''B7'' is the seventh studio album by American singer
Brandy
Brandy is a liquor produced by distilling wine. Brandy generally contains 35–60% alcohol by volume (70–120 US proof) and is typically consumed as an after-dinner digestif. Some brandies are aged in wooden casks. Others are coloured with ...
. It was released on July 31, 2020, through her own label Brand Nu, Inc. and
eOne Music
MNRK Music Group (pronounced "monarch", formerly known as Koch Records and eOne Music) is a New York City-based independent record label and music management company. It was formed in 2009 from the music assets of Koch Entertainment, which had b ...
. Her first studio album since ''
Two Eleven
''Two Eleven'' is the sixth studio album by American recording artist Brandy. Released on October 12, 2012, it served as the singer's debut release with Chameleon Entertainment and RCA Records after departing from Epic Records soon after releasin ...
'' (2012), the album features production from
Darhyl Camper, Jr. and
LaShawn Daniels
LaShawn Ameen Daniels (December 28, 1977 – September 3, 2019) was an American songwriter, vocal producer and arranger known for his songwriting credits on songs by artists such as Brandy, Lady Gaga, Beyoncé, Destiny’s Child, Michael Jacks ...
, among others. ''B7'' is an
R&B album exploring themes such as self-love, tumultuous romantic relationships, mental health and single motherhood.
The album received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised the album's authenticity and cohesiveness, as well as Norwood's vocals. ''B7'' debuted at number 12 on the US
''Billboard'' 200 chart, earning 25,000
album-equivalent unit
The album-equivalent unit, or album equivalent, is a measurement unit in music industry to define the consumption of music that equals the purchase of one album copy. This consumption includes streaming and song downloads in addition to traditi ...
s in its first week. The album and its songs were nominated for various awards, including a
Grammy Award
The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pres ...
. It spawned two singles: "
Baby Mama
A baby mama (also baby mother, or hyphenated baby-mama) is a slang term for a mother who is not marriage, married to her child's father, although the term often carries other connotations as well. This term is associated with African Americans ...
" and "
Borderline". Furthermore, "
No Tomorrow, Pt. 2" featuring
Ty Dolla Sign
Tyrone William Griffin Jr. (born April 13, 1982), known professionally as Ty Dolla Sign (stylized as Ty Dolla $ign or Ty$), is an American singer, songwriter and record producer. He first gained major recognition in 2010 for his feature on Ameri ...
, a remix of the album track "No Tomorrow" was also released in promotion of the album.
Background and development
''B7'' is Brandy's first independent release on her own record label Brand Nu, Inc. in partnership with
eOne
Entertainment One Ltd., trading as eOne, is an American-owned Canadian multinational entertainment company. Based in Toronto, Ontario, the company is primarily involved in the acquisition, distribution, and production of films and television s ...
.
During an interview with the ''
HuffPost
''HuffPost'' (formerly ''The Huffington Post'' until 2017 and sometimes abbreviated ''HuffPo'') is an American progressive news website, with localized and international editions. The site offers news, satire, blogs, and original content, and ...
''s Taryn Finley, Brandy said she was letting her "authentic experiences inform
ermusic". Despite feeling vulnerable and in relation to the global
COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identif ...
, Brandy said "It all aligned... I didn't plan it like this, but it just happened to fall in the same space so I'm happy about that."
When asked to elaborate on why the time was right for new music, Brandy said "well, I felt like I'm in a great place in my music. I feel very strong about my music, confident about where I am with it. I believe in it, and I just felt like this was the time."
Describing the album as authentic and her most personal to date, Brandy said that fans could expect her "entire heart" on the album, with themes of "love and heartache and coming into
erown and finding
erown self love".
Recording and production
In an interview with ''
Rolling Stone
''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first kno ...
'', she revealed the album had been three years in the making: "I feel like it started about three years ago. I was balancing television and studio time. I put everything I could into this project. It was so freeing for me, because I did get a chance to really dig in and write from my heart of hearts. I was able to really get a lot of things off of my chest, really use music as a way to escape and heal." Speaking about the process of making the album, Brandy was clear about the dedication she put into the project: "I've dedicated the last couple of years of my life to new music, my new project. It's taken me a while, but I'm so happy about the focus and work ethic I've put into this project."
This concept was expanded upon during her interview with
Apple Music
Apple Music is a music, audio and video streaming service developed by Apple Inc. Users select music to stream to their device on-demand, or they can listen to existing playlists. The service also includes the Internet radio stations Apple M ...
