Tyler Woods

This multifaceted “R&B Sensation” has been featured on hip-hop projects with artists like Talib Kweli, Buckshot and Styles P. When he’s not doing that, he’s doing his share of producing, arranging and writing for other R&B artists. And when he’s not doing that, he’s busy stealing the hearts of listeners with his own brand of soul music that we’ve been introduced to via 9th Wonder’s Jamla label.

So far, this Raleigh vocalist has delivered a Christmas album entitled Christmas in the Woods and a mixtape entitled Tyler Woods: The R&B Sensation. Music videos were made for three of the songs from the mixtape, one of which, “Prove Myself,” received heavy rotation on BET Jazz. For those that miss the melodies of The Stylistics and still want some of the blue-collar man shrilling of a Freddie Jackson, Tyler Woods delivers. Indeed, these days, R&B singers thrive off of having women believe that they invented sex instead of being able to convince the world that they can actually sing about sex and love better than anyone else. Tyler Woods doesn’t fall into this trap. Without resorting to all of the unnecessary theatrics, Woods just stands there and beautifully drives each song into our souls. Nothing more—well, unless you count the slick trilby hat Woods is known to wear. —Eric Tullis