Dopamine | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by | ||||
Released | April 7, 2017 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 46:47 | |||
Label |
| |||
Mila J chronology | ||||
| ||||
Singles from Dopamine | ||||
|
Dopamine (stylised in all caps) is the debut studio album by American singer Mila J. It was released on April 7, 2017, through Silent Partner Entertainment and November Reign Records. [2] [3] [4] The album is entirely produced by iRich, who also happens to be featured as a vocalist on the track "I Do Love You." The name of the project is inspired by the book This Is Your Brain On Music by Daniel Levitin.
After being in two girl groups Gyrl and Dame Four and also appearing on tracks by RaRa, IMx, and Omarion, Mila J was set to release her original debut album Split Personality through The Ultimate Group and Universal Motown, but it was ultimately shelved. [5] [6] The album featured a number of appearances from artists on the T.U.G. roster, including proteges and its associates, such as Marques Houston, Young Rome, Rufus Blaq, and The Underdogs. Most of the songs were later used for her 2014 mixtape called Westside. [7] [8] From mid-2012 to early 2014, Mila returned to her career under the name Japollonia as an independent artist. [9] She later reverted to Mila J and released her debut extended play (EP) Made in L.A. (2014). [10] [11] The EP was originally intended to be released as a full-length album. [12]
In November 2015, Mila told Complex that her debut album would be released in 2016, stating: "It's been a while since anyone has heard something new from me, so I wanted to drop some new music for my fans while I'm working on my first full length studio album that will be released next year 2016." [13] Instead of an album, she released her second EP titled, 213 on June 16, 2016. [14]
On April 3, 2017, Mila confirmed the album title to be Dopamine. [15] Mila told Essence magazine the album title was inspired by Daniel Levitin's book This Is Your Brain On Music: The Science of a Human Obsession : "It really broke down how our brain reacts to music, what's released when we hear a song, and why we like certain music," she said. "Dopamine is that chemical that's released when things just feel good. It is that favorite song and that favorite band. And, I just feel very very happy and free." [16]
The first promotional single called "Fuckboy" was released on February 3, 2017. [17] The track lyrically blasts men who are only in relationships for sex, with Rap-Up stating that the anti-“Fuckboy” anthem "allows the R&B songstress to flex on an ex while empowering others to do the same." [18] The track has also been described as a "funky mid-tempo track". [19] The official lead single, "Move" was later released on February 14, 2017. [20] Its music video was unveiled on April 7 and was directed by Mila herself. [21] [22] The album's second single "La La Land" was released on April 3, 2017, and premiered via The Fader. [23] [2]
On April 21, 2017, Mila released a self-directed music video for the song "New Crib". [24] The music video shows Mila with a braided hairstyle, posing in front of a white backdrop. Also, an unbraided version of her is seen packing her belongings and moving into a new living space. [25]
The third and final single from the project "No Fux" was unveiled on May 12 accompanied by its self-directed music video. [26] [27] Speaking to Essence about the song and video, Mila says, "I wanted to present it in a pretty way. It sounds pretty, but what I’m saying is pretty real. And, as you follow the story, towards the end ‘No Fux’ is kind of showcasing those vulnerable moments in love." [16]
Tour by Mila J | |
Associated album | Dopamine |
---|---|
Start date | 24 March 2017 |
End date | 23 April 2017 |
Legs | 1 |
No. of shows | 19 |
Supporting act(s) | iRich, Jacob Latimore |
