by Stephen Thomas ErlewineAs one of the lead singers of SWV, Coko experienced a great deal of success in the first half of the '90s, but when the decade drew to a close, she decided to step out into the spotlight as a solo act. Hot Coko (clever title) is her solo debut, and it's designed to sound fresh without straying too far from SWV's signature sound. To that end, she's worked with a number of first-class producers, most notably Rodney Jerkins, who helps keep Hot Coko alternately infectious and sultry, even when the songwriting is a little flat. Coko isn't the most charismatic singer, but she is blessed with a strong voice that sounds very inviting when placed in the right settings. The producers usually find the right setting throughout the album, even if they don't always find the right song, which is enough to make the album a pleasant listen.