Despite being generally well-received by critics, Human debuted at number 15 on the US Billboard 200 with opening week sales of 73,000 copies, becoming Brandy's lowest-charting album since her eponymous debut (1994). As of 2012, Human has sold 214,000 copies in the United States, failing to match the commercial success of predecessors. While leading single "Right Here (Departed)" scored Brandy her biggest chart success since "Full Moon" (2002), the second and final "Long Distance" was not as commercially successful.
Human would become the only album Brandy recorded with Epic Records, after departing both the label and Roc Nation in 2009. Initially, the singer would reflect on disliking the album, blaming its lackluster performance on a lack of vision from all involved parties. However, in later years, Brandy has said she’s become fond of the album.
Background
In June 2004, Brandy released her fourth studio album Afrodisiac, amidst the well-publicized termination of her short-lived business relationship with record executive and entertainment manager Benny Medina.[3] Brandy ended her contract with his Los Angeles-based Handprint Entertainment after less than a year of representation following controversies surrounding Medina's handling of the lead single "Talk About Our Love", and failed negotiations of a purported co-headlining tour with fellow R&B singer Usher.[3] Despite the negative publicity, Afrodisiac emerged as Brandy's most critically acclaimed album by then, but became a moderate seller on most music markets.[4] The album debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 albums chart but while it went on to sell more than 416,000 copies in the United States,[5] it generally failed to chart or sell noticeably elsewhere.[6]Kanye West-produced "Talk About Our Love" reached number six on the UK Singles Chart but later singles such as "Afrodisiac" and "Who Is She 2 U" failed to score successfully on the popular music charts and promotion for the album soon ended.[7]
At the end of 2004, after eleven years with the company, Brandy asked for and received an unconditional release from her original label Atlantic Records.[8] By the time her contract expired, several of her longtime patrons such as music producer Darryl Williams and industry executive Sylvia Rhone had left the company and Brandy felt mismanaged by her new team of which she found was "looking more towards the hip-hop artists" on the label and "didn't know what to do with [her]."[7] Completing her contract with Atlantic Records, a compilation album compiling her first four studio albums with the company, entitled The Best of Brandy, was released in March 2005.[6] Thereupon, Brandy reportedly started shopping for a new record deal under Knockout Entertainment, her brother's Ray J's vanity label, which would co-venture her subsequent releases, including her fifth album, which she started recording independently.[9]
Recording and production
Brandy began recording the album in 2005.[10] Breaking away from her usual formula which saw her setting up projects with former main producers such as Keith Crouch, Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins and Timbaland, she entered the studio with several songwriters and producers to record new music, including Louis Winding and Frederik Tao from Danish production team Maximum Risk.[10] The duo produced several songs for Brandy, including both "Honey" and "Sweet Nothings," all of which were penned by frequent collaborator Kenisha Pratt.[10] Over the following months, Brandy continued recording contract-free with a vast of producers such as Rockwilder and production duo Tim & Bob who finished several demos with her.[11][12] Her new management also arranged further recording sessions with fellow client Bryan Michael Cox and his production partners Adonis Shropshire and WyldCard at the Track Record Studios in North Hollywood.[13] Supposed to produce her whole album at the time,[13] they worked on a number of ballads and midtempo songs reminiscent of their other productions, including a song called "Cry."[14] In June 2006, Cox announced that he would serve as the album's executive producer,[1] but direction changes resulting from additional sessions left his songs unused.[14]
In December 2006, Brandy was involved in a fatal automobile accident on Los Angeles' San Diego (405) Freeway.[15] The accident claimed the life of the 38-year-old driver of a Toyota that was struck by Brandy's Range Rover.[15] Brandy was neither arrested nor charged with vehicular manslaughter due to insufficient evidence.[15] Nevertheless, multiple lawsuits were filed against her, all of which were ultimately settled out of court by her civil attorney.[16] Posing an extraordinary hardship for Brandy and her family, she stepped down from her role as a judge on the second season of the amateur talent contest America's Got Talent and went into hiatus.[17] Expanding on dealing with the aftermath of the tragedy, Brandy explained, "I just wanted people to know that this wasn't news. It's not something that should be talked about like it's gossip. You don't like me? Fine. But don't use this situation to try to hurt me, because the guilt of being involved is enough. It's something that I'll never truly, truly get over."[18] While the accident put a halt on the album's production, Brandy soon resumed recording which she found to be therapeutic: "I had to face it and find the strength to move forward. Connecting back with music has definitely helped me through everything. Once I got back in the studio, the butterflies went away."[19]
With Jerkins as executive producer, early material for Human was left unused.