, where she stated: "I felt like I wanted to just be as honest as possible with this new project. I wanted to approach this project like if this was my last chance, if this was my last shot at creating music, what would this project be about? What would it sound like? Would I just bare it all? Would I tell my story as deep as I could tell it? And I wanted to, of course, stay true to R&B but at the same time go outside of the box." Similarly, when talking to ''
Entertainment Weekly
''Entertainment Weekly'' (sometimes abbreviated as ''EW'') is an American digital-only entertainment magazine based in New York City, published by Dotdash Meredith, that covers film, television, music, Broadway theatre, books, and popular cul ...
'', Brandy said that she treated the album like it was her last: "I went into this album thinking, 'If this were my last project, if this were the last time I would ever sing…what would I do?' I used that
indsetas a way to give my all. You can hear my entire heart on this. It took a while because I didn't want to rush."
When asked why Brandy chose
Darhyl "DJ" Camper, Jr. to helm the project, she shared: "His tracks were so different, but still connected to me in a way where it didn't feel so different from what I’ve done. It was almost like a continuation. When I would hear his music it was like, 'This is what ''
Never Say Never'' would sound like in the future.'" Norwood co-wrote and co-produced 14 of the 15 songs on the album and, alongside Camper, worked with the likes of
LaShawn Daniels
LaShawn Ameen Daniels (December 28, 1977 – September 3, 2019) was an American songwriter, vocal producer and arranger known for his songwriting credits on songs by artists such as Brandy, Lady Gaga, Beyoncé, Destiny’s Child, Michael Jacks ...
and
Kimberly "Kaydence" Krysiuk, touching on a number of themes, including self-love, tumultuous romantic relationships, mental health and single motherhood. Krysiuk contributed to nine of the album's 15 songs, and commented on the process of developing the songs alongside Norwood: "when we wrote these records, we didn't follow a 'formula' or song structure
..we followed a feeling
..That alone really gave us the room to express our emotions without being confined to an industry standard."
Partway through the making of the album, Daniels, an early career mentor for Norwood, died.
During an interview with British newspaper ''
The Guardian
''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...
'', Norwood said that "music
as hertherapy" and she "
ouldn'tknow what life would be without it." Elaborating on being able to work with Daniels on the project, she said "it's a little scary because I had to finish it without him
..I just wonder: would he be proud of what I was able to put together?". In the interview, it was also confirmed that she had co-written every song on the album, wanting to stop "placating egos", "chasing commercial expectations" and not have her experiences "distilled into other people's words."
Music and lyrics
''B7'' opens with the "warm and sincere" track "Saving All My Love" which opens with the line "Sorry for my tardy,"
addressing the eight year period since Brandy's previous album ''
Two Eleven
''Two Eleven'' is the sixth studio album by American recording artist Brandy. Released on October 12, 2012, it served as the singer's debut release with Chameleon Entertainment and RCA Records after departing from Epic Records soon after releasin ...
'' (2012).
Interpreted by some critics as an "apology,"
it has her explaining her absence from music following the break-up of her relationship with music executive Ryan Press.
Brandy can be heard referring to her mentor,
Whitney Houston
Whitney Elizabeth Houston (August 9, 1963 – February 11, 2012) was an American singer and actress. Nicknamed "The Voice", she is one of the bestselling music artists of all time, with sales of over 200 million records worldwide. Houston in ...
as the "goat" — a common acronym attributed to singer Houston, meaning "the greatest of all time."
The album's third track "Rather Be" was co-written with
Victoria Monét
Victoria Monét McCants (born May 1, 1989) is an American singer, songwriter, and record producer. She became involved in performing arts at a young age, singing in the youth choir at her church, and performing in a city dance team. She soon took ...
and sees Brandy return to the distinctive smooth, sultry balladry of previous albums. Brandy can be heard to be warmly wearing her heart on her sleeve as her love interest plays hard-to-get.
"
Borderline" sees Brandy confront her own insecurities and weaknesses within relationships, with her professing to be "the most jealous girl" and ultimately illustrating the darker, emotional loneliness that can take over a romantic relationship
Of the song, Brandy stated that "if another artist were to have that song, were to sing that song, I would wish that song was my song." In an interview with the ''
New York Post
The ''New York Post'' (''NY Post'') is a conservative daily tabloid newspaper published in New York City. The ''Post'' also operates NYPost.com, the celebrity gossip site PageSix.com, and the entertainment site Decider.com.
