When her frothy, singalong hit “T-Shirt” began saturating airwaves in 2008, young Bajan singer-songwriter Shontelle seemed primed to inherit Rihanna’s crown as the sexy queen of mainstream R&B.
The artist’s debut, SHONTELLIGENCE, finds its legs, as did Rihanna’s first effort, in the middle ground between urban contemporary pop and the influence of her native island.
Tracks like the reggae-driven “Flesh and Bone” represent the latter, while pop singles like “T-Shirt” and the club-ready “Roll It” prove Shontelle’s ability to cross over successfully.