With most of the album being revamped,[14] other musicians joined the project, including Midi Mafia, RedOne, Toby Gad, Frank Ocean, Blac Elvis,[20] and Brian Kennedy,[21] the latter of which was consulted to replace Cox as the album's executive producer.[22] Together, they crafted a bunch of new songs, including "Freedom", "One Thing" and "Today" which Brandy later described as sounding "more true to the sound" that she had initially envisioned for the album.[10] However, in early 2008, her A&R manager, Brandon Creed, presented Brandy several demo tracks that were produced by Rodney Jerkins, including "Right Here (Departed)".[23] Her former main producer on previous albums such as Never Say Never (1998) and Full Moon (2002), Jerkins hadn't worked with Brandy since 2002, due to conflicting schedules and a disagreement on her decision to work with Timbaland on Afrodisiac in 2003.[24] Again, the album was reconstructed, with Jerkins taking over executive duties.[1] On her decision to collaborate with Jerkins, Brandy commented: "With Rodney being the person who produced [the first single], I, of course, wanted to go from there because of our history and all the music we have made in the past. It felt like the right thing to do [...] I wanted to see where that chemistry would take us creatively this time round."[25] With Jerkins on board, providing the bulk of Human, the sound of the album shifted drastically, with Brandy and her team abandoning most R&B records in favor of his international pop sounds.[1]
Introduced by the words of Brandy's description of a human being on "Human Intro", the album opens with Jerkins-crafted "The Definition", one of the few uptempo recordings on the album.[35] Written by Atlanta-based songwriter Crystal Johnson, the song depicts Brandy rhapsodizing about love.[35] It received generally mixed reviews, with The Boston Globe emphasizing it the most essential track on Human.[35] "Warm It Up (With Love)", another Darkchild production, was created around a pianosample and released to strong positive reactions.[36] Highlighted by AllMusic and Slant Magazine,[36]Newsday writer Glenn Gamboa noted it as "guiding principle" on the album.[37]Lead single "Right Here (Departed)" was not recorded until late into the production of Human and the first song Brandy recorded with Jerkins following their musical reunification in early June 2008.[23] Written by The Writing Camp and recorded with therapeutical background, the track chronicles a woman's talks about mutual support with loved ones.[38][27] Fifth track "Piano Man" was recorded as an ode to the kind of creative relationship cultivated by a vocalist and their producer or DJ.[38][39]
Brandy collaborated with several singers on the record. Natasha Bedingfield (left) co-wrote and recorded vocals for "Fall" while Esthero (right) penned the album's title track "Human".
