K.I.S.S. (Keep It Sexy & Simple)

Last updated
K.I.S.S. (Keep It Sexy & Simple)
Ki.s.s.albumcover.jpg
Studio album by
Mya
ReleasedApril 13, 2011 (2011-04-13)
Genre R&B
Length71:41
Label
Producer
Mya chronology
Beauty & the Streets Vol. 1
(2009)
K.I.S.S. (Keep It Sexy & Simple)
(2011)
With Love
(2014)
Singles from K.I.S.S. (Keep It Sexy & Simple)
  1. "Earthquake"
    Released: December 6, 2011
  2. "Somebody Come Get This Bitch"
    Released: December 13, 2011
  3. "Mr. Incredible"
    Released: December 16, 2011
  4. "Mess Up My Hair"
    Released: February 7, 2012
  5. "Evolve"
    Released: April 17, 2012

K.I.S.S. (an abbreviation of Keep It Sexy & Simple) [1] is the sixth studio album by American recording artist Mya. First released in Japan on April 20, 2011, it is her second studio album to be produced through Japanese record company Manhattan Recordings and her own label Planet 9. Although the record is a traditional R&B and pop album, Mya incorporated elements of multiple different genres after travelling to Jamaica as well as collaborating with Japanese musicians.

Contents

Production on K.I.S.S. was primarily handled by Cleveland native producer Young Yonny with additional contributions from Japanese musicians Jeff Miyahara and Daisuke Imai, Chuck Harmony and longtime collaborators Carvin & Ivan. As with her previous independent projects, Mya took full creative control of the album and lent a hand in the songwriting process, co-writing several of the album's tracks with many different artists and songwriters. In addition, she served as executive producer to the project. Guest features included Miami rapper Trina, international recording artist Iyaz, reggae star Sean Paul and former Immature frontman Marques Houston. [2] [3]

Upon its release, K.I.S.S. debuted at number sixty-one on Billboard 's Japan Albums Chart on May 2, 2011, with first week sales of 1,543 copies, [4] and at number seventy-four on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, ending Mya's nine-year absence from the chart. K.I.S.S. spawned seven singles; two international singles, "Fabulous Life" and "Runnin' Back" featuring recording artist Iyaz, and five US–released singles: "Earthquake", "Somebody Come Get This Bitch", "Mr. Incredible", "Mess Up My Hair", and "Evolve".

Background and development

In 2009, Mya released her first mixtape, Beauty & the Streets Vol. 1 on Planet 9 through J. Prince's Young Empire Music Group, [5] and competed in the ninth season of American dance competition television series Dancing with the Stars . [6] [7] While participating on show, Mya began recording the album that would eventually become K.I.S.S. As with her previous album, she served as executive producer for K.I.S.S which entailed her scouting the producers, songwriters, arranging the album track listing, and keeping track of the accounting. [8] While Sugar & Spice had been catered to Japan's distinct sound and market, Mya approached K.I.S.S. with the aim to record a "classic Mya album", balancing mid-tempos, up-tempos, slow jams and production, with "lots of substance to be discovered lyrically, without getting bored or depressed." [9] Elaborating on the creative process in an interview with 4Eight Media, she commented that it "was a combination of including songs that I had in my archive for years in addition to travelling across the US and Jamaica to work with different producers and artists." [10] The entire album, finished between October 2010 and February 2011, took her about five months to assemble and complete. [11]

Conception and production

Sean-Paul 2012-06-16 photo-by-Adam-Bielawski.jpg
Trina Bleu Magazine Signing.jpg
Mya reteamed with Sean Paul (left) on "Rear View Mirror" while Trina (right) collaborated with the singer on the song "Earthquake".

Primary production on K.I.S.S. was handled by hip hop producer Young Yonny with whom Mya had worked on her previous album Sugar & Spice (2008). [12] Additional contribution came from frequent collaborators Chuck Harmony, Carvin & Ivan, Rich Shelton, and Loren Hill, as well as Lee Major, Junior Sanchez, Lil' Eddie, Autumn Rowe, and Boyz II Men member Shawn Stockman. Japanese musicians who Mya consulted included Tokyo-based Jeff Miyahara and Daisuke Imai. [12] Jamaican rapper Sean Paul, American singer Marques Houston, Virgin Islander singer Iyaz appeared on the original edition of the album, while Jamaican artists Spice and Beenie Man and American rapper Trina were included on subsequent editions of K.I.S.S. [12]

