Honey Review

07/13/2005 6:27 AM, AMG


"Honey" was the first single from Mariah Carey's arguably most urban-leaning album of the 1990s, Butterfly. By this time Carey was heavy into samples (which "Honey" makes ample use of), as well as rappers and flesh-baring. This single, as with her previous chart-toppers, features hip-hop and dance mixes (although the song is, essentially, a pop/hip-hop tune). "Honey" was produced by Sean "Puffy" Combs, and his touch is evident, from the heavy samples to the use of raps courtesy of protegees Mase and the Lox. The first mix is the album version, which doesn't feature any actual raps, but track two, the "Bad Boy Remix," features Mase and the Lox, and other than the raps is virtually identical to the album version. The third mix is the "Classic Mix," which turns "Honey" into an energetic, free-spirited, and fast-paced dance song, complete with the requisite gospel-flavored backing vocals and Carey's re-recorded vocals. Carey belts out the tune on this mix, whereas her singing is more understated on the hip-hop versions. Track four is another hip-hop mix, courtesy of Jermaine Dupri, and serves more as a showcase for his and Da Brat's rapping than as an actual Carey remix, which is fine because it certainly adds more flavor to the single. Track five is an instrumental of the "Classic Mix." This single did not top the airplay charts, but did manage to top the pop charts, courtesy of yet another well-packaged single marketed to the masses. ~ Jose Promis, All Music Guide