"Long Distance", a ballad about the difficulties of a long-distance relationship, was released to positive reactions by critics, with The New York Times calling it an "hymnlike single that distantly echoes Janet Jackson's "Again."[40] Eighth track "Camouflage", one out of two songs on the album that were written by songwriter Claude Kelly, garnered strong reviews in general, with Newsday declaring it a "worthy cousin to Beyoncé's "Irreplaceable" that [is] more about esteem-raising and self-improvement than a search for a sassy put-down."[37] "Torn Down", a joint production by Midi Mafia and Dapo Torimiro, was one of the few prominent Human features on the set list of Brandy's Human World Tour (2009). Incorporating elements of country music, critics noted it a "resolute, crisp mix of static synths, acoustic guitar, and hand claps."[35] Brandy wrote the album's title track with help from producer Toby Gad and Canadian singer Esthero. A "silky R&B anthem" as described by Newsday,[37] the ballad deals with forgiveness.[38] "Shattered Heart" is a downbeat track, that incorporates elements of Middle Eastern music and changes its tempo after three minutes. It has been described as the only "Timbo-esque" record on Human.[39]
The album's twelfth track, a piano-driven ballad entitled "True", was contributed by RedOne and Claude Kelly and initially written for Michael Jackson.[41] The song was rearranged and partially rewritten to fit Brandy's persona.[41] It was released to positive reviews by critics, who noted it one of the stronger tracks on Human.[35]"A Capella (Something's Missing)", produced by Soundz, is a near-a cappella song on which Brandy provides "a polyphonic cyberchorus" with multiple tracks of her own voice.[42] Humming the bassline and providing the rhythm, the instrumentation on the track consists of a sole electric guitar.[40] Hand-clap-laden uptempo recording "1st & Love", the album's fourteenth track, depicts a woman's euphoria with a new-found love at first sight and was discussed as the third single at times.[25] Final track "Fall," another piano ballad, was co-written by labelmate Natasha Bedingfield. As reported, Brandy and Bedingfield were forced to move their first joint recording session from Atlanta to Los Angeles as singer Chris Brown and his entourage crashed into the studio, where they "blasted Brown's songs and horsed around."[43]
Artwork and release
Brandy revealed the title of the album as well as the name of several new songs in a press statement on August 15, 2008.[44] Named after its title track, which she co-wrote, Brandy stated, "it's called Human because that's what I am and at the end of the day we all are only human. The album speaks for itself."[45] Further elaborating on the title, the statement uttered that the title was "a real life mirror of Brandy as a woman, an artist, a musician and a performer, communicating what it means to be fully Human: strong yet vulnerable, candid and triumphant, in love with life and in touch with the things of the spirit."[44] Michael Brandt handled the album's photoshoot and cover;[21] and Fusako Chubachi handled the creative direction.[21] The album cover depicts a close-up image of Brandy's face, with soft lighting highlighting her facial features.[21] She gazes directly at the camera against a background that is mostly dark.[21]Human is written in a simple font at the bottom.[21]
Although Epic Records announced the release of Human for November 11, 2008, a call from Timbaland, who requested Brandy to record additional music with him and protegés Jerome "J-Roc" Harmon and James Fauntleroy, caused another month-long delay of the album.[27] His tracks, however, did not make the final cut on the album track listing as he was unable to contribute trademark backing vocals to his songs.[46]Human was first released in France on December 5, 2008, by Sony Music.[47] On December 8, it was released in Australia and the United Kingdom,[48] and in North America the following day, by Epic Records, Knockout Entertainment and Koch Records.[49] The deluxe edition was released simultaneously with the standard edition through digital media stores; in addition to the original track listing, it features five songs, including bonus tracks "Gonna Find My Love" and "Locket (Locked In Love)", and remixes of "Right Here (Departed)" and "Long Distance", the latter of which feature contribution by English DJ Moto Blanco and Jamaican American rapper Sean Kingston.[49] Elsewhere, Human was not released until February 2009.[50] In Japan, Sony Music Japan released a limited edition with a 3-video bonus DVD, including music videos and the making of "Right Here (Departed)".[51]
Promotion
Singles
