Unexpected (Michelle Williams album)
Encyclopedia
Unexpected is the third solo studio album by American
singer Michelle Williams
, released via Columbia Records
and Music World Entertainment in North America on October 7, 2008 (see 2008 in music
). It is Williams' first full length dance
-influenced commercial pop
album, moving away from the gospel
style of her previous efforts. Unexpected was Williams' last release through Columbia
.
Recording sessions for the album originally began in 2005, with the songs being mostly mid-tempo contemporary R&B
and soul
songs, however, after playing the "first sketch" of the album to her mother, Williams says she was "challenged" to go back and record songs that "people could dance to" and so in 2007 Williams began working extensively with producer, songwriter and arranger Rico Love
to create an entirely new album - which Williams would later sum up simply as "unexpected". Unexpected fuses dance-pop
, R&B
and electronic music
to form a wide selection of up-tempo, beat-driven, club-oriented songs which gradually calm into slower material more R&B in sound and style.
Despite being a critical success, the album debuted and peaked at number forty-two and number eleven on the US Billboard 200
and US Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
charts respectively, selling 14,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release.
The album spawned three singles - "We Break the Dawn
" (which preceded the release of the album and has since become Michelle's most successful single to date), "The Greatest" and "Hello Heartbreak
".
and Do You Know, Williams had established herself as a promising success in the gospel music
industry, topping and dominating the US Billboard Gospel Albums
chart in 2002, selling over 200,000 units of her debut album and 78,000 of her second. Williams had also pursued acting, starring in the Broadway
musical Aida
in 2003 and the 2007 touring production of The Color Purple
which earned her an award for "Lead Female Actress" in 2008 at the 18th Annual NAACP Theatre Awards
. In addition to this, Williams made her television
debut via three episodes on UPN
's Half & Half
as "Naomi".
In 2005 however, during an interview with MTV
about Destiny's Child
's #1's
album and last single "Stand Up For Love
", Beyoncé Knowles
said Williams was "working on her third solo album" which "may veer from gospel" to a more "mainstream R&B" sound. Also referenced in the article is Williams' cover of the Al Green
classic, "Let's Stay Together
" that was not only featured in a Gap
commercial but also on the Roll Bounce
soundtrack. In 2006, Williams confirmed her change of musical direction and sound explaining, "I know my first two albums were gospel, but I'm going to do some soul music because I love R&B music, so I'm excited about that opportunity" at Clive Davis's annual pre-Grammy party. Williams also expressed great interest in working with Anthony Hamilton
, John Legend
and Bonnie Raitt
, stating that the album would "hopefully" be "be out at the end of [the] year [or] early next year".
music, partially due to a previously-unreleased song titled "Stay For A Minute" (which is dated to 2006) that Williams released for free online via her Twitter
in 2010 and statements made by herself and former-bandmate Beyoncé in 2005 and 2006. However, Williams explained throughout many of the promotional interviews and television appearances for the album, that her mother "challenged" her "to record another album" - something that "people could dance to" - and so Williams started recording songs that drew inspiration from Dance
and Electronic music
to form another album. While explaining this story (shortly before performing) for Fox Light she heralded Unexpected as being "the best one out of two". Williams discussed during interviews for FuseOnDemand and Fox News, that the album title came about after she was asked by her manager "to sum up" the "album with one word", at which point she replied "unexpected" and thus the album was titled. With two chart-topping contemporary gospel
albums to her name, Williams revealed the reason for the dramatic change in sound and genre for Unexpected in an interview with Clayton Perry of Blogcritics
in which she cited her "heart" as her sole inspiration for the change she orchestrated - "not because people told [her] or people wanted [her] to" but because she "wanted to". She also discussed that it was during the production of Unexpected that she was introduced to and began experimenting with different "sound effects" and elements of electronic music
.
, The Early Show
and appeared on Good Day LA, TRL
and in the UK, Loose Women
to promote the song.
who gave the album an aggregate score of 67/100.
"With the release of Unexpected, Williams has welcomed R&B back into her arms with a modern edge, a la Rihanna and Chris Brown, infusing her soulful lyrics with party beats and dance-like synths. Take the lead single, for instance. "We Break the Dawn" is an immensely catchy mid-tempo jam co-written by Williams and ex-Child Beyonce's sister, Solange Knowles. The track re-launched the ebullient singer back into the mainstream, sporting a new, edgy electronica look and sound. "We Break the Dawn" has a certain amount of memorability in the synth riff and the laid-back party lyrics. The song is carefree, and a far cry from the depth of Gospel music. The album features a collection of "moods" including the bouncy tracks "Hello Heartbreak," hilariously including "It's time for the percolator" as the bridge, and "Lucky Girl" once the smooth intro stops. These dance-pop R&B beats are the same light and noncommittal ones you've become accustomed to with artists like, as I said earlier, Rihanna and Chris Brown, along with the party feel of The Pussycat Dolls and other contemporaries. Another mood of Unexpected is the party jam feel exhibited by "Private Party" and "Hungover," the tracks you jam while driving down the road with your windows down. "The Greatest," a fantastic pop ballad, and "Thank U," a melodic song about thanking what held you down so you can appreciate how far you've come, round out the heavier, and slower, moods on the album. Summary; this album fits nicely into a lot of musical niches, making it a good addition to most collections. And you may be humming some of these tracks years down the line. Not my favorite of the year, but not too shabby either."
