Finally is the third album from R&B group Blackstreet. It was released on Interscope Records on March 23, 1999. Finally was the only album to feature Terrell Phillips, after the departure of Mark Middleton.[8] After the success of their multi-platinum last album Another Level, their label allowed them a bigger budget for the next album. Finally was recorded at Teddy Riley's studio Future Recording Studios based in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Originally given the working title Get Higher, the album was scheduled for a November 1998 release until it was pushed back to March 1999.[9]
| Finally | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | March 23, 1999 (U.S.) | |||
| Recorded | 1998 | |||
| Studio | Future Recording Studios (Virginia Beach, Virginia, U.S.) | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 56:46 | |||
| Label | Interscope | |||
| Producer | Teddy Riley, Warryn Campbell, Eric Williams | |||
| Blackstreet chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Finally | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |    [2] |
| The Baltimore Sun | [3] |
| Entertainment Weekly | B+[4] |
| Hartford Courant | (favorable)[5] |
| Q | [6] |
| Rolling Stone | [7] |
| Spin | (8/10)[6] |
| Vibe | (favorable)[6] |
The album has high-profile guests, such as Janet Jackson, Stevie Wonder and Hezekiah Walker. The album also features several songs with string arrangements from conductor Jeremy Lubbock.[10] The music video for the single "Girlfriend/Boyfriend" was directed by Joseph Kahn. Complete with computer animation and 3D graphics, the video was considered to be one of the most expensive at the time.[11] Finally was critically acclaimed but a commercial disappointment, moving units at only a fraction of what their previous album sold. Shortly after the release of the single "Think About You", Riley left Blackstreet to reform his previous group Guy and Blackstreet were subsequently dropped by Interscope Records.[12]
Despite the album's failure, a couple of songs have been covered by other artists. British singer Sonique covered the song "Drama" on her album Hear My Cry as a duet with R&B singer Calvin Richardson. Korean pop group SS501 later covered the song "In A Rush" live in one of their concert performances. The title track of the album appeared as the closing track on Hezekiah Walker’s album “Family Affair” which was released later on in the year.[13]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Producer(s), *Co-producer | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Blackstreet Intro/Can You Feel Me" | Teddy Riley, Kaseem Coleman* | 4:22 |
| 2. | "Girlfriend/Boyfriend" (with Janet Jackson featuring Ja Rule and Eve) | Teddy Riley | 4:03 |
| 3. | "Yo Love" (featuring Sauce Money) | Teddy Riley, Walter "Mucho" Scott* | 4:43 |
| 4. | "I Got What You On" (featuring Beanie Sigel) | Teddy Riley, Davel McKenzie* | 4:12 |
| 5. | "Drama/Misery Interlude" | Teddy Riley, Eric Williams, Wesley Hoggs*, Darryl "Dezo" Adams* | 7:39 |
| 6. | "I'm Sorry" | Teddy Riley | 5:26 |
| 7. | "Think About You" | Teddy Riley | 4:36 |
| 8. | "Black & White" | Teddy Riley, Jack Knight*, Screwface* | 3:38 |
| 9. | "In A Rush" (featuring Stevie Wonder) | Teddy Riley, Warryn Campbell | 4:09 |
| 10. | "Hustler's Prayer" | Teddy Riley, Trevis Williams*, Jodie Wilson* | 4:48 |
| 11. | "Finally" (featuring Hezekiah Walker & Love Fellowship Tabernacle) | Teddy Riley | 4:54 |
| 12. | "Take Me There (Remix)" (featuring Mýa) | Teddy Riley, Gerald Baillergeau, Victor Merritt | 4:14 |
| 13. | "On the Floor (Enhanced CD bonus track)" (featuring Queen Pen) | Teddy Riley, Jack Knight*, Screwface* | 4:22 |
Charts
edit| Chart (1999) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada Albums Chart | 11 |
| China Albums Chart | 34 |
| German Albums Chart | 34 |
| French Albums Chart [14] | 33 |
| Netherlands Albums Chart | 21 |
| UK Albums Chart | 27 |
| U.S. Billboard 200 | 9 |
| U.S. Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums | - |
Certifications
edit| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| Canada (Music Canada)[15] | Gold | 50,000^ |
| United States (RIAA)[16] | Gold | 500,000^ |
|
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone. | ||
References
edit- ^ "Finally - Blackstreet | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.
- ^ Allmusic review
- ^ The Baltimore Sun review
- ^ Entertainment Weekly review
- ^ Hartford Courant review
- ^ a b c Album reviews at CD Universe
- ^ Rolling Stone review
- ^ Ivory. "SoulBounce's Class Of 1994: Blackstreet 'Blackstreet'". soulbounce.com. Soul Bounce. Retrieved 2015-07-19.
- ^ "Blackstreet - Get Higher". allmusic.com. All Media Network, LLC. Retrieved 2015-12-23.
- ^ "Arranging Credits 1". Jeremy Lubbock. jeremylubbock.com. Retrieved 2012-08-27.
- ^ "SoYouWanna know the ten most expensive music videos?". soyouwanna.com. Archived from the original on 2012-08-26. Retrieved 2012-08-28.
- ^ DeCurtis, Anthony (August 2000). "Blackstreet's Chauncey "C-Black" Hannibal tells all about Teddy Riley". Vibe Magazine- August 2000. Retrieved 2012-08-28.
- ^ "SS501 - In A Rush ((LIVE)) Original by BlackStreet". Live Performance. youtube.com. Archived from the original on 2021-12-14. Retrieved 2012-08-28.
- ^ "Album performance". AustrianCharts. Retrieved 2007-05-09.
- ^ "Canadian album certifications – Blackstreet – Finally". Music Canada. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
- ^ "American album certifications – Blackstreet – Finally". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved October 21, 2023.