From breakdown to breakthrough comeback

Everyone is starting to look like Paris Hilton these days, and Mariah Carey is no exception. Recently spotted with an orange-brown tan, platinum blond hair and showing lots of skin, she was in danger of becoming yet another Barbie on the Billboard charts. But then you hear that voice. Her last two records were at best mediocre, and Mariah's subsequent public bout with depression alienated many fans. With The Emancipation of Mimi, her most recent release, those fans will surely become faithful once again. \nWith this album, Mariah succeeds in turning her breakdown into a breakthrough and introduces an alter ego, Mimi, to express the growth and freedom she has experienced recently. The purity and richness of her vocals resemble the sounds of earlier days in her career, when her voice was at its best. And the only true "ballad" on the record, "Mine Again," lets Carey shine once again. The other songs, most of which blur the lines between hip-hop and R&B, also allow Carey to show off her ability to sing above the staff, including her other single, "We Belong Together." Antonio "LA" Reid's production efforts are most obvious on the handful of hip-hop tracks, which feature artists such as Nelly and Twista. The Neptunes also guest-produce on "Say Somethin," featuring Snoop Dogg, which definitely has "hit" potential. \nIn fact, the entire album is strong enough to allow Mariah to dust off her diluted reputation and reclaim the right to be dubbed the Diva. And, as the best-selling female performer of all time, Mariah Carey certainly deserves it.