Brand New (Salt-n-Pepa album)

Last updated
Brand New
Salt-N-Pepa - Brand New.png
Studio album by
ReleasedOctober 21, 1997 (1997-10-21)
Studio
Length57:27
Label London
Producer
Salt-N-Pepa chronology
Very Necessary
(1993)
Brand New
(1997)
The Best of Salt-N-Pepa
(1999)
Singles from Brand New
  1. "R U Ready"
    Released: August 29, 1997
  2. "Gitty Up"
    Released: December 7, 1997

Brand New is the fifth studio album by American hip hop group Salt-N-Pepa, released on October 21, 1997, by London Records. The group's international label at the time, Red Ant Entertainment, filed for bankruptcy before the album was officially released. Salt-N-Pepa toured in support of the album, but the album had little other promotion. Brand New spawned two singles: "R U Ready" and "Gitty Up". The album was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on November 25, 1997.

Contents

Production

Brand New was the first Salt-N-Pepa album released after the group parted ways with longtime producer, writer, and manager Hurby "Luv Bug" Azor. [1] Instead, Salt largely wrote, co-wrote, and co-produced the album. [2]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [3]
Robert Christgau Scissors icon black.svg [4]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [5]
Entertainment Weekly B− [6]
Music Week Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [7]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [8]

Natasha Stovall of Rolling Stone praised the "richer piano-, guitar- and vocal-filled sound, emphasizing gritty soul and sweet, unadulterated funk." [8] Jon Pareles of The New York Times wrote that the group "still juxtapose catchy come-ons ... and determinedly positive messages." [9] Connie Johnson of the Los Angeles Times wrote that "while it's commendable that they're stretching out in a more uplifting, spiritually motivated arena, the group's forte is still worldly, raunchy, of-the-flesh fare." [10]

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."R U Ready"
3:58
2."Good Life"
  • C. James
  • Maurice Scott
  • Richard Evans
  • Bernard Grobman
  • Gavin Wray
  • C. James
  • Elliott [a]
3:54
3."Do Me Right"
  • C. James
  • David Blake
  • Robert Bacon
  • George Archie
  • Wilbert Milow
  • D.J. Walker
  • C. James
  • Josef Powell
4:36
4."Friends" (featuring Queen Latifah and Mad Lion)
  • Powell
  • Sandra "Pepa" Denton
4:42
5."Say Ooh"
  • Elliott
  • C. James [b]
4:09
6."Imagine" (featuring Sheryl Crow)
  • C. James
  • Powell
  • C. James
  • Powell [a]
5:26
7."Knock Knock"
  • Denton
  • Powell
  • Earnest Hairston Jr.
  • David Wynn
  • Powell
  • Denton
  • David "D.J." Wynn
4:32
8."Gitty Up"
  • Elliott
  • West
4:00
9."Boy Toy"
  • Elliott
  • West
  • Denton [b]
4:24
10."Brand New"
  • C. James
  • Sean "The Mystro" Mather
  • Esmail
  • Powell [a]
4:05
11."Silly of You"
  • C. James
  • Keef James
C. James3:52
12."The Clock Is Tickin'"C. JamesC. James4:51
13."Hold On" (featuring Kirk Franklin and Sounds of Blackness)
  • C. James
  • Powell
  • C. James
  • Powell [a]
5:06

Notes

Samples

Personnel

Charts

Chart performance for Brand New
Chart (1997)Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA) [11] 186
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [12] 64
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [13] 23
US Billboard 200 [14] 37
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) [15] 16

Certifications

Certifications for Brand New
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA) [16] Gold500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Notes

  1. Tracks 1, 4, 10 and 11
  2. Track 1
  3. Tracks 1, 5 and 8
  4. Tracks 2, 11 and 13
  5. Tracks 2, 3, 5–7 and 10–13
  6. Tracks 3, 4, 6 and 7
  7. Track 4
  8. Track 6
  9. Tracks 6 and 12
  10. Track 9
  11. Tracks 10 and 12
  12. Track 13

Related Research Articles

<i>Life After Death</i> 1997 studio album by the Notorious B.I.G.

