Ryan Leslie’s eponymous new album may mark his sophomore effort, but there’s plenty of reasons to consider it his official debut. After his 2005 inaugural album Just Right failed to take off in the continental United States, RL stayed behind the scenes, writing and producing for several big name acts — preparing for a moment like this. Utilizing his talents as a proficient studio musician and astute songwriter has empowered Ryan Leslie to create Ryan Leslie, an album which is concrete testament that he’s a one-man exposition.

Writing from the standpoint of the desirous male with ambition to secure the perfect union, Leslie’s song selections prosper from the strength of their content alone. Professing your love to somebody who’s involved may seem a bit risqué, but the vibe of “Valentine” makes it feel valiant all the same. The protagonism continues on later selections such as “Out Of The Blue” and “Shouldn’t Have To Wait.” RL’s vocals never hit dynamic proportions and some songs actually feature him doing his fair share of rapping, but his ability to harmonize alongside the entrancing melodies highlight his true artistic value.

R&B may have lost its identity to Pop music since Justin Timberlake dominated with FutureLove/SexSounds, and while Ryan Leslie manages to maintain a hearty conventional structure, its rhythm and Hip-Hop sensibilities allows it to claim king in a disoriented urban market. Fan favorites such “Diamond Girl,” and the aptly-titled “Addiction” all show up to dazzle and awe as the production on the LP acts as the backbone of the entire array.

There’s the aggressive “How It Was Supposed To Be,” with it’s layered keyboard arrangement over top some brash swills of portly bass that immediately pull you in while “I-R-I-N-A” comes in like a lamb only to end in grandiose fashion with a rousing fusion of instrumentation. And while the melodic “Just Right” is named for the positive companionship given from the female in the song, it’s composition accurately depicts the nature of the entire album. The boundaries are never overextended and with all the elements working with each other opposed to against, the end result is a consilidated showpiece of ingenious qualities.

Self-titled albums take on an encumbrance of having to fully symbolize that artist’s stature in the context of one particular body of work. Thankfully, the only classifications placed on Ryan Leslie will be along the lines of “talented,” “multifaceted” and “inventive.” For this budding superstar has not only arrived in the world of music, he’s unpacked and made himself comfortably at home.