"The surprise alluded to in the title of Michelle Williams' third solo album is that "Unexpected" finds the former Destiny's Child member moving from gospel to pop. Considering that she can no longer depend on the occasional DC set to keep her name in mainstream circulation, though, it's not hard to believe Williams would choose to make such a transition. Nor is the radio-ready sound of "Unexpected" —with its Stargate and Jim Jonsin productions and a guest appearance by Flo Rida—much of a shock; Williams and her handlers have clearly been listening to recent hits by Rihanna and Ciara. That said, "Unexpected" does boast a handful of shiny electro-R&B gems ("Hello Heartbreak," "We Break the Dawn") that make Williams' journey from church to club as enjoyable as it was inevitable."
"This month finds Michelle Williams literally delivering the 'Unexpected' - her first solo pop/R&B LP, currently pioneered by the electro-club grooves of its melodically-soulful offshoot single 'We Break The Dawn'. Interestingly, many of the album's synth-heavy uptempo cuts (like the stomping 'Hello Heartbreak' and pumping 'Private Party') rely heavily on the kind of Euro-dance-inspired electronica utilised recently by fellow US urbanites like Timbaland and Justin Timberlake."
"So here is Michelle's third solo album, though the first since the ending of Destiny's Child. After previously showing her gospel colours, she has come full circle back to what Destiny's Child has become well known for: smooth and glossy R&B songs with a dance edge, laced with lyrics about relationships (such as the opener "Hello Heartbreak"), parties ("We Break The Dawn") and teen love (for example, hear the closing song "Too Young For Love"). Though the production quality is undoubtedly extremely high, the lyrical focus will be a big disappointment to anyone looking for some gospel inspiration. The teen girl audience would appear to be the target once again, and much digital trickery has been brought into play to help Michelle sound (and look) younger. It's a great R&B pop record musically, but with songs such as "Lucky Girl" and "Hungover" it's unexpectedly shallow."
"The once shy former Destiny's Child member, who has previously released two successful gospel albums, ditches her good-girl image for a more seductive, edgier style on her third effort. Unexpected pumps with technodriven tracks like Hello Heartbreak (which is reminiscent of Kylie Minogue) and made-for-radio cuts like the lead off single, We Break the Dawn. Although the album's effervescent club feel tapers off near the end, when the songs grow formulaic, the album's charm could still give Michelle Williams a shot at the charts."
"It's no secret that in music, as in life, success and failure are largely dependent on timing, and so with that in mind it's hard not to feel just a little bad for Michelle Williams, the Johnny-come-lately third member of Destiny's Child, who has always had a hard time establishing herself inside the group, let alone outside it, and who now finds herself releasing a new record at a time when her efforts will likely be eclipsed by her former group members. And so, after a series of delays, Williams's third solo album, Unexpected, arrives on shelves just as people have begun to buzz about Beyoncé's upcoming album, and when honorary DC sister Solange has made an unexpected critical impact with the oddball surrealism of her recent sophomore effort, Sol-Angel and the Hadley Street Dreams. Considering Unexpected is a fairly decent album and by far the least pretentious, unashamedly pop record to be made by a DC member so far, it's all a bit unfortunate. Anyone who has heard the first single, "We Break the Dawn," already knows that Williams, whose solo work to date has been gospel-oriented, has on this occasion stepped outside of the confines of the church and into the dark of the clubs, embracing au courant euro-pop sounds, and it's a move that works well for her. "We Break the Dawn," which boasts a chorus wrapped up in some awesome swirling synth-pop majestics, has done relatively well on the dance charts but deserved to cross over. Meanwhile, ignoring some atrocious lyrical hiccups, "Til' the End of the World" is a moody, frostbitten electro lament, and in the lush balladry of "The Greatest," Williams could find the hit she needs."
albums chart at number forty-two - achieving greater success on Billboard's component charts (as with her previous albums Heart To Yours
and Do You Know) where the album peaked at number eleven on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
chart (where it spent six weeks) and number forty-two on the Digital Albums chart, with first week sales of 14,000 in the United States - improving on the mediocre 10,000 of her previous album Do You Know, yet still not toppling the 17,000 that Williams' debut Heart To Yours sold. The album failed to chart outside the U.S. despite its lead single ("We Break The Dawn") peaking within the top fifty of the UK Singles Chart
. As of January, 2010 the album has sold 32,000 copies in the United States according to Billboard.com.
and Asia
going on to later state in June, 2009 via Twitter that Unexpected would receive a full UK re-release and that "Hello Heartbreak" would be the first single set for release in August, 2009. Williams also confirmed in July, 2009 that the London division of Sony Music was considering a re-issue of the album which created the opportunity to record some new songs. Furthermore she revealed that the new remix album was almost complete and puts a hip-hop and/or jazz spin on some the original album's tracks. She also said that some of the new remixes could also be released as part of the UK re-issue. However, by the end of 2009, no further confirmation or news concerning the remix album or UK re-release was provided and therefore it is most likely that the ideas were scrapped.
Managerial
Performance credits
Visuals and Imagery
Instruments
Technical and Production
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
singer Michelle Williams
Michelle Williams (singer)
Tenitra Michelle Williams , commonly known as Michelle Williams, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer and actress...
