The album was noted for its blend of its mature themes and a shorter runtime that contributed to tighter quality control, though some critics found the album uneven and formulaic. In the United States, Naked debuted and peaked at number 13 on the Billboard 200, and number five on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. It sold nearly 400,000 copies domestically and in 2022, more than 17 years after its release, was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
AllMusic editor Andy Kellman rated the album three out of five stars. He found that "Naked is no deeper than 2003's MH, which most of his fans will find perfectly acceptable. It offers a similar mix of earnest slow jams and sexually frank club tracks. The best moments involve adequate production facsimiles of Just Blaze, Kanye West, and The Neptunes. Another thing that works to Houston's benefit is the shorter running time: Naked's eleven songs are a lot easier to digest than MH's 17, which also means that there's better quality control."[1] Gail Mitchell from Billboard felt that "Houston erases any remnants of his earlier stint as a member of boy group Immature with this solo effort. As the title implies, he reveals the healthy adult male he has become through songs that reflect the tenets of Marvin Gaye's sexual healing. Houston doesn't leave much to the imagination [but] steadies the album's uneven and often formulaic course with the engaging midtempo single "All Because of You" featuring Young Rome."[2]
Commercial performance
In the United States, Naked opened and peaked at number 13 on the Billboard 200,[3] with first-week sales of 65,000 units.[4] It also peaked at number five on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.[5] By August 2006, the album had sold 390,000 copies domestically, according to Nielsen SoundScan.[6] On November 30, 2022, more than 17 years after its release, Naked was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[7]
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