Jamie Foxx seemingly can do anything. Literally anything.
He helped make In Living Color a cornerstone of Black culture. The Jamie Foxx Show was appointment TV in the late 90s/early 00s. He’s headlined some of the biggest films of the past 25 years. Even when serious health issues threatened his life a couple of years back, he eventually brushed his shoulders off like it was all light work.
If you told me Jamie was actually a computer simulation instead of a human being, I might believe you. The stuff he pulls off feels straight out of the Matrix.
But of course, this is Soul In Stereo, so we’re here for the music, and, as always, Jamie carved out a successful music career through most of the 2000s. And he’s not done – last week he shared a teaser of his upcoming track “Somebody,” which releases February 13.
Since it looks like Jamie is finally ready to return to the world of R&B, let’s look back at all of his albums so far before another surefire hit lands in our laps.
I don’t doubt this comeback. He can do anything, after all.
5. Best Night of My Life (2010)
Soul in Stereo rating: 2 stars out of 5
Edd said: Two years before this album was released, I complained that Jamie’s previous album Intuition was too typical of the sounds of the era. I still complain about that today. But Intuition has NOTHING on the lows of this thing. Cringy lyrics, more autotune than a Decepticon family reunion, flashy beats that lack solid writing to support them, Best Night of My Life feels more like a cash grab playlist than a well-developed R&B project. The midtempos on the second half of the album raise its stock A BIT, but it’s too little, too late. Worst night of my life.
Forgotten favorites: It’s not forgotten but “Fall for Your Type” is the only thing worth your time. And “Rejoice” is OK I guess
4. Hollywood: A Story of a Dozen Roses (2015)
Soul in Stereo rating: 3 stars out of 5
Edd said: Well, it’s ain’t the Best Night of My Life, so it has that going for it. Jamie’s final album (as of this post) thankfully rights the wrongs of the album that came before it. Back in 2008, my wife had the opportunity to interview Jamie, and he admitted that he only writes songs like his hit “Blame It” to pay the bills, and he’d rather be sitting at the piano cranking out ballads. That’s why it’s no surprise that the ballads on Hollywood: A Story of a Dozen Roses feel like the most sincere records here. He spends the rest of his time chasing hits, trying way too hard to gain cool points from the kiddies in the club. It has its moments but the overall package is very disjointed.
Forgotten favorites: “Ain’t My Fault,” “In Love By Now,” “Text Message”
3. Intuition (2008)
Soul in Stereo rating: 3.5 stars out of 5
Edd said: I think I can sum up my frustration with Jamie’s third album with one word – safe. Intuition is far from a poor project. The second half specifically showcases some great concepts – to the celebration of independent women on “She Got Her Own,” the aching sorrow of “Rainman” (lowkey one of his most underrated songs to date). But besides that, Intuition is mostly a collection of trends of the era – the T. Pain song, the Lil Wayne feature, the radio single with T.I., etc, etc, etc. It’s not great, it’s not horrible, it’s just too … safe.
Forgotten favorites: “Rainman,” “She Got Her Own,” “Love Brings Change”
2. Unpredictable (2005)
Soul in Stereo rating: 4 stars out of 5
Edd said: Nearly a decade after his debut album came and went, Jamie exploded on the scene with a sophomore return so good, it totally eclipsed his previous work. Unpredictable was the perfect storm – writing and production from absolute greats like No ID, Timbaland, Static Major, Mike City, Babyface, Tank, Waryn Campbell and a host of others; top-tier guests like Mary J. Blige, Kanye West, Twista and more; all carried by one of the biggest stars on the planet. Audiences already knew Jamie was great so they were immediately locked in for this project. Longtime Soul In Stereo readers know that I’ve poked holes in Unpredictable’s reputation in the past (I still don’t love some of the singles, and the sequencing could be vastly improved) but I won’t yuck your yum this time. Looking back with 2026 eyes, I can appreciate Unpredictable for what it is – proof that Jamie can drop a hit R&B record effortlessly.
Forgotten favorites: “VIP,” “Three Letter Word,” “Do What It Do”
1. Peep This (1994)
Soul in Stereo rating: 4 stars out of 5
Edd said: Peep This taking the top spot might surprise some of y’all, but hear me out. It’s true that Jamie’s debut flew under the radar due to the VERY crowded R&B landscape in 1994, but I’ll argue that it can stand toe-to-toe with some of that year’s best. “Infatuation” is a hidden gem that deserved WAY more exposure than it received at the time, and Jamie flexes his vocal chops in ways he rarely explored in some of his later albums. And the ballads? They downright smolder – they’re a stirring slice of mid-90s soul that are the backbone of his most consistent to date. 1994 purists may have turned up their noses at an actor invading the world of R&B, but the rest of us recognized Jamie’s talent way back then. Unpredictable may be his biggest album, but Peep This is his best.
Forgotten favorites: “Summertime,” “If you Love Me,” “Miss You”
Now it’s your turn. Are you a Unpredictable defender? Should the latter albums receive more love? Let us know below.
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