Ready (Trey Songz album)
Encyclopedia
Ready is the third studio album
by American R&B
singer Trey Songz
. The album, his first studio release since 2007's Trey Day
, was released by Songbook and Atlantic Records
on August 31, 2009, in the United States. Production for the album began in 2008 and continued until 2009, featuring contributions from Songz's mentor Troy Taylor
, Bryan-Michael Cox, StarGate
, and Los Da Mystro, among others.
The album received generally positive reviews from critics. Reviews positively compared Ready to the work of R. Kelly
, but criticized the album's inconsistency. It debuted at number three on the U.S. Billboard 200
and peaked at number two on the U.S. Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
chart, selling 131,000 copies in its first week. The album was later certified gold
by the Recording Industry Association of America
, becoming Songz's first certified album.
Five singles released from Ready achieved chart success, including the top ten Billboard Hot 100
hit "Say Aah
", and the top five Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
hits "Neighbors Know My Name
" and "I Invented Sex
", the latter of which topped the chart. Songz promoted Ready in a number of live appearances, including co-heading the 106 & Live tour, sponsored by 106 & Park
, and serving as a support act on Jay-Z
's The Blueprint 3 Tour. Ready earned Songz a Grammy Award
nomination for Best Contemporary R&B Album at the 52nd Grammy Awards
; however, it lost to Beyoncé Knowles
' I Am...Sasha Fierce.
Production began in late 2008 and was completed in 2009. The album features production from Stargate
, Johntá Austin
, Troy Taylor
, Los Da Mystro, Eric Hudson
and Bryan-Michael Cox. Speaking on his collaborations with the producers, Songz said that on Ready, "we're breaking down every song, every hook, every chorus, every bridge, and we're making sure every song is the best song it could be. This album isn't just going to be a compilation of songs, but a classic body of work." The album originally contained three guest features, Drake
, Gucci Mane
and Soulja Boy Tell 'Em
. Songz wanted to keep the amount of features very limited, and stated that "anybody else I add is going to be very special". Fabolous
was later added as a guest feature on "Say Aah".
Songz said that compared to his previous albums, "this album is very adult, very easygoing and very sexy [...] My first album was very adult-like, but in a different, more soulful, sample-driven kind of way, and my second one was more contemporary and trendy." To reflect his transition into adulthood and the changes in his music, Songz changed his appearance by cutting off his trademark braid
s. Songz also began dressing in more sophisticated attire, trading in sneakers and T-shirts for vests, tailored pants, and "tasteful" shoes. On the appearance change, Songz's mentor, producer, and the head of Songbook Entertainment, Troy Taylor
said, "Trey's from the streets, he's a hood
kid. He wasn't glamorous and (didn't have) the finer things in life growing up, [...] He didn't want to lose his street-ism
, [...] As he grew into it I think he began to realize, 'Wait a minute, this ain't that bad after all,' and then he got the ladies' opinions."
The album was originally set to be released on June 30, 2009; however, Songz delayed the date to September 1, 2009, so that he could return to the studio and finish the album. The release date was then moved up one day to August 31, 2009, in order for the album's work to be considered for the 2010 Grammy Awards.
After Ready' s success, Songz explained that the album was a result of his growth and new-found maturity. Commenting about the success of his singles, Songz stated that "they're very strong records and they're not just radio records. They're records that embody the person I am as well as the artist I am. I think they're more definitive of who I am than any other album I've had. I've grown as an artist. I've been doing this for awhile now. As I've matured, I've learned how to exude that of which I want to be felt. I've learned what my fans want from me and things of that nature."
, hip-hop
and pop
, with a bit of soul
, as much of the work has been compared to vintage R. Kelly
. Concerning the album's lyrical content, Ken Capobianco of the Boston Globe said, "While many male modern R&B vocalists are moving to a more mature vibe, Trey Songz keeps the horndog-with-a-heart tradition alive with his third album." Sean Fennessey of The Village Voice
said, that Ready, featured Songz's "re-imagining the notion of flow—if not melody—just as his hero Kelly did 15 years ago." Andrew Rennie of Now Magazine
said the production had a 1980's soundtrack vibe. According to Mark Edward Nero of About.com
, "I Need A Girl" contains familiar qualities of Songz's breakout hit "Can't Help but Wait
", also produced by Stargate. The song is lyrically about finding and pleasing the right woman. The song has also been described to be a mix of Usher
and Justin Timberlake
Melanie Bertoli of Billboard
said that "Neighbors Know My Name" "employs a knocking bassline and drip-drop effect to provide the ideal erotic backdrop for Songz's dirty talk." "Say Aah
" is an electrohop piece about a birthday celebration, said to rival "Birthday Sex
", and "Blame It
." "Black Roses" is "set to quasi-electronica production, buoyed by a soulful vocal arrangement." Tyler Lewis of PopMatters
said "Be Where You Are" was reminiscent of Jordan Knight
's "Give It to You
", and called it Songz's purest pop song to date. "Yo Side of the Bed", containing soul influences, has been called R&B-pop rock
similar to some of Beyonce's work on I Am...Sasha Fierce and Brandy
on Human. "LOL Smiley Face" is lyrically about sexting
, while featuring a "ringtone-ready" chorus, and heavy percussion.
every Monday, some of which was from his mixtape Anticipation, which preceded the album's release. Songz embarked on a promo tour on July 25, 2009, with stops in Chicago
, Miami, Atlanta, Dallas and the Carolinas
, where he attended radio events and listening sessions. He also toured the House of Blues
in September, as well as a college tour that fall. In addition to co-headlining the 106 & Live!
tour with Mario, also featuring Day26
and Sean Garrett
, which toured from September 29 to October 31, 2009, Songz served as a supporting act in 2010 for Jay-Z
's The Blueprint 3 Tour, along with Young Jeezy
.
In addition to the online and touring promotion, Songz made an appearance with his mother and younger-half brother, Forrest, to perform at AMBER Ready Back-to-School Safety Weekend at ABC Studios in Times Square
on August 16, 2009. He appeared on BET
's 106 & Park
on August 31, September 1, and September 2, 2009, performing a medley of "Successful", "I Need a Girl
" and "LOL Smiley Face
" on the latter date. He performed "I Need a Girl" on September 9, 2009, on The Wendy Williams Show
.
