Joe

On the slow-burn invite "All the Things (Your Man Won't Do)," smoothed-out soul man Joe shows one lucky lady he's ready, willing, and able to step up and fill the gap. He believes she deserves the best a man has to offer, and if his years spent creating straight-up, silky seduction in the style of Marvin, Teddy, and Luther is any indication, he feels that way about his listeners too. That means no gimmicks, no tricks — just a velvety voice that can ride a pulsating hip-hop beat on club bangers like "Not Your Average Joe" (with Joe Budden and Fat Joe), then dim the lights and conjure sensual "Majic" for a one-on-one night between the sheets. More stylish Joe soul awaits in Next Steps.

"I'm In Luv," sings Joe, and for a guy who's all about spelling it out with music, nothing but bright, body-shaking beats lit by smoldering vocal fireworks will do. This is a man who lets the songs speak for themselves, so when he wants to say, "Let's get it on," he lays out the reasons for taking it one step further with highly persuasive pipes and the big question "Why Just Be Friends," then drives the point on home with the hypnotic power of the straightforward sonic spell "Sex Girl." Joe wants to "Ride Wit U" on a never-ending love train, so travel with him into our Joe Deep Cuts.

If you're gonna have a one-track mind, it helps to back it up with one of the most effortlessly sexy voices in soul music today. Strong, supple, and dripping with feeling, Joe's honeyed pipes are a one-way ticket to Passionville, whether he's setting the scene for a night of bliss ("The Love Scene") or already spending the morning after setting his sights on the next time ("How Soon"). The beauty part is that he wants you to feel the same way, so settle in and let the man tell it to you the way it was meant to be told — you're "So Beautiful."

The Southern son of not one but two preachers, Joe was raised in the church, brought up on faith and gospel music — which may be one reason why the man's very secular songs still ring with soul-deep passion and commitment. His first big single was the '97 promise "Don't Wanna Be a Player," and its message of pure love, delivered with a voice that was as understated as it was potent, as emotional as it was polished, revealed an artist devoted to leaving tricks and trends behind to concentrate on the essence of two-as-one soul seduction. The result is a career spent delivering tunes that, like the smash love call "I Wanna Know" and the heart-baring pleader "Love Is Just a Game," show Joe's genius for drawing a line from the past to the present, from one beating heart — and warm body — to another.