Life After Death is the second and final studio album by American rapper the Notorious B.I.G., released on March 25, 1997, on Bad Boy Records and Arista Records. A double album, it was released sixteen days after his murder. It features collaborations with guest artists such as 112, Jay-Z, Lil' Kim, Mase, Bone Thugs-n-Harmony, Too $hort, Angela Winbush, D.M.C. of Run-D.M.C., R. Kelly, the Lox, and Puff Daddy. Life After Death exhibits the Notorious B.I.G. further delving into the mafioso rap subgenre. The album is a sequel to his first album, Ready to Die, and picks up where the last song, "Suicidal Thoughts", ends.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Salt-N-Pepa</span> American girl group

Salt-N-Pepa is an American hip hop group formed in New York City in 1985, that comprised Salt, Pepa, and DJ Spinderella. Their debut album, Hot, Cool & Vicious (1986), sold more than 1 million copies in the US, making them the first female rap act to achieve gold and platinum status by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The album included the single, "Push It", which was released in 1987 as the B-side to their single "Tramp", and peaked within the top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100.

<i>One Wish: The Holiday Album</i> 2003 studio album by Whitney Houston

One Wish: The Holiday Album is the sixth studio album by American singer Whitney Houston. It was released by Arista Records on November 18, 2003. Chiefly produced by Mervyn Warren, the album is a follow-up to her fifth studio album, Just Whitney (2002), as well as her first Christmas album. One Wish features cover versions of Christmas standards and carols, one of which is a duet with Houston's daughter Bobbi Kristina Brown. The album also includes "Joy to the World" and "Who Would Imagine a King," both of which first appeared on The Preacher's Wife soundtrack (1996).

<i>My Way</i> (Usher album) 1997 studio album by Usher

My Way is the second studio album by American singer Usher. It was released on September 16, 1997, by LaFace Records in North America. The album features guest appearances from Monica, Jermaine Dupri, and Lil' Kim. The album was supported by three singles, all multi platinum-selling: "Nice & Slow", "My Way", and "You Make Me Wanna...".

<i>Quality</i> (Talib Kweli album) 2002 studio album by Talib Kweli

Quality is the first studio album by American rapper Talib Kweli. The album was released on November 19, 2002, by Rawkus Records. It received wide critical acclaim and had some commercial appeal from the song "Get By", produced by Kanye West. Kludge magazine included it on their list of best albums of 2002.

<i>Born into the 90s</i> 1992 studio album by R. Kelly and Public Announcement

Born into the 90's [sic] is R. Kelly's collaboration album with his group Public Announcement. Released in January 1992, the album became an R&B hit with the success of singles such as "She's Got That Vibe", "Dedicated," and Kelly's first two #1 R&B hits: "Honey Love," and "Slow Dance ." Honey Love topped the Billboard R&B Singles chart for 2 weeks, while "She's Got That Vibe" and "Slow Dance " hit the Top 40 respectively. By June 1992, Born into the 90's was eventually certified platinum and picked up an American Music Award nomination for Favorite Soul/R&B Single. This would be R. Kelly's only album with Public Announcement as he separated from the group before he began recording his next album.

<i>Dance with My Father</i> (album) 2003 studio album by Luther Vandross

Dance with My Father is the thirteenth and final studio album by American R&B/soul singer Luther Vandross. It was released by J Records on June 10, 2003 in the United States and served as the follow-up to his self-titled studio album (2001). The album, especially its title track, was dedicated to Vandross's late father and features production credits from Nat Adderley Jr., Shep Crawford, and Marcus Miller as well as guest appearances by singer Beyoncé, R&B trio Next, and rappers Foxy Brown, Queen Latifah, and Busta Rhymes.

