Back 2 Life

Last updated

Back 2 Life
Sean Kingston Back 2 Life.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedSeptember 10, 2013
Genre
Length37:28
Label
Producer
Sean Kingston chronology
Tomorrow
(2009)
Back 2 Life
(2013)
Road To Deliverance
(2022)
Singles from Back 2 Life
  1. "Back 2 Life (Live It Up)"
    Released: June 5, 2012
  2. "Beat It"
    Released: April 15, 2013

Back 2 Life is the third studio album by Jamaican-American singer Sean Kingston, released by Beluga Heights, Time Is Money Entertainment, Cinematic Music Group and Epic Records on September 10, 2013. [2] It was supported by the single "Beat It", which peaked at number 52 on the Billboard Hot 100. Notwithstanding, Back 2 Life failed to enter the Billboard 200 and saw mixed reviews, becoming his final album on a major label.

Contents

The album features guest appearances from T.I., Chris Brown, Wiz Khalifa, Wale, Yo Gotti, Busta Rhymes and 2 Chainz. [3]

Singles

On July 23, 2010, the first promotional single, produced by Paul A., "Letting Go (Dutty Love)" featuring Nicki Minaj, was released. [4] On August 3, the music video was released. [5] On September 7, the second promotional single "Dumb Love" was released. [6] On December 21, the third promotional single "Party All Night (Sleep All Day)" was released, [7] followed by its music video on December 23. [8] On June 5, 2012, the album's lead single "Back 2 Life (Live It Up)" featuring T.I. and produced by Paul A. was released. [9] A music video followed on June 8, 2012. [10] On November 16, the fourth promotional single "Rum and Raybans" featuring Cher Lloyd was released, [11] with its music video released on November 18. [12] On April 15, 2013, the second single "Beat It" featuring Chris Brown and Wiz Khalifa was released. [13] On April 29, 2013, the music video was released. [14] On September 10, 2013, the music video was released for "Seasonal Love" featuring Wale. [15]

Critical response

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [16]
PopMatters 4/10 [1]

Back 2 Life was met with generally mixed reviews from music critics. David Jeffries of AllMusic gave the album four out of five stars, saying "Previewed by the Soul II Soul-sampling single 'Back 2 Life (Live It Up)' featuring T.I., plus the cool and slow 'Beat It' with special guests Chris Brown and Wiz Khalifa, Sean Kingston's third album is a slick, wide-reaching affair with production coming from the likes of J.R. Rotem, Nic Nac, and RedOne. Besides the names above, the guest list reads like an all-star roster with 2 Chainz, Wale, Busta Rhymes, and Yo Gotti all lending a hand, but it's the mature Kingston who is in control and going it alone on the more sweet and sincere highlights." [16] Brent Faulkner of PopMatters gave the album a four out of ten, saying Ultimately, Back 2 Life relies too heavily on sex and partying for its inspiration. Sure, Kingston's celebration is completely understandable, but the lack of substance beyond drinks, smoking, and hooking up truly hurts this album. Even if rationalized as a 'guilty pleasure' upon an initial listen, the 'pleasure' part of the description is most definitely arguable." [1]

Track listing

Back 2 Life
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Back 2 Life (Live It Up)" (featuring T.I.) Paul A.3:23
2."Beat It" (featuring Chris Brown and Wiz Khalifa)  Nic Nac 4:13
3."Hold That" (featuring Yo Gotti) Nic Nac2:42
4."Bomba" J.R. Rotem3:39
5."Smoke Signals" RedOne3:12
6."Ordinary Girl" J.R. Rotem3:26
7."Seasonal Love" (featuring Wale) Nic Nac4:26
8."How We Survive" (featuring Busta Rhymes) J.R. Rotem3:28
9."Shotta Luv" (featuring 2 Chainz) Nic Nac2:55
10."Ayo (16th Floor)" Nic Nac3:39
11."Save One For Me" Nic Nac2:25
12."Love Ecstasy"Kenneth "Mrbillboard" JosephPhatboiz3:48

Charts

Chart (2013)Peak
position
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) [17] 33

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Benny Boom</span> American film director

Benny Douglas, professionally known as Benny Boom, is an American director who has worked in music, television, and film. His most commercially successful film was the 2017 Tupac Shakur biopic All Eyez on Me.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cassie Ventura</span> American singer, dancer, actress, and model (born 1986)

