“Momma’s Song” longs to see people reaching out in brotherly love fueled by “love from above.” A man pledges devotion on “How Long Must I Cry” and “Tell Me It’s Real”(the latter also reminds a woman of her commitment). “Life” expresses a black man’s yearning to learn the identity of his parents, overcome racial hurdles and live the American dream.
The disc opens with an extended sexual proposition on “Intro.” Similarly, “I Wanna Get to Know You” cloaks a man’s hormonal desires in dance metaphors, while “I Wanna Make Love to You” doesn’t even bother to be subtle (“I’m gonna grind on you real slow”). Both of those tunes involve the singer lusting after women with his eyes, then expressing an inability to control himself. A mild profanity mars “Fee Fie Foe Fum” and “Makin’ Me Say Goodbye.”
The Hailey brothers have tried to be more respectful of women here than they’ve been as members of the obscenely lascivious group Jodeci. But with a few exceptions, It’s Real doesn’t give families much to get excited about. These guys are still ruled by their libidos. For teens partial to smooth R&B grooves, Dawkins & Dawkins, Take 6 and Winans Phase 2 are great Christian alternatives.