Lynise Walters, known professionally as Queen Pen, is an American rapper. Born in Brooklyn, New York City, she was discovered by producer Teddy Riley at an IHOP restaurant in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Riley later invited her to "spit lyrics" for Blackstreet's 1996 single "No Diggity", which became her and Riley's most successful recording. Walters signed with Riley's Lil Man Records, an imprint of Interscope Records to release her debut album, My Melody (1997), which spawned the single, "All My Love" peaking at number 28 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album contained production largely handled by Riley and writing contributions from fellow Brooklyn native Jay-Z.
Monica Denise Arnold is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Born and raised in College Park, Georgia, she began performing as a child and joined a traveling gospel choir by the age of ten. Monica signed with record producer Dallas Austin through his label Rowdy Records in 1993, and gained prominence following the release of her debut studio album, Miss Thang (1995). Her follow up releases were met with further commercial success; her second, The Boy Is Mine (1998) remains her best-selling album and spawned three Billboard Hot 100-number one singles: "The Boy Is Mine", "The First Night" and "Angel of Mine".
Confessions is the fourth studio album by American singer Usher. It was released on March 23, 2004, by Arista Records. Recording sessions for the album took place during 2003 to 2004, with its production handled by his longtime collaborator Jermaine Dupri, along with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis and Lil Jon, among others. Primarily an R&B album, Confessions showcases Usher as a crooner through a mixture of ballads and up-tempos, incorporating musical genres of dance-pop, hip hop and crunk. The album's themes generated controversy about Usher's personal relationships; however, the album's primary producer Jermaine Dupri claimed the album reflects Dupri's own personal story.
Mario Dewar Barrett, known mononymously as Mario, is an American R&B singer. Born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland, he signed a record deal with J Records at the age of 14 and released his self-titled debut studio album (2002) to commercial success. It contained the Billboard Hot 100-top five single, "Just a Friend 2002." His second album, Turning Point (2004) was supported by the single "Let Me Love You," which peaked atop the chart, won two Billboard Music Awards, received a Grammy Award nomination, and remains his most commercially successful release.
Albert Johnson, better known by his stage name Prodigy, was an American rapper and record producer.
Def Soul Records was an R&B-based division of American multinational record label Def Jam Recordings. It was formed in 1996 by Russell Simmons and Kevin Liles to expand R&B and soul music through Def Jam's said genre-related roster following the successes of Montell Jordan and Case.
"He Is" is a song recorded by American singer Brandy for her third studio album Full Moon (2002). It was written by Warryn Campbell, Harold Lilly and Brandy, with production handled by Campbell and the latter. Conceived during spiritual discussions with the singer, Campbell and Lilly conceptualized the pop and R&B-influenced ballad secretly as a gospel song, as they were keen to hear her sing a religious track, a genre which Brandy declined to record at the time. Lyrically speaking about God in third person, she was unaware "He Is" was not a relationship-themed song when she recorded it.
Blood Money is the seventh studio album by Mobb Deep, released on May 2, 2006. It is the group's only album on G-Unit & Interscope. It features guest appearances by G-Unit and Nyce. The album also features artists Mary J. Blige and Nate Dogg. Blood Money is the only Mobb Deep studio album to not feature Big Noyd.
It's Me Again is the second studio album by American singer Tweet. It was released on March 21, 2005, by The Goldmind Inc. and Atlantic Records. The album debuted at number 17 on the US Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 55,000 copies.
"Free Your Mind" is a song by American female group En Vogue from their second album, Funky Divas (1992). The track was composed and produced by Foster and McElroy. They were inspired by the Funkadelic song "Free Your Mind and Your Ass Will Follow." The guitar and bass tracks for the song were written and recorded by San Francisco-based guitarist Jinx Jones. The opening line: "Prejudice, wrote a song about it. Like to hear it? Here it go!", is adapted from a line originally used by David Alan Grier's character Calhoun Tubbs from Fox's In Living Color.
