Part 3 - The Earth With his second solo album Groove On, Gerald began sculpting his artistic identity. Perhaps in response to rap's blunt lyrical style, there was a new straightforwardness in his lyrical approach. Sensual songs like the title cut and "Let the Juices Flow" were more graphic than Gerald had been in the past. But, Gerald still maintained a balance between plain-talk and poetics. On the poignant Love Street, the man reveals where his loneliness resides. This loneliness characterizes the balance of the album's love songs. They don't express a physical loneliness, but more of an emotional longing. The platinum-selling David Foster-produced single pretty much sums it up: Gerald would give anything to fall in love. On songs like "Rock Me", Gerald croons about the kind of emotion that could drive a man out of bed in the middle of the night to buy a bag of chips for his woman. Groove On musically supports that level of emotion. Gerald deviates from rap-influenced programmed sounds in favor of music that caters to the soul. Early influences like Marvin Gaye and Curtis Mayfield shine through in the album's lush instrumentation. The warmth of live strings, horns, and basses turn up the aural heat, creating a flawless frame for Gerald's fiery vocals. Intricate musical arrangements complement the refined production, highlighting the work of classic craftsmen. In other words, Gerald stepped up his musical game, raising the bar for other R&B artists in the process. His musical choices separated him from the sea of artists; he began to emerge as dry land in this rolling sea. He was able to endure, as artists interchanged with alarming speed. Gerald's longevity could have been inherited from a father who's entering the sixth decade of his career, or maybe it was his ultra-commitment to his music. Whatever the case, by the time Gerald's second solo LP had gone gold, he was well on his way to consistency.