2 Be U / Heaven Help Us All / Starchild / Soultrain

The 2005 release of the Urban Ave 31 and Raheem DeVaughn collaborative EP represents a notable chapter in the mid-2000s independent soul and R&B circuit. Emerging from the vibrant creative landscape of Washington, D.C., this project captures a specific moment when DeVaughn was bridging the gap between his underground roots and his rising national profile. The independent nature of the release, issued without a traditional label, underscores the era's DIY ethos, allowing for a raw and experimental approach to neo-soul composition that prioritized artistic vision over commercial constraints.

The collection features four distinct tracks—'2 Be U,' 'Heaven Help Us All,' 'Starchild,' and 'Soultrain'—which showcase a blend of traditional soul sensibilities and contemporary production aesthetics. The design of the release reflects its grassroots distribution, focusing primarily on the sonic content to establish a connection with an intimate audience. Within the collector community, this EP is regarded as a quintessential artifact of DeVaughn's early development, illustrating the stylistic foundations that would influence his later mainstream success in the R&B genre.