, released via Columbia Records
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
and Music World Entertainment in North America on October 7, 2008 (see 2008 in music
2008 in music
2008 was a huge year in music history with the emergence of pop superstars Lady Gaga and Katy Perry into the mainstream. Also, this is the year that is widely agreed upon by critics as the start of the fall of hip hop from the mainstream and the rise of Synthpop into the mainstream due to acts such...
). It is Williams' first full length dance
Dance music
Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement...
-influenced commercial 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...
album, moving away from the gospel
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
style of her previous efforts. Unexpected was Williams' last release through Columbia
Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
.
Recording sessions for the album originally began in 2005, with the songs being mostly mid-tempo contemporary 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...
and 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...
songs, however, after playing the "first sketch" of the album to her mother, Williams says she was "challenged" to go back and record songs that "people could dance to" and so in 2007 Williams began working extensively with producer, songwriter and arranger Rico Love
Rico Love
Richard Preston Butler, Jr. , better known by his stage name Rico Love, is an American singer-songwriter and record producer. Love wrote and produced hit records such as Usher’s "There Goes My Baby" and "Hey Daddy ”, Nelly's "Just a Dream" and "Gone", Beyoncé Knowles' "Sweet Dreams"...
to create an entirely new album - which Williams would later sum up simply as "unexpected". Unexpected fuses dance-pop
Dance-pop
Dance-pop is dance-oriented pop music that originated in the early 1980s. Developing from post-disco, it is generally up-tempo music intended for clubs with the intention of being danceable or merely dancey...
, 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...
and electronic music
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
to form a wide selection of up-tempo, beat-driven, club-oriented songs which gradually calm into slower material more R&B in sound and style.
Despite being a critical success, the album debuted and peaked at number forty-two and number eleven on the 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...
and US 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...
charts respectively, selling 14,000 copies in the United States in its first week of release.
The album spawned three singles - "We Break the Dawn
We Break the Dawn
"We Break the Dawn" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Michelle Williams. It was written by Solange Knowles, Andrew Frampton and Wayne Wilkins and produced by Wilkins and Frampton for Williams' third studio album Unexpected...
" (which preceded the release of the album and has since become Michelle's most successful single to date), "The Greatest" and "Hello Heartbreak
Hello Heartbreak
"Hello Heartbreak" is a dance-pop song recorded by American singer-songwriter Michelle Williams. It was co-written by Williams, James Scheffer, Travis Jones and Rico Love, and produced by Alex da Kid and Jay Wes for Williams' third studio album Unexpected...
".
Background
With the release of two previous albums, Heart to YoursHeart to Yours
Heart to Yours is the first solo album by American singer Michelle Williams. Released on April 16, 2002, by Sanctuary and Columbia Records it became the first solo release of any Destiny's Child member...
and Do You Know, Williams had established herself as a promising success in the gospel music
Gospel music
Gospel music is music that is written to express either personal, spiritual or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music....
industry, topping and dominating the US Billboard Gospel Albums
Billboard charts
The Billboard charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs or albums in the United States. The results are published in Billboard magazine...
chart in 2002, selling over 200,000 units of her debut album and 78,000 of her second. Williams had also pursued acting, starring in the Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
musical Aida
Aida (musical)
Aida is a musical with music by Elton John, lyrics by Tim Rice, and book by Linda Woolverton, Robert Falls, and David Henry Hwang, and produced by Walt Disney Theatrical....
in 2003 and the 2007 touring production of The Color Purple
The Color Purple (musical)
The Color Purple is a Broadway musical based upon the novel The Color Purple by Alice Walker. It features music and lyrics written by Brenda Russell, Allee Willis and Stephen Bray, with a book by Marsha Norman. It ran on Broadway in 2005 and has been touring throughout the US...
which earned her an award for "Lead Female Actress" in 2008 at the 18th Annual NAACP Theatre Awards
NAACP Theatre Awards
The NAACP Theatre Awards is an award presented annually by the Beverly Hills-Hollywood branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People to honor outstanding people of color in theatre....
. In addition to this, Williams made her television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
debut via three episodes on UPN
UPN
United Paramount Network was a television network that was broadcast in over 200 markets in the United States from 1995 to 2006. UPN was originally owned by Viacom/Paramount and Chris-Craft Industries, the former of which, through the Paramount Television Group, produced most of the network's...
's Half & Half
Half & Half
Half & Half is an American sitcom that aired on UPN from September 23, 2002, to May 15, 2006. The show focuses on the lives of two paternal half-sisters in their twenties who were estranged throughout their childhood, and are finally developing a close relationship...
as "Naomi".
In 2005 however, during an interview with MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
about Destiny's Child
Destiny's Child
Destiny's Child was an American R&B girl group whose final line-up comprised lead singer Beyoncé Knowles alongside Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams. Formed in 1997 in Houston, Texas, Destiny's Child members began their musical endeavors in their pre-teens under the name Girl's Tyme...
's #1's
Number 1's (Destiny's Child album)
#1's is a compilation album released by R&B group Destiny's Child containing songs from their albums The Writing's on the Wall, Survivor, This Is The Remix, and Destiny Fulfilled...
album and last single "Stand Up For Love
Stand up for Love
"Stand Up for Love" was the last song of the group and first and only single from Destiny's Child's greatest hits album, #1's. Released in 2005, the single became Destiny's Child's first single to fail to chart in the United States...