Casandra Elizabeth Ventura, known mononymously as Cassie, is an American singer, dancer, actress, and model. Born in New London, Connecticut, she began her musical career after meeting producer Ryan Leslie in late 2004, who signed her to his record label, NextSelection Lifestyle Group. She was then discovered by rapper Sean "Diddy" Combs, who signed her to a joint venture with his label, Bad Boy Records, to commercially release her 2006 debut single, "Me & U". The song marked the first of her two entries on the Billboard Hot 100, peaking at number three.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rick Ross discography</span>

The discography of Rick Ross, an American rapper, consists of 11 studio albums, one compilation album, 145 singles, one soundtrack, and 40 music videos. Ross's debut studio album, Port of Miami (2006), features two singles with "Hustlin'" and "Push It". Ross's second studio album, Trilla (2008), produced hit singles such as "The Boss" and "Here I Am". Ross's third studio album, Deeper Than Rap (2009), includes the singles such as "Magnificent" and "Maybach Music 2". Ross's fourth studio album, Teflon Don (2010), includes the hit single, "Aston Martin Music".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sean Kingston</span> American singer and rapper (born 1990)

Kisean Paul Anderson, known professionally as Sean Kingston, is an American singer, rapper and songwriter. He signed with J. R. Rotem's label Beluga Heights Records to release his 2007 debut single, "Beautiful Girls", which peaked atop the Billboard Hot 100. Preceded by the song, his eponymous debut studio album (2007) peaked at number six on the Billboard 200, and spawned the top 40-single "Take You There". His second album, Tomorrow (2009), was supported by the top five-single "Fire Burning", and met with moderate commercial response. He subsequently released his top twenty duet "Eenie Meenie" with Justin Bieber. His third album, Back to Life (2013), failed to chart and served as his final release on a major label, but spawned the moderate hit single "Beat It".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sean Kingston discography</span>

The discography of Sean Kingston, a Jamaican American reggae fusion singer, consists of four studio albums, twenty-one singles and five music videos.

<i>Live from the Kitchen</i> 2012 studio album by Yo Gotti

Live from the Kitchen is the sixth studio album by American rapper Yo Gotti. It was released on January 10, 2012, by Polo Grounds Music; distributed by RCA Records. The album was supported by two singles: "We Can Get It On" and "Single".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Letting Go (Dutty Love)</span> 2010 single by Sean Kingston featuring Nicki Minaj

"Letting Go (Dutty Love)" is a song by American recording artist Sean Kingston. It was produced by Stargate, and features rapper Nicki Minaj. The song was originally released as the second single from Kingston's third studio album, Back 2 Life, but was taken off for unknown reasons. As of December 2014, the song has sold 1.1 million copies in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wiz Khalifa discography</span> Pop rap recording artist discography

The discography of American rapper Wiz Khalifa consists of seven studio albums, one compilation album, one soundtrack album, three extended plays (EP), two collaborative albums, 84 singles, seventeen promotional singles, twenty-one mixtapes, and 82 music videos. After signing to the Pittsburgh-based independent label Rostrum Records as a teenager, Khalifa released his first mixtape Prince of the City: Welcome to Pistolvania, and his first studio album, Show and Prove (2006). Following the release of Show and Prove, Warner Bros. Records signed Khalifa in 2007 as part of a joint deal with Rostrum. At Warner, Khalifa released the singles "Youngin' on His Grind" and "Say Yeah". The latter became his first song to appear on a Billboard chart, peaking at number 20 on the US Hot Rap Songs. Disagreements with Warner over the release of a purported major-label debut album led Khalifa to part ways with the label, and release his second studio album Deal or No Deal in 2009 on Rostrum Records alone.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wale discography</span>

The discography of American rapper Wale consists of seven studio albums, three compilation albums, ten mixtapes, one extended play, sixty-five singles, two promotional singles and forty-one music videos. In 2005, Wale started his music career by releasing mixtapes in the Washington, D.C. area. His debut mixtape was titled Paint a Picture. Following that, Wale released his second mixtape in 2006, Hate Is the New Love. Thar same year, Wale signed with a local record label in Studio 43. In 2007, Wale was discovered by Mark Ronson and signed with his record label Allido Records, who released his third mixtape, 100 Miles & Running in July of that year.