", was released as the lead single
via digital download
on April 13, 2009, with "Brand New" as its B-side. "I Need A Girl" received positive to mixed reviews, with some critics comparing it to "Can't Help But Wait" and others noting it as generic. The song peaked at fifty-nine on the Billboard Hot 100
and six on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
. Songz appeared as a featured artist on Drake
's single, "Successful", which peaked at seventeen on the Hot 100, and was a success on other charts, reaching three and two, respectively, on the R&B/Hip-Hop and Rap Songs charts. Although it was not released as a dual single for Songz and Drake, Songz included it on Ready, sans the other featured guest, Lil Wayne
's verse, and the addition of another by himself. "LOL Smiley Face
", featuring rappers Gucci Mane
and Soulja Boy Tell 'Em
was released to airplay as the album's second single on August 24, 2009. The song received generally positive reviews, while peaking at fifty-one on the Hot 100.
"I Invented Sex
", featuring Drake, was released to airplay as the album's third single on October 13, 2009. While reaching forty-two on the Hot 100, it became Songz's first number one hit on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The song was accompanied by an official remix featuring fellow R&B singers Keri Hilson
and Usher
. "Say Aah
", an electrohop song about a birthday celebration, was the album's fourth single, and became the most successful song of Songz's career, reaching nine on the Hot 100. Additionally it was his first song to impact pop
radio, appearing on the Pop Songs chart, and his first to chart internationally, charting on the Canadian Hot 100
. "Neighbors Know My Name
" was the album's fifth and final single, and it received generally positive reviews, while reaching forty-three on the Hot 100, and four on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, giving Songz his third consecutive top five single and fifth top ten single from Ready. Although not released as a single, a music video for "Yo Side of the Bed", in which Keri Hilson portrayed Songz's love interest, was filmed and released.
with first-week sales of 131,000 copies. Ready was the second-highest debut of the week only behind Whitney Houston
's comeback album, I Look To You
. The album currently remains on the top half of the Billboard 200
and on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
chart. On February 16, 2010, the album was certified gold
in sales by the Recording Industry Association of America
, following shipments in excess of 500,000 copies in the U.S. It is Songz's first RIAA-certified
album.
, while several critics noted it as inconsistent. David Jeffries of Allmusic said that "Even at a whopping 17 like-minded tracks, all-night lovers wouldn't be caught dead complaining about how overly long it all is", commenting that Ready "is as entertaining and frivolous as a one-night stand should be." Ken Capobianco of The Boston Globe
said that Songz had developed as a vocalist stating his voice was more "elastic" and he used his falsetto "judiciously." Capobianco commended tracks like "Be Where You Are," and "Love Lost", commenting that "tracks like that show that he is indeed ready for the next step." Andrew Rennie of Now
said, "slight deviations from R&B’s classic formula allow Trey Songz wiggle room to play with his multi-octave voice. This offering sets him apart from other acts and may secure his spot in the canon of bedroom crooners." Glenn Gamboa of Newsday
said that after making his name for singing hooks on rap songs, that he "shows his smooth R&B vocals can hold the spotlight all on their own." Rolling Stone
gave the album 3½ out of 5 stars and wrote that Songz "takes cues from R. Kelly, slyly mocking the self-parodying excesses of boudoir R&B while supplying the utilitarian goods: the sumptuous vocal harmonies and sultry beats upon which long nights beneath ceiling mirrors depend". A writer for USA Today
said the album reflects his broad appeal, and that Songz's proves "he's comfortable as a rogue or romantic. Even though the review pointed out that "he occasionally falls back on booty-call clichés," it did point out that "his song craft shines on the edgy "Black Roses" and regretful "Love Lost." Jon Caramanica of The New York Times
said, " 'Ready' is one of the year’s most promising R&B albums, and a curious one at that", commenting, "the results are bawdy but never lecherous; sometimes all his enthusiastic bedroom talk has an air of childlike goofiness to it, as if he were thrilled to get away with boasting so freely." Sean Fennesssy of The Village Voice
called the album "one of the year's best..."
Despite viewing it imperfect and noting Songz had not mastered the balancing act "between being a horny boy and ladies' man", Mark Edward Nero of About.com
said it was the best album of Songz's career, commenting, "Trey takes a big step toward establishing himself as an A-list singer." Nero also commended consistent vocals as a plus, and complimented the eclecticity of the songs, saying no tracks are unlistenable. Tyler Lewis of PopMatters
said that Songz continued his tradition of inconsistent albums, commenting that the album is best is when it departs from the R. Kelly
template. Lewis recommended that the album needed to be trimmed down and included with some from his mixtape Anticipation for what could have been, "the black pop record of the year." In his consumer guide for MSN Music
, critic Robert Christgau
gave to the album a dud rating, indicating "a bad record whose details rarely merit further thought. At the upper level it may merely be overrated, disappointing, or dull. Down below it may be contemptible". Ajitpaul Mangat of Tiny Mix Tapes
called the album often "generic" and "monotonous" noting how Songz's work on freestyles and work ethic proves how the album could be better. Mangat did overall compliment the album, "While Ready is far from a perfect album, it seems Trey is learning how to inspirit his original works with the charm and inventiveness found in his freestyles and covers." The album earned Songz a Grammy Award
nomination for Best Contemporary R&B Album in 2010.
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by American R&B
Contemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
singer Trey Songz
Trey Songz
Tremaine "Trey" Aldon Neverson , better known by his stage name Trey Songz, is an American singer-songwriter, rapper, record producer and actor. His debut album, I Gotta Make It, was released in 2005, while his second album, Trey Day, was released in 2007...
. The album, his first studio release since 2007's Trey Day
Trey Day
-Charts:-Personnel:*Tremaine Neverson : Background Vocals, Executive Producer, Vocal Producer*Troy Taylor : Background Vocals, Engineer, Executive Producer, Vocal Engineer, Vocal Producer*Taj Jackson, Candice Nelson : Background Vocals*Mikkel S...
, was released by Songbook and Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
on August 31, 2009, in the United States. Production for the album began in 2008 and continued until 2009, featuring contributions from Songz's mentor Troy Taylor
Troy Taylor (producer)
Troy Taylor was born and raised in New Haven, Connecticut, into a family of musicians. He got his start by singing in talent shows at an early age then moved on to playing keyboards. Before reaching the age of 21, Taylor was signed as an artist to Motown Records and later helped produce several...