", 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...
said Williams was "working on her third solo album" which "may veer from gospel" to a more "mainstream R&B" sound. Also referenced in the article is Williams' cover of the Al Green
Al Green
Albert Greene , better known as Al Green, is an American gospel and soul music singer. He reached the peak of his popularity in the 1970s, with hit singles such as "You Oughta Be With Me", "I'm Still In Love With You", "Love and Happiness", and "Let's Stay Together"...
classic, "Let's Stay Together
Let's Stay Together (song)
"Let's Stay Together" is a song by Al Green on his 1972 album of the same name. Released as a single in 1971, the song reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100, and remained on the chart for 16 weeks and also topped Billboards R&B chart for nine weeks. It was ranked the 60th greatest song of all time...
" that was not only featured in a Gap
Gap (clothing retailer)
The Gap, Inc. is an American clothing and accessories retailer based in San Francisco, California, and founded in 1969 by Donald G. Fisher and Doris F. Fisher. The company has five primary brands: the namesake Gap banner, Banana Republic, Old Navy, Piperlime and Athleta. As of September 2008,...
commercial but also on the Roll Bounce
Roll Bounce
Roll Bounce is a 2005 American comedy-drama film written by Norman Vance Jr. and directed by Malcolm D. Lee. The film stars hip hop artist Bow Wow as the leader of a roller skating crew in 1970s Chicago. The film also stars Nick Cannon, Meagan Good, Brandon T...
soundtrack. In 2006, Williams confirmed her change of musical direction and sound explaining, "I know my first two albums were gospel, but I'm going to do some soul music because I love R&B music, so I'm excited about that opportunity" at Clive Davis's annual pre-Grammy party. Williams also expressed great interest in working with Anthony Hamilton
Anthony Hamilton
Anthony Hamilton or Antony Hamilton may refer to:*Anthony Hamilton , Irish classical author, of aristocratic Scottish ancestry, who lived in France where he was known as Antoine Hamilton; intimate of French aristocracy, he wrote, in French, Mémoires du comte de Gramont *Anthony Hamilton , English...
, John Legend
John Legend
John Roger Stephens , better known by his stage name John Legend, is an American singer, musician, and actor. He is the recipient of nine Grammy Awards, and in 2007, he received the special Starlight award from the Songwriters Hall of Fame.Prior to the release of his debut album, Stephens' career...
and Bonnie Raitt
Bonnie Raitt
Bonnie Lynn Raitt is an American blues singer-songwriter and a renowned slide guitar player. During the 1970s, Raitt released a series of acclaimed roots-influenced albums which incorporated elements of blues, rock, folk and country, but she is perhaps best known for her more commercially...
, stating that the album would "hopefully" be "be out at the end of [the] year [or] early next year".
Production and development
The "first sketch" of Unexpected is believed to have been made up of primarily contemporary 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...
music, partially due to a previously-unreleased song titled "Stay For A Minute" (which is dated to 2006) that Williams released for free online via her Twitter
Twitter
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...
in 2010 and statements made by herself and former-bandmate Beyoncé in 2005 and 2006. However, Williams explained throughout many of the promotional interviews and television appearances for the album, that her mother "challenged" her "to record another album" - something that "people could dance to" - and so Williams started recording songs that drew inspiration from Dance
Dance music
Dance music is music composed specifically to facilitate or accompany dancing. It can be either a whole musical piece or part of a larger musical arrangement...
and Electronic music
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
to form another album. While explaining this story (shortly before performing) for Fox Light she heralded Unexpected as being "the best one out of two". Williams discussed during interviews for FuseOnDemand and Fox News, that the album title came about after she was asked by her manager "to sum up" the "album with one word", at which point she replied "unexpected" and thus the album was titled. With two chart-topping contemporary gospel
Urban contemporary gospel
Traditional black gospel is music that is written to express either personal or a communal belief regarding Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music...
albums to her name, Williams revealed the reason for the dramatic change in sound and genre for Unexpected in an interview with Clayton Perry of Blogcritics
Blogcritics
Blogcritics is a blog network and online magazine of news and opinion. The site—a self-proclaimed "sinister cabal of superior writers"—was founded in 2002 by Eric Olsen and Phillip Winn...
in which she cited her "heart" as her sole inspiration for the change she orchestrated - "not because people told [her] or people wanted [her] to" but because she "wanted to". She also discussed that it was during the production of Unexpected that she was introduced to and began experimenting with different "sound effects" and elements of electronic music
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
.
Release and promotion
The album's release date was first announced to be August 12, 2008, but was unexpectedly changed to October 7, 2008 to allow more time to promote the album. Prior to the album's release, Williams performed the album's lead single ("We Break The Dawn") on The Wendy Williams ShowThe 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...
, The Early Show
The Early Show
The Early Show is an American television morning news talk show broadcast by CBS from New York City. The program airs live from 7 to 9 a.m. Eastern Time Monday through Friday; most affiliates in the Central, Mountain, and Pacific time zones air the show on tape-delay from 7 to 9 a.m. local time. ...
and appeared on Good Day LA, TRL
Total Request Live
Total Request Live is a television series on MTV that featured popular music videos. TRL was MTV's prime outlet for music videos as the network continues to concentrate on reality-based programming. In addition to music videos, TRL featured daily guests...
and in the UK, Loose Women
Loose Women
Loose Women is a British lunchtime television programme, first broadcast in 1999 on ITV. It consists of a panel of four women who interview celebrities and discuss topical issues, ranging from daily politics and current affairs, to celebrity gossip...
to promote the song.