"Right Here (Departed)" premiered on Brandy's official webpage on August 13, 2008 and was released as the album's lead single on September 9, 2008.[52] While the song charted moderately in the United States, where it reached number 34 on the Billboard Hot 100, the track became Brandy's highest-charting single in years elsewhere, reaching the top ten of the French Singles Chart, and the top 20 on the Japan Hot 100.[53] It also peaked at number 22 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and became Brandy's first number-one hit on the Hot Dance Club Play chart.[54] An accompanying music video for "Right Here (Departed)" was directed by Little X and filmed in Los Angeles in August 2008.[55] It reached number one on BET's 106 & Park countdown and was voted 69th on BET: Notarized top 100 videos of 2008.[56]
"Long Distance," co-written and produced by Bruno Mars,[21] was released by Epic Records as the second single from Human on November 11, 2008.[57] The song became the album's second consecutive Hot Dance Club Play number-one and peaked at number 38 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart; though it failed to enter the Hot 100.[54] Upon its television debut, the Chris Robinson-directed music video for "Long Distance" came in at number nine on the 106 & Park countdown on December 22, 2008, and peaked at the top position in January 2009.[56] While Brandy considered both "Piano Man" and "1st & Love" as potential third single candidates,[25] plans for another single from Human failed to materialize.[58]
During a promotional tour in support of the album, Brandy stopped by BET's 106 & Park to perform a five-piece mini-concert that featured the first two singles from the album in addition to "What About Us?", "Full Moon" (both 2002) and "Almost Doesn't Count" (1999).[59] In addition, she launched the worldwide release of the album on the morning television program Good Morning America with an interview and a performance of "Right Here (Departed)."[60] Throughout December, Brandy appeared on other television shows such as The Tyra Banks Show and CW11's Morning Show.[60] In support of the album, Brandy was also featured on the November 2008 cover of American weekly magazine Jet.[61] Promotion on the album ended soon after its release and Brandy subsequently started work on a second album with Epic Records. Amongst those to record with her were songwriting and production partners Tricky Stewart, The-Dream, Stargate, Ne-Yo, and Human collaborator Brian Kennedy.[62]
After a small promotional tour in the fall of 2008, which saw her perform at several music festivals, Brandy embarked on a concert tour in February 2009 to further promote Human, titled Human World Tour.[62] In addition to performing tracks from Human, Brandy also showcased songs from her earlier albums, Brandy, Never Say Never, Full Moon and Afrodisiac, a set that was largely inspired by her BET concert special Brandy: Just Human, which aired on December 5, 2008.[63] The tour began in Athens, Ohio on February 7, 2009, and concluded in Okmulgee, Oklahoma on June 19, 2009; some concerts were part of annual events such as the Milwaukee Pridefest and the San Jose Pride.[64][65] Selected venues featured supporting appearances by Colby O'Donis, Ray J, Bell X1, and Samsaya.[63]
While Human became Brandy's first effort not to be nominated for a Grammy Award in any category, it received generally favorable reviews from music critics, averaging a 67 out of a 100 among averaged reviews on Metacritic.[66][72] Sarah Rodman of The Boston Globe complimented the album as appropriately rich and varied: "It's better than good enough. It's a light, breezy listen that shows off Brandy's resilience, humility, joy, and vibrancy."[35] She especially highlighted Jerkins' input on the album: "Jerkins manages to bring out the expressive best in her pleasantly raspy vocalizing."[35] Alex Macpherson from The Guardian called Human "a thoughtful, intimate work on which Brandy sings movingly about fragility and fear," giving it four and a half stars out of five,[42] while Erika Ramirez, writing for Vibe found that the album "radiates as a triumphant return. Her depth and sincerity indeed prove that Brandy is perfectly human."[73]
Andy Kellman of AllMusic called the album Brandy's "most platitudinal" and "least enjoyable release in her catalog," adding: "Brandy is clearly in a comfort zone that enables her to open up more than ever [...] Human is nothing if not a serious album. But it could very well be her most useful one."[36] He gave the album three and half stars out of five.[36] Mariel Concepcion from Billboard said that "while Human is missing the sassy Brandy we know and love from such tracks like "I Wanna Be Down" and "Talk About Our Love," we can still appreciate the much-needed solace of setting personal turmoil to memorable music."[74] In his review for Entertainment Weekly, Henry Goldblatt noted "the huskiness that defined Brandy's prior work has been replaced by wispier and higher tones. The result is pleasant but far less ambitious than her last CD, 2004's Afrodisiac."[69]
