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LeToya (album)

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LeToya is the debut solo studio album by American R&B singer LeToya Luckett. It was released by Capitol Records on July 25, 2006. Luckett who co-wrote nine of the album's 16 songs, worked with a variety of producers on the album, including Teddy Bishop, The CornaBoyz, Bryan-Michael Cox, Jermaine Dupri, Just Blaze, Lil Walt, Candice Nelson, Jazze Pha, J. R. Rotem, and Scott Storch. It marked her first solo project after her departure from girl groups Destiny's Child and Anjel.

LeToya
Studio album by
LeToya
ReleasedJuly 25, 2006 (2006-07-25)
Length52:18
LabelCapitol
Producer
LeToya chronology
LeToya
(2006) 		Lady Love
(2009)
Singles from LeToya
  1. "Torn"
    Released: October 18, 2005
  2. "She Don't"
    Released: February 21, 2006
  3. "Obvious"
    Released: June 9, 2006
Alternative cover
Special edition cover

The album garnered mostly positive reception from music critics, who found that it was demonstrating individuality, while others called the project disjointed and generic. LeToya debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 and was eventually certified Platinum by the RIAA in December 2006. The album spawned three singles: "Torn", "She Don't" and "Obvious". Besides the officially released singles, Luckett's debut album also includes the promo singles, "U Got What I Need" and "All Eyes On Me".

Production

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Luckett rose to fame in the late 1990s as a founding member of the R&B girl group Destiny's Child, one of the world's best-selling girl groups of all time. As a member of band, she achieved four US Top 10 hit singles and won two Grammy Awards.[1][2] In March 2000, she and former fellow group member LaTavia Roberson were ousted from the group.[3] Ensuing breach-of-contract and defamation of character lawsuits were settled out of court in 2002.[3] A subsequent pairing with Roberson in a new girl group called Anjel was aborted and in 2002, Luckett established boutique Lady Elle, a clothing and accessory store in Houston, with her mother.[3]

Moving to Los Angeles for six months, Luckett traveled modeling and acting agencies while recording demos that eventually secured her a recording deal with Capitol Records.[3] Under the label, in 2004, Luckett began work on her solo debut album.[3] Stretching from "soulful, sensuous ballads and club jams to spotlighting the city's trademark screwed-up style,"[3] the singer worked with producers Scott Storch, Jazze Pha, Just Blaze and Jermaine Dupri on material for LeToya.[3] Luckett who co-wrote nine of the album's 16 songs, commented on the album: "I'm a southern belle who likes heavy-hitting beats. I can give it to you hard or I can be soft and soulful, hip-hop with grace."[3]

Promotion

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The first promotional single from the album was "U Got What I Need,"[4] released with non-commercial purpose in 2004,[4] while "All Eyes on Me," issued in 2005, served as another promotional single prior to the album's release.[3] Selected as the album's "right urban lead single,"[3] "Torn" was released as the lead single from LeToya in October 2005. Released to strong airplay, it peaked at number 31 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart,[5] and became a hit on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, peaking at number two.[6] It also entered the top twenty on the Rhythmic Top 40 and Adult R&B Songs charts.[5] Second single "She Don't," produced by Walter Milsap III and Candice Nelson, was issued on February 21, 2006.[3] Less successful, it became a top 20 hit on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[5]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [7]
The Guardian     [8]
Now     [9]
Prefix          [10]
Rolling Stone     [11]
The Skinny     [12]
SPIN     [13]
Stylus MagazineC−[14]
The Phoenix    [15]
Vibe     [16]

The album garnered mostly positive reception from music critics. Prefix's Norman Mayers called LeToya an "excellent debut from an artist who was destined to become a footnote. The album is a classy affair of quality soul as well as a statement of Letoya's own individuality."[10] Entertainment Weekly's Raymond Fiore found that "on her solo debut, the 25-year-old Houston native forgoes musical risk and lets hitmakers like Jermaine Dupri, Just Blaze, and Scott Storch ensure that almost every urban-radio formula – from a Southern club-rattler to a Mariah-like midtempo love jam – is represented on the self-titled Letoya. LeToya lacks Beyoncé-caliber pipes, but she’s got enough memorable tunes to make a surprisingly solid bid for solo stardom."[17] AllMusic editor Anthony Tognazzini felt that the album's "polished, hip-hop-inflected R&B sound recalls Destiny's Child. LeToya gives the singer's former bandmate Beyoncé a run for her money."[7] The Guardian's Caroline Sullivan noted that "there's almost nothing to dislike, such is its smartly coiffed cheeriness. This album has a voice of its own, nipping and tucking club tracks and slouchy love songs into a cohesive whole that reminds you Destiny's Child was a long time ago."[8]