Singles
- "We Break the DawnWe Break the Dawn"We Break the Dawn" is a song recorded by American singer-songwriter Michelle Williams. It was written by Solange Knowles, Andrew Frampton and Wayne Wilkins and produced by Wilkins and Frampton for Williams' third studio album Unexpected...
", the album's lead single, was written by Solange KnowlesSolange KnowlesSolange Piaget Knowles , who performs under the mononym Solange, is an American singer-songwriter, actress, model, dancer, and DJ. Knowles was born and raised in Houston, Texas along with her older sister singer Beyoncé, a former member of R&B group Destiny's Child...
(who also recorded a demo version of the song) and Wayne Wilkins and Andrew Frampton who produced the song. Released on April 15, 2008 in the United StatesUnited StatesThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, it peaked at number one on the BillboardBillboard (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...
Hot Dance AirplayHot Dance AirplayDance/Mix Show Airplay is a monitored electronic dance music radio chart that is featured weekly in Billboard magazine. The chart came about as a result of the small but influential impact of electronic dance music on the radio in the United States and the stations that program it...
chart, number four on the Billboard Hot Dance Club PlayHot Dance Club PlayThe Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs...
chart and twenty-six on the Global Dance Tracks chart. The song became her first solo release to chart internationally, peaking at number forty-seven on the UK Singles ChartUK Singles ChartThe UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
and number thirty-eight on the Hungarian Mahasz Singles Chart. A music videoMusic videoA music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
for the song, directed by Phil GriffinPhil GriffinPhil Griffin is President of United States cable news MSNBC. He was named President in July, 2008.-References:...
, was shot on April 23 in Los AngelesLos ÁngelesLos Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, CaliforniaCaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, premiering on May 20, 2008. The remix version of the song was produced by DJ Montay and features Flo RidaFlo RidaTramar Dillard , better known by his stage name Flo Rida , is an American rapper and singer-songwriter. He released his debut album, Mail on Sunday, in March 2008. His debut single "Low", featuring T-Pain, was a #1 hit for ten weeks in United States in early 2008. Two other singles resulted from...
.
- "The Greatest", (produced by Jim JonsinJim JonsinJames Scheffer, better known by his professional name, Jim Jonsin, is an American Grammy award winning record producer, songwriter, record executive, and entrepreneur...
) was released as the album's second single (replacing "Stop This Car" - which was originally announced as the second single). The song was released on September 9, 2008, gaining more recognition after being used in the movie Noah's Arc: Jumping The BroomNoah's Arc: Jumping the BroomNoah's Arc: Jumping the Broom is a 2008 Canadian-American romantic comedy-drama film based on the LOGO television series Noah's Arc. It was released on October 24, 2008 in select theaters and video on demand...
. Despite receiving minor airplay in the US, in September 2008, "The Greatest" was released digitally and debuted at number fifty-four on the US Billboard Hot Dance Club PlayHot Dance Club PlayThe Hot Dance Club Songs chart is a weekly national survey of the songs that are most popular in U.S. dance clubs...
chart before eventually peaking at number one. The music video was shot on September 22 in Los AngelesLos ÁngelesLos Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, CaliforniaCaliforniaCalifornia is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and was directed by Thomas Kloss. The song was listed by BillboardBillboard (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...
at number thirty-nine on the decade-end (2000–2009) Hot Dance Club Songs chart, just behind "Lose My BreathLose My Breath"Lose My Breath" is an R&B song performed by the American group Destiny's Child. It was written by Beyoncé Knowles, Kelly Rowland, Michelle Williams, Rodney Jerkins, LaShawn Daniels, Fred Jerkins III, Sean Garrett, and Shawn Corey "Jay-Z" Carter for Destiny's Child's fourth studio album, Destiny...
" which Williams recorded as part of Destiny's ChildDestiny's ChildDestiny's Child was an American R&B girl group whose final line-up comprised lead singer Beyoncé Knowles alongside Kelly Rowland and Michelle Williams. Formed in 1997 in Houston, Texas, Destiny's Child members began their musical endeavors in their pre-teens under the name Girl's Tyme...
five years prior.
- "Hello HeartbreakHello Heartbreak"Hello Heartbreak" is a dance-pop song recorded by American singer-songwriter Michelle Williams. It was co-written by Williams, James Scheffer, Travis Jones and Rico Love, and produced by Alex da Kid and Jay Wes for Williams' third studio album Unexpected...
", was set to be released as the album's third single and second UK single (as part of an aborted re-release of the album) but no exact release dates were announced. Produced by Alex Da Kid and Jay Wes, the single received minor airplay in the US despite critical acclaim and in December 2008, "Hello Heartbreak" was released digitally. The song peaked at number eight on the US Billboard Dance Singles SalesBillboard chartsThe Billboard charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs or albums in the United States. The results are published in Billboard magazine...
chart, and number forty on the Billboard Hot Singles Sales chart.
Critical response
Unexpected received 'generally favorable reviews' according to MetacriticMetacritic
Metacritic.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,...
who gave the album an aggregate score of 67/100.