Jon Dolan, writing for Blender, gave the album three out of five stars and commended Brandy's decision to re-team with Jerkins: "Now she's gone back to girlie hip-hop Eden; four songs were written by Jerkins, author of her best late-'90s hits. Fluttery jams about long distance longing and time-suspending slow dances are balanced by grown-up moments of deeply felt, if slightly weird, balladic fortitude."[67] Jon Pareles from The New York Times felt that the sentiments of the songs, whether self-affirming or heartbroken, were back to generic ones: "Song titles like "Torn Down" and "Shattered Heart"' show how much Brandy is trying to get serious, taking on an adult world where happily ever after is elusive. But she still comes across as a fledgling, a personality still being formed, eagerly tagging along after her role models."[40] Mikael Wood's review for Los Angeles Times was less emphatic. He gave the album one and a half stars out of four, and said: "Unfortunately, it's also hard to make it through the thing. Brandy's strong suit has never been her thoughtfulness; appropriately for someone with her Hollywood history, she's long been one of R&B's emptiest vessels, a gorgeous voice used by a series of gifted producers to communicate their own unique ideas."[2]
Commercial performance
In the United States, Human debuted and peaked at number 15 on the Billboard 200 in the week of December 17, 2008, with first-week sales of 73,000 copies.[75] This marked Brandy's lowest opening sales for an album by then and was a considerable drop from her previous effort Afrodisiac, which had opened to 131,700 units in 2004.[75]Human also became her lowest-peaking studio album on the Billboard 200 since her self-titled debut album, which had peaked at number 20 in 1994.[75] The album also reached number six on the US Digital Albums and became Brandy's fifth consecutive top-five album on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, peaking at number five.[54]Billboard eventually ranked it 40th on its Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums 2009 year-end chart.[76] Elsewhere, Human widely underperformed upon its release. While lead single "Right Here (Departed)" became Brandy's highest-charting single in years throughout Europe, the album failed to enter most international album charts, although it reached the top 50 on the Wallonian Albums Chart and top 200 on the French Albums Chart.[54] In 2012, Billboard reported that Human had sold 214,000 copies in the United States by then.[77]
Expressing her dissatisfaction with Human's commercial performance, Brandy told British music magazine Blues & Soul in April 2009 that she was "a little disappointed about that" but also felt "pleased that Sony" had greenlit the production of a second album with Epic Records which she expected to feature contribution from StarGate, Ne-Yo, Tricky Stewart, The-Dream, and Brian Kennedy.[62] She further commented: "In hindsight I do feel the last album was a little political. So a lotta changes have been made since Human – and hopefully they're changes for the better! Because, having got all the deep stuff off my chest, I'm now able to really tap into the fun part of music again [...] it's exactly the type of album that I need to be making right now!"[62] While Brandy co-wrote and recorded several songs with her team, a planned second album with Epic never came to fruition with some of the material later given to other Sony artists such as Jennifer Lopez and Rihanna after Brandy had parted ways with Epic.[78]
Controversies
In mid-2009, Epic ended their contract with Brandy following the appointment of Amanda Ghost as the label's new president, making Human her only album with the company.[58] A Los Angeles Times article later revealed Brandy's discontent with the success of the project when asked about the commercial failure of Human the following year: "It was lacking my belief in it. It lacked my vision. Pretty much bottom line, if you don't believe in something it's not going to go," she said. "So do I believe that Human was as creative as Never Say Never and Full Moon? No, I do not. You definitely want to put something out that's like that. I felt at the same time I could have had much better songs and a much better set-up."[78] A statement she made during a 2010 interview with Out magazine turned out more harsh: "To hell with that album! [...] Where I felt creatively it could've gone and the space I was in creatively, I needed everybody around me to be in that same space. It would've been a different album, but with the same inspiration and same blessing for other people. It would've been hotter music and a hotter look."[79]