Ain't Nothin' Like Me is the sixth studio album by American recording artist Joe, released by Jive Records after several delays on April 24, 2007 in the United States. A breakaway from previous projects, Joe co-wrote five songs on the album but left most of the writing and producing to his collaborators, including Bryan Michael Cox and Tank as well as production teams Tim & Bob, Cool & Dre, Stargate, and The Underdogs. Rappers Papoose, Nas, Fabolous, Young Buck, and Tony Yayo appear as guest vocalists.
"Sideline Ho" is a song by American singer Monica. It was written by Harvey Mason, Jr., Damon Thomas, Antonio Dixon, Eric Dawkins, Steve Russell, and Durrell "Tank" Babbs for her fourth studio album, The Makings of Me (2006). Production was helmed by Mason and Thomas under their production moniker The Underdogs, with Tank credited as co-producer of the song. "Sideline Ho" was released as the album's third single in the third quarter of 2006. It opened at number 77 on US Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart on early airplay alone, and achieved a peak of number 45 on that chart.
Jesse is the fourth and final studio album by American singer Jesse Powell. It was released on October 14, 2003 through D3 Entertainment, Monopoly Music and Riviera Records.
Hell and Back is the second studio album by rapper Drag-On. Originally scheduled for a September 16, 2003 release, the album was ultimately released February 10, 2004. It was released through Virgin Records and Ruff Ryders and featured production from the likes of Swizz Beatz and Rockwilder. Hell and Back was not as successful as his previous album, only peaking at number 47 on the Billboard 200, however it did fare better on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, peaking at number 5. The album featured one music video, for the song "Feel My Pain".
Chapter 2: The Voice is the third studio album by American singer Syleena Johnson. It was released by Jive Records on November 26, 2002 in the United States. While Johnson reteamed with R. Kelly and Joel Kipnis to work on the album, Chapter 2 includes a diverse roster of collaborators including Hi-Tek, Dwayne Bastiany, Mike Dunn and Scorpio as well as duo Carvin & Ivan who contributed four songs. Upon its release, it debuted and peaked at number 104 on the US Billboard 200 and entered the top 20 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. With "Tonight I'm Gonna Let Go", the album's lead single, Chapter 2 produced Johnson's first international top forty hit.
Sound Event is a 2002 studio album by American turntablist Rob Swift. It was released on Tableturns.
"No Panties" is a song by American rapper Trina, featuring American singer Tweet, from Trina's second studio album Diamond Princess (2002). Slip-n-Slide and Atlantic released it as the album's lead single on July 16, 2002. A hip hop song, it was written by Missy Elliott who co-produced it with Nisan Stewart. Trina raps throughout the song while Tweet, one of Elliott's protégés, performs the hook. Prior to recording the single, Trina was already close friends with Elliott and Tweet. The track was mixed in Miami, Florida. Dave Meyers directed the song's music video in Los Angeles, which portrays Trina and Tweet going on a shopping spree.
Hurricane is the third studio album by American R&B recording artist Eric Benét. It was released on June 21, 2005, on Friday Records, with distributing by Reprise Records. It is the follow-up to his second album A Day in the Life (1999) and follows the shelving of his Better and Better project for Warner Bros. Records. Recorded at various recording studios, the album was written and produced by Benét with several other producers, including Walter Afanasieff, Michael Carney, Hod David, David Foster, George Nash, Jr., and Demonté Posey.
3rd Storee is an American R&B group that was active in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Their debut single, "If Ever", peaked at No. 7 on the UK Singles Chart in June 1999. The group was best known in the mid-1990s for their gold-certified single "If Ever" and "Party Tonight" featuring Treach of the hip-hop duo, Naughty By Nature and RL of NEXT as well as their mature second iteration of the group appearance on the Rodney Jerkins produced single and music video "Get With Me" feat. Joe Budden.
"Laundromat" is a song by American singer Nivea from her 2002 self-titled debut album. Jive released it in the UK as a double A-side single along with "Don't Mess With My Man" on April 28, 2003. R. Kelly wrote and produced "Laundromat", and performed some uncredited vocals on the recording, which is an R&B and pop track. It was recorded and mixed in Chicago, and was one of the last songs to be produced for the album. The track is structured as a telephone call in which Nivea breaks up with her boyfriend, who is played by Kelly. The lyrics use the laundromat as a metaphor for the washing away of an old relationship.
