(February 10, 2017) He has roots in Tjuana, an alliance with los Kumbia Kings and was raised on a steady diet of Latino, R&B and hip-hop. It's been awhile since Frankie J has been in front of a mic, but that doesn't mean he hasn't been in the mix and behind the scenes, most recently lending his skills to a remix of "Si Una Vez," originally recorded by late Tejano star, Selena. Ever since Frankie's J's 2003 solo debut, What's a Man to Do?, he's pivoted between Spanglish, Latino and urban grooves, but it's easy to determine who influenced the flavor of his latest single, "Not So Dangerous."
(February 10, 2017) He has roots in Tjuana, an alliance with los Kumbia Kings and was raised on a steady diet of Latino, R&B and hip-hop. It's been awhile since Frankie J has been in front of a mic, but that doesn't mean he hasn't been in the mix and behind the scenes, most recently lending his skills to a remix of "Si Una Vez," originally recorded by late Tejano star, Selena. Ever since Frankie's J's 2003 solo debut, What's a Man to Do?, he's pivoted between Spanglish, Latino and urban grooves, but it's easy to determine who influenced the flavor of his latest single, "Not So Dangerous."
A slick-smooth mid-tempo that recalls an 80s-era MJ, "Not So Dangerous" (a serendipitous title, no?) is a flirtatious invitation to a night on the town, one that showcases Frankie's buttery vocals while incorporating a falsetto run here, a velvet-encased couplet there and a percolating rhythm anchoring it all together: "Oh baby baby, please don't be shy there's nothing to worry/cuz all I wanna do in a hurry, is make you mine all mine, yeah-heh-ah...."
After years of hiatus, returning with a track like "Not So Dangerous" could mean one of two things: a signal that Frankie J is tip-toeing into a more R&B direction, or that he's attempting a low-key takeover of the void left by pop-singer-turned-urban-impresario-slash-actor-turned-family man Justin Timberlake. Either way, "Dangerous" is an intro and the rest of the story is up to Frankie's artistry to tell.
By Melody Charles
Frankie J – “Not So Dangerous”