Weekend

Released in 2001, Weekend represents a pivotal shift in Kenny Lattimore's career as he moved from Columbia to Arista Records. Under the guidance of L.A. Reid, Lattimore was encouraged to move away from the dense, introspective soul of his sophomore effort, 'From the Soul of Man', in favor of a more accessible, 'hit-oriented' sound. This resulted in a diverse production roster including Raphael Saadiq, Battlecat, and George Duke. The album is notable for its 'uptempo' leanings compared to Lattimore's earlier work, specifically the title track which became a staple on Adult R&B radio. Despite the commercial push, the album concludes with 'Healing,' a traditional gospel track that reaffirms Lattimore's roots. Critically, the album was seen as a 'safe' but highly professional R&B record that successfully modernized Lattimore's image for the new decade without alienating his core audience of soul purists.