Originally from Chicago but later based in New York, Carl Thomas caught a big break when he was discovered and signed by Puff Daddy in 1997. His debut single, "I Wish," dropped two years later, dominating the R&B charts and setting the stage for his first album: the platinum-selling Emotional, which also spawned two more hits. The following decade saw two new albums (Let's Talk About It and So Much Better), high-profile collabos (with LL Cool J, Tupac, Amerie, and Chaka Khan, among others), and a GRAMMY® nomination, but few actual hits. Now album number four—Conquer—finds Thomas hoping to re-establish himself in an R&B scene dominated by AutoTune and Euro dance beats. Luckily for us, the 11 songs here are generally outstanding. Unhampered by rap cameos and overblown production, Thomas' voice truly shines. Check out the snappy organ vibe of "Long Distance Love," the spacy groove of "Round 2," and the throwback soul of "Don't Kiss Me (Remix)," which almost sounds like a lost Delfonics joint.