Unexpected (Lumidee album)

Unexpected
Studio album by Lumidee
Released April 17, 2007 (2007-04-17)
(see release history)
Recorded 2006–2007
Bassbumpers Studio; Eastside Sound; Icon Sound Studios
(Miami, Florida)
KMA Studios; Lumi's Closet; Platinum Sound Recording Studios
(New York, New York)
Genre Hip hop, R&B, reggae
Length 55:35
Label TVT
Producer J. Marty, T.C. Love, Lenky, Ron Browz, Wyclef Jean, Jerry Duplessis, Scott Storch, Red Spyda, NIV, Darrell Branch
Lumidee chronology
Almost Famous
(2003)		 Unexpected
(2007)
Singles from Unexpected
  1. "She's Like The Wind"
    Released: April 3, 2007
  2. "Crazy"
    Released: May 22, 2007
  3. "Feel Like Makin' Love"
    Released: November 20, 2007

Unexpected is the second studio album by American hip-hop and R&B recording artist Lumidee, released by TVT Records on April 17, 2007 in the United States and on June 21, 2007 in the United Kingdom. The album was produced primarily by J. Marty with contributions made by Scott Storch, T.C. Love, Lenky, Ron Browz, Wyclef Jean, Jerry Duplessis and Red Spyda.

Background

In an interview with Vibe Magazine, Lumidee spoke about signing with TVT Records stating, "TVT Records is the perfect way for me to come back and again I'm coming out of left field, just like with Never Leave You. Nobody ever thought of me coming back on a street credible label like TVT [...] Actually, nobody ever thought of me really even coming back, period."[1]

In another interview, Lumidee said of the album, "This time around I got to do an album. The first time around the world heard my demo, that’s basically what it was. I had a really big song which landed me the deal and they wanted an album in two weeks. [...] This time you’re getting to hear my progress through the years and the different emotions I’ve been going through."[2]

Content

The album was produced primarily by J. Marty, who produced eight out of the seventeen songs. Other contributors include Lenky, who produced "Crazy" featuring Miami rapper Pitbull and Jerry Duplessis, who produced the Kill Bill-inspired track, "The Whistle Song" which features former Fugees member, Wyclef Jean, who co-produced it. According to Lumidee, the idea to record a remake of Patrick Swayze's 1987 song "She's Like The Wind" was inspired by her European label when she recommended a collaboration with fellow New York recording artist Tony Sunshine.[3] She described the album as having "many flavors", including "rap, R&B, Caribbean music, all the sounds that influence me."[3] She also said, "Everything I'm doing is for the world. I’m not just trying to cater to one audience..."[4] Another track, characterized as a "self-described in-your-face song" entitled, "He Told Me" is a reggae and hip-hop flavored song that "once again boasts Lumidee’s ability to effortlessly flow from rapping to singing, all under one title."[5] Blues & Soul describes "Stuck On You" as an "emotionally-pleasing" song that is "backed with a beautiful Spanish guitar".[6] A track titled "Did You Imagine" samples Manu Chao's "Me Gustas Tú" and is a reggaeton-flavored song that explores her Latin roots.[4] Unexpected was named because, as she explained, "It's unexpected to some people that I'm still doing music."[7]

Reception

Commercial performance

Following its release, the album debuted at number forty-four on the U.S. Billboard 200, with about 16,000 copies sold in its first week.[8] On May 5, 2007 Unexpected debuted at number two on the U.S. Billboard Independent Albums chart, remaining on the chart for five weeks.[9]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[10]
Blues & Soul[6]
Entertainment Weekly(B)[11]

Andy Kellman of Allmusic said, "There's much more nuance to her voice, whether she's singing or rapping. She's tougher, more womanly."[10] He then ended on a mixed note, "As uneven and occasionally puzzling as a 17-track pop album gets, this is nonetheless a marked improvement over the debut."[10] Blues & Soul gave the album a positive review, commending the quality of the production and called it a "great deal more promise than her debut LP."[6] Entertainment Weekly gave the album a B rating and said that the album is "Nothing for the ages, but pleasantly of the moment".[11]

Singles

On April 3, 2007 "She's Like The Wind" was released as the first single from the album in the United States and Europe. It managed to peak at number forty-three on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and in Denmark, it reached the top ten.[12]

The second single, "Crazy" was released on May 22, 2007, in the United States and Europe but charted only on the European charts, including Germany, France, Belgium, Austria, and the United Kingdom.[13]

"Feel Like Makin' Love" was the third and final single from the album released in mid-November 2007.[14] It performed less well than its predecessors, only landing on the Ultratip chart in Flanders.[15]