Michael Freedberg from The Phoenix found that "LeToya’s debut CD [...] has it all. Great songs, funky sexy songs, romantic songs, intense songs, gangsta-girl songs, fun and exotic songs, sexy dance music, a soulful version of regggaetón, and songs reminiscent of 1970s Philly soul. LeToya can sing; her voice hasn’t the luminescent high notes of Beyoncé, but she can riff a melody almost as forcefully as Mary J. Blige."[15] On the contrary, Evan Serpick from Rolling Stone, wrote: "Unfortunately, on the disc her voice is lost in a sea of tepid R&B; arrangements and hip-hop hybrids. On about half the tracks, LeToya tries to position herself as a passionate emoter in the mold of Mary J. Blige [...] But LeToya's voice has neither the grit nor the exuberance to fill those shoes. On the album's other half, LeToya proves her hometown pride but loses the vibe by collaborating [...] on a series of underbaked, disjointed club tracks."[11] Vibe editor Tiffany McGee felt that "at times so-so songwriting overstates monotonous find-love/lose-love plotlines, and the production occasionally overwhelms her feisty, yet not forceful falsetto. But Mike Jones, Slim Thug, and Paul Wall liven up the set as LeToya finally fulfills her destiny as a solo songbird."[16] Now critic Jason Richards called LeToya a "really boring solo disc" as well as "a wellspring of clichés,"[9] while Wendy Martin from The Skinny summed the project as a "slickly produced album [with] good backing singers, and a selection of male rappers. The result? Twelve tracks that all sound the same."[12]

Commercial performance

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Initially scheduled for a 2005 release, LeToya was released on July 19, 2006 in Japan and on July 25, 2006 in the United States.[3] The album debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 and the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart,[3] with first week sales of 165,000 copies.[18][19] On August 31, 2006, it was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and Platinum on December 11, 2006.[20] By November 2008, the album had sold 529,000 copies in the US.[21][6]

Track listing

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LeToya track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Intro"
  • Gavin Luckett
  • Brandon Pitre
  • Gavo
  • B-Don
0:56
2."U Got What I Need"
Just Blaze3:45
3."So Special"
Bishop3:30
4."Torn"
Bishop4:22
5."What Love Can Do"
The CornaBoyz3:47
6."She Don't"
  • Milsap
  • Nelson
4:04
7."Tear da Club Up (H-Town Version)" (featuring Bun B & Jazze Pha)
3:49
8."All Eyes on Me" (featuring Paul Wall)
J. R. Rotem3:34
9."Hey Fella" (featuring Slim Thug)
Flash Technology3:53
10."Gangsta Grillz" (featuring Mike Jones & Killa Kyleon)
  • L. Luckett
  • Terry "T. A." Allen
  • Shannon Graham
  • Jones
  • Kyle Riley
  • Shelton
Allen3:50
11."Obvious"
3:55
12."I'm Good"
Storch3:24
13."This Song"
3:16
14."Outro"
  • L. Luckett
  • Gregory G. Curtis
  • G. Luckett
  • Luckett
  • Pitre
  • Gavo
  • B-Don
1:37
15."Torn (So So Def Remix)" (featuring Mike Jones & Rick Ross) (bonus track)
4:35
iTunes Store bonus track
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
16."No More"
  • L. Luckett
  • Millsap
  • Nelson
  • Millsap
  • Nelson
4:06
International enhanced content
No.TitleLength
16."A Day in the Life of LeToya" (enhanced video) 
17."Torn" (music video) 
Japanese enhanced content
No.TitleLength
16."Torn" (music video) 
17."She Don't" (music video) 
18."LeToya in Japan" (special footage)7:00

Notes

  • ^[a] denotes original producer(s)
  • ^[b] denotes additional vocal producer(s)
  • ^[c] denotes co-producer(s)

