Before Coco Jones graced screens as Hilary Banks in Bel-Air, she appeared as a pop-rap superstar reconnecting with her church roots in the Disney Channel original movie Let It Shine. With “ICU,” her very first Hot 100 hit, Coco channels the elements of the Black Church that ground the more soulful edges of R&B. The DJ Camper-produced ballad finds Coco digging into her bluesy lower register before delivering flawless riffs and soaring belts as the love song steadily approaches its climax. Although “ICU” is a bit different from the dominant sonic aesthetics of contemporary R&B, Coco’s undeniable vocal performance makes the song’s success a no-brainer. — K.D.
Coco Jones – ICU