- Ben Norman of About.comAbout.comAbout.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....
wrote:
"With the release of Unexpected, Williams has welcomed R&B back into her arms with a modern edge, a la Rihanna and Chris Brown, infusing her soulful lyrics with party beats and dance-like synths. Take the lead single, for instance. "We Break the Dawn" is an immensely catchy mid-tempo jam co-written by Williams and ex-Child Beyonce's sister, Solange Knowles. The track re-launched the ebullient singer back into the mainstream, sporting a new, edgy electronica look and sound. "We Break the Dawn" has a certain amount of memorability in the synth riff and the laid-back party lyrics. The song is carefree, and a far cry from the depth of Gospel music. The album features a collection of "moods" including the bouncy tracks "Hello Heartbreak," hilariously including "It's time for the percolator" as the bridge, and "Lucky Girl" once the smooth intro stops. These dance-pop R&B beats are the same light and noncommittal ones you've become accustomed to with artists like, as I said earlier, Rihanna and Chris Brown, along with the party feel of The Pussycat Dolls and other contemporaries. Another mood of Unexpected is the party jam feel exhibited by "Private Party" and "Hungover," the tracks you jam while driving down the road with your windows down. "The Greatest," a fantastic pop ballad, and "Thank U," a melodic song about thanking what held you down so you can appreciate how far you've come, round out the heavier, and slower, moods on the album. Summary; this album fits nicely into a lot of musical niches, making it a good addition to most collections. And you may be humming some of these tracks years down the line. Not my favorite of the year, but not too shabby either."
- Mikael Wood of the BillboardBillboard chartsThe Billboard charts tabulate the relative weekly popularity of songs or albums in the United States. The results are published in Billboard magazine...
wrote:
"The surprise alluded to in the title of Michelle Williams' third solo album is that "Unexpected" finds the former Destiny's Child member moving from gospel to pop. Considering that she can no longer depend on the occasional DC set to keep her name in mainstream circulation, though, it's not hard to believe Williams would choose to make such a transition. Nor is the radio-ready sound of "Unexpected" —with its Stargate and Jim Jonsin productions and a guest appearance by Flo Rida—much of a shock; Williams and her handlers have clearly been listening to recent hits by Rihanna and Ciara. That said, "Unexpected" does boast a handful of shiny electro-R&B gems ("Hello Heartbreak," "We Break the Dawn") that make Williams' journey from church to club as enjoyable as it was inevitable."
- Pete Lewis of Blues & SoulBlues & SoulBlues & Soul is a British music magazine covering black music. Genres covered include soul, R&B, jazz, hip hop, reggae and world music. It was first published in 1966 and is known for first using the term Northern Soul....
wrote:
"This month finds Michelle Williams literally delivering the 'Unexpected' - her first solo pop/R&B LP, currently pioneered by the electro-club grooves of its melodically-soulful offshoot single 'We Break The Dawn'. Interestingly, many of the album's synth-heavy uptempo cuts (like the stomping 'Hello Heartbreak' and pumping 'Private Party') rely heavily on the kind of Euro-dance-inspired electronica utilised recently by fellow US urbanites like Timbaland and Justin Timberlake."
- Andy Cooper of Cross RhythmsCross RhythmsCross Rhythms is a Christian media organisation based in Stoke-on-Trent, England.-History:The roots of what was to become Cross Rhythms go back to two separate sources which merged in 1991. In 1983, broadcaster Chris Cole started a 30-minute weekly Christian music radio show on Plymouth Sound FM, a...
wrote:
"So here is Michelle's third solo album, though the first since the ending of Destiny's Child. After previously showing her gospel colours, she has come full circle back to what Destiny's Child has become well known for: smooth and glossy R&B songs with a dance edge, laced with lyrics about relationships (such as the opener "Hello Heartbreak"), parties ("We Break The Dawn") and teen love (for example, hear the closing song "Too Young For Love"). Though the production quality is undoubtedly extremely high, the lyrical focus will be a big disappointment to anyone looking for some gospel inspiration. The teen girl audience would appear to be the target once again, and much digital trickery has been brought into play to help Michelle sound (and look) younger. It's a great R&B pop record musically, but with songs such as "Lucky Girl" and "Hungover" it's unexpectedly shallow."
- Josette Compton of Entertainment WeeklyEntertainment WeeklyEntertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
wrote:
"The once shy former Destiny's Child member, who has previously released two successful gospel albums, ditches her good-girl image for a more seductive, edgier style on her third effort. Unexpected pumps with technodriven tracks like Hello Heartbreak (which is reminiscent of Kylie Minogue) and made-for-radio cuts like the lead off single, We Break the Dawn. Although the album's effervescent club feel tapers off near the end, when the songs grow formulaic, the album's charm could still give Michelle Williams a shot at the charts."