Harrison, who recorded many of the songs during her stint on the ninth season of Dancing with the Stars , combined all different styles on the album. Incorporating a number of music genres, including dance, urban, pop, slow jam ballads, the singer described the album as a "classic Mya album" with a variety of sounds and tempos. [12] When asked if she experimented with anything new on the album as far as sounds, she replied there are two J-pop-inspired songs on the album, "Fabulous Life" and "Alive". She further commented, "This is a new fun sound for me [...] and I'm ready to have some FUN!" [1] [12]

The overall concept of K.I.S.S. was simplicity. [13] "It's about being cool and drama-free. And everything I do reflects that," Mya commented in a promotional interview. "The people that I associate with, the circle that I keep is real simple and sometimes we think or we're trained to believe that you always have to have more, more, more to make ourselves feel happy or beautiful, but it's the other way around for me." [3] Mya noted that the deluxe edition was more of her traditional style, mixing "R&B, urban [and] also pop. It's fun, young with perspective and opinion," she said, with ballads like "Love Comes Love Goes" tackling "deeper issues". [3] Harrison singled out "Evolve", a "heartfelt, mid-tempo" song as one of her favorites, commenting: "[It's] about having determination and will power through it all [...] and not letting anything stop you. It represents where I am in my life." [3] Mya said the album's title track "K.I.S.S." is beneficial because it clarify the meaning of the album. "Love Me Some You" features Houston who Mya requested to record the song with her because she liked the tone of his voice; Harrison said the song was perfect for him. "Problem + Solution" was written by Afro-pop artist Tiwa Savage and Stockman. [13] "Runnin' Back" was conceived as a flavored beat number with sweet mellow vocals. Another track, titled "Before U Say Goodbye" was described as "super catchy" with a "feeling of floating". [14]

Release and promotion

The album cover of K.I.S.S. was shot by photographer Marc Baptiste and was primarily inspired by Janet Jackson's cover for 1986 album Control along with a few other artists, including Vanity 6, The Jets, Andy Warhol, and Lisa, Lisa. [15] [16] All singles cover artwork was shot by Reesee at Zigga Zagga studio. [15] In an interview with AOL , Mya revealed that the meaning behind the abbreviation of K.I.S.S. stands for "Keep It Sexy and Simple." She further explained that she named her album K.I.S.S. because it is "sealed with a kiss as a gift to my fans. It's about keeping it simple by keeping negative energy and unnecessary things to a minimum. Being simple is sexy to me." [1]

Originally scheduled for a physical release in Japan on April 6, 2011, the album's release was delayed for two weeks due to the unfortunate events surrounding the 2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami disaster, which triggered the Fukushima I nuclear accidents, and temporarily immobilized packaging of the CD album. [17] Despite these circumstances, K.I.S.S. eventually became available at retail and outlets on April 20, 2011, serving as Harrison's third independently released project through her own label imprint Planet 9. [17]

On July 22, 2011, Mya put on a special extended performance and held a listening party for the US release of K.I.S.S. in Atlantic City at the Chelsea Hotel's C5 Night Club. [18] The North American deluxe edition of K.I.S.S. was released by Planet 9 on December 20, 2011, on software-based online digital media store iTunes. [19] When the North American deluxe edition of K.I.S.S. was released, Mya opted not shoot any videos or do extensive promotion for the album. Commenting on this strategy, she explained that K.I.S.S. "is just a boutique album that I'm offering fans under the radar. If they want it, it's accessible now. This is just more of an appetizer. I've already started on what people will be looking forward to." [3]

On February 1, 2012, Harrison announced in a press release that she would be releasing the worldwide edition of K.I.S.S. on February 14, 2012, to commemorate her debut single "It's All About Me" and fourteenth year in the music industry through her own label imprint Planet 9 with distribution from INgrooves, a veteran player in the digital music distribution and marketing space. [20]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
About.com Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [21]
The Weekender Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [22]

K.I.S.S. received generally mixed reviews from critics. About.com editor Mark Edward Nero gave the album two out of five stars and declared it as "mediocre, unoriginal and creatively lacking material." He felt that "Mya tries out different personas like she's putting on new sets of clothes: she's a confident, independent woman on the title track; she's a sassy street chick on the club banger 'Earthquake'; she's a vulnerable, heartbroken girl on 'Love Comes, Love Goes'; and she's a strong, powerful woman on 'Evolve'," concluding that "she doesn't come off convincingly in any of the roles. And the lack of consistency and cohesiveness throughout the album ultimately proves to be the second-biggest drawback, right after the multiple weak vocal performances." [21]

