A Moment

With 1994’s *A Moment*, Lalah Hathaway struck a perfect balance between hip-hop and R&B at a time when those genres were just starting to mingle. The leadoff single is neither rap nor R&B; it\'s a little of both. It\'s based off a dual interpolation of The Treacherous Three’s “The Body Rock” and The Detroit Emeralds\' 1973 tune “You’re Getting a Little Too Smart”; the pair of samples are emblematic of how Hathaway bridges past and present. (That theme continues on her stellar cover of Sly Stone’s “Family Affair.”) At a time when R&B singers were starting to adopt more youthful affectations, Hathaway always took the tone of a mature woman. She\'s subtle but self-assured, and “Do You Suppose,” “Separate Ways,” and “I’m Not Over You” showcase the richness of her voice. As energized as she sounds on dance tracks like “Rise” and “Bad By Myself,” she\'s even more compelling when the instrumental backing is stripped down and her voice is allowed to shine, as on “So They Say” and “Better As a Memory.”

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