To precede and promote the album, Mila embarked on the Move Tour through the United States. The 19-city even began on March 24, 2017 in Miami, Florida. [28] [29] “This tour will be fun and all about the fans that’s why I wanted to do it. So I want all of y’all to come out and have a good time with me! See YOU soon,” Mila said in a press release. [28]
Date | City | Country | Venue | |
---|---|---|---|---|
North America [28] | ||||
March 24, 2017 | Miami, Florida | United States | The Fillmore Miami | |
March 25, 2017 | Tampa, Florida | The Ritz Ybor | ||
March 26, 2017 | Orlando, Florida | House of Blues Orlando | ||
March 30, 2017 | Atlanta, Georgia | Howard Theatre Atlanta | ||
March 31, 2017 | Detroit, Michigan | Saint Andrew's Hall | ||
April 1, 2017 | Ann Arbor, Michigan | Blind Pig | ||
April 2, 2017 | Chicago, Illinois | Credit Union 1 Arena | ||
April 6, 2017 | Cleveland, Ohio | The Foundry | ||
April 7, 2017 | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Theatre of Living Arts | ||
April 8, 2017 | New York City, New York | Sound of Brazil | ||
April 9, 2017 | Boston, Massachusetts | City Winery | ||
April 13, 2017 | Washington, D.C. | Howard Theatre | ||
April 14, 2017 | Dallas, Texas | The Cambridge Room at House of Blues | ||
April 15, 2017 | Houston, Texas | The Bronze Peacock at House of Blues Houston | ||
April 16, 2017 | Phoenix, Arizona | Celebrity Theatre | ||
April 20, 2017 | Denver, Colorado | Cervantes' Masterpiece Ballroom | ||
April 21, 2017 | San Francisco, California | Fort 1 SF | ||
April 22, 2017 | Sacramento, California | Ace of Spades | ||
April 23, 2017 | Los Angeles, California | The Forum |
Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
HotNewHipHop | [30] |
Dopamine was met with generally positive reviews from music critics. At Album of the Year, a website that aggregate reviews of music albums, which assigns normalized scores based on user ratings, the album received an average score of 60, based on 8 ratings. [31] Adelle Platon of Billboard highlighted multiple songs from the album, such as "I Do Love You", "Fuckboy", and "Body". [1] Kevin Goddard of HotNewHipHop said, "Laced with 13 tracks in total, the follow-up to last year’s 213 EP features explicit slow jams and groovy bops. The album also features a lone appearance from multi-talented LA artist I Rich, who appears on the track I Do Love You." [30] Rap-Up.com added to their blog, "Mila J is giving fans a Dopamine rush with the release of her latest project." [32] Elle Breezy of Singersroom said that Dopamine features "slow jams and bangers in the style of her carefree brand of female empowerment." [33] [34]
All tracks produced by iRich.
All tracks are written by Mila J
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "No Fux" | 2:52 |
2. | "La La Land" | 3:16 |
3. | "Transform U" | 3:04 |
4. | "I Do Love You You" (featuring iRich) | 4:15 |
5. | "New Crib" | 4:29 |
6. | "Lit" | 3:26 |
7. | "Doomed" | 3:22 |
8. | "Longway" | 2:44 |
9. | "Move" | 2:47 |
10. | "Fuckboy" | 3:52 |
11. | "Drippin" | 4:31 |
12. | "Body" | 3:59 |
13. | "Bonfire" | 4:10 |
Chart (2017) | Peak position |
---|---|
US R&B Album Sales (Billboard) [36] | 21 |
Region | Date | Format | Label | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
United States | April 7, 2017 | Digital download |
| [4] |
United Kingdom | [3] | |||
Canada | [37] | |||
France | [38] |
John David Jackson, better known by his stage name Fabolous, is an American rapper. Raised in Brooklyn, he first gained recognition for his ability upon performing live on DJ Clue's Hot 97 radio show. Jackson then signed to Clue's record label Desert Storm Records, in a joint venture with Elektra Records. He rose to further prominence with his debut studio album Ghetto Fabolous (2001), which spawned the hit singles "Can't Deny It" and "Young'n ." Adopting a further commercially-oriented approach, his second album, Street Dreams (2003), was supported by the singles "Can't Let You Go" and "Into You" —both of which peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100.