<i>Destinys Child</i> (album) 1998 studio album by Destinys Child

Destiny's Child is the debut studio album by American R&B group of the same name, released by Ruffhouse, Columbia Records and Music World Entertainment on February 17, 1998. It features the singles "No, No, No" and "With Me", both of which preceded the album. "Killing Time" was also featured in "Men in Black: The Album" and released as a promotional single in 1997. Prior to release, the album was set to be called "Bridges". The album spent twenty six weeks on the US Billboard 200 chart and peaked at number sixty-seven. To date the album has sold a total of 831,000 copies in America. In the United Kingdom, it reached the top fifty, peaking at number forty-five. It was re-packaged and re-released in several countries after the success of the follow-up album, The Writing's on the Wall (1999). The album was met with generally favorable reviews from music critics, including AllMusic and Rolling Stone, and won a Soul Train Lady of Soul Award for Best R&B/Soul Album of the Year.

<i>Winner in You</i> 1986 studio album by Patti LaBelle

Winner in You is the eighth studio album by American R&B singer Patti LaBelle. It was released by MCA Records on April 28, 1986, in the United States. Recording sessions took place during 1985–1986. Production was handled by several record producers, including Burt Bacharach, Carole Bayer Sager, and Nickolas Ashford, among others.

<i>Pleasures U Like</i> 2001 studio album by Jon B

Pleasures U Like is the third studio album by American singer Jon B. Released on March 20, 2001 in the United States, it marked his first album under Tracey Edmonds' label Edmonds Record Group which was formed after Jon's previous label home Yab Yum Records had folded. On Pleasures U Like, Jon reunites with past producers Babyface and Tim Kelley and Bob Robinson, who each produced one song. Also present on the album is the team of musician Joshua P. Thompson.

<i>Playlist</i> (Babyface album) 2007 studio album by Babyface

Playlist is the seventh studio album by American singer Babyface. It was released by Mercury Records on September 18, 2007 in the United States. His debut with the then-newly re-launched label, Playlist consists of eight covers of folk and soft rock songs and two original compositions. The album reached the top ten on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. Its lead single, the James Taylor cover "Fire and Rain," became a hit on the US Adult Contemporary chart.

<i>Lisa Stansfield</i> (album) 1997 studio album by Lisa Stansfield

Lisa Stansfield is the fourth solo studio album by British singer Lisa Stansfield, released by Arista Records on 21 March 1997. It was her first new studio album since 1993's So Natural. Stansfield co-wrote most songs for the album with her husband Ian Devaney. The tracks were produced by Devaney and Peter Mokran. Lisa Stansfield garnered favourable reviews from music critics and was commercially successful, reaching number two in the United Kingdom and receiving Gold certification. In the United States, it spawned four number-one singles on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Songs. Lisa Stansfield was rereleased as a deluxe 2CD + DVD set in Europe in November 2014.

<i>Bringing Back the Funk</i> 2008 studio album by Brian Culbertson

Bringing Back the Funk is a studio album by Brian Culbertson released in 2008 on GRP Records. The album reached No. 3 on the Billboard Jazz Albums chart and No. 15 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart.

<i>The Sweetest Days</i> 1994 studio album by Vanessa Williams

The Sweetest Days is the third studio album by American singer Vanessa Williams, released on December 6, 1994, by Wing Records and Mercury Records. The album peaked at number 57 on the US Billboard 200 and at number 25 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, and has been certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

<i>Give the Drummer Some</i> 2011 studio album by Travis Barker

Give the Drummer Some is the debut solo studio album by American drummer Travis Barker. Barker had earlier announced that the album would be slated for a September 14, 2010 release, but was later pushed back, with the album being released on March 15, 2011. The album, released under Interscope Records, was produced by the drummer himself, alongside The Neptunes, RZA, Kool Kojak, Chuck Inglish, Transplants, Kid Cudi, edIT, Corey Taylor and Steve Aoki. The album debuted at number nine on the US Billboard 200 chart, with first-week sales of 28,000 copies in the United States.