, Bryan-Michael Cox, StarGate
Stargate (production team)
This is a list of songs written and produced by the Norwegian production team Stargate.-Produced singles:-1999:5ive - Invincible*05. "Two Sides to Every Story"*06. "You Make Me a Better Man"Noora Noor - Curious*01. "Curious"...
, and Los Da Mystro, among others.
The album received generally positive reviews from critics. Reviews positively compared Ready to the work of R. Kelly
R. Kelly
Robert Sylvester Kelly , better known by his stage name R. Kelly, is an American singer-songwriter and record producer. A native of Chicago, Kelly began performing during the late 1980s and debuted in 1992 with the group Public Announcement. In 1993, Kelly went solo with the album 12 Play...
, but criticized the album's inconsistency. It debuted at number three on the U.S. Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
and peaked at number two on the U.S. Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999...
chart, selling 131,000 copies in its first week. The album was later certified gold
RIAA certification
In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles sold through retail and other ancillary markets. Other countries have similar awards...
by the Recording Industry Association of America
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
, becoming Songz's first certified album.
Five singles released from Ready achieved chart success, including the top ten Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
hit "Say Aah
Say Aah
"Say Aah" is a song by American recording artist Trey Songz featuring American rapper Fabolous. The track was written by the two along with Nate Walka, Ronald M. Ferebee, Jr., Tony Scales, and Don Correll, with the latter producing it with Troy Taylor...
", and the top five Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
hits "Neighbors Know My Name
Neighbors Know My Name
"Neighbors Know My Name" is a song by American R&B singer Trey Songz. It was written by Songz with Patrick Hayes and Troy Taylor, who produced the song with John Mcgee. It was released to rhythmic and urban airplay as the fifth and final single from his third studio album, Ready on February 16, 2010...
" and "I Invented Sex
I Invented Sex
"I Invented Sex" is a song by American R&B singer Trey Songz, and features Canadian recording artist Drake. Together, they wrote the song alongside Tony Scales and its producer, Los Da Mystro. It was released to urban airplay as the third single from Songz's third studio album Ready on October 13,...
", the latter of which topped the chart. Songz promoted Ready in a number of live appearances, including co-heading the 106 & Live tour, sponsored by 106 & Park
106 & Park
106 & Park is a Top Ten Hip-Hop and R&B music video show, set up in a countdown format, that airs weekdays at 6:00 PM on BET . Since its inception, it was the network's #1 rated show...
, and serving as a support act on Jay-Z
Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...
's The Blueprint 3 Tour. Ready earned Songz a Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
nomination for Best Contemporary R&B Album at the 52nd Grammy Awards
52nd Grammy Awards
The 52nd Annual Grammy Awards took place on January 31, 2010, at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. Neil Young was honored as the 2010 MusiCares Person of the Year on January 29, two days prior to the Grammy telecast. Only ten of the 109 awards were received during the broadcast...
; however, it lost to Beyoncé Knowles
Beyoncé Knowles
Beyoncé Giselle Knowles , often known simply as Beyoncé, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and actress. Born and raised in Houston, Texas, she enrolled in various performing arts schools and was first exposed to singing and dancing competitions as a child...
' I Am...Sasha Fierce.
Production and development
When Songz began recording for Ready, the purpose of the album was to crossover and increase his exposure on radio. The album's lead single, "I Need a Girl", was released to connect to mainstream radio. Songz said that "[it] was a very radio-geared record which would do great and play on radio heavily during whatever time. It wasn't a record I expected to last forever, or one I was even excited about singing, but it was a record I knew would do well." Speaking of the following singles, Songz thought that "I Invented Sex" would be a "career-defining record, and I knew 'Say Aah' would be a monster club record."Production began in late 2008 and was completed in 2009. The album features production from Stargate
Stargate (production team)
This is a list of songs written and produced by the Norwegian production team Stargate.-Produced singles:-1999:5ive - Invincible*05. "Two Sides to Every Story"*06. "You Make Me a Better Man"Noora Noor - Curious*01. "Curious"...
, Johntá Austin
Johnta Austin
Johntá Austin is an American singer-songwriter, who is currently signed to Jermaine Dupri's So So Def Recordings. He is commonly known for collaborating with Producers Bryan-Michael Cox, Jermaine Dupri & The Production Team StarGate. Austin was awarded two Grammy Awards for his work on the songs...
, Troy Taylor
Troy Taylor (producer)
Troy Taylor was born and raised in New Haven, Connecticut, into a family of musicians. He got his start by singing in talent shows at an early age then moved on to playing keyboards. Before reaching the age of 21, Taylor was signed as an artist to Motown Records and later helped produce several...
, Los Da Mystro, Eric Hudson
Eric Hudson
Eric Hudson is a South Orange, New Jersey native and Grammy award-winning music producer. Born to father Curt Hudson, songwriter/producer . He went to Columbia High School in South Orange, NJ and graduated in 2004.-2006:Omarion - 21* 01. "Entourage"* 03. "Electric"* 11. "Been With a Star"John...
and Bryan-Michael Cox. Speaking on his collaborations with the producers, Songz said that on Ready, "we're breaking down every song, every hook, every chorus, every bridge, and we're making sure every song is the best song it could be. This album isn't just going to be a compilation of songs, but a classic body of work." The album originally contained three guest features, Drake
Drake (entertainer)
Aubrey Drake Graham , who records under the mononym Drake, is a Canadian recording artist and actor. He originally became known for playing Jimmy Brooks on the television series Degrassi: The Next Generation....
, Gucci Mane
Gucci Mane
Radric Davis , better known by his stage name Gucci Mane, is an American rapper. He debuted in 2005 with Trap House and followed with albums such as Hard to Kill in 2006, Trap-A-Thon and Back to the Trap House in 2007. In 2009, his second studio album The State vs. Radric Davis was released...
and Soulja Boy Tell 'Em
Soulja Boy Tell 'Em
DeAndre Cortez Way , better known by his stage name Soulja Boy Tell 'Em, or simply Soulja Boy, is an American rapper, record producer, actor, entrepreneur, and internet personality....
