Afrodisiac (Brandy album)

Afrodisiac
Studio album by
Brandy
ReleasedJune 25, 2004 (2004-06-25)
Recorded2002–2004
Studio
Genre
Length61:19
LabelAtlantic
Producer
Brandy chronology
Full Moon
(2002) 		Afrodisiac
(2004) 		The Best of Brandy
(2005)
Singles from Afrodisiac
  1. "Talk About Our Love"
    Released: March 28, 2004
  2. "Who Is She 2 U"
    Released: July 27, 2004
  3. "Afrodisiac"
    Released: September 24, 2004

Afrodisiac is the fourth studio album by American singer Brandy. It was first released on June 25, 2004, by Atlantic Records. The album was recorded primarily in Los Angeles between spring 2003 and early 2004, following several major changes in Brandy's personal and professional life. After giving birth to her daughter and the demise of her relationship with Big Bert, Brandy's team was given an overhaul, including changes in production, management, and A&R. The album marked a departure from her previous work, with Brandy collaborating with producer Timbaland and songwriter Candice Nelson on the majority of the album's composition.

With many of their new relationships being the result of broken ones, Brandy and Timbaland were inspired to experiment with a number of sounds and influences to create a unique, individualized sound that was distinct from other R&B music. The result was an organic, mellow contemporary R&B album that experimented with the New York-based illbient style, which infuses eccentric hip-hop breakbeats, ambient soundscapes, and the unorthodox sampling of indie rock and various film scores. Brandy also continued to experiment with her singing, opting to use more technical applications of counterpoint and multi-track recording toward her vocal arrangements. An autobiographical album, the songs feature intimate lyrics which discuss the singer's personal struggles with codependency, monogamy, misplaced loyalty, and professional anxiety.

Upon release, Afrodisiac was critically acclaimed for its mature lyrics, Brandy's vocalizing, and its overall experimental sound.[3] The album debuted at number three on the US Billboard 200, selling 131,700 copies in its first week;[4] it was eventually certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[5] Afrodisiac was nominated for several awards, including the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary R&B Album.[6] The album spawned three singles, including "Talk About Our Love" featuring Kanye West, which reached the top 40 on the Billboard Hot 100; along with "Who Is She 2 U" and "Afrodisiac". Since its release, the album has been retrospectively called a predecessor to alternative R&B, having been cited as an influence by artists such as Rihanna and Solange.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference atlantic was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Gipson, L. Michael (n.d.). "Brandy - Two Eleven (Review)". SoulTracks. Retrieved January 26, 2021.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference allmusic was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference firstweek was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Concepcion, Mariel (2008-04-18). "Brandy Inks Deal with Epic". Billboard. Retrieved 2009-06-16.
  6. ^ "Who'll Win Best Contemporary R&B Album?". Entertainment Weekly. 2005-02-02. Archived from the original on September 5, 2012. Retrieved 2009-06-13.