It was established ...
'', she shared the story behind the single, "I loved someone that was not available to be loved by me, and so that drove me crazy," adding, "I wanted to use my music as a way to start more conversations about mental health and how that's something that we all need to work on every day."
On "I Am More", Brandy references rapper
Eminem
Marshall Bruce Mathers III (born October 17, 1972), known professionally as Eminem (; often stylized as EMINƎM), is an American rapper and record producer. He is credited with popularizing hip hop in middle America and is critically acclai ...
's lyrics from
The Notorious B.I.G.
Christopher George Latore Wallace (May 21, 1972 – March 9, 1997), better known by his stage names the Notorious B.I.G., Biggie Smalls, or simply Biggie, was an American rapper. Rooted in East Coast hip hop and particularly gangsta ...
's posthumous single, "
Dead Wrong" (1999). Additionally on "High Heels", she duets with her daughter Sy'rai and also raps one of the verses. Brandy previously introduced her rapping skills under the alter-ego Bran'Nu.
The album closes with "Bye BiPolar" —- a piano-led ballad which utilises a metaphor that Brandy has been using for her own love life, discussing the way that her
mental health
Mental health encompasses emotional, psychological, and social well-being, influencing cognition, perception, and behavior. It likewise determines how an individual handles stress, interpersonal relationships, and decision-making. Mental health ...
struggles have been exacerbated by toxic relationships. Lyrically, in freeing herself from them, the singer discusses how her own mental health has improved. Brandy told the ''
New York Post
The ''New York Post'' (''NY Post'') is a conservative daily tabloid newspaper published in New York City. The ''Post'' also operates NYPost.com, the celebrity gossip site PageSix.com, and the entertainment site Decider.com.
It was established ...
'': "I have not been diagnosed as bipolar
..but I’ve had moments where trauma has caused me to not be myself, and I felt at a point that I could've experienced moments of that."
Mental illness
A mental disorder, also referred to as a mental illness or psychiatric disorder, is a behavioral or mental pattern that causes significant distress or impairment of personal functioning. Such features may be persistent, relapsing and remitti ...
is a recurring lyrical theme on the album as is heard in "Unconditional Oceans" which addresses her past of "self-sabotaging" behaviour, and "Lucid Dreams" where Brandy openly confesses to having "wanted to die". ''B7'' ends on "Bye BiPolar"s bold lyric — "Never add your last name to mine. I'm saying never", a reference to her 1998 album ''
Never Say Never'', while also marking Brandy's personal growth and transition since then.
Title and artwork
The album's cover artwork and title were unveiled on May 7, 2020.
The title stands for "Brandy seven", as the album is her seventh studio effort, while the album cover pays homage to
Whitney Houston
Whitney Elizabeth Houston (August 9, 1963 – February 11, 2012) was an American singer and actress. Nicknamed "The Voice", she is one of the bestselling music artists of all time, with sales of over 200 million records worldwide. Houston in ...
's looks from the 1992 film ''
The Bodyguard''. In the photo, Brandy is pictured face forward towards the camera with "beads cascading down her forehead". Glennisha Morgan from
KISS 95.1 FM commented that the cover featured Brandy's signature
braids
A braid (also referred to as a plait) is a complex structure or pattern formed by interlacing two or more strands of flexible material such as textile yarns, wire, or hair.
The simplest and most common version is a flat, solid, three-strande ...
, and the choice of gold beads complimented the gold eye shadow in the photo.
In writing for ''
Essence
Essence ( la, essentia) is a polysemic term, used in philosophy and theology as a designation for the property or set of properties that make an entity or substance what it fundamentally is, and which it has by necessity, and without which it ...
'', Jennifer Ford called the album's cover nostalgic, and noted that although Brandy had "countless memorable braid moments", the micro braids chosen for the ''B7'' cover "may be the greatest of all time". The look was designed and styled by celebrity hairstylist
Kim Kimble.
Meanwhile, Morgan also pointed out that the font used on the cover and its typeface were the same as Brandy's first three studio albums' covers: ''
Brandy
Brandy is a liquor produced by distilling wine. Brandy generally contains 35–60% alcohol by volume (70–120 US proof) and is typically consumed as an after-dinner digestif. Some brandies are aged in wooden casks. Others are coloured with ...