- Robin Carolan of Slant MagazineSlant MagazineSlant Magazine is an online publication that features reviews of movies, music, TV, DVDs, theater, and video games, as well as interviews with actors, directors, and musicians. The site covers various film festivals like the New York Film Festival.- History :...
wrote:
"It's no secret that in music, as in life, success and failure are largely dependent on timing, and so with that in mind it's hard not to feel just a little bad for Michelle Williams, the Johnny-come-lately third member of Destiny's Child, who has always had a hard time establishing herself inside the group, let alone outside it, and who now finds herself releasing a new record at a time when her efforts will likely be eclipsed by her former group members. And so, after a series of delays, Williams's third solo album, Unexpected, arrives on shelves just as people have begun to buzz about Beyoncé's upcoming album, and when honorary DC sister Solange has made an unexpected critical impact with the oddball surrealism of her recent sophomore effort, Sol-Angel and the Hadley Street Dreams. Considering Unexpected is a fairly decent album and by far the least pretentious, unashamedly pop record to be made by a DC member so far, it's all a bit unfortunate. Anyone who has heard the first single, "We Break the Dawn," already knows that Williams, whose solo work to date has been gospel-oriented, has on this occasion stepped outside of the confines of the church and into the dark of the clubs, embracing au courant euro-pop sounds, and it's a move that works well for her. "We Break the Dawn," which boasts a chorus wrapped up in some awesome swirling synth-pop majestics, has done relatively well on the dance charts but deserved to cross over. Meanwhile, ignoring some atrocious lyrical hiccups, "Til' the End of the World" is a moody, frostbitten electro lament, and in the lush balladry of "The Greatest," Williams could find the hit she needs."
Commercial performance
In October 2008, Unexpected debuted on the US 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...
albums chart at number forty-two - achieving greater success on Billboard's component charts (as with her previous albums Heart To Yours
Heart to Yours
Heart to Yours is the first solo album by American singer Michelle Williams. Released on April 16, 2002, by Sanctuary and Columbia Records it became the first solo release of any Destiny's Child member...
and Do You Know) where the album peaked at number eleven 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 (where it spent six weeks) and number forty-two on the Digital Albums chart, with first week sales of 14,000 in the United States - improving on the mediocre 10,000 of her previous album Do You Know, yet still not toppling the 17,000 that Williams' debut Heart To Yours sold. The album failed to chart outside the U.S. despite its lead single ("We Break The Dawn") peaking within the top fifty of the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
. As of January, 2010 the album has sold 32,000 copies in the United States according to Billboard.com.
Re-release
In January, 2009, Williams confirmed in a video blog that she and a production team were putting the finishing touches for a remix version of the album due for release in North AmericaNorth America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
and Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
going on to later state in June, 2009 via Twitter that Unexpected would receive a full UK re-release and that "Hello Heartbreak" would be the first single set for release in August, 2009. Williams also confirmed in July, 2009 that the London division of Sony Music was considering a re-issue of the album which created the opportunity to record some new songs. Furthermore she revealed that the new remix album was almost complete and puts a hip-hop and/or jazz spin on some the original album's tracks. She also said that some of the new remixes could also be released as part of the UK re-issue. However, by the end of 2009, no further confirmation or news concerning the remix album or UK re-release was provided and therefore it is most likely that the ideas were scrapped.
Track listing
Credits and Personnel
Credits are taken from the album's linear notes.Managerial
- A&RA&RArtists and repertoire is the division of a record label that is responsible for talent scouting and overseeing the artistic development of recording artists. It also acts as a liaison between artists and the record label.- Finding talent :...
– Max Gousse
- Executive ProducerExecutive producerAn executive producer is a producer who is not involved in any technical aspects of the film making or music process, but who is still responsible for the overall production...
– Matthew Knowles
Performance credits
- Lead vocals – Michelle WilliamsMichelle Williams (singer)Tenitra Michelle Williams , commonly known as Michelle Williams, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer and actress...
- Guest vocals - Flo RidaFlo RidaTramar Dillard , better known by his stage name Flo Rida , is an American rapper and singer-songwriter. He released his debut album, Mail on Sunday, in March 2008. His debut single "Low", featuring T-Pain, was a #1 hit for ten weeks in United States in early 2008. Two other singles resulted from...
(track 9 "We Break the Dawn (Part 2)")
- Background Vocals – Michelle Williams, Keli Nicole Price, LeChe D. Martin, Rico Love, Ravaughn Brown, Treasure Dais
Visuals and Imagery
- Art Direction – Denise Trorman
- Hair Stylist – Ursula Stephen
- PhotographyPhotographyPhotography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
– Roberto D'este - StylistWardrobe stylistA wardrobe stylist is the job title of someone who selects the clothing for published editorial features, print or television advertising campaigns, music videos, concert performances, and any public appearances made by celebrities, models or other public figures...
– Pamela Watson
Instruments
- BassBass (instrument)Bass describes musical instruments that produce tones in the low-pitched range. They belong to different families of instruments and can cover a wide range of musical roles...
– Ethan Farmer, Frank RomanoFrank RomanoFrank Romano is an American born guitarist, songwriter and record producer, influenced by a number of musical styles and backgrounds, but rooted primarily in a fusion of Rock, R&B, Funk and Pop.- Career :... - GuitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
– Frank Romano
- Other instrumentation – Soulshock & KarlinSoulshock & KarlinSoulshock & Karlin is a duo of Danish record producers and songwriters, Carsten Schack and Kenneth Karlin. They have produced a large number of successful songs, including Monica's "Before You Walk out of My Life", Whitney Houston's "Heartbreak Hotel", JoJo's "Leave ", and Fantasia's "Truth Is"...
, Jazz Nixon, Wayne Wilkins
Technical and Production
- Arrangers – Jack Kugell, James "Famous" Jones, James Scheffer, Jason Pennock, Michelle WilliamsMichelle Williams (singer)Tenitra Michelle Williams , commonly known as Michelle Williams, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer and actress...
, Solange KnowlesSolange KnowlesSolange Piaget Knowles , who performs under the mononym Solange, is an American singer-songwriter, actress, model, dancer, and DJ. Knowles was born and raised in Houston, Texas along with her older sister singer Beyoncé, a former member of R&B group Destiny's Child...
