Eighteen years, 13 albums, and countless metamorphoses in the music industry later, pop and rhythm & blues diva Mariah Carey has still got it. Her fourteenth album - and heavily anticipated follow-up to 2005’s Emancipation of Mimi - exemplifies Carey’s ability to come back stronger than ever.

There are a plethora of hits to pick from, including collaborations with rappers T. Pain,Young Jeezy and Damien Marley.

Although her slower ballads evoke more emotion, these hits are the perfect backdrop for a fun night on the town.

Out of the three duets, the best pairing is with Young Jeezy on “Side Effects.” She describes the emotional baggage that accompanies a break up. The strong lyrics and hard-hitting beats make this single a great potential number one on the charts.

The album title, E=MC² is derived from Einstein’s theory on energy; Carey’s version, however, is different. It is: Emancipation (of Mimi) equals Mariah Carey to the second power. At least that’s how Carey has been explaining it in televised interviews.

Carey introduced her dynamic voice and five- octave range in 1990 with her debut self-titled album. The CD spawned four number one pop singles including “Vision of Love” which can easily be called one her best songs.

Unlike many artists today who stick to only their musical niche, Carey offers substance as well as variety in this album. Rhythm and blues, hip hop, and gospel are paved in gold, track after track. It is clear that this songstress shows awareness to her diverse audience.

Once again super producer Jermaine Dupri has created magic with “Thanks 4 Nothin’” a song in which Carey passionately screams for appreciation from her loved one. There were times throughout the track when the beats attempted to overpower the voice, which was distracting.

Songs like “I Stay in Love” and “For the Record” are reminiscent of the romantic in Carey that everyone is familiar with. Both ballads are a great follow-up to “We Belong Together,” the mega hit love song dedication from Emancipation of Mimi.

“Feel so empty inside since our last kiss goodbye/ picture you in my mind and I can’t seem to rationalize” she declares on track nine, “Last Kiss.” It is one of her many collaborations on the CD with Dupri, a producer she has worked with for years and who has helped her create many hit singles.

On this album, like her others, Mariah Carey epitomizes powerful music. She has remained one of the top-selling female artists for over a decade. This album is testament to her solidity in the music industry; it proves that no matter how much time has passed, an icon will always remain an icon.