Self Portrait (Lalah Hathaway album)

Last updated
Self Portrait
Lalah self-portrait.jpg
Studio album by
Lalah Hathaway
ReleasedJune 3, 2008
Length57:21
Label Stax
Producer
  • Kenneth Crouch
  • Paula Gallitano
  • Lalah Hathaway
  • Manuel Hugas
  • Terrace Martin
  • Rex Rideout
  • Wiboud Burkens
Lalah Hathaway chronology
Outrun the Sky
(2004)		Self Portrait
(2008)		 Where It All Begins
(2011)
Singles from Self Portrait
  1. "Let Go"
    Released: April 21, 2008
  2. "That Was Then"
    Released: 2008

Self Portrait is the fourth studio album by American singer Lalah Hathaway. It was released by Stax Records on June 3, 2008 in the United States. Chiefly produced by Rex Rideout, it marked her debut with the label and became Hathaway's highest-charting album by then, reaching number six on the US Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, her first top ten entry on that chart. [1]

Contents

Background

The title and release date of Self Portrait were announced in Hathaway's official MySpace page in March 2008. [2] The album features production contributions from Rex Rideout as well as Paula Gallitano, Kenneth Crouch, and Terrace Martin. Hathaway also worked with singer-songwriters Sandra St. Victor and singer Rahsaan Patterson on Self Portrait. [3] Commenting on her decision to name the album Self Portrait, Hathaway told Essence in 2008: "This is the first record that I've ever worked on from start to finish including developing the concept, styling, the sequence and selection of the songs, the musicians, the producers, the marketing, the way it sounds – everything. That's why I call it Self-Portrait because it's my fifth album but it feels like my first." [4]

Promotion

Opening track "Let Go," produced by Rex Rideout and co-written by Rahsaan Patterson, was seclected as the album's lead single. Co-produced by Hathaway, it also features Patterson on background vocals. [5] Issued to radio stations on April 21, 2008, it peaked at number 16 on Billboard's Adult R&B Songs chart. [6] The album's second single "That Was Then," co-written by Sandra St. Victor, was released in late 2008. It reached number 32 on the Adult R&B Songs chart. [6]

After the release of Self Portrait, Hathaway went on tour, which began on July 12, 2009 at the Omaha Jazz and Blues Festival, and concluded in Atlanta on September 19, 2009. [7] In January 2009, Hathaway appeared on BETJ in an interview and performing before an audience.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [8]
Daily Express Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [9]

AllMusic editor Andy Kellman called Self Portrait "more mellow and unified than 2004's Outrun the Sky ." He found that "the album maintains a steady flow, whether the backdrops feature midtempo dance rhythms and horns, deep basslines and finger snaps, or acoustic guitars and glistening keyboards. Nothing is bound to jump out of the speakers and pull you around the room, but there's an unshakable lingering effect with nearly every song. More than anything, the album helps bring back the art of the subtly seductive slow jam, despite the lyrical range, which covers personal issues almost as frequently as relationships." [8]

In his review for SoulTracks , Akim Bryant noted that Hathaway "delivers a satisfying collection of new material intended to further solidify her declaration of empowerment." He fehlt that she "has truly developed into a first rate song stylist, and her velvet-textured voice transcends all of the melodies on Self Portrait. The song selection doesn't necessarily vary wildly in terms of tempo or aura, but Lalah knows exactly who she is and the type of artistry she wants to be remembered for." [10] Billboard wrote: "Instead of standing behind dad Donny's formidable shadow, Lalah Hathaway has resolutely sculpted her own soulful identity. That’s never been more apparent than on her fourth solo album, her most personal – and stunning – project to date [...] Like top-shelf cognac, Hathaway's passionate vocals go down smooth and spread head-to-toe warmth – a fitting symbol for the next generation of Stax soul." [11]

Track listing

Self Portrait track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Let Go"
Rideout4:06
2."Breathe"
  • Hathaway
  • Rideout
  • Michael Ripoll
Rideout5:04
3."On Your Own"
  • Hathaway
  • Patterson
  • Rideout
Rideout6:39
4."For Always"
  • Hathaway
  • Rideout
Rideout4:23
5."That Was Then"
Rideout5:09
6."Learning to Swim"HathawayPaula Gallitano4:39
7."1 Mile" (rap by Andre Edwards)
Martin4:28
8."Little Girl"
  • Hathaway
  • Patterson
  • Rideout
  • St. Victor
Rideout4:22
9."What Goes Around"
  • Hathaway
  • Gallitano
Gallitano5:39
10."Naked Truth" (duet with Rahsaan Patterson)
  • Hathaway
  • Kenneth Crouch
  • St. Victor
Crouch4:10
11."UDO"
Martin3:36
12."Tragic Inevitability"
  • Hathaway
  • Wiboud Burkens
  • Manuel Hugas
  • Hathaway
  • Burkens
  • Hugas
5:04
Total length:57:21
iTunes Store bonus track
No.TitleLength
13."Let Go (Video)" 

Charts

Chart performance for Self Portrait
Chart (2008)Peak
position
US Billboard 200 [12] 63
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) [13] 6

Release history

Release dates and formats for Self Portrait
RegionDateFormat(s)LabelRef.
United StatesJune 3, 2008 Stax [8]

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References

  1. ↑ George, Raphael (June 21, 2008). "Ashanti Grabs Hot Shot Debut". Billboard . Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Lalah Hathaway Official MySpace page". MySpace. Archived from the original on December 5, 2008. Retrieved June 16, 2023.{{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  3. ↑ "Lalah Hathaway". Bebo.
  4. ↑ Byrd, Kenya N. "Lalah Hathaway: Voice of Conviction. The sultry soulstress reflects on her new album, legendary father and secret obsession". Essence. Archived from the original on April 6, 2008. Retrieved June 16, 2023.{{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  5. ↑ "Lalah Hathaway Stretches Her Musical Canvas With Her Stax Records Debut "Self Portrait"". Concord Music Group. March 28, 2008.
  6. 1 2 "Lalah Hathaway Chart History (Adult R&B Airplay)". Billboard . Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  7. ↑ Lalah Hathaway introduces LalahTV and New Tour Dates Archived 2008-12-01 at the Wayback Machine Hip Online News July 2, 2008
  8. 1 2 3 Allmusic review
  9. ↑ [Spellman, Robert (August 14, 2008). "LALAH HATHAWAY: SELF PORTRAIT (Stax) ****". Daily Express.
  10. ↑ Bryant, Akim. "Lalah Hathaway – Self Portrait (2008)". SoulTracks . Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  11. ↑ "Billboard CD reviews: Morissette, Mendes". Billboard . June 6, 2008. Retrieved June 16, 2023– via Reuters.
  12. ↑ "Lalah Hathaway Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
  13. ↑ "Lalah Hathaway Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved June 16, 2023.
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