Staff writer Stephanie DeBalko of The Weekender gave the album three and a half stars out of five. She called K.I.S.S. "an unexpectedly vibrant, peppy outing", expressing that it "shows Mya still [has] a few tricks up her sleeve," while commenting the album's production and lyrical content, writing: "A lot of the songs have an '80s flavor to them, with jingly effects and forthright lyrics." [22]

Commercial performance

Upon its original April 2011 release, K.I.S.S. debuted at number sixty-one on the Japanese Top Billboard Albums Chart and at number seventy-two on Japan's Oricon Albums Chart with first-week sales of 1,543. In its second week, K.I.S.S. dropped to number 97 on the Oricon Albums Chart and number 77 on Japan's Top Billboard Albums Chart, moving additional 1,422 units. K.I.S.S. continued to descend down the charts to number 118 on the Oricon Albums Chart and number 94 on Japan's Top Billboard Albums Chart, with additional 1,008 units. By its fourth week, K.I.S.S. had exited Japan's Top Billboard Albums Chart, however remained on Japan's Oricon Albums Chart, while falling to number 153 and moving another additional 625 units. In its fifth and final week, K.I.S.S. had fallen to number 188 on the Oricon Albums Chart, moving another additional 485 units. In the United States, K.I.S.S. debuted and peaked at number seventy-four on Billboard 's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart for the week of February 11, 2012. [23] This marked Mya's first album chart entry in eight years as well as her lowest-charting effort to date. [23] K.I.S.S. failed to debut on the Billboard 200 album chart or any other music market. [23]

Track listing

K.I.S.S. Standard edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."K.I.S.S." Chuck Harmony 3:54
2."Rear View Mirror" (featuring Sean Paul)
  • Harrison
  • Sean Paul Henriques
3:54
3."Fabulous Life"
  • Miyahara
  • Fredro
3:58
4."Mess Up My Hair"
  • Young Yonny
  • Desmond J. "BigHeadDez" Peterson
3:32
5."Fugitive of Love"
  • Carmael M. Frith
  • Harrison
  • Rich Shelton
  • Loren Hill
  • Michael Barney
  • Aaron Bennett
4:06
6."Love Me Some You" (featuring Marques Houston)
  • Atozzio Towns
  • Houston
Young Yonny3:32
7."Mr. Incredible"
  • Fields
  • Myricks
  • Harrison
Young Yonny4:41
8."Problem + Solution"John Ho4:34
9."Runnin' Back" (featuring Iyaz)
  • Kyle Schrom
  • Iyobasa Ighedosa
  • Caleb Middlebrooks
  • Young Yonny
  • Mr. INT
3:29
10."Before U Say Goodbye"
  • Daisuke Imai
  • Serrano
  • Harrison
Daisuke "D.I." Imai4:06
11."Sorry"Kristal Oliver Carvin & Ivan 3:43
12."Love Comes Love Goes"Julian Brazier
  • Duwayne "DaDa" Mills
  • HardWerk
4:50
13."Evolve"
Lee Major 3:28
14."Alive" (bonus track)
  • Serrano
  • Harrison
  • DJ Komori
  • UTA
3:50
K.I.S.S. North American standard edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."K.I.S.S."
  • Harrison
  • Serrano
  • Rowe
  • Moore
Chuck Harmony 3:54
2."Rear View Mirror" (featuring Sean Paul)
  • Harrison
  • Henriques
3:54
3."Take Him Out" (featuring Spice)
  • Sanchez
  • Boog [a]
3:21
4."Fabulous Life"
  • Miyahara
  • Levander
  • Serrano
  • Harrison
  • Miyahara
  • Fredro
3:58
5."Earthquake" (featuring Trina)
  • Young Yonny
  • BigHeadDez
3:19
6."Mess Up My Hair" (featuring Beenie Man)
  • Fields
  • Nia Myricks
  • Harrison
  • Young Yonny
  • Peterson
3:32
7."Break Your Neck"
  • Carmael M. Frith
  • Harrison
  • Shelton
  • Hill
  • Barney [a]
  • Bennett [a]
3:14
8."Fugitive of Love"
  • Frith
  • Harrison
  • Shelton
  • Hill
  • Barney
  • Bennett
4:06
9."Can I"
  • Tyquandra Stephens
  • Harrison
Snatch & Grab4:27
10."Love Me Some You" (featuring Marques Houston)
  • Towns
  • Houston
Young Yonny3:32
11."Mr. Incredible"
  • Fields
  • Myricks
  • Harrison
Young Yonny4:41
12."Problem + Solution"
  • Savage
  • Stockman
John Ho4:34
13."Love Comes Love Goes"Brazier
  • Mills
  • HardWerk [b]
4:50
14."Evolve"
  • Thomas
  • Carpenter
  • Harrison
Major3:28
K.I.S.S. North American bonus tracks [24] [25]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
15."It's My Birthday"HarrisonDJ Drew G3:29
16."Somebody Come Get This Bitch" (featuring Stacie & Lacie)
  • Harrison
  • Stacie & Lacie
Reco Lynch3:07
17."Love Me Some You" (solo)TownsYoung Yonny3:32
18."Mess Up My Hair" (solo)
  • Fields
  • Myricks
  • Harrison
  • Young Yonny
  • BigHeadDez
3:32
19."Love Is the Answer" (Cedric Gervais starring Mya)
  • Harrison
  • Dee Roberts
2:57

