A Jagged Era is the debut studio album by American R&B group Jagged Edge, released on October 21, 1997, by So So Def and Columbia Records. The quartet worked with So So Def head Jermaine Dupri on the majority of the album. A Jagged Era peaked at a number 104 on the US Billboard 200 and at number 19 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. Despite its disappointing peak, the album was moderately successful with sales of over 500,000 copies in the United States, earning a Gold certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). In 2009, the album was the best-selling album in cassette format.[2]

A Jagged Era
Studio album by
ReleasedOctober 21, 1997
Recorded1996–97
GenreR&B
Label
Producer
Jagged Edge chronology
A Jagged Era
(1997)
J.E. Heartbreak
(1999)
Singles from A Jagged Era
  1. "The Way That You Talk"
    Released: August 2, 1997
  2. "I Gotta Be"
    Released: December 5, 1997
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]

Three singles from the album were released. Lead single "The Way That You Talk" peaked at a number 34 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart, while becoming their first single to chart on the Billboard Hot 100. Follow-up "I Gotta Be" performed better on the charts, peaking at number 11 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart and number 23 on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming the first Top 40 single. "I Gotta Be" had two videos shot for the song, one in 1997 and one in 1998 which featured Jagged Edge with members of Destiny's Child, with Kelly Rowland in the first shot, LeToya Luckett in the second shot, LaTavia Roberson in third and Beyoncé Knowles in the final shot before Jagged Edge takes over the rest of the video.

Track listing

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No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Slow Motion"
  • Dupri
  • Seal
3:42
2."Addicted to Your Love"
  • Brandon Casey
  • Brian Casey
  • Dupri
  • Seal
  • Dupri
  • Seal
3:15
3."I Gotta Be"
  • Brandon Casey
  • Brian Casey
  • Dupri
  • Seal
  • Dupri
  • Seal
3:35
4."Wednesday Lover"Dupri4:31
5."Funny How"
  • Brandon Casey
  • Brian Casey
  • Gary Smith
Smith5:11
6."The Way That You Talk" (featuring Da Brat & Jermaine Dupri)
  • Brandon Casey
  • Brian Casey
  • Dupri
  • Da Brat
Dupri3:38
7."The Rest of Our Lives"
  • Brandon Casey
  • Brian Casey
  • Darcy Aldridge
  • Carl Breedings
  • Aldridge
  • Breedings
  • Flash
5:35
8."I'll Be Right There" (featuring Busta Rhymes)
  • Brandon Casey
  • Brian Casey
  • Dupri
  • Seal
  • Busta Rhymes
Dupri3:45
9."Ready & Willing"
  • Brandon Casey
  • Brian Casey
  • Aldridge
  • Breedings
  • Aldridge
  • Breedings
  • Flash
  • Them Damn Twins (co.)
4:58
10."Ain't No Stoppin'"Dupri4:35
Samples

Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[6] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ "A Jagged Era Review by John Bush". AllMusic. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  2. ^ Hogan, Marc (2010-02-22). "This Is Not a Mixtape". Pitchfork. Retrieved 13 August 2011.
  3. ^ "Jagged Edge Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
  4. ^ "Jagged Edge Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
  5. ^ "R&B/Hip-Hop Albums: Year End 1998". Billboard. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
  6. ^ "American album certifications – Jagged Edge – A Jagged Era". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
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