'' (1994), ''
Never Say Never'' (1998) and ''
Full Moon
The full moon is the lunar phase when the Moon appears fully illuminated from Earth's perspective. This occurs when Earth is located between the Sun and the Moon (when the ecliptic coordinate system, ecliptic longitudes of the Sun and Moon opp ...
'' (2002). Comparisons were also drawn to singer-songwriter
Syreeta Wright
Syreeta Wright (February 28, 1946 – July 6, 2004), who recorded professionally under the single name Syreeta, was an American singer-songwriter, best known for her music during the early 1970s through the early 1980s. Wright's career heights we ...
, who often wore her hair in braids too.
The cover art received positive comments from
107.5 FM, who declared that they "loved" the cover.
Idolator
An idolator is a practitioner of idolatry.
Idolater or Idolator may also refer to: Books
*''Os Idólatras'', 1968 Portuguese novel by Maria Judite de Carvalho Music
* Idolator (website), an American music blog
* ''Idolator'' (album), third album ...
's Mike Wass agreed, saying that the "orange-and-gold-hued cover art" shows that Brandy was "back and she really means business this time around".
Release and promotion
Prior to the album's release, Norwood appeared on ''
Good Morning America
''Good Morning America'' (often abbreviated as ''GMA'') is an American morning television program that is broadcast on ABC. It debuted on November 3, 1975, and first expanded to weekends with the debut of a Sunday edition on January 3, 1993. Th ...
'' on May 7, 2020, to perform its
lead single
A lead single (also known as a debut single) is the first single to be released from a studio album by an artist or a band, usually before the album itself is released and also occasionally on the same day of the album's release date.
Release s ...
"Baby Mama" live during the 2020 Spring Concert Series, where she would also announce her seventh studio album and reveal the album cover. On July 21, the album was made available for pre-order, which included instant
downloads
In computer networks, download means to ''receive'' data from a remote system, typically a server such as a web server, an FTP server, an email server, or other similar system. This contrasts with uploading, where data is ''sent to'' a remote ...
for "Baby Mama", duet with Daniel Caesar "Love Again", and a new song "Rather Be". ''B7'' was released on July 31 by Norwood's own label Brand Nu, Inc. in collaboration with
eOne Music
MNRK Music Group (pronounced "monarch", formerly known as Koch Records and eOne Music) is a New York City-based independent record label and music management company. It was formed in 2009 from the music assets of Koch Entertainment, which had b ...
.
The album's second single "Borderline" was performed as part of Brandy's ''
Verzuz
''Verzuz'' is an American webcast series created by record producers Timbaland and Swizz Beatz, that airs on Verzuz TV.
Verzuz was introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic as a virtual DJ battle, with Timbaland and Swizz Beatz facing off in ...
'' battle against fellow R&B singer
Monica on August 31, 2020 at
Tyler Perry Studios
Tyler Perry Studios (TPS) is an American film production studio in Atlanta, Georgia founded by actor, filmmaker, and playwright Tyler Perry in 2006.
In 2019, Perry celebrated the grand opening of his newest Atlanta studio location; he purchased ...
in Atlanta. "Borderline" was also performed at the
2020 ''Billboard'' Music Awards, alongside Norwood's song "
Almost Doesn't Count
"Almost Doesn't Count" is a song by American singer Brandy Norwood. It was written by Shelly Peiken and Guy Roche and recorded by Norwood for her second studio album, '' Never Say Never'' (1998). Atlantic Records consulted Fred Jerkins III to re ...
" (1998) and ''B7''s third and final single "No Tomorrow, Pt. 2" with
Ty Dolla Sign
Tyrone William Griffin Jr. (born April 13, 1982), known professionally as Ty Dolla Sign (stylized as Ty Dolla $ign or Ty$), is an American singer, songwriter and record producer. He first gained major recognition in 2010 for his feature on Ameri ...
, at the
Dolby Theatre
The Dolby Theatre (formerly known as the Kodak Theatre) is a live-performance auditorium in the Ovation Hollywood shopping mall and entertainment complex, on Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue, in the Hollywood district of Los Angeles. Si ...
in Los Angeles on October 14.