Notes

Sample credits

Personnel

Visuals and imagery

Instruments

Technical and production

Charts

Chart performance for K.I.S.S. (Keep It Sexy & Simple)
Chart (2011–2012)Peak
position
Japan Top Albums Sales ( Billboard Japan ) [26] 61
Japanese Albums (Oricon) [27] 72
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) [28] 74

Release history

List of release dates, showing region, formats, and label
RegionDateFormatLabel
JapanApril 13, 2011 [29] Digital download
April 20, 2011 [30] CD
CanadaDecember 20, 2011 [19] [31] [32] Digital download Planet 9
United States
Australia [33] February 14, 2012Planet 9/INgrooves
Germany [34]
Ireland [35]
Netherlands [36]
Sweden [37]
United Kingdom [25] [38]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hikaru Utada</span> Japanese-American pop singer and producer (born 1983)

Hikaru Utada, also known by the mononym Utada, is a Japanese-American pop singer, songwriter and producer. Utada is one of the most influential and best-selling musical artists in Japan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mya (singer)</span> American singer and actress (born 1979)

Mya Marie Harrison is an American singer, songwriter, dancer, record producer, and actress. Classified as a "triple threat entertainer," she has become a staple in pop cultural zeitgeist for her work in contemporary R&B. Born and raised in Washington D.C., as a child she studied ballet, jazz, and tap dance. She began her career in television as a dance posse member, performing on BET's Teen Summit. She signed with record executive A. Haqq Islam's University Records, an imprint of Interscope Records to release her eponymous debut studio album (1998), which lyrically explored romance and coming-of-age scenarios. A critical and commercial success, the album spawned her first Billboard Hot 100-top ten single, "It's All About Me". Her collaborative singles — "Girls Dem Sugar", "Ghetto Supastar ", and "Take Me There" — were also met with commercial success.

<i>All I Have</i> (album) 2002 studio album by Amerie

All I Have is the debut studio album by American R&B recording artist Amerie. It was released on July 30, 2002, through Columbia Records, Rise Entertainment and Richcraft Records. Entirely produced by Rich Harrison, the album debuted and peaked at number nine on the US Billboard 200 chart in August 2002, remaining in the top twenty for two weeks only and dropping off the top hundred in its fourteenth week. It also received generally mixed reviews from the music critics. Nevertheless, the album was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for selling over 500,000 copies on October 3, 2003, and won Amerie a Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul or Rap New Artist in 2003. According to Nielsen SoundScan, the album has sold over 661,000 copies in the United States as of July 2009. All I Have produced two singles: "Why Don't We Fall in Love" and a minor hit "Talkin' to Me".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ayo!</span> 2006 promotional single by Mýa featuring DJ Kool

"Ayo!" is a song by American singer Mýa. It was written and composed by Mýa, DJ Kool and Christopher “Deep” Henderson and initially recorded for her fourth studio album Liberation (2007). Production on the track was helmed by Henderson, while Kool is having featured vocals. The song is built upon on an of interpolation from the composition "He's the Wizard" by American jazz singer Thelma Carpenter. Due to the inclusion of the sample, Charlie Smalls is also credited as a songwriter.