<i>Third Power</i> (album) 2011 studio album by DJ Drama

Third Power is the third studio album by American hip hop disc jockey DJ Drama. It was released on October 11, 2011. It marks his first album not to be released in the Gangsta Grillz series, after his previous two studio albums Gangsta Grillz: The Album (2007) and Gangsta Grillz: The Album (2009). Featured guests on the album include Fabolous, Wiz Khalifa, Roscoe Dash, Freddie Gibbs, Young Jeezy, Wale, J. Cole, Chris Brown, Pusha T, French Montana, Crooked I, B.o.B, Gucci Mane, Ya Boy, Akon, Trey Songz, and Big Sean, among others.

<i>Kiss the Ring</i> 2012 studio album by DJ Khaled

Kiss the Ring is the sixth studio album by American disc jockey and record producer DJ Khaled. It was released on August 21, 2012, by We the Best Music Group, Cash Money Records and Universal Republic Records. The album was supported by the singles "Take It to the Head" and "I Wish You Would", both of which charted on the Billboard Hot 100 at numbers 58 and 78, respectively. The album features guest appearances from Meek Mill, Ace Hood, Plies, Lil Wayne, T.I., Future, Kanye West, Rick Ross, Chris Brown, Nicki Minaj, J. Cole, Big K.R.I.T., Kendrick Lamar, Big Sean, Wiz Khalifa, T-Pain, Scarface, Nas, DJ Premier, French Montana, Jadakiss, Birdman, 2 Chainz, Wale, Tyga, Kirko Bangz, Mavado and Mack Maine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pink Friday Tour</span> 2012 concert tour by Nicki Minaj

The Pink Friday Tour was the debut concert tour by Trinidadian rapper Nicki Minaj in support of her first two studio albums, Pink Friday (2010) and Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded (2012). The tour was officially announced on May 1, 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Till I Die (Chris Brown song)</span> 2012 single by Chris Brown featuring Big Sean and Wiz Khalifa

"Till I Die" is a song by American singer Chris Brown featuring American rappers Big Sean and Wiz Khalifa. It was written by the artists alongside Marcella Araica and producer Danja. "Till I Die" was released digitally on April 13, 2012, as the third single from Brown's fifth studio album, Fortune (2012). It was sent to rhythmic contemporary radio in the United States on May 1, 2012. "Till I Die" is an uptempo hip hop song that displays elements of electro music and features military drumbeats, R&B synths and "arcade-game blips". The song contains lyrics about women, smoking weed, partying in the club and living the good life.

<i>The Stoned Immaculate</i> 2012 studio album by Curren$y

The Stoned Immaculate is the sixth studio album by American hip hop recording artist Curren$y. It was released through Warner Bros. Records on June 5, 2012. This release was his first "major" release through Warner Bros. The album features guest appearances from Pharrell, Wiz Khalifa, Estelle, 2 Chainz, Wale, Marsha Ambrosius, Daz Dillinger, Big K.R.I.T., Fiend, Corner Boy P, Young Roddy, Trademark da Skydiver, and Smoke DZA.

<i>Quality Street Music</i> 2012 studio album by DJ Drama

Quality Street Music is the fourth studio album by American hip hop disc jockey DJ Drama. It was released on October 2, 2012, by Entertainment One Music, Aphilliates Music Group, Embassy Entertainment, and Powerhouse Productions. The album features guest appearances from Kendrick Lamar, Childish Gambino, T-Pain, Fabolous, Jeezy, Drake, Future, Nipsey Hussle, Wiz Khalifa, T.I., Ludacris, 2 Chainz, B.o.B., Kid Ink, Jeremih, Meek Mill, Waka Flocka Flame, Tyler, the Creator, among others.

<i>Stay Trippy</i> 2013 studio album by Juicy J

Stay Trippy is the third solo studio album by American rapper Juicy J. The album was released on August 27, 2013, by Kemosabe Records and Columbia Records. The album was Juicy J's first solo album since distancing himself from Three 6 Mafia and joining Wiz Khalifa's Taylor Gang Records, who makes three appearances on the album.

