Pasadena, California singer/songwriter, producer & multi-instrumentalist Charlie Bereal returning after almost 6 years to release his 3rd album. Formerly a member of The Soul Seekers, he would later depart the gospel group in 2017 to make a name for himself putting out the full-length solo debut Testimony independently followed by the Coalmine Records-backed sophomore effort 11-11-11 couple years later. His biggest breakthrough however came when WWE Hall of Famer Snoop Dogg signed him to Death Row Records last summer & wants everyone to Walk with the Father.

“Hope” begins his Death Row debut showing a heavy Curtis Mayfield influence keeping his head up to the sky remaining hopeful after Donald Trump’s 2nd inauguration earlier this week whereas “Some People” sings to take someone, share with them & building their own together. The self-produced “Never Gonna Take Away My Love” pays homages to The Delfonics promising that his love cannot be stolen from him, but then “The Greatest” pulls inspiration from The Stylistics assuring it’s all for the best.

Moving on from there, “My Only One” comes to the realization that he’s finally ready to settle down with the woman of his life crooning on top of these horns leading into the title track going for a Curtis Mayfield/Marvin Gaye vibe singing about how hard it is in Los Angeles & the ongoing wildfires in the SoCal area surely aren’t helping unfortunately. “Energy” featuring JMo & the Greats goes for a soulful funk rock direction instrumentally admiring one another’s vitality or power prior to “Wherever You Are” singing about a woman who’ll always be in Charlie’s heart going forward.

“Jack Move” starts the final leg of Walk with the Father crooning for his lover to give their heart to him while “Don’t Want to Get Up” brings back the funk once again to sing about trusting the process. The song “Toxic Love” soulfully asks why the love he has with the woman he has specifically in mind here is as harmful as it is while the penultimate track “Keep It Pushing” tells anyone listening who’s going through some shit to move forward since you only have 1 life. The funky closer “Come Go with Me” lastly ends the LP encouraging everyone to join him in being free.

Walk with the Father continues to strengthen the R&B side of Death Row Records following October London’s latest album October Nights a few months ago & Chocc’s debut EP Journals to Johnny a week preceding her father reuniting with his mentor Dr. Dre on Missionary by throwing it back to the days of 70s music giving flowers to those in the genre who paved the way & mixing elements of R&B’s present in too. Charlie does his preacher father’s memory justice recruiting Josef Leimberg to help him make the album his dad always wanted him to make before he passed away.

Score: 4.5/5

Keep up with @legendswill_never_die on Instagram & @LegendsllLiveOn on Twitter for the best music reviews weekly!