<i>Moodring</i> 2003 studio album by Mya

Moodring is the third studio album by American singer Mya, released on July 22, 2003, by A&M and Interscope Records. Before Mya began to work on what would eventually be her third studio album, she participated in prior engagements which would result in the blockbuster success of 2001's "Lady Marmalade", a collaboration for the Moulin Rouge! soundtrack, and a supporting role in the 2002 film Chicago.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mya discography</span>

American singer Mya has released eight studio albums, one mixtape, five extended plays and sixty-one singles. To date, Mya has sold over 20 million records worldwide. For the 2000s decade, Billboard listed her as one of their Hot 100 Artists of 2000s. According to Luminate, Mya has sold over 3.2 million albums in the United States. Additionally, she has sold seven million albums worldwide. As of 2023, the Recording Industry Association of America lists her total certified sales as a solo artists at five million in the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Best of Me (Mya song)</span> 2000 single by Mýa and Jadakiss

"The Best of Me" is a song by American singer Mýa. It served as Harrison's first single from her second studio album Fear of Flying (2000) and featured Yonkers rapper Jadakiss. The song was written and composed by the latter and Harrison along with Teron Beal, Jimmy Cozier, Swizz Beatz and Mashonda Tifrere. Lyrically, "The Best of Me," a street savvy anthem addresses a woman holding off being intimate or physical with a guy.

<i>Sugar & Spice</i> (Mya album) 2008 studio album by Mya

Sugar & Spice is the fifth studio album by American singer Mya. It was released by Manhattan Recordings exclusively in Japan on December 3, 2008. The album was produced through Mya's own independent label imprint Planet 9 following her departure from Universal Motown amid the leakage of her previous album Liberation in the Japanese music market. Rather than spending time in court suing Motown/Universal, she opted out of her contract. Mya was then approached to record more albums exclusively for the Japanese market because of the positive response Liberation received.

<i>Beauty & the Streets Vol. 1</i> 2009 mixtape by Mya

Beauty & the Streets Vol. 1 is the debut mixtape by American singer Mya. It is her first mixtape to be released by Young Empire Music Group with distribution from Fontana Distribution on September 29, 2009. The project came to surface when Harrison felt as though she had abandoned her U.S. fan base and wanted to release music for them. The mixtape served as Harrison's second independently released project on her own label imprint Planet 9 and was created to serve the "clubs, strip clubs, whips, and bedroom" with a predominantly southern sound.

Keidran Jones, better known by his stage name Iyaz, is a British Virgin Islands singer and songwriter, formerly signed with the record label Warner Music Group. He is known for his singles "Replay", "Solo", and "Pretty Girls." He released his debut album Replay in 2010.

<i>Charice</i> (album) 2010 studio album by Charice

Charice is the debut international studio album and third overall release by Filipino pop singer Jake Zyrus under his pre-transition name Charice. It was released on May 11, 2010, under Reprise Records, making him the third Filipino singer to be signed on an international record label, the first being Lea Salonga and Regine Velasquez. It was released prior to Zyrus' gender transition thus the eponymous album is credited under his former name, Charice.

Dan August Rigo is a Filipino-Canadian recording artist, songwriter, producer and musician. August Rigo is signed to a publishing contract with Sony/ATV as a songwriter.

"Fabulous Life" is a song recorded by American singer Mya. A J-Pop inspired tune, "Fabulous Life" was written by Andreas Levander, Edwin Serrano, and Mya with production helmed by Jeff Miyahara and Fredo. Released January 19, 2011 on her label imprint Planet 9 with distribution via Manhattan Recordings, "Fabulous Life" served as the lead single taken from the singer's sixth studio album K.I.S.S. .