Blaming herself for the album's commercial results, Brandy dismissed the album as "too pop."[7] With her team wanting to produce a crossover album, Brandy had felt pressured to come up with different songs. Commenting on this decision, she later elaborated: "I was listening to the voice of my team more so than what was going on inside of me. With Human, I felt like I wanted to do more R&B music and that's not what we decided to do on that album."[25] The debut season of her 2010 VH1 reality series Brandy and Ray J: A Family Business further revealed that the album's underperformance resulted in another argument between her and executive producer Rodney Jerkins, whose commitment to the project Brandy felt not as "creative and forthcoming" as on previous albums and that he purposefully did not put his best work in the album.[80] Jerkins had distanced himself from the project following its official release, declaring his dissatisfaction with the involvement of other producers on the album.[81]
Impact and legacy
While Human was not considered a commercial success at the time of its release and even was met with disdain by Brandy herself, it would, especially by the 2020s decade, go on to impact several recording artists, who would publicly profess their love and admiration for certain songs off the album,[82] citing Brandy's work on Human as an inspiration to their own work.[82] Upon single release of the song "Long Distance", it was covered by recording artist Dondria in 2009 on her YouTube channel,[83] whereas in 2020 pop singer Tori Kelly would cover the afore mentioned song on her Instagram profile.[84] Brandy would later reveal – also after learning her daughter Sy'Rai had stated how much the album has helped her go through personal quarrels – that she does in fact love the album, singling out "Locket (Locked in Love)" as her personal favorite.[85] In January 2022, she responded to a fan on Twitter who did not like that Brandy was not fond of Human, by saying "I am now."[86]
In 2010, while competing on the second season of the NBC hit reality singing competition show The Sing-Off the all male vocal group Committed interpolated the song "A Capella (Something's Missing)" by incorporating pieces of it within their cover of the OneRepublic and Timbaland song "Apologize". The group were met with unanimous praise by the shows's judges and went on to win the contest.[87] In 2023, American singer Tiffany Red, when interviewed on the R&B Money podcast, named "A Capella (Something's Missing)" as one of her five favorite R&B songs of all time.[88] The following year, singer Normani cited it as an inspiration while going on a promotional run for her debut album Dopamine (2024) and explaining: "There's a record called "A Capella (Something’s Missing)" by her [from 2008], and I went in with that inspiration with [producers] Stargate. I was like, "I want to capture this feeling." And that's exactly what we did."[89]
Human features the first major label songwriting credit for the artists Bruno Mars and Tiyon Mack, who would later become highly sought after songwriters for several chart topping songs.
Brandy Rayana Norwood, better known by her mononym Brandy, is an American singer, songwriter, dancer, model and actress. Born into a musical family in McComb, Mississippi, Norwood was raised in Carson, California, beginning her career as a backing vocalist for teen groups. After signing with Atlantic Records in 1993, she released her self-titled debut album the following year, which sold six million copies worldwide. Norwood gained fame by starring in the UPN sitcom Moesha, and further recognition for her role in the television film Cinderella (1997) and the slasher film I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (1998). Her 1998 duet with fellow R&B contemporary Monica, "The Boy Is Mine", won a Grammy Award and became one of the best-selling female duets of all time. Her second album, Never Say Never (1998), sold 16 million copies worldwide.
Monica Denise Arnold is an American singer, rapper, 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 albums were met with continued 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".
Brandy is the debut studio album by American singer Brandy. It was released on September 27, 1994, by Atlantic Records. Chiefly produced by Keith Crouch, the album contains a range of contemporary genres, including hip-hop, pop-soul, and R&B. Aside from Crouch, Norwood worked with a range of other writers and producers, including R&B group Somethin' for the People, Arvel McClinton, Damon Thomas, and Crouch's brother Kenneth.
