Mya Marie Harrison is an American actress, dancer, record producer, singer, and songwriter. 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.
Gorilla is the sixth studio album by American singer-songwriter James Taylor. Released in May 1975, it was more successful than Walking Man, his previous release. Two album tracks released as singles, "Mexico" and "How Sweet It Is ", rose to the top five on the Billboard charts. This would be Taylor's second-to-last album of new material for Warner Bros. Records, his last being In the Pocket. In many ways, Gorilla showcased Taylor's electric, lighter side that became evident on Walking Man. The song "Sarah Maria" is about his daughter Sally. His then-wife Carly Simon was featured on "How Sweet It Is ", originally recorded by Marvin Gaye. Jimmy Buffett recorded "Mexico" on his 1995 album Barometer Soup and performed "Lighthouse" during his Salty Piece of Land tour of 2005.
We Care a Lot is the debut studio album by American rock band Faith No More, originally released in 1985 and distributed through Mordam Records. On the original vinyl release, the band is credited as Faith. No More. on the album's liner notes, back cover, and on the record itself.
'It's All About Me' is a song by American singer Mýa. It served as her debut single from her self-titled debut studio album and recorded as a duet with R&B singer Sisqó. A psychedelic R&B slow jam, "It's All About Me" was written and composed by Sisqó and Darryl Pearson, while the latter served as producer. It interpolates the composition "Moments in Love" by Art of Noise.
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.
"Almost Doesn't Count" is a song by American singer Brandy Norwood. It was written by Shelly Peiken and Guy Roche and recorded by Norwood for her second studio album, Never Say Never (1998). Atlantic Records consulted Fred Jerkins III to recut the song to be more consistent with the overall sound of the album. He would subsequently share production credit along with Roche. A pop and R&B-ballad combining elements of country, it incorporates Latin flavored riffs. The song's lyrics are based on an on-again, off-again relationship that Peiken had experienced during her college years.
Mya is the debut studio album by American singer Mya. It was released by University Music Entertainment and Interscope Records on April 21, 1998, in the United States. Recording of the contemporary R&B album was overseen by University Records CEO A. Haqq Islam after he signed the singer when she was at the age of 15. Production on Mya was primarily handled by Swing Mob member Darryl Pearson with additional contributions from Daryl Simmons, Alex "Cat" Cantrall, Joey Priolo, and Nokio the N-Tity. Guest appearances include Dru Hill frontman Sisqó, and rappers Silkk the Shocker and Missy Elliott.
"My Love Is Like...Wo" is a song by American singer Mýa, released as the lead single from her third studio album, Moodring (2003), on June 9, 2003. Mýa re-teamed up with rapper Missy Elliott after the global success of "Lady Marmalade" (2001) to record the song. Before being released, it took Mýa a whole year to decide to record the song because of its graphic lyrical content. The song was written by Elliott along with brothers Charles and Kenneth Bereal. Lyrically, the mid-tempo song is about self-love.
"Anything" is a song by American singer JoJo from her second studio album, The High Road (2006). It was released as the album's third and final single on March 20, 2007. Written by Beau Dozier, Mischke, and Justin Trugman, the track contains a sample from Toto's 1982 song "Africa", written by David Paich and Jeff Porcaro.
"Fallen" is a song by American singer Mya, released as the second and final single from her third studio album, Moodring (2003). Written by Rich Shelton, Kevin Veney, Loren Hill, and Leonard Huggins, the mid-tempo track contains excerpts from The Pharcyde's 1995 song "Runnin'", which itself samples Luiz Bonfá's 1963 song "Saudade Vem Correndo", and lyrically addresses a woman falling head over heels in love with someone.
"Respect Yourself" is a song by American R&B/gospel group the Staple Singers. Released in late 1971 from their album Be Altitude: Respect Yourself, the song became a crossover hit. The Staple Singers' version peaked at No. 12 on the Hot 100, No. 2 on the Hot Soul Singles chart, and is one of the group's most recognizable hits. In 2002, the song was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame, and in 2010 it was ranked #468 on the Rolling Stone list of the 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, moving down 4 spots from #464 in 2004.
"Free" is a song by American singer Mýa. It served as the third and final single from her second studio album, Fear of Flying (2000), in December 2000. Originally featured on the soundtrack to the 2000 film Bait, the song was one of the two tracks added to the re-release edition of Fear of Flying on November 7, 2000. It was written and composed by Jimmy Jam, Harrison, Terry Lewis, Alexander Richbourg, and Tony Tolbert. Lyrically, "Free" addresses on independence.
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.
Charles T. Harmon, better known as Chuck Harmony, is an American music producer, musician, songwriter and entrepreneur, based in Nashville, Tennessee. He is a three-time Grammy Award nominee, and won a 2011 NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Song for Fantasia’s "Bittersweet".
Claude Kelly is an American singer, songwriter and music producer. He is a four-time Grammy Award nominee, and has written or co-written songs for Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Kelly Clarkson, Britney Spears, Ariana Grande, Bruno Mars, Christina Aguilera, Adam Lambert, Jennifer Lopez, Kesha, Brandy, Keke Wyatt, and One Direction. He and Chuck Harmony make up the R&B duo Louis York, and founded the music collective Weirdo Workshop.
"Tears of Joy" is a song by American recording artist Faith Evans. It was written and produced by Claude Kelly and Chuck Harmony and recorded by Evans for R&B Divas (2012), a compilation album led by the singer which featured the first season stars of the same-titled TV One reality series. An emotional piano-led R&B ballad, the song was released as the album's first single and peaked at 79 on the US Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and number 18 on Billboard's R&B Songs chart.
The Truth is the seventh studio and fifth major studio album from American singer Ledisi, released on Verve Records on March 11, 2014. The album had no guest appearances.
Victoria Monét McCants is an American singer-songwriter. First gaining recognition for her songwriting work, Monét pursued a recording career with the release of a series of extended plays (EPs) before releasing her fifth EP, Jaguar (2020) to critical acclaim. Her debut studio album, Jaguar II (2023) was her commercial breakthrough and supported by the hit single, "On My Mama". The song peaked within the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100 and received a Grammy Award nomination for Record of the Year. At the 66th Annual Grammy Awards, she received seven nominations and three wins for Best New Artist, Best R&B Album and Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical.
"Knock You Out" is a song recorded by American singer Mya. A collaborative effort, it was written and conceptualized by Mýa and Marsha Ambrosius utilizing boxing references as metaphors throughout the entire song, while production duties was handled by frequent collaborator Lamar "MyGuyMars" Edwards. Musically, a spacey neo soul song, "Knock You Out" is described as an Isley Brothers-indebted bedroom jam with guitar licks and spaced-out vocal harmonies. Released April 13, 2018, "Knock You Out" served as the fifth single from T.K.O. (2018).
"Whine" is a song recorded by American singer Mya featuring Bounty Killer. The track was written by Mavelle Gilbert, Theron Thomas, Matthew Thompson, Rodney Price, and Mya with production helmed by Philip "DJ Hardwerk" Constable. A standalone single, "Whine" – celebrates the singer's landmark 25 years in the music industry – was released August 18, 2023 on her label imprint Planet 9 with distribution via Ingrooves. Preceding the single's release, an accompanying music video followed.