Norwood also performed "Borderline" as a part of a medley alongside her song "Say Something" at the
2020 Soul Train Music Awards. Norwood also performed songs from ''B7'' and past singles at ''
Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve 2021''. Norwood performed "Rather Be" on
COLORS
Color (American English) or colour (British English) is the visual perceptual property deriving from the spectrum of light interacting with the photoreceptor cells of the eyes. Color categories and physical specifications of color are associa ...
video series ''A Colors Show'' which premiered on the COLORS YouTube on June 24, 2022.
Singles
In March 2020, it was announced that Norwood would release the album's
lead single
A lead single (also known as a debut single) is the first single to be released from a studio album by an artist or a band, usually before the album itself is released and also occasionally on the same day of the album's release date.
Release s ...
"
Baby Mama
A baby mama (also baby mother, or hyphenated baby-mama) is a slang term for a mother who is not marriage, married to her child's father, although the term often carries other connotations as well. This term is associated with African Americans ...
", featuring American recording artist
Chance the Rapper
Chancelor Johnathan Bennett (born April 16, 1993), known professionally as Chance the Rapper, is an American rapper, singer-songwriter, and record producer. Born and raised in Chicago, Bennett released his debut mixtape '' 10 Day'' in 2012. He ...
, on the American talk show ''
The Talk''. However, due to the
COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identif ...
, the single was postponed and instead released on May 1, 2020.
"Baby Mama" failed to chart on the US
''Billboard'' Hot 100, becoming Norwood's first lead single to do so, but managed to find success within other
''Billboard'' charts, debuting at number 23 on the US
Adult R&B Songs
The Adult R&B Songs chart (formerly called Adult R&B Airplay) is an airplay chart that is published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine. The chart tracks and measures the airplay of songs played on urban adult contemporary radio stations, whose playl ...
in the week ending May 9, 2020 and eventually going on to peak at number seven on July 20, 2020. An accompanying
music video
A music video is a video of variable duration, that integrates a music song or a music album with imagery that is produced for promotion (marketing), promotional or musical artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a m ...
was directed by
Derek Blanks
Derek Blanks (born November 5, 1977) is an American photographer, illustrator, creative director, and producer.
Early life and education
Derek Blanks was born in Jackson, Mississippi on November 5, 1977. His father was a school teacher in Pearl, ...
and
Frank Gatson Jr., the latter of whom Norwood had frequently collaborated with throughout her career, including for music videos for "
I Wanna Be Down
"I Wanna Be Down" is the debut single of American recording artist Brandy from her self-titled debut album (1994). It was written by musicians Keith Crouch and Kipper Jones, with production helmed by the former, it was released on September 5 ...
" (1994) and "
Put It Down" (2012). Filmed in the week of January 29, 2020, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the video premiered on
BET
Black Entertainment Television (acronym BET) is an American basic cable channel targeting African-American audiences. It is owned by the CBS Entertainment Group unit of Paramount Global via BET Networks and has offices in New York City, Los A ...
outlets on May 4, 2020.
The music video for the second single "
Borderline" premiered on July 31, 2020, the same day it was released as a single and that ''B7'' was released. Like "Baby Mama", the video for "Borderline" was directed by Blanks and Gatson Jr. On August 19, 2020, she released a
behind-the-scenes look at the making of the "Borderline" video. The song peaked at number 30 on the US
R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay
R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay (previously known as Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay) is a chart published by ''Billboard'' magazine that ranks the top R&B and hip hop songs in the United States, based on audience impressions from a panel of radio stations monitored ...
chart.
On October 14, Norwood announced that singer
Ty Dolla Sign
Tyrone William Griffin Jr. (born April 13, 1982), known professionally as Ty Dolla Sign (stylized as Ty Dolla $ign or Ty$), is an American singer, songwriter and record producer. He first gained major recognition in 2010 for his feature on Ameri ...
was to be featured on a remix of "
No Tomorrow". The collaboration, titled "No Tomorrow, Pt. 2", was released as the album's third and final single the same day.
On the collaboration, Brandy said: "I'm a huge fan of Ty Dolla $ign. I think he's a brilliant artist. He's always shown a lot of respect for my music so I just felt like the sound of our voices would be great ."
The remix peaked at number 23 on the US ''Billboard'' LyricFind chart.
Critical reception
''B7'' was met with generally positive reviews. At
Metacritic
Metacritic is a website that review aggregator, aggregates reviews of films, TV shows, music albums, video games and formerly, books. For each product, the scores from each review are averaged (a weighted arithmetic mean, weighted average). M ...
, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from professional critics, the album received an average score of 78, based on 6 reviews.
Aggregator
AnyDecentMusic?
AnyDecentMusic? is a website that collates album reviews from magazines, websites, and newspapers. Primarily focused on popular music – covering rock, pop, electronic, dance, folk, country, roots, hip-hop, R&B, and rap – albums are adjudg ...
gave the album 7.3 out of 10, based on their assessment of the critical consensus.
Teodor Zetko, writing for ''
Exclaim!
''Exclaim!'' is a Canadian music and entertainment publisher based in Toronto, which features in-depth coverage of new music across all genres with a special focus on Canadian and emerging artists. The monthly Exclaim! print magazine publishes 7 ...
'', found that with ''B7'' "Brandy has returned to her roots and the aesthetics that helped popularize her
.. Authenticity is present on this album; she confidently steers her own ship by taking a new approach by writing every song on the album to create something personal
..She was the moment in the '90s, and now she is the moment in 2020."
''
The Chicago Defender
''The Chicago Defender'' is a Chicago-based online African-American newspaper. It was founded in 1905 by Robert S. Abbott and was once considered the "most important" newspaper of its kind. Abbott's newspaper reported and campaigned against Jim ...
'' journalist Kimberly M. Dobine felt that "This album is a vibe, very reminiscent of what we have come to expect from Brandy, yet so distinctly different then what we are used to
..I believe this is the Brandy that she's always wanted to be and always wanted us to experience
..It's cohesive, and the most honest reflection of who she is as an artist today. She is back and better than ever."
In an interview with Brandy published July 31, 2020, Brittany Spanos for ''
Rolling Stone
''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner, and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. It was first kno ...
'' referred to the album as "Brandy Norwood at her purest: an eclectic mix of modern and classic R&B sounds strung together by her distinctive, powerful voice."
''
Michigan Chronicle
''The Chronicle'' is a weekly African-American newspaper based in Detroit, Michigan. It was founded in 1936 by John H. Sengstacke, editor of the ''Chicago Defender''. Together with the ''Defender'' and a handful of other African-American newspap ...
'' critic Ashley Stevenson wrote that "throughout the album, Brandy toys with techno undertones without losing her iconic sultriness bending her voice to each track, even doing some rapping. Although the album is met with mild moments of mediocrity, it never lacks enticement."
Similarly, Mike Weiss from ''
Idolator
An idolator is a practitioner of idolatry.
Idolater or Idolator may also refer to: Books
*''Os Idólatras'', 1968 Portuguese novel by Maria Judite de Carvalho Music
* Idolator (website), an American music blog
* ''Idolator'' (album), third album ...
'' wrote that "this project shows new facets of her wonderful instrument as she muses on matters of the heart over multi-layered, often mid-tempo production. In short, ''B7'' is a mood. This is the kind of album that needs to be listened to from beginning to end (a couple of times), in order to fully appreciate the very personal journey that Brandy takes us on."
In her review for ''
The Observer
''The Observer'' is a British newspaper published on Sundays. It is a sister paper to ''The Guardian'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', whose parent company Guardian Media Group Limited acquired it in 1993. First published in 1791, it is the w ...
'', Kadish Morris was critical with Brandy's rapping effort on songs such as "High Heels" but praised the album's "familiar acrobatic vocals and sublime harmonies."
Will Lavin from ''
NME
''New Musical Express'' (''NME'') is a British music, film, gaming, and culture website and brand. Founded as a newspaper in 1952, with the publication being referred to as a 'rock inkie', the NME would become a magazine that ended up as a f ...
'' gave a positive review, stating that although the album "could probably benefit from an injection of tempo from time to time
..it mostly thrives, thanks to her unwavering resilience, the unique texture of her vocals and the stellar production courtesy of DJ Camper, Lonnie Smalls II and the late LaShawn Daniels." Lavin added the new album had been worth the wait, "because it has helped one of R&B's most revered talents find her smile again."
Joel Campbell from ''
The Voice
The Voice may refer to:
Fictional entities
* The Voice or Presence, a fictional representation of God in DC Comics
* The Voice (''Dune''), a fictional ability in the ''Dune'' universe
* The Voice, a character in the American TV series ''Cleo ...
'' called the album a "first masterpiece as an independent artist",
whilst Danielle Brissett for ''Rated RnB'' praised the project for the "Sonorous harmonies, potent backgrounds and ad-libs, and an influential delivery that true connoisseurs can detect.