Afrodisiac is the fourth studio album by American singer Brandy. It was first released on June 25, 2004, by Atlantic Records. The album was recorded primarily in Los Angeles between spring 2003 and early 2004, following several major changes in Brandy's personal and professional life. After giving birth to her daughter and the demise of her relationship with Big Bert, Brandy's team was given an overhaul, including changes in production, management, and A&R. The album marked a departure from her previous work, with Brandy collaborating with producer Timbaland and songwriter Candice Nelson on the majority of the album's composition.
Full Moon is the third studio album by American singer Brandy. It was released by Atlantic Records on March 5, 2002 in the United States. The album was recorded primarily during the summer and fall of 2001 at the Hit Factory Criteria in Miami, amid a three-year musical hiatus following the success of her multi-platinum previous studio album Never Say Never (1998) and the finale of her highly successful television sitcom Moesha in May 2001. As with Never Say Never, Brandy collaborated with producer Rodney Jerkins and his Darkchild production and songwriting team on the majority of the album's composition, while Mike City, Warryn Campbell, and Keith Crouch contributed additional production.
The Best of Brandy is the first greatest hits album by American singer Brandy. It was released on March 28, 2005 by Atlantic Records, completing her contract with the label after being signed since 1994. The album comprises nearly all of Norwood's 1994–2004 singles, compiling her first four studio albums Brandy (1994), Never Say Never (1998), Full Moon (2002) and Afrodisiac (2004), as well as songs she contributed to film soundtracks such as Waiting to Exhale (1995) and Set It Off (1996).
"The Boy Is Mine" is a duet by American singers Brandy and Monica. It was written by LaShawn Daniels, Japhe Tejeda, Fred Jerkins III, Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, and Brandy, while production was helmed by Jerkins and Dallas Austin. It was released as the lead single from both singers' second albums from 1998, Never Say Never by Brandy and the album of the same name by Monica. Inspired by Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney's 1982 duet "The Girl Is Mine", the lyrics of the mid-tempo R&B track revolve around two women fighting over a man.
"Talk About Our Love" is a song recorded by American singer Brandy for her fourth studio album Afrodisiac (2004). It was written by Kanye West, who also appears as a featured artist on it, and Harold Lilly, while production was handled by the former. Due to the song's use of a sample of Mandrill's 1978 song "Gilly Hines", band members Claude Cave II, and Carlos, Louis, and Ricardo Wilson are also credited as writers. Lyrically, "Talk About Our Love" is about a relationship lacking support from family and friends.
"Who Is She 2 U" is a song by American recording artist Brandy Norwood from her fourth studio album, Afrodisiac (2004). It was written by Candice Nelson, Walter Millsap III and Timbaland, and produced by the latter. The song is built around a sample of "Instant Love" (1977) by American singer Leon Ware. Due to the inclusion of the sample, he and Jacqueline Hilliard are also credited as songwriters. Based on true events, the song describes a woman who is suspicious about her mate's awkward behavior around a seemingly unfamiliar woman. The dramatic up-tempo incorporates piano keys, flutes, chamber pop string melodies and go-go drum programming.
"Afrodisiac" is a song by American recording artist Brandy. It was written by Isaac Phillips, Kenisha Pratt, Kenneth Pratt and Timbaland for her same-titled fourth studio album (2004), with production was handled by the latter. One of the first songs Norwood and Timbaland collaborated on, the record is an uptempo–offbeat R&B song with pop and dance-pop elements, built along on a flute, Afro-Caribbean music influences and 1980s electro sounds. Considered by Norwood as one of her favorites on the album, the track expresses a female's addictive passion for a special person, whom she declares her very own aphrodisiac.
"Full Moon" is a song recorded by American singer Brandy for her third studio album of the same title (2002). A breakaway from Rodney Jerkins' dominating influence on the album, it was written and produced by Mike City, one of the few producers Norwood worked with on Full Moon apart from Jerkins and his production and songwriting crew. Described by Norwood as "ghetto", the track is an R&B and pop song with a simple, piano-led production. Lyrically, the song follows Norwood as she experiences love at first sight in a nightclub, whose circumstances she attributes to a full moon night.
