The sophomore release from former Refugee Camp artist John Forté, I, John is a vast improvement over his unfocused 1998 debut Poly Sci, but there"s a downside: Forté is currently serving a 14-year federal prison term, so his career is back on hold. Although recorded during the brief period of time between indictment and standing trial, the singer-rapper"s album is unhurried and surprisingly well-developed, fattened by swells of reggae, tinges of electronica, lively guitar work, and lush vocals by the likes of Carly Simon, Esthero, and Forté himself. The strongest selections are slower and, quite understandably, wistful in tone. "Out of Bed" is reminiscent of U2"s Joshua Tree period, while "Lady," taken in context, will be heard as a gentle lament. Most of the songs found here take a decidedly blues-rock approach; "What a Difference," however, is straightforward hip-hop anchored by a gorgeous, yet rather unsubtle, Dinah Washington sample. Sounding like an outtake from The Score, Forté plays it as a reminder of his past and an affirmation of his future. --Rebecca Levine