. Songz wanted to keep the amount of features very limited, and stated that "anybody else I add is going to be very special". Fabolous
Fabolous
John David Jackson , better known by his stage name Fabolous, is an American rapper of African American and Dominican descent. He grew up in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. Part of his early popularity arose from his hit single "Can't Deny It" in 2001, from his debut...
was later added as a guest feature on "Say Aah".
Songz said that compared to his previous albums, "this album is very adult, very easygoing and very sexy [...] My first album was very adult-like, but in a different, more soulful, sample-driven kind of way, and my second one was more contemporary and trendy." To reflect his transition into adulthood and the changes in his music, Songz changed his appearance by cutting off his trademark braid
Braid
A braid is a complex structure or pattern formed by intertwining three or more strands of flexible material such as textile fibres, wire, or human hair...
s. Songz also began dressing in more sophisticated attire, trading in sneakers and T-shirts for vests, tailored pants, and "tasteful" shoes. On the appearance change, Songz's mentor, producer, and the head of Songbook Entertainment, Troy Taylor
Troy Taylor (producer)
Troy Taylor was born and raised in New Haven, Connecticut, into a family of musicians. He got his start by singing in talent shows at an early age then moved on to playing keyboards. Before reaching the age of 21, Taylor was signed as an artist to Motown Records and later helped produce several...
said, "Trey's from the streets, he's a hood
Ghetto
A ghetto is a section of a city predominantly occupied by a group who live there, especially because of social, economic, or legal issues.The term was originally used in Venice to describe the area where Jews were compelled to live. The term now refers to an overcrowded urban area often associated...
kid. He wasn't glamorous and (didn't have) the finer things in life growing up, [...] He didn't want to lose his street-ism
Credibility
Credibility refers to the objective and subjective components of the believability of a source or message.Traditionally, modern, credibility has two key components: trustworthiness and expertise, which both have objective and subjective components. Trustworthiness is based more on subjective...
, [...] As he grew into it I think he began to realize, 'Wait a minute, this ain't that bad after all,' and then he got the ladies' opinions."
The album was originally set to be released on June 30, 2009; however, Songz delayed the date to September 1, 2009, so that he could return to the studio and finish the album. The release date was then moved up one day to August 31, 2009, in order for the album's work to be considered for the 2010 Grammy Awards.
After Ready
Composition
The album contains influences of R&BContemporary R&B
Contemporary R&B is a music genre that combines elements of hip hop, soul, R&B and funk.Although the abbreviation “R&B” originates from traditional rhythm and blues music, today the term R&B is most often used to describe a style of African American music originating after the demise of disco in...
, hip-hop
Hip hop music
Hip hop music, also called hip-hop, rap music or hip-hop music, is a musical genre consisting of a stylized rhythmic music that commonly accompanies rapping, a rhythmic and rhyming speech that is chanted...
and pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
, with a bit of soul
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
, as much of the work has been compared to vintage R. Kelly
R. Kelly
Robert Sylvester Kelly , better known by his stage name R. Kelly, is an American singer-songwriter and record producer. A native of Chicago, Kelly began performing during the late 1980s and debuted in 1992 with the group Public Announcement. In 1993, Kelly went solo with the album 12 Play...
. Concerning the album's lyrical content, Ken Capobianco of the Boston Globe said, "While many male modern R&B vocalists are moving to a more mature vibe, Trey Songz keeps the horndog-with-a-heart tradition alive with his third album." Sean Fennessey of The Village Voice
The Village Voice
The Village Voice is a free weekly newspaper and news and features website in New York City that features investigative articles, analysis of current affairs and culture, arts and music coverage, and events listings for New York City...
said, that Ready, featured Songz's "re-imagining the notion of flow—if not melody—just as his hero Kelly did 15 years ago." Andrew Rennie of Now Magazine
NOW (magazine)
Now is a free weekly newspaper in Toronto, Canada. It was first printed on September 10, 1981 by Michael Hollett and Alice Klein. Now is an alternative weekly mixing arts and entertainment news with political coverage....
said the production had a 1980's soundtrack vibe. According to Mark Edward Nero of About.com
About.com
About.com is an online source for original information and advice. It is written in English, and is aimed primarily at North Americans. It is owned by The New York Times Company....
, "I Need A Girl" contains familiar qualities of Songz's breakout hit "Can't Help but Wait
Can't Help but Wait
"Can't Help but Wait" is the second single from the Trey Songz album Trey Day. The song is written by Johntá Austin, Mikkel S. Eriksen, and Tor Erik Hermansen. On the issue date of October 6, 2007, the single debuted on the Billboard Hot 100 at number 99. American actor Jackie Long appears in the...
", also produced by Stargate. The song is lyrically about finding and pleasing the right woman. The song has also been described to be a mix of Usher
Usher (entertainer)
Usher Terry Raymond IV , who performs under the mononym Usher, is an American singer-songwriter, and actor. He is considered around the world to be the reigning King of R&B. Usher rose to fame in the late 1990s with the release of his second album My Way, which spawned his first Billboard Hot 100...
and Justin Timberlake
Justin Timberlake
Justin Randall Timberlake is an American pop musician and actor. He achieved early fame when he appeared as a contestant on Star Search, and went on to star in the Disney Channel television series The New Mickey Mouse Club, where he met future bandmate JC Chasez...
Melanie Bertoli of Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
said that "Neighbors Know My Name" "employs a knocking bassline and drip-drop effect to provide the ideal erotic backdrop for Songz's dirty talk." "Say Aah
Say Aah
"Say Aah" is a song by American recording artist Trey Songz featuring American rapper Fabolous. The track was written by the two along with Nate Walka, Ronald M. Ferebee, Jr., Tony Scales, and Don Correll, with the latter producing it with Troy Taylor...
" is an electrohop piece about a birthday celebration, said to rival "Birthday Sex
Birthday Sex
"Birthday Sex" is the debut single by American recording artist Jeremih. It is the lead single from his debut album, Jeremih. The song was written by Jeremih and Keith James and produced by Mick Schultz. "Birthday Sex" peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop...
", and "Blame It
Blame It
"Blame It" is a song by American singer Jamie Foxx, released as the second official single from his third studio album, Intuition. It features singer T-Pain and was written by Christopher "Deep" Henderson, Nate Walker, James T. Brown, John Conte Jr., and Brandon Melanchon and produced by...
