soothing “ You Are My Joy (Interlude) ,” where she sings about the love of her life being “her inspiration.” Enabled by her keystone of gospel, Evans was able to bring her style to the mainstream with tender and candid love songs. “No other love, I’m thinkin’ of / No other love can measure,” she belts on the track, possibly alluding to her love for God and her man. The album’s hip-hop-heavy first song “ No Other Love ,” discusses a love that Evans believes is greater than any love she’s ever known. Ĭomposing with non-secular motifs in mind became second nature for Evans, as many of the songs on Faith likely serve as double entendres one foot in secular R&B, another in gospel. The lucidity of Evans’ plea matched with her crisp, heavenly harmonies and a hymnal-ready pipe organ leading this soaring cry exemplifies the level of emotion she carries throughout Faith. “Won’t you come over and make love to me / ‘Cause I haven’t seen you in a while / really miss your smile,” Evans chants. This anointed energy became even more prevalent on the powerful Thompson-produced torch ballad “ Come Over ,” which was inspired by vocal stylings of The Clark Sisters. Her thing was more gospel,” Thompson, a key voice in the instrumentation of Faith, tells Rated R&B over the phone. “Mary was more old school like the quiet storm and stuff like that, but Faith was a totally different vibe. “ Don’t Go ,” a track from My Life co-written by Evans and produced by Combs and renowned musician and producer Chucky Thompson, is known for its clever fusion of the teary cries of Guy’s “Goodbye Love” with Debarge’s equally-somber ‘80s gem “Stay with Me.”Ī peek behind the curtain reveals the subtle recreation of “ Speak To My Heart ” from The New York Restoration Choir’s I See a World album at the emotional ballad’s tale end, and epitomizes the extensive knowledge of gospel music that Evans brought to the table.
After attracting the attention of Sean “Puff Daddy” Combs, a rising cultural hitmaker and shaper, Evans got the opportunity to employ her God-given songwriting ability on numerous projects, most notably Usher ’s eponymous debut album and Mary J. Conceived out of the deep love for her husband and rap phenom Christopher “The Notorious B.I.G.” Wallace, Evans turned spiritual cries into romantic yearns, delivering a successful gospel-infused R&B formula that would inspire artists to pursue the same artistic route in the years to come.Įvans started singing in church at an early age, shocking the congregation of Emmanuel Baptist Church in her hometown of Newark, Jersey with her angelic voice. 29, 1995, under Bad Boy Records, Faith is a music rarity that sonically entwined Evans’ innate gospel foundation with the modern R&B sounds of the time. On the soaring opener of her debut album, Faith, Faith Evans belts, “I have the faith that can move any mountain / Faith that can conquer anything.” This inspirational declaration is seen as a statement toward not just her faith in God but also in her relationship and then-rising stardom as an artist.