With a canny balance of contemporary freshness (in the form of a Lil Wayne guest spot) and well-calibrated nostalgia (via a Smokey Robinson sample, a Missy Elliott cameo and production by Timbaland), Code Red offers proof that ’90s teen R&B icon Monica has pulled off a successful second act. The album includes swaying slow jams (“Hustler’s Ambition”, “Anchor”), retro-futuristic funk (“Suga”) and effervescent hip-hop–goosed pop-soul (“Just Right for Me” and the title track). Monica deftly navigates between styles, facing forward with her ambitions while wistfully reminiscing about musical heroes from days gone by.