''
Clash'' editor Robin Murray called the album "a triumph. A record worth savouring, it sits alongside NewGen R&B talent
..while retaining that classic touch." However, Murray also picked out "Borderline", stating the track is "no more than nice – pleasing on the ear, tugging at the heartstrings, but fail
to match the gravitational pull of the record's true highlights."
Stephen Kearse for ''
Pitchfork
A pitchfork (also a hay fork) is an agricultural tool with a long handle and two to five tines used to lift and pitch or throw loose material, such as hay, straw, manure, or leaves.
The term is also applied colloquially, but inaccurately, to th ...
'' gave the album 6.8 out of 10, feeling that Brandy sounded "poised and warm but lack
dsome spark". Kearse added "There's a strong sense of distance to ''B7'', as if Brandy is recounting stories secondhand despite them ostensibly being her own. She's described the record
..as "freeing," but she generally feels more withdrawn than liberated."
Accolades
Awards
, + List of award nominations and wins for ''B7''
! scope="row",
2020
2020 was heavily defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to global Social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, social and Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic disruption, mass cancellations and postponements of events, COVID- ...
,
Grammy Award
The Grammy Awards (stylized as GRAMMY), or simply known as the Grammys, are awards presented by the Recording Academy of the United States to recognize "outstanding" achievements in the music industry. They are regarded by many as the most pres ...
,
Best R&B Performance
The Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance is an award presented at the Grammy Awards, a ceremony that was established in 1958 and originally called the Gramophone Awards. According to the 54th Grammy Awards description guide it is designed for s ...
, "
Love Again"
,
,
, -
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2020
2020 was heavily defined by the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to global Social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, social and Economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, economic disruption, mass cancellations and postponements of events, COVID- ...
, rowspan="3",
Soul Train Music Award
The Soul Train Music Awards is an annual music awards show which previously aired in national broadcast syndication, and honors the best in African-American culture, music and entertainment. It is produced by the makers of ''Soul Train'', the pro ...
,
Best R&B/Soul Female Artist
, rowspan="2", Brandy
,
, rowspan="3",
, -
,
Soul Train Certified Award
,
, -
,
Best Album of the Year
, rowspan="2", ''B7''
,
, -
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2021
File:2021 collage V2.png, From top left, clockwise: the James Webb Space Telescope was launched in 2021; Protesters in Yangon, Myanmar following the 2021 Myanmar coup d'état, coup d'état; A civil demonstration against the October–November 2021 ...
,
NAACP Image Award
The NAACP Image Awards is an annual awards ceremony presented by the U.S.-based National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) to honor outstanding performances in film, television, theatre, music, and literature. Similar to ...
,
Outstanding Album
,
,
Year-end awards
''B7'' was featured on several 2020 year-end listings, including ''
Rated R&B
''Rated R&B'' is an independent online magazine based in the United States, which is dedicated and devoted to news, topics and almost all things related to rhythm and blues (R&B) and soul music.
It publishes independent music reviews, features, ...
''s "The 30 Best R&B Albums of 2020: Staff Picks",
AllMusic
AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databas ...
's "Best of 2020", ''
The Boston Globe
''The Boston Globe'' is an American daily newspaper founded and based in Boston, Massachusetts. The newspaper has won a total of 27 Pulitzer Prizes, and has a total circulation of close to 300,000 print and digital subscribers. ''The Boston Glob ...
''s "Top 12 Best Pop Albums of 2020" and
HipHopDX
''HipHopDX'' is an online magazine of hip hop music criticism and news. The website's current president and publisher is Sharath Cherian and the Head Of Content is Jerry L. Barrow. ''HipHopDX'' is the flagship publication of Cheri Media Group.
...
's "Best R&B Albums of 2020".
Commercial performance
''B7'' debuted at number 12 on the US
''Billboard'' 200 chart, moving 25,200
album-equivalent unit
The album-equivalent unit, or album equivalent, is a measurement unit in music industry to define the consumption of music that equals the purchase of one album copy. This consumption includes streaming and song downloads in addition to traditi ...
s, including 15,000 in pure sales, in its first week.
The album was the highest debut of the week and Brandy's eighth ''Billboard'' 200 chart entry.
The album also debuted at number nine on the US
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a music chart published weekly by '' Billboard'' magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales in the United States and is compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The chart debuted as Hot R&B LPs in the issue dated J ...