Track listing

Standard Edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Intro"  Lumidee Cedeño, Jesus Bobe, Steve MoralesJ. Stars, Steve Morales0:45
2."So Cool... Hollywood"  Cedeño, John VandersallJ. Marty, T.C. Love3:59
3."In It For The Money" (featuring Snoop Dogg)Cedeño, Calvin Broadus, Andy ThelusmaRed Spyda3:27
4."Cute Boy"  Cedeño, John Vandersall, Leonard Williams, Henry LawesJ. Marty3:43
5."She's Like The Wind" (featuring Tony Sunshine)Patrick Swayze, Stacey WidelitzJ. Marty, T.C. Love3:45
6."Feel Like Makin' Love" (featuring Shaggy)Eugene McDanielsJ. Marty3:45
7."Stuck On You"  Cedeño, Edwin Perez, Vandersall, Joseph WeissJ. Marty, Eddie Perez3:04
8."Caught Up"  Cedeño, Darrell Branch, Niv DavidovichDarrell Branch, NIV3:12
9."Crazy" (featuring Pitbull)Cedeño, Armando Perez, Steven MarsdenLenky3:05
10."Could Be Anything"  Cedeño, Scott StorchScott Storch2:47
11."You Got Me" (featuring N.O.R.E.)Cedeño, Victor Santiago, Rondell TurnerRon Browz2:58
12."The Whistle Song" (featuring Wyclef Jean)Cedeño, Bernard Hermann, Wyclef Jean, Jerry DuplessisJerry Duplessis, Wyclef Jean3:44
13."I'm Up" (featuring Jim Jones)Cedeño, Joseph Jones, VandersallJ. Marty3:19
14."He Told Me"  Cedeño, Vandersall, George HayeJ. Marty3:09
15."Did You Imagine"  Cedeño, José-Manuel Chao, Vandersall, WeissJ. Marty3:49
16."Passin' Thru"  Cedeño, VandersallJ. Marty2:49
17."She's Like The Wind" (Spanglish Version)Swayze, WidelitzJ. Marty, T.C. Love4:13
European bonus track
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
18."Dance!" (featuring Fatman Scoop)George Merrill, Shannon Rubicam, Cedeño, Isaac Freeman, Cordell BurrellReinhard Raith, Andreas Litterscheid2:41

Personnel
  • J. Mizzle: Keyboards
  • Jesus Bobe: Engineer
  • John Lardiari: Guitar
  • Josh Modney: Violin
  • Judy Hyman: Violin
  • Julian Vasquez: Engineer
  • Keith "Lil Wonda" Duplessis: Guitar
  • Logic: Keyboards
  • Max Buckholtz: Viola
  • Mike DeSalvo: Mixing
  • Mintman: Guitar
  • Pablo O. Bilbraup: Percussion
  • Rich Keller: Bass, Guitar, Mandolin, Mixing
  • Samuel Jusino Jr.: Guitar, Engineer
  • Sean Harkness: Guitar
  • Sedeck Jean: Keyboards
  • Stephen L. Joseph: Engineer
  • Walter White: Horn, Horn Arrangements, String Arrangements
  • Wilner Alexandre: Engineer
  • Elliott Thomas: Piano
  • Diego Morales: Engineer

Charts

Release history

Country Date Label Edition
United States[20] April 17, 2007 TVT Standard edition
France[21]
Japan[22]
Germany[23] April 20, 2007
United Kingdom[24] June 21, 2007
Canada[25] October 7, 2009 EMI Music Canada

References

  1. ↑ "Uh Oh! Lumidee Inks New Deal, Album To Drop Early 2007". Singersroom. 2006-11-07. Retrieved 2010-10-28.
  2. ↑ Shastri, Rashmi. "Lumidee Interview". Every Urban Thing. Archived from the original on 2008-03-11. Retrieved 2010-10-28.
  3. 1 2 del Valle, Elena (2007-03-26). "Puerto Rican singer Lumidee launches second album in April 2007". HispanicMPR.com. Poyeen Publishing. Retrieved 2010-10-28.
  4. 1 2 Thornton, Alex (2007-04-01). "Lumidee: Break Away". AllHipHop. Retrieved 2010-10-29.
  5. ↑ Kuranaga, Abraham (2007-07-21). "Expected the Unexpected". PopEntertainment.com. Retrieved 2010-10-28.
  6. 1 2 3 Lavin, Will (2007-07-05). "Lumidee: Unexpected". Blues & Soul. Retrieved 2010-10-28.
  7. ↑ Hatfield, Quinton (2007-10-30). "Lumidee - Unexpected". HipHop-Elements.com. Retrieved 2010-11-14.
  8. ↑ Hasty, Katie (2007-04-25). "Lavigne's New 'Thing' Debuts Atop Billboard 200". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2007-04-26.
  9. ↑ "Independent Albums - The Week Of May 05, 2007". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2010-10-29.
  10. 1 2 3 Kellman, Andy. "Unexpected > Overview". Allmusic. All Media Network LLC. Retrieved 2010-09-26.
  11. 1 2 Greenblatt, Leah (2007-04-13). "Unexpected Review". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2010-09-26.
  12. ↑ "Lumidee feat. Tony Sunshine - She's Like the Wind". Tracklisten. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2010-10-30.
  13. ↑ "Crazy by Lumidee". MTV. Viacom. Retrieved 2010-09-26.
  14. ↑ "Amazon.com: Lumidee - Feel Like Making Love". Amazon.com (US). Retrieved 2010-12-02.
  15. ↑ "Lumidee feat. Shaggy - Feel Like Making Love". lescharts.com. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2010-10-30.
  16. ↑ "Lumidee - Unexpected". Ultratop.be. Hung Medien. Retrieved 2010-08-12.
  17. ↑ "Lumidee Albums & Song Chart History - Top Independent Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2010-11-14.
  18. ↑ "Lumidee Albums & Song Chart History - Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2010-11-14.
  19. ↑ "Lumidee Albums & Song Chart History - Billboard 200". Billboard. 2010-11-14.
  20. ↑ "Music: Lumidee - Unexpected". Amazon.com (US). Retrieved 2010-11-12.
  21. ↑ "Musique: Lumidee - Unexpected". Amazon.com (FR). Retrieved 2010-11-12.
  22. ↑ "Music: Lumidee - Unexpected". Amazon.com (JP). Retrieved 2010-11-12.
  23. ↑ "Musik: Lumidee - Unexpected". Amazon.com (DE). Retrieved 2010-11-12.
  24. ↑ "Music: Lumidee - Unexpected". Amazon.com (UK). Retrieved 2010-11-12.
  25. ↑ "Music: Lumidee - Unexpected". Amazon.com (CA). Retrieved 2010-11-12.
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