, Soulshock & KarlinSoulshock & KarlinSoulshock & Karlin is a duo of Danish record producers and songwriters, Carsten Schack and Kenneth Karlin. They have produced a large number of successful songs, including Monica's "Before You Walk out of My Life", Whitney Houston's "Heartbreak Hotel", JoJo's "Leave ", and Fantasia's "Truth Is"... - EngineeringAudio engineeringAn audio engineer, also called audio technician, audio technologist or sound technician, is a specialist in a skilled trade that deals with the use of machinery and equipment for the recording, mixing and reproduction of sounds. The field draws on many artistic and vocational areas, including...
– Andrew Frampton, Dan Naim, Dave Lopez, Jazz Nixon, Joe Gonzalez, Mikkel S. Ericksen, Wayne WilkinsWayne WilkinsWayne Wilkins is a classically trained pianist, Record producer, songwriter, record engineer, and record mixer born in the southeast London neighborhood of Croydon... - Engineering assistantsAudio engineeringAn audio engineer, also called audio technician, audio technologist or sound technician, is a specialist in a skilled trade that deals with the use of machinery and equipment for the recording, mixing and reproduction of sounds. The field draws on many artistic and vocational areas, including...
– Christian Plata - Mastering – Chris Gehringer
- MixingAudio mixing (recorded music)In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may...
– Dan Naim, Jean-Marie Horvat, Josh ButlerJosh ButlerJoshua James Butler is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers organization.-Career:...
, Manny MarroquinManny MarroquinManny Marroquin, born 21 September 1971 in Guatemala, is a Grammy winning mixing engineer. His family moved to Los Angeles when he was nine due to the Guatemalan Civil War....
, Phil TanPhil TanPhil Tan is an Atlanta, GA-based music/audio engineer.He is a 3-time Grammy Award recipient, as mixing engineer for Mariah Carey's "The Emancipation of Mimi" , Ludacris' "Release Therapy" and Rihanna's "Only Girl " .Among the artists on Tan's list of credits: Jill Scott, Jennifer...
, Wayne WilkinsWayne WilkinsWayne Wilkins is a classically trained pianist, Record producer, songwriter, record engineer, and record mixer born in the southeast London neighborhood of Croydon...
- Mixing assistantsAudio mixing (recorded music)In audio recording, audio mixing is the process by which multiple recorded sounds are combined into one or more channels, most commonly two-channel stereo. In the process, the source signals' level, frequency content, dynamics, and panoramic position are manipulated and effects such as reverb may...
– Josh Houghkirk - Music Producers – Alex Da KidAlex da KidAlexander Grant , better known as Alex da Kid, is a Grammy award winning English music songwriter and hip-hop producer.-Early life:...
, Andrew Frampton, DJ Montay, Dwane "Dtown" Smith, EHOOD & E2, Erron Williams, Jack Kugell, James "Famous" Jones, Jason Pennock and The Heavyweights, Jay Wes, Jazz Nixon, Jim JonsinJim JonsinJames Scheffer, better known by his professional name, Jim Jonsin, is an American Grammy award winning record producer, songwriter, record executive, and entrepreneur...
, John Q. Ho (for Royal XVI), Raymond "Shonny B" Hilton, StargateStargateStargate is a adventure military science fiction franchise, initially conceived by Roland Emmerich and Dean Devlin. The first film in the franchise was simply titled Stargate. It was originally released on October 28, 1994, by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and Carolco, and became a hit, grossing nearly...
, Soulshock & KarlinSoulshock & KarlinSoulshock & Karlin is a duo of Danish record producers and songwriters, Carsten Schack and Kenneth Karlin. They have produced a large number of successful songs, including Monica's "Before You Walk out of My Life", Whitney Houston's "Heartbreak Hotel", JoJo's "Leave ", and Fantasia's "Truth Is"...
, Vyente Ruffin, Wayne WilkinsWayne WilkinsWayne Wilkins is a classically trained pianist, Record producer, songwriter, record engineer, and record mixer born in the southeast London neighborhood of Croydon... - Programming – Andrew Frampton, Jason Pennock, Wayne WilkinsWayne WilkinsWayne Wilkins is a classically trained pianist, Record producer, songwriter, record engineer, and record mixer born in the southeast London neighborhood of Croydon...
- Vocal Production – Rico LoveRico LoveRichard Preston Butler, Jr. , better known by his stage name Rico Love, is an American singer-songwriter and record producer. Love wrote and produced hit records such as Usher’s "There Goes My Baby" and "Hey Daddy ”, Nelly's "Just a Dream" and "Gone", Beyoncé Knowles' "Sweet Dreams"...
Charts
| Chart (2008) | Peak 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... |
42 |
| US Billboard 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... |
11 |
Release history
| Region | Date | Label |
|---|---|---|
| Japan Japan Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south... |
August 12, 2008 | Sony BMG |
| Chile Chile Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far... |
September 26, 2008 | |
| United Kingdom United Kingdom The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages... |
September 29, 2008 | |
| Poland Poland Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north... |
September 30, 2008 | |
| United States United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... |
October 7, 2008 | Columbia Records Columbia Records Columbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company... |
| Europe Europe Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting... |
December 5, 2008 | Sony BMG |