2000 Watts
"Singer, Model, MTV VJ, Actor = Superstar," reads an insert  included in the press packet for2000 Watts, the follow-up to  Tyrese's self-titled 1998 debut. Since when did being mediocre at  everything one does add up to superstardom? Granted, the 22-year-old  from Watts, California, sports the chiseled cheekbones and scrumptiously  rock-hard abs it takes to excel at the "Model" portion of his equation  for fame. But as far as the other components go, it might serve Tyrese  well to stay away from the endeavors that require talents in any  departments besides the, uh, visual ones.2000 Wattsplays like  an amalgam of all the things wrong with R&B; today. It practically  bursts at the seams with Tyrese's shameless self-promotion (which  becomes painful on the audacious gospel interlude, "Lord You Control  Me," as he sings, "Thank you Jesus / Out of all the people in  Watts / You sent me out there to represent for my people") and banal references  to flossin' and blingin'. Tyrese gets no help from ultra-blah beats  provided by top producers like Rodney Jerkins,Babyface, and the  Underdogs, who realize that anyone with pecs as toned as Tyrese's  really doesn't need strong grooves to sell records.--Sylvia W.  Chan