Mary is the fourth studio album by American singer Mary J. Blige, released August 17, 1999, on MCA Records. The album debuted at number two on the Billboard 200 chart, selling 239,000 copies in its first week. It spent 57 weeks on the chart and produced five charting singles. Upon its release, Mary received acclaim from music critics. It has been certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America for sales of two million units in the United States.
"I Believe" is the debut single of American Idol third season winner Fantasia. The song was co-written by Louis Biancaniello, Sam Watters, and former American Idol contestant Tamyra Gray. Released in the United States on June 15, 2004, "I Believe" debuted at number one on the US Billboard Hot 100, selling 142,000 copies during its first week and winning three Billboard awards. The song also reached number one on the Canadian Singles Chart and number four on Australia's ARIA Singles Chart. It was included on Fantasia's debut album, Free Yourself, released on November 23, 2004.
"Truth Is" is the first single released by Fantasia from her debut album, Free Yourself. The song peaked at number twenty-one on the Billboard Hot 100 and had great success on the US R&B 100 chart, peaking at number two and setting a record for the longest stay at number one for a female artist on the Billboard Adult R&B Airplay chart, with fourteen consecutive weeks. In 2006, Truth Is, along with "Free Yourself", won an ASCAP R&B/Hip-Hop award.
"Baby Mama" is a song by American singer Fantasia from her debut studio album, Free Yourself (2004). It was written by Vito Colapietro, Neely Dinkins, Harold Lilly, and produced by Lilly and duo Colapietro and Dinkins under their production moniker The Co-Stars. The song samples from "There Will Never Be Any Peace " by American vocal quartet The Chi-Lites; thus, Eugene Record and Barbara Acklin are also credited as songwriters. The song was released on May 3, 2005, as the third single from the album. "Baby Mama" was a moderate commercial success in the United States, peaking at number sixteen on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and #60 on the Billboard Hot 100.
"Free Yourself" is a song by American singer Fantasia. It was written by rapper Missy Elliott, Craig Brockman, and Nisan Stewart for her debut album of the same name (2004), while production was helmed by Elliott, with Brockman credited as co-producer. The song was released as the album's fourth single on June 1, 2005 in United States where it peaked at number forty-one on the Billboard Hot 100, number three on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and number one on the Adult R&B Airplay chart. "Free Yourself" was nominated for two Grammy Awards, and is the winner of an ASCAP Rhythm and Soul Award.
"Do for Love" was the second and final posthumously released single by Tupac Shakur from his second posthumous album R U Still Down? .
Fantasia is the second studio album by American recording artist Fantasia. It was released by J Records on December 12, 2006 in the United States. Fantasia reteamed with Harold Lilly, Swizz Beatz and Missy Elliott and her team – all of which had contributed to her debut album to work on the project. The label also consulted new collaborators to record with her, including Babyface, Dre & Vidal, Kwamé, and Midi Mafia. Elliott, rapper Big Boi and Fantasia's brother Ricco appear as guest vocalists on the album.
"Hood Boy" is a song by American singer Fantasia featuring American rapper Big Boi, from her second and eponymous studio album (2006). It was released as the album's lead single by J Records on November 14, 2006. "Hood Boy" was written by Johnta Austin, Anthony McIntyre and Antwan Patton, and produced by Austin and the Canadian production team Tone Mason. It samples the introduction of the Supremes' 1967 single, "The Happening". An uptempo R&B and hip hop song, "Hood Boy" explores Fantasia's appreciation for thugs.
Soulful is the debut studio album from second-season American Idol winner Ruben Studdard, released on December 9, 2003 by J Records. The record received mixed reviews from critics divided over the quality of the track listing and Ruben's vocal performance. Soulful debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 and spawned two singles: "Sorry 2004" and "What If".
Based on a True Story is the debut album by American singer Lil' Mo. It was released on June 26, 2001, through Elektra Records and Warner Music Group. Created over a period of three years, in which its original version was delayed numerous times following arguments with Elektra executives over her image and material, and with preceding singles such as "5 Minutes" and "Ta Da" failing to chart noticeably on the mainstream charts, it went through major reconstructions throughout its creation process. Lil' Mo worked with production duo Flavahood on the majority of the album, with Shep Crawford, Duro and DJ Clue also contributing.