." "Black Roses" is "set to quasi-electronica production, buoyed by a soulful vocal arrangement." Tyler Lewis of PopMatters
PopMatters
PopMatters is an international webzine of cultural criticism that covers many aspects of popular culture. PopMatters publishes reviews, interviews, and detailed essays on most cultural products and expressions in areas such as music, television, films, books, video games, comics, sports, theater,...
said "Be Where You Are" was reminiscent of Jordan Knight
Jordan Knight
Jordan Nathaniel Marcel Knight is an American singer-songwriter best known as the lead singer in the boy band, New Kids on the Block , and actor, who rose to fame in the 1980s and 1990s. He is best known for his distinctive falsetto style of singing, influenced by The Stylistics. After New Kids On...
's "Give It to You
Give It to You (Jordan Knight song)
"Give It to You" is Jordan Knight's solo debut single from his self-titled album, Jordan Knight. It is his most well-known single to date as a solo artist and got massive airplay due to the popularity of teen-pop at the time....
", and called it Songz's purest pop song to date. "Yo Side of the Bed", containing soul influences, has been called R&B-pop rock
Pop rock
Pop rock is a music genre which mixes a catchy pop style and light lyrics in its guitar-based rock songs. There are varying definitions of the term, ranging from a slower and mellower form of rock music to a subgenre of pop music...
similar to some of Beyonce's work on I Am...Sasha Fierce and Brandy
Brandy (entertainer)
Brandy Rayana Norwood , known professionally as Brandy, is an American singer-songwriter, producer, actress, and dancer. In 2009, she introduced her rap alter-ego Bran'Nu....
on Human. "LOL Smiley Face" is lyrically about sexting
Sexting
Sexting is the act of sending sexually explicit messages or photographs, primarily between mobile phones. The term was first popularized in early 21st century, and is a portmanteau of sex and texting, where the latter is meant in the wide sense of sending a text possibly with...
, while featuring a "ringtone-ready" chorus, and heavy percussion.
Promotion
To promote the album, a major online campaign was launched, his blog site, SeeFurtherThanIAm.com, on which Songz streams live chats and behind-the-scenes videos. He also released a track on his TwitterTwitter
Twitter is an online social networking and microblogging service that enables its users to send and read text-based posts of up to 140 characters, informally known as "tweets".Twitter was created in March 2006 by Jack Dorsey and launched that July...
every Monday, some of which was from his mixtape Anticipation, which preceded the album's release. Songz embarked on a promo tour on July 25, 2009, with stops in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Miami, Atlanta, Dallas and the Carolinas
The Carolinas
The Carolinas is a term used in the United States to refer collectively to the states of North and South Carolina. Together, the two states + have a population of 13,942,126. "Carolina" would be the fifth most populous state behind California, Texas, New York, and Florida...
, where he attended radio events and listening sessions. He also toured the House of Blues
House of Blues
House of Blues is a chain of 13 live music concert halls and restaurants in major markets throughout the United States. House of Blues first location was in Cambridge's Harvard Square. It was opened in 1992 by Isaac Tigrett, co-founder of Hard Rock Cafe, and Dan Aykroyd, star of The Blues Brothers...
in September, as well as a college tour that fall. In addition to co-headlining the 106 & Live!
106 & Park
106 & Park is a Top Ten Hip-Hop and R&B music video show, set up in a countdown format, that airs weekdays at 6:00 PM on BET . Since its inception, it was the network's #1 rated show...
tour with Mario, also featuring Day26
Day26
Day26 is an American male R&B music group formed on August 26, 2007 by Sean "Diddy" Combs in a handpicked selection at the end of MTV's Making the Band 4. The group consists of Robert Curry, Brian Andrews, Willie Taylor, and Michael McCluney. The moniker is a tribute to the day when Andrews,...
and Sean Garrett
Sean Garrett
Garrett Hamler, better known by his stage name Sean Garrett is an American singer-songwriter, rapper, and record producer. He has produced fifteen number one singles in only seven years of producing music. That number puts him in fifth place on the Billboard list of producers with the most number...
, which toured from September 29 to October 31, 2009, Songz served as a supporting act in 2010 for Jay-Z
Jay-Z
Shawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...
's The Blueprint 3 Tour, along with Young Jeezy
Young Jeezy
Jay Wayne Jenkins , better known by his stage name Young Jeezy, is an American rapper. He is the member of the hip hop group United Streets Dopeboyz of America and a former member of BMF...
.
In addition to the online and touring promotion, Songz made an appearance with his mother and younger-half brother, Forrest, to perform at AMBER Ready Back-to-School Safety Weekend at ABC Studios in Times Square
Times Square
Times Square is a major commercial intersection in the borough of Manhattan in New York City, at the junction of Broadway and Seventh Avenue and stretching from West 42nd to West 47th Streets...
on August 16, 2009. He appeared on BET
Black Entertainment Television
Black Entertainment Television is an American, Viacom-owned cable network based in Washington, D.C.. Currently viewed in more than 90 million homes worldwide, it is the most prominent television network targeting young Black-American audiences. The network was launched on January 25, 1980, by its...
's 106 & Park
106 & Park
106 & Park is a Top Ten Hip-Hop and R&B music video show, set up in a countdown format, that airs weekdays at 6:00 PM on BET . Since its inception, it was the network's #1 rated show...
on August 31, September 1, and September 2, 2009, performing a medley of "Successful", "I Need a Girl
I Need a Girl (Trey Songz song)
"I Need a Girl" is a song by American recording artist Trey Songz. The track was written by Johntá Austin, along with the song's production team, Stargate, who also produced his breakthrough hit, "Can't Help But Wait." The song served as the lead single for Songz's third studio album Ready...
" and "LOL Smiley Face
LOL Smiley Face
"LOL Smiley Face", "), is a song by American recording artist Trey Songz. It features rappers Gucci Mane and Soulja Boy Tell 'Em. The three co-wrote the song with producers Troy Taylor and Tony Scales. The song serves as the second single from Songz' third studio album, Ready...
" on the latter date. He performed "I Need a Girl" on September 9, 2009, on The Wendy Williams Show
The Wendy Williams Show
The Wendy Williams Show is a syndicated talk show hosted by Wendy Williams that premiered on July 14, 2008, as six-week sneak peek, in Detroit, Dallas, Los Angeles, and New York City. The test run was picked up for a full season that began its run on July 13, 2009 in over 70% of the country in...