Joseph Guillermo Jones II, better known by his stage name Jim Jones, is an American rapper, record producer and record executive. He is a founding member of the hip hop collective the Diplomats, which he formed in 1997 with fellow Harlem native Cam'ron.
Ramone Johnson, better known by his stage name Cashis, is an American rapper who was born and raised in Chicago, but moved to Irvine, California. He was most notably featured on the Shady Records album Eminem Presents: The Re-Up with Eminem and the record label, and released The County Hound EP in 2007. The County Hound EP sold 6,700 copies in its first week and debuted on the US Billboard 200 at number 106. He's best known for appearing on Eminem's song, "You Don't Know", featuring 50 Cent and Lloyd Banks.
The discography of Prodigy, an American rapper and one half of the hip hop duo Mobb Deep, consists of 6 studio albums, 3 collaborative albums, 1 EP, 5 mixtapes and 17 singles.
Bobby Ray Simmons Jr., known professionally as B.o.B, is an American rapper, singer, and record producer. Raised in Decatur, Georgia, Simmons signed with producer Jim Jonsin through his Rebel Rock Entertainment label in 2006. Two years later, he signed a joint venture recording contract with fellow Georgia rapper T.I.'s Grand Hustle Records, an imprint of Atlantic Records. Following his major-label deal, Simmons quickly achieved commercial success when his 2009 debut single, "Nothin' on You", peaked the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart and received three nominations—Record of the Year, Best Rap Song, and Best Rap/Sung Collaboration—at the 53rd Grammy Awards.
The discography of American rapper B.o.B consists of seven studio albums, five compilation albums, three extended plays (EPs), 26 mixtapes, 51 singles, 14 promotional singles, and 76 music videos.
Christian Berishaj, known professionally as JMSN(pronounced "Jameson"), is an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer. Born in Dallas, TX and raised in Detroit, Michigan, JMSN has been an influential figure in the contemporary R&B and alternative music scenes.
Jenice Dena Portlock, also known as Sabi, is an American pop singer, songwriter, dancer and actress from Los Angeles, California. She is best known for her guest appearance on Cobra Starship's 2011 single, "You Make Me Feel...", which peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100. Prior, she was part of the hip hop girl group the Bangz.
Shante Scott Franklin, better known by his stage name Currensy, is an American rapper. Born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, he signed with the regionally-based labels Cash Money Records and Young Money Entertainment in the mid-2000s, although he released no albums for both. He signed with DD172 to release four albums before signing with Warner Records to release his fifth album and major label debut, Weekend at Burnie's (2011). In February of that year, he founded the record label Jet Life Recordings.
Herbert Anthony Stevens IV, better known by his stage name Ab-Soul, is an American rapper. Raised in Carson, California, he signed to indie record label Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) in 2007, where he eventually formed West Coast hip hop group Black Hippy, alongside fellow California-based rappers Jay Rock, Kendrick Lamar and Schoolboy Q. He is perhaps most known for his introspective lyrics and his six independent albums under TDE, Longterm Mentality, Control System, These Days..., Do What Thou Wilt., Herbert, and Soul Burger, which were all released to positive reviews and commercial success.
Jamila Akiko Aba Chilombo, known professionally as Mila J, is an American singer, rapper, and songwriter. Born and raised in Los Angeles, she is the older sister of R&B singer Jhené Aiko and is known for being in Prince's video for "Diamonds and Pearls" and appearing on tracks by RaRa, IMx, Trey Songz and Omarion. She released several singles in 2006–2009 under the name "Mila J" and then went on a hiatus for a number of years after the shelving of her original debut studio album, Split Personality, before returning as "Japollonia" in 2012 and then reverting to Mila J a year later.
Rory William Quigley, known professionally as Harry Fraud, is an American record producer. Primarily a hip hop producer, Fraud began producing at an early age and began interning at a recording studio after graduating from high school. First discovered by French Montana during a recording session in Chinatown in early 2009, Fraud has since worked on each of his releases and become a fixture in the New York underground hip hop scene. He was credited on Montana's 2012 single, "Shot Caller", which became one of the most added tracks on urban contemporary radio during 2011–2012.
