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Mýa Harrison, the sultry crooner who made her debut in 1998, has been away from the music scene for a while, having released her last American studio album in 2003 with Moodring. Since then, she has recorded several projects, whilst also focusing on her acting and dancing (most notably on Dancing With The Stars), the most recent of which is a full-length mixtape entitled ‘Beauty & The Streets Vol. 1′. Although it has received a limited release under Mya’s independent label, Planet 9, and relatively low production values, there are several surprisingly good songs if you enjoy the gritty urban beats.

I’m Back (Feat. Slim Thug): The mixtape kicks off with an indubitably swagger-filled song that rides over a pounding beat as Mya declares that “she’s back”. The song doesn’t show off her vocals to their fullest but serves as a very fitting opener to the album that sees Mya enter a more independent and musically free phase of her career. Rating: 3/5

About My B.I. (Feat. Shawty Lo): I’m Back flows effortlessly into another independence anthem, setting a “don’t **** with me” tone for the album and letting the audience know that Mya isn’t trying to prove anything. The song features vocals by a hoarse voiced Shawty Lo that can be grating at times, but the fast-paced beat and Mya’s confident tone make the song a grower. Rating: 3.5/5

Show Me Somethin’ (Feat. Bun B): The first single from the project, this Bun B-assisted collaboration shows Mya continuing her resolute persona as she she proclaims that her man needs to “take the game and flip it”. Unlike the preceding track, Bun B does a good job in his guest spot and the overall product is a grinding and enjoyable song that helps to set the tone for the entire album. Rating: 4/5

Boss (Feat. Z-Ro): And the swagger continues on this track, though the midtempo song breaks up the similar sounds of the first three tracks. Mya’s soft, sensual vocals flow over the chilled track, despite Z-Ro’s irritating rap that is laid over Mya’s vocals in the choruses. Rating: 3/5

Ponytail (Feat. Nicki Minaj): The new it-girl of rap, Nicki Minaj, earns a guest spot on one of my favourite songs on the album. The sexual and sensual song features Mya’s breathy vocals and trembling strings as she croons about her carnal fantasies and a good verse by Miss Minaj, with whom Mya has good musical chemistry. One of the hottest tracks on the album for sure. Rating: 4/5

Money Can’t Buy My Love: Although this song was featured on Mya’s 2008 Japan-only release, Sugar & Spice, it makes an appearance here, and doesn’t quite fit with the overall tone of the project. Her voice sounds good and the (albeit somewhat-unoriginal) message sees Mya declaring her status as a grown woman again, the song doesn’t stand out amongst the others. Rating: 3/5

Control Freak: This rock-influenced song starts off with a heavy guitar riff which continues while Mya describes herself as a “control freak”. This harks back to when the Liberation album was previously titled Control Freak, so I suppose it’s safe to assume that the song was recorded several years ago. Still sounds pretty fresh though and it’s a different direction to most of her other material. Rating: 3/5

Club Go Crazy (Feat. Chamillionaire): And we enter the portion of the album that severely disappoints me. A typical club beat drives this song in which Mya doesn’t attempt to show off her vocal prowess and the whole song seems to be somewhat of a comedy routine. A lot of other fans have loved this track, but I fail to see the appeal. Rating: 2/5

Now Or Lata (Feat. Blo Pop): This is my least favourite song on the album by far. I’m not even entirely sure of the premise and she seems to be singing about lollipops. Lyrics are derivative and the whole song just reeks of filler in my eyes. Definitely one to skip. Rating: 1.5/5

Manaholic: The album gets back on a good foot with Manaholic, a unapologetically co-dependent anthem that sees Mya delivering her lines beautifully over unconventional and sparse instrumentation. The song still manages to be catchy though, and is undoubtedly one of the best examples of Mya’s vocal ability on the mixtape. Rating: 4.5/5

Go Hard Or Go Home: The album’s last six songs really show the Mya we know from her debut as she returns to a smooth r&b sound that displays her delicate vocals effectively. This song is a lovely slow jam that accompanies Mya’s assertions that she will go hard for her man. Rating: 4/5

Full Service (Feat. Trae): This song uses a heavy car analogy to describe Mya’s devotion and illustrates some cute lyricism and nice vocals on her behalf. It’s not exactly a standout track, but it is very listenable and the quiet storm vibe is in sharp contrast to the sheer hardness of many of the earlier tracks on the set. Rating: /5

The Only One: Originally having leaked a couple of years ago (in a slightly superior version), this song has always been a favourite of mine. Mya’s vocals sound lovely and not forced in any way and although the song itself sounds mildly dated, it takes me back to her Liberation era and is just a good song in general. Rating: 4/5

Work It Out: In the vein of many of her previous albums, Mya closes the mixtape with an inspirational relationship song that sees her assuring her man that they can “work it out”. Again, Mya’s vocals sound nice – let me clarify that she is not the best vocalist out there, but her distinctive, soft and delicate sound set her apart – and the twinkling background track creates an uplifting end to the album. Rating: 3.5/5

Blackout: Originally rumoured as a demo track for Rihanna after the infamous Chris Brown incident, this song finds Mya in a strong position as she spits out lines like “put your hands down right now, and back up mother****er.” The song addresses domestic violence and Mya’s soft tone is in harsh juxtaposition to the hard-hitting lyrics. The entire song is a testament of sorts to the power of an individual and again reinforces Mya’s tough nature. Rating: 4/5

In essence, while I liked the mixtape, I don’t think that it is Mya’s best work. It has a few great tracks, particularly towards the end, but I’m looking forward to a well-produced studio album from the girl. This project is definitely worth a listen, and she offers up a range of musical sounds, from rock to smooth r&b to down south urban beats. She’ll never have the amazing vocal talent of seasoned performers like Beyonce, but Mya’s ability to always bring something new and interesting to the table with beautiful and understated vocals most of the time has earned her an eternal place amongst my favourite artists, and Beauty & The Streets is simply another release that I’m more than happy to add to my collection.

Overall: 3.3/5

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