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Love Is the Answer (Cedric Gervais song)</span> Single by Mýa and Cedric Gervais

"Love Is the Answer" is a song by French DJ and record producer Cedric Gervais starring American singer Mýa. It served as Gervais's first single from his studio album Miamication and theme song for the NOH8 campaign. The track was inspired by humanity and various causes Harrison involves herself in particularly and most recently the NOH8 campaign. Written and composed by Mýa and Dee Roberts with additional production by Sandy Vee, the song made its world premiere at the Renaissance Hollywood Hotel and Spa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Earthquake (Mya song)</span> 2011 song by Mýa featuring Trina

"Earthquake" is an R&B/hip hop song by American singer Mya. It served as Harrison's first U.S. digital single from her sixth studio album K.I.S.S. (2011) and featured Miami rapper Trina. The song was originally due to be featured on the Japanese version of K.I.S.S., however the song was pulled out of respect to the victims affected by the earthquake in Japan. The song was written by The Pen Up Dolls and produced by Young Yonny and @goodguydez.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mr. Incredible (Mya song)</span> 2011 single by Mya

"Mr. Incredible" is a song by American recording artist Mya. It was written by Mýa and The Pen Up Dolls duo Lindsay "Lindz" Fields and Nia Myricks for her sixth studio album K.I.S.S. (2011), while production was helmed by Young Yonny. The sensual downtempo R&B song, was the third single from K.I.S.S to be lifted from the album.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Planet 9 (record label)</span>

Planet 9 is an American independent record label founded by American singer Mýa. After parting ways with her major label, Universal Motown and following the advice of her mentor J. Prince, Harrison established and developed her own independent label with a new business approach in mind to create and release music. Following the events of her fourth studio album, Liberation (2007) being mishandled and accidentally leaking on the internet, she was contracted by R&B based Japanese record company, Manhattan Recordings. Through that label, she exclusively release and self-funded, recorded, and engineered her first independent project, Sugar & Spice (2008). Three years later, she exclusively released the follow-up, the dance and club orientated K.I.S.S. (2011) through the same label.

<i>With Love</i> (Mya EP) 2014 EP by Mýa

With Love is the debut extended play by American singer Mýa. Her first EP, it marks Harrison's fourth independently released project through her own label imprint Planet 9 via INgrooves and released on February 14, 2014 worldwide via iTunes. The four track EP commemorates the release of her debut single "It's All About Me" and 16th anniversary in the entertainment industry.

<i>Smoove Jones</i> 2016 studio album by Mya

Smoove Jones is the seventh studio album by American singer Mya. It was released exclusively through Apple Music and iTunes on February 14, 2016 by Planet 9, Harrison's label, while physical copies were made available for purchase through the singer's official website. The project commemorates the release of the singer's debut single "It's All About Me" and eighteenth anniversary in the entertainment industry. Musically, Smoove Jones incorporated R&B/soul/hip-hop with old school elements from the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s. Dubbed a concept album, the project exhibited Harrison portraying seductive radio hostess Smoove Jones, an after hours radio show she created specifically for her "grown and sexy" fans. Critically, Smoove Jones received favorable reception from music critics. It debuted at number thirty on the Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart, marking her highest entry since 2003's Moodring. Subsequently, Smoove Jones received a nomination for Best R&B Album at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards, which were held on February 12, 2017.