, becoming her seventh top-ten album on the chart. Additionally, ''B7'' debuted at number one on the US
Independent Albums
The Independent Albums chart (previously titled Top Independent Albums) ranks the highest-selling independent music albums and extended plays (EPs) in the United States, as compiled by Nielsen SoundScan and published weekly by '' Billboard'' maga ...
chart.
In the United Kingdom, ''B7'' debuted at number two on the
UK R&B Albums chart,
marking Brandy's highest debut on any UK chart since ''
Full Moon
The full moon is the lunar phase when the Moon appears fully illuminated from Earth's perspective. This occurs when Earth is located between the Sun and the Moon (when the ecliptic coordinate system, ecliptic longitudes of the Sun and Moon opp ...
'' debuted atop the same chart in March 2002.
Additionally, the album debuted at numbers seven and nine on the
UK Independent and
UK Digital Albums, respectively.
Track listing
Notes
* denotes additional production
* denotes vocal producer
* denotes co-producer
Personnel
Credits adapted from the liner notes of ''B7''.
*Benard Alexander – production coordinator
*Andy Barnes – engineer
*Riley Bell – mixing
*Todd Bergman – engineer
*Derek Blanks – art direction, photography, packaging design
*
Paul Boutin
Paul Boutin (born December 11, 1961 in Lewiston, Maine) is an American magazine writer and editor who writes about technology in a pop-culture context.
Boutin, who began writing for ''Wired'' in 1997, wrote for ''The New York Times'' from 2003 ...
– recording
*Matthew Burnett – producer, drum programming
*
Daniel Caesar
Ashton Dumar Norwill Simmonds (born April 5, 1995), known professionally as Daniel Caesar, is a Canadian singer and songwriter. After independently building a following through the release of two critically acclaimed EPs, ''Praise Break'' (201 ...
– lead vocals
*
Darhyl Camper, Jr. – producer, executive producer, additional producer (keys and programming), co-producer
*
Chance the Rapper
Chancelor Johnathan Bennett (born April 16, 1993), known professionally as Chance the Rapper, is an American rapper, singer-songwriter, and record producer. Born and raised in Chicago, Bennett released his debut mixtape '' 10 Day'' in 2012. He ...
– featured vocals
*
LaShawn Daniels
LaShawn Ameen Daniels (December 28, 1977 – September 3, 2019) was an American songwriter, vocal producer and arranger known for his songwriting credits on songs by artists such as Brandy, Lady Gaga, Beyoncé, Destiny’s Child, Michael Jacks ...
– producer, executive producer, vocal producer, vocal arranger
*
Antonio "Tony" Dixon – additional vocal producer, engineer
*Morning Estrada – recording
*Jordan Evans – producer, drum programming, recording
*Frank Gatson, Jr. – creative direction
*
Chauncey Alexander "Hit-Boy" Hollis – producer
*
Jaycen Joshua
Jaycen Joshua is a mix engineer and music producer who owns the revered Canton House Studios in Studio City, California. Joshua started his mix career in 2005 when he became partners with his mentor Dave Pensado and formed The Penua Project. Joshu ...
– mixing, mastering
*
Kim Kimble – hair
*Tim McClain – engineer
*
Brandy Norwood
Brandy Rayana Norwood (born February 11, 1979), better known by her mononym Brandy, is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, actress and model. She is known for her distinctive sound, characterized by her peculiar timbre, voice-layer ...
– lead vocals, producer, executive producer, mixing
*
Willie Norwood Sr. – vocal coach, music consultant
*
Cory Rooney
Mark Cory Rooney (born 1968) is an American record producer. He has written, produced, and developed various successful records for artists including Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, Jessica Simpson, Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony, Thalia, Michael Ja ...
– producer, co-executive producer
*Christopher Ruff – production co-ordinator
*Alonzo "Lonnie" Smalls II – producer
*Sy'rai Smith – lead vocals, background vocals
*Courtney Snowden – production manager
*Tasha Stoute – PR, marketing
*Ashley Sean Thomas – wardrobe
*Joshua "YXSH" Thomas – producer
*Gabriela Torell – make-up
*Earl "Ejay" Washington – engineer
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Release history
Notes
References
{{Authority control
2020 albums
Brandy Norwood albums
Albums produced by Hit-Boy
Contemporary R&B albums by American artists
MNRK Music Group albums