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Any Weather
by 4Kast
Product Group: Music
Studio: RCA
ISBN: B000008TV3
EAN: 0078636761824
UPC: 078636761824
Audio CD
Original Release Date: 1998-10-13
Release Date: 1998-10-13
SKU: 0711180211
Condition: Used: Good
Comments: CD has been visually inspected and appears to be in "good" condition. Scratches that don't interfere with play, likely. Guarenteed to play or can be returned to refund or replacement if available. Case could have some damage, stickers etc on artwork, disk or case.
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Customer Reviews
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A precious addition to any R&B collection
Rating  (4)
Date: 2007-09-24
1 out of 1 customers found this reveiw helpful
These four young ladies from New York are been in the late '90 one of the more promising entries in the always crowded girls-group contest. "Any Weather" was a very nice production, good enough to give us some reason to regret when we think about the fact that this has been the first and last album of their discography. The leader was Kia, who some hardcore hip-hop fans will remember as the female voice on Akinyele's rap classic "Put ** In Your Mouth" (4Kast style was much cleaner, however).
She started the group with her friend Kisha, before to complete it with the recruitment of Sharissa and Tasha. All were experienced musicians who can really sing, not newcomers pushed under the spotlights by the marketing department of their label.
The album started with the ultra-smooth single "Miss My Lovin", featuring a rap performance by guest star Mic Geronimo. But even the second single "I Tried" was a very good song.
They had the vocal skills, they had a good look. But this hasn't been enough to give the right boost to their career how a group. How a previous reviewer rightly said, in that period the girls-group scene was more crowded than now...and maybe this has been the reason why they haven't received the acknowledgements that they actually deserved.
In the following years, Sharissa has been the former member of 4Kast that has captured more attention in the R&B scene, due to her two solo albums ("No Half Steppin'" in 2002 and "Every Beat of My Heart" in 2005). I don't know any recent news about the other girls, but i truly hope that they still works into the music industry, because i really hate the waste of good talents.
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4Kast 4 Me
Rating  (5)
Date: 2006-01-28
I don't know what why I purchased this album but I'm glad I did. From the first track till the last, there was never a dull moment. Each artist is equally talented, not like Destiny Child where one artist WANTS to out shine each other. This album is well put together and rather relaxing. If they ever come out with a second, I'd buy it cuz the first one "Any Weather" is off the meat rack!
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Where are they now? (4.5 stars actually)
Rating (4)
Date: 2005-03-21
2 out of 2 customers found this reveiw helpful
Female R&B groups always draw comparisons to the same artists: Destiny's Child and TLC. Well this group of four talented singers started at the same time as DC and is on a much different vibe as TLC. Four singers all with voices that could bring the roof down and some really smooth hip hop styled R&B production. After listening to this album I have to ask myself what is it that made DC blow up and keep these girls from making a second album together. Most of the time when I pick up an R&B CD I figure it to be some cookie cutter BS but on here you get some ladies that just want to sing about love and their men. Not the most groundbreaking of topics but they do it with class and the music that back em is great. The four interludes throughout the album hold it back a little bit from flowing perfectly but the two emcees that stop in for guest spots come correct. So once again I ask why did a group with so much potential not make it out the box? They even have one of puff daddy's "Hitmen" on board as executive producer. If solid lyrics, great voices, and good music (for this type of R&B) does not sell you to MTV I do not know what would.
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Excellent debut from slept-on talent....
Rating (5)
Date: 2004-10-18
6 out of 6 customers found this reveiw helpful
4Kast came at a time when the industry was flooded with girl groups (Destiny's Child, Allure, 702, et al.), so of course many people slept on this album. That's a shame, because this album is actually something worse listening to, easily one of 1998's most overlooked albums.
4Kast deliver harmonies that are reminiscent of En Vogue or Xscape. Even in the faster songs, they deliver well with excellent harmony. Check out the first (and, unfortunately, only single) "Miss My Lovin'". The song has a tight beat and the girls' vocals flow nicely along with it. Plus, you get 16 bars from a relatively unknown Mic Geronimo, who spits quite nicely. "You Know" follows that same format, with a decent cameo from Tracey Lee. "It's All Up To You" also has a decent beat with some good singing from the girls.
Even the interludes are tight. "Rain Drop" is a spoken word poetry interlude that is tight!! It sounds like something you would definitely hear in a coffeehouse with the incense burning and dreadlocks everywhere. Also, "Big Lez" is a male-bashing interlude that is actually a good listen.
All R&B groups have to have some ballads on their albums, and you can certainly tell that 4Kast's specialty is harmony, which shows beautifully here in the ballads. "Any Weather" has to be the best song vocally. The harmonies in this song are definitely on point, and the bridge is just beautiful, and it sounds like an Xscape song! Had this been released as a single, it would have easily done some wonders for them. "Rainy Daze" is another strong ballad with some seriously high harmonies. The leads never falter here either. Also worth mentioning is the song "The Rose", which has some lovely leads and strong harmonies as well. "Because I Love You" has some on-point harmonies with a lovely piano intro and backdrop. Sharissa, of "Any Other Night and "Ho Half Steppin'" fame, really delivers a strong lead on this song and the girls of 4Kast deliver some lovely harmony, as always. A classic ballad. 4Kast doesn't disapppoint at all when it comes to some harmony. One test of good harmony is an acappella song. Check out the last song, "Money", an acappella skit. The girls use that old doo-wop harmony to make song work, and if you listen it's actually a very funny song with a good skitbefore it. Definitely worth checking out.
Had 4Kast released one of their ballads and actually got better promotion from RCA, then they would definitely be amongst the legends of R&B girl groups. I, for one, would definitely llok forward to a sophomore album if I knew one was coming. These girls unfortunately faded from the light, but here's hoping that their "4Kast" is sunny days forever.
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smooth & nice soul
Rating (4)
Date: 2004-05-22
3 out of 3 customers found this reveiw helpful
Very good voices, nice and smooth tracks, a fine production. This really is a good soul-album :)
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