Pain & Paper

Last updated
Pain & Paper
Pain & Paper by Lil' Mo.jpg
Studio album by
ReleasedAugust 28, 2007
Length69:45
Label Drakeweb
Producer
  • Daniel "D-Up" Allen
  • Adam Arnwine
  • Corey "The Bakery" Baker
  • Jules "Judah" Batholomew
  • Shawn and Shawn Bristol
  • Bryan Michael Cox
  • Esteban "Cito" Crandle
  • Lil' Mo
  • Mike Moore
  • Shea Taylor
  • Troy Taylor
  • Antwan "Amadeus" Thompson
  • Howard "Versityle Beatz" Tolliver
  • Wesley "Mr. Wes" Toone
  • Asaph A. Ward
  • Young Yonny
Lil' Mo chronology
Meet the Girl Next Door
(2003)
Pain & Paper
(2007)
P.S. I Love Me
(2011)
Singles from Pain & Paper
  1. "Sumtimes I"
    Released: June 25, 2007
  2. "Lucky Her"
    Released: September 2007

Pain & Paper is the third studio album by American recording artist Lil' Mo. The album was released on August 28, 2007, by Drakeweb Music Group & Koch Records. It sold only 6,000 copies it first week. Appearances include Da Brat, Jim Jones, Fabolous, and Trina. Producers and songwriters include Jazze Pha, Stargate, Sean Garrett and Ne-Yo.

Contents

Background

In 2006, Lil' Mo, alongside Faith Evans, Fantasia, and R&B-turned-gospel singer Coko, appeared on the remake of The Clark Sisters' "Endow Me" from Coko's gospel album Grateful (2006). Under her independent label HoneyChild Entertainment, Lil' Mo released the album Pain & Paper on August 28, 2007, with support from Ike Morris and Morris Management Group. The album featured production from Joey Cutless, Bryan-Michael Cox, Jules "Judah," Mike Moore, Troy Taylor, Adam "Streets" Arwine, Daniel "D-Up" Allen, Wesley "Mister Wes" Toone, among others. The first single from the effort included "Sumtimes I" featuring rapper Jim Jones. Later in the year, a second and final single, "Lucky Her", was released.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
About.com Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [1]

Mark Edward Nero from About.com wrote that the singer "has the vocal and stylistic maturity to also appeal people in their late 30s and 40s, making this the rare R&B album that has a lot for fans of traditional R&B as well as the more modern type." He felt that Pain & Paper "is a true gem that probably won't get a fraction of the attention it deserves." [1] AllMusic found that on Pain & Paper, "Lil' Mo offers up a confident, sophisticated set of R&B. While many of her peers focus on vocal histrionics, Mo presents her songs with intuitive restraint and real emotion [...] Although she lacks a high profile, Mo proves that she's one of the better singers in the game with this excellent 2007 outing." [2] AllHipHop remarked that "it's disappointing to fathom that Pain & Paper produces minimal growth from the woman who brought us such hood classics like "Superwoman." While each song appears to say something, most listeners will probably hear nothing. There is little intrinsically deep about Pain & Paper; it has no soul. While it can be assumed that Lil' Mo's experiences should inspire life-changing music, maybe her new label put the ax on that." [3]

Singles

The lead single "Sumtimes I" was released on June 25, 2007. It features rapper Jim Jones. Its music video was directed by Gabriel E. Hart of Drew Barrymore's unreleased VH1 program Shoot to Kill. The second single "Lucky Her" was released in September 2007.

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Intro" Cynthia Loving Loving1:59
2."Officially Hollywood" (featuring Katt Williams)
  • Loving
  • Williams
Jules "Judah" Batholomew4:01
3."Sumtimes I" (featuring Jim Jones)
  • Loving
  • Jones
  • Antwan "Amadeus" Thompson
  • Esteban "Cito" Crandle
  • Andre Johnson [a]
3:49
4."Heartbeat" (featuring Donny Roc)
  • Loving
  • Donovan Green
Bryan Michael Cox 5:03
5."Lucky Her"Loving Shea Taylor 4:26
6."Broken Heart"
  • Loving
  • Batholomew
  • Loving
  • Batholomew
5:15
7."Husband"
3:34
8."Jus' Like That"Asaph A. WardWard4:02
9."Youngin'" (featuring Da Brat)
  • Daniel "D-Up" Allen
  • Mike Moore
  • Corey "The Bakery" Baker
  • Adam Arnwine
4:34
10."One for the Road"LovingWesley "Mr. Wes" Toone4:29
11."I Need You Now"LovingYoung Yonny4:08
12."How Can I Tell" (featuring Heaven)
  • Loving
  • Heaven Stone
Young Yonny3:56
13."Sexy Pictures" (featuring Trina)
  • Arnwine
  • Baker
4:07
14."No Hotel"Loving
  • Allen
  • Moore
  • Toone
4:05
15."Baby Please"LovingShawn and Shawn Bristol3:42
16."Dotted I (I'm Not Perfect)"
  • Batholomew
  • Tyann Brown
Batholomew3:46
17."Sumtimes Part II" (featuring Fabolous)
  • Thompson
  • Crandle
  • Andre Johnson [a]
4:09

Notes

Charts

Chart (2007)Peak
position
US Billboard 200 [4] 112
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) [5] 14

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References

  1. 1 2 Nero, Mark Edward. "Album Review: Lil' Mo - Pain & Paper". About.com . Archived from the original on 2007-11-25. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  2. "Pain & Paper". Allmusic . Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  3. "Lil' Mo: Pain & Paper". AllHipHop . 7 September 2007. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  4. "Lil' Mo Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  5. "Lil' Mo Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 2, 2021.