"When I See U" is a song recorded by American singer Fantasia Barrino for her second studio album, Fantasia (2006). It written by Louis Biancaniello, Waynne Nugent, Erika Nuri, Kevin Risto, Janet Sewell, Sam Watters, and produced by Midi Mafia along with Mzmeriq. A R&B ballad, it was released to positive reviews by critics as the album's second single in April 2007. Its digital release spawned several remixes, three of which featured rappers Remy Ma, Young Jeezy, Lumidee, B.G. and Polow da Don.
Soulshock & Karlin is a Danish songwriting/production duo, consisting of Carsten Schack and Kenneth Karlin. They have produced many successful songs, including 2Pac's "Do for Love", Monica's "Before You Walk Out of My Life", Whitney Houston's "Heartbreak Hotel", JoJo's "Leave ", and Toni Braxton's "I Love Me Some Him". In a reference to a famous commercial, in March 2001 Arena Magazine called the team "probably the best R&B producers in the world".
So Damn Happy is the thirty-fifth studio album by American singer Aretha Franklin. Her first studio album in five years, the album featured the Grammy Award-winning track "Wonderful", a single co-written and produced by Ron "Amen-Ra" Lawrence.
"Respect Yourself" is a song by American R&B/gospel group the Staple Singers. Released in late 1971 from their album Be Altitude: Respect Yourself, the song became a crossover hit. The Staple Singers' version peaked at No. 12 on the Hot 100, No. 2 on the Hot Soul Singles chart, and is one of the group's most recognizable hits. In 2002, the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, and in 2010 it was ranked #468 on the Rolling Stone list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, moving down 4 spots from #464 in 2004.
Klymaxx is the fourth studio album by Klymaxx, released in 1986.
Back to Me is the third studio album by American singer Fantasia. It was released by J Records on August 24, 2010. Her first project in four years, much of the album was conceived after Fantasia had ventured into musical acting, starring as Celie in the Broadway musical The Color Purple, with production provided by Chuck Harmony, Jim Jonsin, Los Da Mystro, Pop & Oak and others. The album's title was suggested to her by comedian Steve Harvey, when Barrino visited his morning radio program.
Thought 'Ya Knew is the second solo studio album by American singer-songwriter CeCe Peniston, released on January 10, 1994, by A&M Records, and on February 10 in Japan. For this album, Peniston once again collaborated with Chicago-based producer Steve "Silk" Hurley, along with other producers Carsten Schack and Kenneth Karlin from Denmark, David Morales, Sir Jinx, and on one track also with the multiple Grammy Award-nominee Brian McKnight.
Lost in Time is the fifth studio album by American R&B recording artist Eric Benét, released November 30, 2010 on Reprise Records. It is the follow-up to Love & Life (2008). Production for the album took place during 2010 at various recording studios and was handled by Benét, George Nash, Jr., and Demonté Posey. Lost in Time contains musical elements of 1970s soul music and features guest appearances by Chrisette Michele, Faith Evans, Eddie Levert, Ledisi, and Benét's daughter, India.
Condensate is the fifth studio album by the American funk ensemble The Original 7ven, formerly known as The Time. Released on October 18, 2011, the album was the group's first release in 21 years. Condensate peaked at number 58 on the US Billboard 200 album chart and number 10 on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. "#Trendin" was also released as a single and reached number 77 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
Strength of a Woman is the thirteenth studio album by American R&B singer-songwriter Mary J. Blige. It was released on April 28, 2017, by Capitol Records. A pre-divorce album with heavy adult contemporary trap sounds, Blige co-wrote most of the album with American musicians Brandon "B.A.M" Hodge and DJ Camper, while additional production was provided by BadBadNotGood, Bigg D, Hit-Boy, Kaytranada, Lamb, and Neff-U. Strength of a Woman's subject matter was inspired by her personal journey of marital struggle and heartache which culminated in her separation from her manager Kendu Isaacs in 2016.