Christian Talcott Webster, better known by his stage name Chris Webby, is an American rapper from Norwalk, Connecticut. Webster has released many mixtapes such as the DJ Drama-hosted Bars On Me (2012) and his EP There Goes the Neighborhood (2011), which peaked at number 101 on the Billboard 200. He has worked with various artists such as Freeway, Mac Miller, Joell Ortiz, Big K.R.I.T., Method Man, Apathy, Prodigy, Bun B, Tech N9ne, Jarren Benton and Kid Ink. In 2013 he and his label, Homegrown Music, signed a deal with E1 Music. He then released Homegrown, another EP, in November 2012. Webster released his debut studio album Chemically Imbalanced on October 27, 2014.
Sail Out is the debut extended play (EP) by American recording artist Jhené Aiko, released on November 12, 2013 through Def Jam Recordings. It was Aiko's first release under the label after leaving her contract with Sony Music in 2003. After leaving Sony Music, Aiko released her first mixtape Sailing Soul(s) (2011), independently; the mixtape featured appearances from well-known artists and was met with generally positive reviews and was nominated for Best Urban Contemporary Album at the 57th Annual Grammy Awards. . In 2012, Aiko met with American record producer and vice president of A&R at Def Jam No I.D., who ended up signing Aiko to his Artium Records imprint, through Def Jam.
Nyle Kalin Parrish, better known by his stage name Clyde Carson, is an American rapper from Oakland, California. He formed the local hip hop trio the Team in the early 2000s, with whom he released four studio albums. After their third album World Premiere (2006), the group went on hiatus and Carson signed with fellow California-based rapper The Game's The Black Wall Street Records, in a joint venture with Capitol Records to release his debut extended play Doin' That (2006).
Denzel Rae Don Curry is an American rapper. Born and raised in Miami Gardens, Florida, Curry started rapping while in the sixth grade and began working on his first mixtape, King Remembered Underground Tape 1991–1995, in 2011, which was influenced by underground Florida rapper SpaceGhostPurrp. The mixtape was later featured on SpaceGhostPurrp's social media, giving Curry attention in the local music scene and resulting in him joining the former's hip-hop collective Raider Klan.
Deja Monét Trimble, known professionally as Dej Loaf, is an American rapper and singer from Detroit, Michigan. She is best known for her 2014 single "Try Me" and its 2015 follow-up, "Back Up". The latter received platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and served as lead single for her debut extended play ...And See That's the Thing (2015), which was released by Columbia Records. Both songs, along with her guest appearance on Kid Ink's 2015 single "Be Real", peaked within the top 50 of the Billboard Hot 100. Her debut studio album, Sell Sole II (2020), was met with positive critical reception despite failing to chart.
Made in L.A. (M.I.L.A.) is the debut extended play (EP) by American R&B recording artist Mila J. It was released on October 14, 2014, by Motown Records. The EP features guest appearances by B.o.B, with the production, which was provided by DJ Mustard, among others. The EP was supported by two singles: "Smoke, Drink, Break-Up" and "My Main" featuring Ty Dolla Sign.
Nathan John Feuerstein, known by his initials NF, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. He has released two EPs, I'm Free (2012), and a self-titled EP in 2014 with Capitol CMG. His second and first major-label studio album, Mansion, was released on March 31, 2015. His third studio album, Therapy Session, was released on April 22, 2016, and peaked at number 12 on the US Billboard 200. His albums have earned several accolades, some of which include the Gospel Music Association Dove Award for Rap/Hip Hop Album of the Year in 2016 and the Rap/Hip Hop Recorded Song of the Year in 2017.
American rapper Lil Debbie has released one compilation album, four extended plays (EPs), two mixtapes, seventeen singles and nineteen music videos.