Beautiful is the album Teena Marie was in the process of completing at the time of her unexpected death at age 54 in 2010. “Rare Breed” and “The Long Play” are among the songs that show her unwillingness to let her brand of soul music become cynical or clichéd. She maintained maximum integrity throughout her career, understanding that longevity in soul music was a matter of nurturing the genre's timeless qualities while also embracing its latest innovations. A perfect example is the cover of Curtis Mayfield’s “Give Me Your Love,” recorded with Teena Marie’s daughter, Alia Rose (who oversaw the album's completion after her mother’s death). The performance captures the lushness and generosity of vintage soul while sounding as fresh and contemporary as anything by Beyoncé. The deep, sultry atmosphere of “Wild Horses” was perhaps the last bittersweet example of Teena Marie’s ability to entice listeners deep into her internal world. Beautiful helps fill the gaping hole her passing left in the R&B community.