<i>M.O.</i> (album) 2013 studio album by Nelly

M.O. is the seventh studio album by American hip hop recording artist Nelly. The album was released on September 30, 2013, by Republic Records, as the follow-up to his sixth album, 5.0 (2010). The album is preceded by the release of its lead single, "Hey Porsche", released on February 19, 2013, and reached number forty-two on the US Billboard Hot 100. "Get Like Me", featuring Nicki Minaj and Pharrell, premiered online on June 18, 2013, and was officially released on July 2, 2013, as the album's second single. The album features guest appearances from Nicki Minaj, Pharrell, Future, T.I., Daley, 2 Chainz, Trey Songz, Fabolous, Wiz Khalifa, Florida Georgia Line, Nelly Furtado and Yo Gotti.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beat It (Sean Kingston song)</span> 2013 single by Sean Kingston featuring Chris Brown and Wiz Khalifa

"Beat It" is a song by American singer Sean Kingston, featuring vocals from American singer Chris Brown and rapper Wiz Khalifa. The song is the second single from Kingston's third studio album, Back 2 Life. It was released on April 15, 2013, as a digital download. The song was written by Kisean Anderson, Cameron Thomaz, Omari Akinlolu and Nicholas Balding.

<i>The Gifted</i> (album) 2013 studio album by Wale

The Gifted is the third studio album by American rapper Wale. The album was released on June 25, 2013 by Allido Records, Maybach Music Group and Atlantic Records. The production on the album was handled by multiple producers including Just Blaze, Jake One, Kane Beatz, Cardiak, The Runners and Lee Major among others. The album also features guest appearances from Meek Mill, Nicki Minaj, Rihanna, Ne-Yo, Rick Ross, Wiz Khalifa and 2 Chainz among others.

The 2011 BET Hip Hop Awards was held on October 11, 2011 at Atlanta Civic Center in the ATL. The show were hosted by Mike Epps. The most nominated act of the ceremony was Lil Wayne with 18 nods, followed by Kanye West and Wiz Khalifa with 9. Rick Ross was the third most nominated with 8 nods, while Chris Brown and Nicki Minaj each scored 6.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Faulkner, Brent. "Sean Kingston: Back 2 Life". PopMatters. Retrieved October 1, 2013.
  2. "Tracklisting: Sean Kingston – 'Back 2 Life'". Rap-Up . October 18, 2010. Retrieved August 13, 2013.
  3. "iTunes - Music - Back 2 Life by Sean Kingston". iTunes. February 3, 1990. Retrieved August 13, 2013.
  4. "iTunes - Music - Letting Go (Dutty Love) [feat. Nicki Minaj] - Single by Sean Kingston". iTunes. July 23, 2010. Retrieved August 13, 2013.
  5. "Video: Sean Kingston f/ Nicki Minaj – 'Letting Go (Dutty Love)'". Rap-Up . Retrieved August 13, 2013.
  6. "iTunes - Music - Dumb Love - Single by Sean Kingston". iTunes. September 7, 2010. Retrieved August 13, 2013.
  7. "iTunes - Music - Party All Night (Sleep All Day) - Single by Sean Kingston". iTunes. December 21, 2010. Retrieved August 13, 2013.
  8. "Video: Sean Kingston – 'Party All Night (Sleep All Day)'". Rap-Up . December 23, 2010. Retrieved August 13, 2013.
  9. "iTunes - Music - Back 2 Life (Live It Up) [feat. T.I.] - Single by Sean Kingston". iTunes. June 5, 2012. Archived from the original on June 9, 2012. Retrieved August 13, 2013.
  10. "Video: Sean Kingston f/ T.I. – 'Back 2 Life'". Rap-Up . Retrieved August 13, 2013.
  11. "iTunes - Music - Rum and Raybans (feat. Cher Lloyd) - Single by Sean Kingston". Itunes.apple.com. November 16, 2012. Retrieved August 13, 2013.
  12. "Video: Sean Kingston f/ Cher Lloyd – 'Rum and Raybans'". Rap-Up.com. November 18, 2012. Retrieved August 13, 2013.
  13. "iTunes - Music - Beat It (feat. Chris Brown & Wiz Khalifa) - Single by Sean Kingston". iTunes. April 15, 2013. Retrieved August 13, 2013.
  14. "Video: Sean Kingston f/ Chris Brown & Wiz Khalifa – 'Beat It'". Rap-Up. April 29, 2013. Retrieved August 13, 2013.
  15. "Video: Sean Kingston f/ Wale – 'Seasonal Love'". Rap-Up . Retrieved September 19, 2013.
  16. 1 2 David Jeffries (September 10, 2013). "Back 2 Life - Sean Kingston | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved September 19, 2013.
  17. "Sean Kingston Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved December 26, 2013.