.
Singles
The album's first single, "I Need a GirlI Need a Girl (Trey Songz song)
"I Need a Girl" is a song by American recording artist Trey Songz. The track was written by Johntá Austin, along with the song's production team, Stargate, who also produced his breakthrough hit, "Can't Help But Wait." The song served as the lead single for Songz's third studio album Ready...
", was released as the lead single
Lead single
A lead single is usually the first single released by a musician or a band before the release of its home album.During the era of the grammophone record, all music arrived in the marketplace as what is now termed a single, one potential hit song backed by an additional song of generally less...
via digital download
Music download
A music download is the transferral of music from an Internet-facing computer or website to a user's local computer. This term encompasses both legal downloads and downloads of copyright material without permission or payment...
on April 13, 2009, with "Brand New" as its B-side. "I Need A Girl" received positive to mixed reviews, with some critics comparing it to "Can't Help But Wait" and others noting it as generic. The song peaked at fifty-nine on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
and six on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
. Songz appeared as a featured artist on Drake
Drake (entertainer)
Aubrey Drake Graham , who records under the mononym Drake, is a Canadian recording artist and actor. He originally became known for playing Jimmy Brooks on the television series Degrassi: The Next Generation....
's single, "Successful", which peaked at seventeen on the Hot 100, and was a success on other charts, reaching three and two, respectively, on the R&B/Hip-Hop and Rap Songs charts. Although it was not released as a dual single for Songz and Drake, Songz included it on Ready, sans the other featured guest, Lil Wayne
Lil Wayne
Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr. , better known by his stage name Lil Wayne, is an American rapper. At the age of nine, Lil Wayne joined Cash Money Records as the youngest member of the label, and half of the duo, The B.G.'z, with B.G.. In 1997, Lil Wayne joined the group Hot Boys, which also included...
's verse, and the addition of another by himself. "LOL Smiley Face
LOL Smiley Face
"LOL Smiley Face", "), is a song by American recording artist Trey Songz. It features rappers Gucci Mane and Soulja Boy Tell 'Em. The three co-wrote the song with producers Troy Taylor and Tony Scales. The song serves as the second single from Songz' third studio album, Ready...
", featuring rappers Gucci Mane
Gucci Mane
Radric Davis , better known by his stage name Gucci Mane, is an American rapper. He debuted in 2005 with Trap House and followed with albums such as Hard to Kill in 2006, Trap-A-Thon and Back to the Trap House in 2007. In 2009, his second studio album The State vs. Radric Davis was released...
and Soulja Boy Tell 'Em
Soulja Boy Tell 'Em
DeAndre Cortez Way , better known by his stage name Soulja Boy Tell 'Em, or simply Soulja Boy, is an American rapper, record producer, actor, entrepreneur, and internet personality....
was released to airplay as the album's second single on August 24, 2009. The song received generally positive reviews, while peaking at fifty-one on the Hot 100.
"I Invented Sex
I Invented Sex
"I Invented Sex" is a song by American R&B singer Trey Songz, and features Canadian recording artist Drake. Together, they wrote the song alongside Tony Scales and its producer, Los Da Mystro. It was released to urban airplay as the third single from Songz's third studio album Ready on October 13,...
", featuring Drake, was released to airplay as the album's third single on October 13, 2009. While reaching forty-two on the Hot 100, it became Songz's first number one hit on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The song was accompanied by an official remix featuring fellow R&B singers Keri Hilson
Keri Hilson
Keri Lynn Hilson is an American R&B singer-songwriter. Born and raised in Decatur, Georgia, Hilson began her music career as a songwriter, penning tracks for several artists in the mid-2000s as part of the five-person production and songwriting team, The Clutch...
and Usher
Usher (entertainer)
Usher Terry Raymond IV , who performs under the mononym Usher, is an American singer-songwriter, and actor. He is considered around the world to be the reigning King of R&B. Usher rose to fame in the late 1990s with the release of his second album My Way, which spawned his first Billboard Hot 100...
. "Say Aah
Say Aah
"Say Aah" is a song by American recording artist Trey Songz featuring American rapper Fabolous. The track was written by the two along with Nate Walka, Ronald M. Ferebee, Jr., Tony Scales, and Don Correll, with the latter producing it with Troy Taylor...
", an electrohop song about a birthday celebration, was the album's fourth single, and became the most successful song of Songz's career, reaching nine on the Hot 100. Additionally it was his first song to impact pop
Contemporary hit radio
Contemporary hit radio is a radio format that is common in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada and Australia that focuses on playing current and recurrent popular music as determined by the Top 40 music charts...
radio, appearing on the Pop Songs chart, and his first to chart internationally, charting on the Canadian Hot 100
Canadian Hot 100
The Canadian Hot 100 is a music singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine which ranks songs in Canada. The chart debuted in the Billboard issue dated June 16, 2007 and was made available for the first time via their online services on June 7, 2007...
. "Neighbors Know My Name
Neighbors Know My Name
"Neighbors Know My Name" is a song by American R&B singer Trey Songz. It was written by Songz with Patrick Hayes and Troy Taylor, who produced the song with John Mcgee. It was released to rhythmic and urban airplay as the fifth and final single from his third studio album, Ready on February 16, 2010...
" was the album's fifth and final single, and it received generally positive reviews, while reaching forty-three on the Hot 100, and four on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, giving Songz his third consecutive top five single and fifth top ten single from Ready. Although not released as a single, a music video for "Yo Side of the Bed", in which Keri Hilson portrayed Songz's love interest, was filmed and released.
Commercial performance
The album debuted at number three on the U.S. Billboard 200Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
with first-week sales of 131,000 copies. Ready was the second-highest debut of the week only behind Whitney Houston
Whitney Houston
Whitney Elizabeth Houston is an American singer, actress, producer and a former model. Houston is the most awarded female act of all time, according to Guinness World Records, and her list of awards include 1 Emmy Award, 6 Grammy Awards, 30 Billboard Music Awards, 22 American Music Awards, among...
's comeback album, I Look To You
I Look to You
I Look to You is the seventh studio album by American R&B-pop singer Whitney Houston. It was first released on August 28, 2009 through Sony Music in Europe, then August 31, 2009 with Arista Records in the United States before being released by RCA Records in the United Kingdom on October 19, 2009...