<i>Always</i> (Pebbles album) 1990 studio album by Pebbles

Always is the second studio album by American recording artist Pebbles. It was released on September 11, 1990, by MCA Records and spawned two Top 20 hits on the U.S. Hot 100, which also hit #1 on the R&B chart: "Giving You the Benefit" and "Love Makes Things Happen", as well as the top-five R&B hit "Backyard", and the top 20 R&B hit "Always".

<i>Raw</i> (Alyson Williams album) 1989 studio album by Alyson Williams

Raw is the debut album by American singer Alyson Williams, released in 1989 on the Def Jam Recordings record label. It contains the singles "Sleep Talk" "My Love Is So Raw" and "I Need Your Lovin'".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gitty Up (song)</span> 1997 single by Salt-n-Pepa

"Gitty Up" is a song by American hip hop girl group Salt-N-Pepa from their fifth studio album, Brand New (1997). It was released as the album's second and final single. It samples "Another Brick in the Wall Part 2" by Pink Floyd. The song also samples the bass line and the lyric "Say what?" from the song "Give It to Me Baby" by Rick James.

<i>The Best of Salt-N-Pepa</i> 1999 greatest hits album by Salt-N-Pepa

The Best of Salt 'n Pepa is a greatest hits album by American hip hop trio Salt-N-Pepa. It was released in November 1999. The album featured tracks from their five studio albums, Hot, Cool & Vicious, A Salt with a Deadly Pepa, Blacks' Magic, Very Necessary and Brand New. A remixed version of their 1998 song "Gitty Up" was released as a single titled "The Brick Track Versus Gitty Up", which charted in the top 20 in Australia and New Zealand in 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rufus Blaq</span> American singer-songwriter

Rufus Blaq is an American rap artist, singer, songwriter and record producer. He has songwriting credits on records for Faith Evans, Angie Stone, Omarion, Queen Latifah, Marques Houston, and Salt-N-Pepa. He is most known for his single "Out of Sight (Yo)." He is also credited as Rufus Moore, Peekaboo, Mr. Blaq, Daddy Blaq, Electric Pretty, and Blaq The Ripper.

References

  1. Horn, Mark C. (June 18, 2015). "Salt-N-Pepa Discuss Their Career and Legacy as Hip-Hop's Matriarchs". Phoenix New Times . Archived from the original on June 23, 2015.
  2. Harrington, Richard (October 29, 1997). "Salt-N-Pepa's 'Brand New': Inspirational". The Washington Post .
  3. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Brand New – Salt-N-Pepa". AllMusic . Retrieved January 17, 2020.
  4. Christgau, Robert. "Robert Christgau: CG: Salt-N-Pepa". robertchristgau.com. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
  5. Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 7. Muze. p. 232.
  6. "Album Review: 'Brand New'". Entertainment Weekly .
  7. "Reviews: Albums" (PDF). Music Week . November 15, 1997. p. 10. Retrieved September 20, 2022.
  8. 1 2 Stovall, Natasha (October 1997). "Salt-N-Pepa, Brand New, 3 Stars". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on December 24, 2001.
  9. Pareles, Jon (October 26, 1997). "RECORDINGS VIEW; Rapping As Good Business". The New York Times . Archived from the original on May 27, 2015.
  10. Johnson, Connie (October 19, 1997). "Album Review". Los Angeles Times .
  11. "Salt-N-Pepa ARIA chart history, received from ARIA on June 15, 2021" . Retrieved June 19, 2021 via Imgur. Note: The "High Point" number in the "NAT" column indicates the release's peak position on the national chart.
  12. "Offiziellecharts.de – Salt 'N' Pepa – Brand New" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
  13. "Swisscharts.com – Salt 'N' Pepa – Brand New". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
  14. "Salt-N-Pepa Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
  15. "Salt-N-Pepa Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved January 17, 2020.
  16. "American album certifications – Salt 'N Pepa – Brand New". Recording Industry Association of America. November 25, 1997.