Sample credits

Personnel

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  • Executive producers: LeToya Luckett; Carl "Mister C" Cole; Terry Ross
  • Mixing: Manny Marroquin (tracks 1, 6, 8–12, 14); Dave Russell (5); Kevin "KD" Davis (7); Jean-Marie Horvat (2, 3, 4); Jermaine Dupri (13, 15); Phil Tan (13, 15); Josh Houghkirk (assistant – 15)
  • Recording Engineers: Phil Tan (track 15); Jermaine Dupri (15); Danny Cheung (1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 14, additional music – 2, 11, 12), Walter Millsap (additional music – 6), Dave Lopez (6); Terrence Cash (10), Dave Ashton (8); Ryan West (2), Tadd Mingo (assistant – 15); Pierre Medor of Tha Corna Boys (5); Sam Thomas (11); Leslie Brathwaite (7); John Horesco IV (13, 15); Conrad Golding (12)
  • Additional vocals from: Candice Nelson (additional background vocals- 6); Dave Young (additional vocals- 11)
  • Art directions: Eric Roinestad
  • Design: Eric Roinestad
  • Photography: Dusan Reljin

Charts

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Release history

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Release dates and formats for LeToya
Region Date Edition(s) Format(s) Label
Japan July 19, 2006 Standard
EMI Japan
United States July 25, 2006 Capitol
Canada August 15, 2006 EMI Music
Australia September 16, 2006
Europe October 2, 2006
Puerto Rico December 24, 2006
Japan February 7, 2007 Special EMI Japan

References

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  1. ^ "Destiny's Child Named The World's Best Selling Female Group of All Time!". Sony BMG Australia. September 2, 2005. Archived from the original on September 26, 2007. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  2. ^ "Destiny's Child Ruled at World Music Awards". Softpedia. September 3, 2005. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Mitchell, Gail (July 22, 2006). "Survivor". Billboard. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  4. ^ a b "Chicago native Sharif Atkins in 'Preacher's Kid'". abc7chicago.com. January 29, 2010. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
  5. ^ a b c "Artist Chart History – LeToya". billboard.com. Retrieved February 10, 2006.
  6. ^ a b Mitchell, Gail (18 April 2009). "LeToya ends waiting game with new album". Reuters. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  7. ^ a b Allmusic review
  8. ^ a b Sullivan, Caroline (October 6, 2006). "Review: LeToya, Le Toya". The Guardian. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  9. ^ a b Richards, Jason (August 10, 2006). "Discs: LETOYA (Capitol/EMI)". NOW. Archived from the original on March 5, 2007. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  10. ^ a b Mayers, Norman (August 21, 2006). "New CDs". Prefix. Archived from the original on January 17, 2008. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  11. ^ a b Serpick, Evan (August 21, 2006). "LeToya, Le Toya". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on June 21, 2008. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  12. ^ a b Martin, Wendy (October 13, 2006). "LeToya − Le Toya". The Skinny. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  13. ^ "New CDs". SPIN. August 1, 2006. Archived from the original on July 19, 2006. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  14. ^ Shipley, Al (August 14, 2006). "LeToya, Le Toya". Stylus Magazine. Archived from the original on November 12, 2006. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  15. ^ a b Freedberg, Michael (August 21, 2006). "LeToya, Capitol". The Phoenix. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  16. ^ a b McGee, Tiffany (July 10, 2006). "LeToya – LeToya (Capitol)". Vibe. Archived from the original on July 18, 2006. Retrieved September 29, 2024.
  17. ^ Fiore, Raymond (July 21, 2006). "Music Review: LeToya". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
  18. ^ Harris, Chris (2 August 2006). "PHARRELL LOSES BILLBOARD BATTLE TO LETOYA AND NOW 22". mtv.com. Archived from the original on March 5, 2019. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  19. ^ Boucher, Geoff (3 August 2006). "Luckett no longer torn from chart success". LA Times. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  20. ^ "Gold & Platinum - RIAA". RIAA. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
  21. ^ Grein, Paul (November 21, 2008). "Chart Watch Extra: What A Turkey! The 25 Worst-Selling #1 Albums". Yahoo. Archived from the original on December 4, 2008. Retrieved August 14, 2021.
  22. ^ "ラトーヤ" (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on February 13, 2023. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
  23. ^ "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
  24. ^ "LeToya Luckett Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
  25. ^ "LeToya Luckett Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
  26. ^ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2006". Billboard. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
  27. ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2006". Billboard. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
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