"Angel in Disguise" is a song recorded by American singer Brandy for her second studio album Never Say Never (1998). It was written by Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, Fred Jerkins III, LaShawn Daniels, Traci Hale, and Tye-V Turman, and was produced by Jerkins along with Brandy. The song was recorded and mixed by audio engineer Dave Way at the Pacifique Recording Studios in North Hollywood, California and features prominent backing vocals by singer Joe.
"Turn It Up" is a song by American singer Brandy Norwood from her fourth studio album, Afrodisiac (2004). It was written by Timbaland along with protégé Walter Millsap III and Candice Nelson, while production was helmed by the former. The song was recorded at the Hit Factory Criteria and mixed by Jimmy Douglass in Miami, Florida. An uptempo R&B song, which also contains elements of rap, bounce music, and old school hip hop, the track serves as musical tribute to the early 1990s. Built on a pounding drum pattern and Timbaland's beatboxing, in "Turn It Up", Norwood expresses her desire to collaborate with the producer on a nostalgic club banger to assume her position atop the game.
"Should I Go" is a song by American recording artist Brandy Norwood from her fourth studio album, Afrodisiac (2004). It was written by Walter Millsap III, his collaborative partner Candice Nelson, and mentor Timbaland, while production was helmed by the latter. "Should I Go" is built on percussive beats, syncopated handclaps and a piano riff that samples British alternative rock band Coldplay's song "Clocks", written by Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion, and Chris Martin for their second album, A Rush of Blood to the Head (2002). Lyrically, Norwood as the protagonist openly talks about contemplating stepping away from the music business, admitting that she is trying to figure out where she fits in today.
"Right Here (Departed)" is a song by American recording artist Brandy Norwood. It was written by Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins and The Writing Camp members Evan "Kidd" Bogart, Victoria Horn, Erika Nuri, and David "DQ" Quiñones and produced by Jerkins for her fifth studio album, Human (2008). Not recorded until late into the production of the album, it set much of the tone for the final Human track listing as it was the first out of several new songs Norwood and Jerkins recorded together following his absence on her previous album Afrodisiac (2004). Its lyrics chronicle a woman's talks about mutual support with loved ones.
"Long Distance" is a song by American recording artist Brandy Norwood. It was written by Bruno Mars, Philip Lawrence, Jeff Bhasker, and Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, and was co-produced by Jerkins and Mars for her fifth studio album Human (2008) based on a demo by Mars. It appears as the seventh track on the album on which it is interluded by a telephone conversation between two lovers. The lyrics of the piano–led power ballad describe the protagonist's emotional state towards an ongoing long-distance relationship, which leaves her in depression.
"True" is a song by American singer Brandy Norwood recorded for her fifth studio album Human (2008). Originally written and composed by RedOne along with Claude Kelly for entertainer Michael Jackson, the song deals with betrayal and heartbreak. A pop-R&B ballad that features instrumentation by the piano and strings, "True" deals with trust issues lyrically. The protagonist sings to an indifferent love interest, wondering whether she is his only one and whether he loves her.
Two Eleven is the sixth studio album by American singer Brandy. Released on October 16, 2012, it served as the singer's debut release with Chameleon Entertainment and RCA Records after departing from Epic Records soon after releasing her previous album, Human (2008). The album's title is taken from Norwood's birthday; it is also the day on which her idol and friend, entertainer Whitney Houston died eight months before Two Eleven's release.
Never Say Never is the second studio album by American singer Brandy. It was released on June 9, 1998, by Atlantic Records. Atlantic consulted David Foster, as well as producer Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins and his team to work with Norwood on the record; Jerkins went on to craft the majority of the album and would evolve as Norwood's mentor and head producer on her succeeding projects.
Kenisha LaCarol Pratt was an American songwriter and vocal producer, known for her songwriting credits on songs by artists such as Brandy, Toni Braxton, TLC, Yahzarah, Burhan G and Hadise, and her brother K-Young.
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