<i>T.K.O. (The Knock Out)</i> 2018 studio album by Mya

T.K.O. is the eighth studio album by American singer-songwriter Mya. It is the follow-up to her album Smoove Jones (2016) and was released April 20, 2018, on her label Planet 9 to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of her debut album Mya (1998). Recorded between 2015–2016, T.K.O. is solely produced in its entirely by musician and producer Lamar "MyGuyMars" Edwards with additional production from Los Da Mystro, Lyle LeDuff, Hardwerk and Khirye Tyler.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Mya Reveals the Meaning Behind New Album 'K.I.S.S.,' Tells of Love for Miami". AOL . Archived from the original on 2011-05-05. Retrieved 2011-04-24.
  2. "Recording Now!!". Ameblo.jp. Retrieved 2011-02-18.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Mya Talks 'K.I.S.S.' Deluxe Album, New 'Catty' Single, & Trina Collabo". Billboard . Retrieved 2011-12-15.
  4. "Japan Billboard Top Albums". Billboard (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 2011-07-01. Retrieved 2011-04-26.
  5. Eng, Joyce (2009-08-17). "Dancing with the Stars 2009 Season 9 Cast Revealed!". TVGuide.com. Archived from the original on 2009-08-18. Retrieved 2009-08-17.
  6. "Mya ft. Bun B - Show Me Something". djbooth.net. Archived from the original on 2011-10-17. Retrieved 2011-03-27.
  7. Serrano, Shea (2009-07-17). "Five Spot: Houston R&B Collaboration King Billy Cook - Houston Music - Rocks Off". Blogs.houstonpress.com. Archived from the original on 2009-07-24. Retrieved 2010-08-31.
  8. "Mya's Last Dance?". Rolling Out. Archived from the original on 2013-01-05. Retrieved 2012-07-22.
  9. "Interview: Mya Talks New Album "K.I.S.S.", Releasing Albums in Japan First, Importance of Her Music". You Know I Got Soul. Retrieved 2012-01-21.
  10. "Mya Interview 4Eight Media". four8media. Archived from the original on 2014-01-09. Retrieved 2012-01-21.
  11. "Liife&Such: Mya". Jadores Liife. Archived from the original on 2012-09-13. Retrieved 2012-01-21.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 "Audio Mýa – Runnin Back". Middlechild Promotions. Archived from the original on 2014-01-09. Retrieved 2011-02-25.
  13. 1 2 "MYA Interview!!". Ameblo.jp (in Japanese). Retrieved 2011-04-25.
  14. "MYA, IYAZ Started Distributing Songs Featuring". Clubberia. Retrieved 2011-02-23.
  15. 1 2 MYA [@MYAPLANET9] (December 20, 2011). "@CarvelPrrin Reesee at Zigga Zigga did the singles' artwork. Marc Baptiste shot album cover" (Tweet) via Twitter.
  16. MYA [@MYAPLANET9] (December 26, 2011). "RT @solarerecording: @MISSMYA is that photo inspired by @JanetJackson 's Control??? <Janet, Vanity 6, The Jets, Andy Warhol, LisaLisa:)" (Tweet) via Twitter.
  17. 1 2 Fackler, Martin; Drew, Kevin (11 March 2011). "Devastation as Tsunami Crashes Into Japan". The New York Times. Retrieved 11 March 2011.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  18. "A Night of Music, Dance, and Fashion". atlanticcityweekly. Retrieved 2011-12-05.
  19. 1 2 "K.I.S.S. (Keep It Sexy & Simple)[Explicit]". Amazon . Retrieved 2011-12-05.
  20. "Grammy Award Winning Artist Mya Sets International Valentine's Day Release Date for K.I.S.S. (Keep It Sexy Simple)". ConstantContact. Retrieved 2012-02-02.
  21. 1 2 Nero, Mark Edward. "Album Review: Mya - 'K.I.S.S.'". About.com . Archived from the original on 2012-06-04. Retrieved 2011-12-23.
  22. 1 2 DeBalko, Stephanie (2011-12-27). "ALBUM REVIEW: Mya's surprising return". The Weekender . Archived from the original on 2012-01-23. Retrieved 2011-12-31.
  23. 1 2 3 "R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Week of February 11, 2012". Billboard . Retrieved 2012-02-02.
  24. ""K.I.S.S." Limited Mint edition on the way". Instagram . Archived from the original on 2021-12-24. Retrieved 2019-06-30.
  25. 1 2 "K.I.S.S. (Keep It Sexy & Simple)". Amazon.co.uk . Retrieved 2012-02-02.
  26. "Top Albums Sales". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved September 23, 2018.
  27. K.I.S.S.(キープ・イット・セクシー & シンプル [K.I.S.S./Mya] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on 2012-10-23. Retrieved September 23, 2018.
  28. "Mya Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 2015-07-29.
  29. "K.I.S.S. (Bonus Track Version)". iTunes . Retrieved 2011-07-03.
  30. "K.I.S.S.Keep It Sexy & Simple". HMV Japan . Retrieved 2011-03-08.
  31. "K.I.S.S. (Keep It Sexy & Simple)". iTunes . Retrieved 2012-01-09.
  32. "K.I.S.S. (Keep It Sexy & Simple)". iTunes Canada . Retrieved 2012-01-09.
  33. "K.I.S.S. (Keep It Sexy & Simple)". iTunes. Retrieved 2012-02-14.
  34. "K.I.S.S. (Keep It Sexy & Simple)". iTunes (in German). Retrieved 2012-02-14.
  35. "K.I.S.S. (Keep It Sexy & Simple)". iTunes (in Irish). Retrieved 2012-02-14.
  36. "K.I.S.S. (Keep It Sexy & Simple)". iTunes (in Dutch). Retrieved 2012-02-14.
  37. "K.I.S.S. (Keep It Sexy & Simple)". iTunes (in Swedish). Retrieved 2012-02-14.
  38. "K.I.S.S. (Keep It Sexy & Simple)". iTunes. Retrieved 2012-02-14.