. The album currently remains on the top half of the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
and on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999...
chart. On February 16, 2010, the album was certified gold
RIAA certification
In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles sold through retail and other ancillary markets. Other countries have similar awards...
in sales by the Recording Industry Association of America
Recording Industry Association of America
The Recording Industry Association of America is a trade organization that represents the recording industry distributors in the United States...
, following shipments in excess of 500,000 copies in the U.S. It is Songz's first RIAA-certified
RIAA certification
In the United States, the Recording Industry Association of America awards certification based on the number of albums and singles sold through retail and other ancillary markets. Other countries have similar awards...
album.
Critical response
Most music critics praised the album, which received an aggregate score of 67 out of 100. The score, indicating "generally favorable reviews" was based on six reviews from website Metacritic. It received many comparisons to the work of R&B artist R. KellyR. Kelly
Robert Sylvester Kelly , better known by his stage name R. Kelly, is an American singer-songwriter and record producer. A native of Chicago, Kelly began performing during the late 1980s and debuted in 1992 with the group Public Announcement. In 1993, Kelly went solo with the album 12 Play...
, while several critics noted it as inconsistent. David Jeffries of Allmusic said that "Even at a whopping 17 like-minded tracks, all-night lovers wouldn't be caught dead complaining about how overly long it all is", commenting that Ready "is as entertaining and frivolous as a one-night stand should be." Ken Capobianco of The Boston Globe
The Boston Globe
The Boston Globe is an American daily newspaper based in Boston, Massachusetts. The Boston Globe has been owned by The New York Times Company since 1993...
said that Songz had developed as a vocalist stating his voice was more "elastic" and he used his falsetto "judiciously." Capobianco commended tracks like "Be Where You Are," and "Love Lost", commenting that "tracks like that show that he is indeed ready for the next step." Andrew Rennie of Now
NOW (magazine)
Now is a free weekly newspaper in Toronto, Canada. It was first printed on September 10, 1981 by Michael Hollett and Alice Klein. Now is an alternative weekly mixing arts and entertainment news with political coverage....
said, "slight deviations from R&B’s classic formula allow Trey Songz wiggle room to play with his multi-octave voice. This offering sets him apart from other acts and may secure his spot in the canon of bedroom crooners." Glenn Gamboa of Newsday
Newsday
Newsday is a daily American newspaper that primarily serves Nassau and Suffolk counties and the New York City borough of Queens on Long Island, although it is sold throughout the New York metropolitan area...
said that after making his name for singing hooks on rap songs, that he "shows his smooth R&B vocals can hold the spotlight all on their own." Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone
Rolling Stone is a US-based magazine devoted to music, liberal politics, and popular culture that is published every two weeks. Rolling Stone was founded in San Francisco in 1967 by Jann Wenner and music critic Ralph J...
gave the album 3½ out of 5 stars and wrote that Songz "takes cues from R. Kelly, slyly mocking the self-parodying excesses of boudoir R&B while supplying the utilitarian goods: the sumptuous vocal harmonies and sultry beats upon which long nights beneath ceiling mirrors depend". A writer for USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
said the album reflects his broad appeal, and that Songz's proves "he's comfortable as a rogue or romantic. Even though the review pointed out that "he occasionally falls back on booty-call clichés," it did point out that "his song craft shines on the edgy "Black Roses" and regretful "Love Lost." Jon Caramanica of The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
said, " 'Ready' is one of the year’s most promising R&B albums, and a curious one at that", commenting, "the results are bawdy but never lecherous; sometimes all his enthusiastic bedroom talk has an air of childlike goofiness to it, as if he were thrilled to get away with boasting so freely." Sean Fennesssy of The Village Voice
The Village Voice
The Village Voice is a free weekly newspaper and news and features website in New York City that features investigative articles, analysis of current affairs and culture, arts and music coverage, and events listings for New York City...
called the album "one of the year's best..."
Despite viewing it imperfect and noting Songz had not mastered the balancing act "between being a horny boy and ladies' man", Mark Edward Nero of About.com
About.com
About.com is an online source for original information and advice. It is written in English, and is aimed primarily at North Americans. It is owned by The New York Times Company....
said it was the best album of Songz's career, commenting, "Trey takes a big step toward establishing himself as an A-list singer." Nero also commended consistent vocals as a plus, and complimented the eclecticity of the songs, saying no tracks are unlistenable. Tyler Lewis of PopMatters
PopMatters
PopMatters is an international webzine of cultural criticism that covers many aspects of popular culture. PopMatters publishes reviews, interviews, and detailed essays on most cultural products and expressions in areas such as music, television, films, books, video games, comics, sports, theater,...
said that Songz continued his tradition of inconsistent albums, commenting that the album is best is when it departs from the R. Kelly
R. Kelly
Robert Sylvester Kelly , better known by his stage name R. Kelly, is an American singer-songwriter and record producer. A native of Chicago, Kelly began performing during the late 1980s and debuted in 1992 with the group Public Announcement. In 1993, Kelly went solo with the album 12 Play...
template. Lewis recommended that the album needed to be trimmed down and included with some from his mixtape Anticipation for what could have been, "the black pop record of the year." In his consumer guide for MSN Music
MSN Music
MSN Music was a part of the MSN web services. It delivered music news, music videos, spotlights on new music, artist information, and live performances of artists. In 2004, Microsoft created an MSN Music download store to compete with Apple's iTunes Music Store, though its sales in comparison were...
, critic Robert Christgau
Robert Christgau
Robert Christgau is an American essayist, music journalist, and self-proclaimed "Dean of American Rock Critics".One of the earliest professional rock critics, Christgau is known for his terse capsule reviews, published since 1969 in his Consumer Guide columns...
gave to the album a dud rating, indicating "a bad record whose details rarely merit further thought. At the upper level it may merely be overrated, disappointing, or dull. Down below it may be contemptible". Ajitpaul Mangat of Tiny Mix Tapes
Tiny Mix Tapes
Tiny Mix Tapes is an online music and film webzine that focuses primarily on new music and related news. In addition to its reviews, it is noted for its subversive, political, and sometimes surreal news, as well as its mix tapes generator.-History:Originally called Tiny Mixtapes Gone to Heaven and...
called the album often "generic" and "monotonous" noting how Songz's work on freestyles and work ethic proves how the album could be better. Mangat did overall compliment the album, "While Ready is far from a perfect album, it seems Trey is learning how to inspirit his original works with the charm and inventiveness found in his freestyles and covers." The album earned Songz a Grammy Award
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
nomination for Best Contemporary R&B Album in 2010.
