[1] The album marked his first release with the venture, following his departure from LaFace Records, and features production credits by Mike City and Jones himself.

The probing "Imagine That" and "Blackmail," along with delicate-but-durable slow jams like "Love Like This" and "The Finer Things in Life," will be enough to please Jones' followers.

"[3] Mark Edward Nero from About.com felt that the album "features Donell doing what he does best: creating sexy and romantic songs that can either tug on your heartstrings or have you heading to the bedroom.

"[2] PopMatters critic Quentin B. huff noted: "As a producer, Jones does a strong job, making his songs layered but crisp.

Through slamming slap bass, masterful slow-grind and clear-cut self-obsession, Lyrics is a unified hip hop-tinged RnB mainstay, familiar without the distasteful nostalgia, and heavy on infectious beats.