Track listing
- (*) designates a co-producer
Personnel
Credits for Ready adapted from Allmusic.- Rebeca Alexis – Stylist
- Johnta AustinJohnta AustinJohntá Austin is an American singer-songwriter, who is currently signed to Jermaine Dupri's So So Def Recordings. He is commonly known for collaborating with Producers Bryan-Michael Cox, Jermaine Dupri & The Production Team StarGate. Austin was awarded two Grammy Awards for his work on the songs...
– composer, executive Producer - Amund BjörklundStargate (production team)This is a list of songs written and produced by the Norwegian production team Stargate.-Produced singles:-1999:5ive - Invincible*05. "Two Sides to Every Story"*06. "You Make Me a Better Man"Noora Noor - Curious*01. "Curious"...
– composer - Brandon Green – composer
- Greg Gigendad Burke – art Direction, design
- Mike Caren – A&R
- Mark B. Christensen – mastering
- Don Corell – composer, producer
- Dwayne Cotton – guitar
- Bryan-Michael Cox – composer, producer, instrumentation
- Radric Davis – composer
- Mikkel S. EriksenStargate (production team)This is a list of songs written and produced by the Norwegian production team Stargate.-Produced singles:-1999:5ive - Invincible*05. "Two Sides to Every Story"*06. "You Make Me a Better Man"Noora Noor - Curious*01. "Curious"...
– composer, engineer, instrumentation - Sean Fenton – Composer
- Ronald Ferebee Jr. – composer
- Askia Fountain – composer
- Jaycen Joshua Fowler – mixing
- Lanre Gaba – A&R
- Sean GarrettSean GarrettGarrett Hamler, better known by his stage name Sean Garrett is an American singer-songwriter, rapper, and record producer. He has produced fifteen number one singles in only seven years of producing music. That number puts him in fifth place on the Billboard list of producers with the most number...
– composer, producer - Rob Gold – photo production
- Aubrey "Drake" Graham – composer
- Paul Gregory – liner notes
- Dionnee Harper – marketing
- Patrick Hayes – composer, producer
- Christopher "Deep" Henderson – keyboards, background vocals, producer, drum programming
- T.E. HermansenStargate (production team)This is a list of songs written and produced by the Norwegian production team Stargate.-Produced singles:-1999:5ive - Invincible*05. "Two Sides to Every Story"*06. "You Make Me a Better Man"Noora Noor - Curious*01. "Curious"...
– composer, engineer - Chris Hines – composer, producer
- Jean-Marie Horvat – mixing
- Josh Houghkirk – mixing assistant
- Eric Hudson – Composer, Producer
- Espen LindStargate (production team)This is a list of songs written and produced by the Norwegian production team Stargate.-Produced singles:-1999:5ive - Invincible*05. "Two Sides to Every Story"*06. "You Make Me a Better Man"Noora Noor - Curious*01. "Curious"...
– guitar, composer - Giancarlo Lino – mixing assistant
- Craig Love – guitar, composer
- Bei MaejorBei MaejorBrandon Green, better known by his stage name Bei Maejor, is a Grammy nominated American recording artist, songwriter and record producer.- Life and career :...
– producer - Jack Manning – background vocals
- John McGee – composer, producer
- Carlos "Los Da Mystro" McKinney– arranger, conductor, producer
- Edrick Miles – Composer
- Delant "Butta" Murphy – Executive Producer, Management
- Scott Naughton – engineer
- Tremaine Neverson – Lead vocals, composer, producer, executive producer
- Dave Pensado – mixing
- Tony "Chef Tone" ScalesTony "Chef Tone" ScalesTony Scales is an American Songwriterbetter known by his pen name Chef Tone. He was born in Chicago, Illinois where he was discovered by Grammy Award winning R&B Star R.Kelly in December 2006. Chef Tone contributed to R. Kelly's and worked on his 2007 release "Double Up"...
– Composer,producer - Paul Gregory Senior – liner Notes
- Noah "40 Shebib40 (producer)Noah Shebib, better known as 40, is a Canadian hip-hop producer from Toronto, Ontario. He is currently signed to Hip Hop Since 1978, a management and production company. In addition to a strong affiliation with Young Money Cash Money Records , Shebib has produced for artists such as Drake, Lil...
– composer, producer, engineer, mixing - Phil Tan – mixing
- Troy TaylorTroy Taylor (producer)Troy Taylor was born and raised in New Haven, Connecticut, into a family of musicians. He got his start by singing in talent shows at an early age then moved on to playing keyboards. Before reaching the age of 21, Taylor was signed as an artist to Motown Records and later helped produce several...
– composer, producer, engineer, executive producer - Sam Thomas – Engineer
- Carolyn Tracey – Package Production
- Nate Walka – composer
- Miles Walker – engineer
- Ben Watts – photography
- DeAndre Way – composer, featured vocals
- Isaac West – bass
- Amir Windom - A&R
Charts
| Chart (2010) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
3 |
| U.S. Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999... |
2 |
Year-end charts
| Chart (2010) | Position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
51 |
Certifications
| Region | Provider | Certification(s) |
|---|---|---|
| United States | RIAA | Gold |
Release history
| Country | Date | Label |
|---|---|---|
| United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
August 31, 2009 | Songbook Entertainment Troy Taylor (producer) Troy Taylor was born and raised in New Haven, Connecticut, into a family of musicians. He got his start by singing in talent shows at an early age then moved on to playing keyboards. Before reaching the age of 21, Taylor was signed as an artist to Motown Records and later helped produce several... , Atlantic Records Atlantic Records Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz... |
External links
- Ready at DiscogsDiscogsDiscogs, short for discographies, is a website and database of information about audio recordings, including commercial releases, promotional releases, and bootleg or off-label releases. The Discogs servers, currently hosted under the domain name discogs.com, are owned by Zink Media, Inc., and are...
- Ready at MetacriticMetacriticMetacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...