''For Life'' is the second studio album by

Soul for Real Soul for Real (also known as Soul 4 Real and Soul IV Real) is an African-American Contemporary R&B, R&B group from Wyandanch, New York, currently living in Atlanta, Georgia made up of brothers Christopher Sherman Dalyrimple a.k.a. Choc (born Apri ...

, released on September 24, 1996. The album was released quickly after their debut studio album ''Candy Rain''. During that time, Uptown Records founder

Andre Harrell Andre O’Neal Harrell (September 26, 1960 – May 7, 2020) was an American music executive and multimedia producer. In 1986, recently a rapper, he formed Uptown Records, soon a leader in R&B, rap, and their fusion, "hip hop soul" and " new ...

left the label to become the president at

Motown Records Motown Records is an American record label owned by the Universal Music Group. It was founded by Berry Gordy, Berry Gordy Jr. as Tamla Records on June 7, 1958, and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation on April 14, 1960. Its name, a portmant ...

MCA Music Entertainment Group MCA Records was an American record label owned by MCA Inc., which later became part of Universal Music Group. Pre-history MCA Inc., a powerful talent agency and a television production company, entered the recorded music business in 1962 wit ...

CEO Doug Morris promoted Heavy D. as the new president of Uptown several months before the release of ''For Life''. As a result, Uptown was moved from its parent company

MCA Records MCA Records was an American record label owned by MCA Inc., which later became part of Universal Music Group. Pre-history MCA Inc., a powerful talent agency and a television production company, entered the recorded music business in 1962 wit ...

to the newly launched Doug Morris label Universal Records. The first single released was the Chucky Thompson produced first single "Never Felt This Way", followed by the Sean "Puffy" Combs & Stevie J. produced second single "Love You So". Despite getting good reviews, the album was met with the

sophomore jinx A sophomore slump or sophomore jinx or sophomore jitters refers to an instance in which a second, or sophomore, effort fails to live up to the relatively high standards of the first effort. It is commonly used to refer to the apathy of students ...

. This album would be the first of a long line of R&B albums that were underpromoted while being released under Universal Records. ''For Life'' would be their last album recorded for a major label, as they would go independent for their next album.

Track listing

Samples *"Stay" contains a sample of "Mind Power", as performed by

James Brown James Joseph Brown (May 3, 1933 – December 25, 2006) was an American singer, dancer, musician, record producer and bandleader. The central progenitor of funk music and a major figure of 20th century music, he is often referred to by the honor ...

* "You Just Don't Know" contains a sample of "Take Some Leave Some", as performed by James Brown * "Love You So" contains a sample of "Blues & Pants", as performed by James Brown

Chart history

Weekly charts

Personnel

* Keyboards and drum programming: Tony Dofat, Chucky Thompson, Stevie J., Chris Kringle, Tim Kelley, Bob Robinson, Rhano Burrell, Rheji Burrell, Dave Cintron * Guitar: Rob Bacon, Jon Shriver * Background vocals: Soul for Real, Erik Milteer,

Monifah Monifa Carter (born January 26, 1972), also known as Monifah, is an American R&B singer. She is best known for her association with the late rapper Heavy D and her music from the mid-1990s, including "I Miss You (Come Back Home)", "You" and " ...

* Recording engineer: Carl Nappa, Jon Shriver, Lane Craven, Tony Dofat, Andy Grassi, Ian Dalsemer, Bill Esses, Rhano Burrell, Rheji Burrell * Mixing: Jon Shriver, Chucky Thompson, Tony Dofat, Paul Logus, Rhano Burrell, Rheji Burrell, Jamey Staub,

Prince Charles Alexander Charles Alexander (born April 2, 1958), known professionally as Prince Charles Alexander, is an American record producer and audio engineer. He received a Grammy for Best Contemporary Soul Gospel Album in 2003. Background Alexander was born in B ...

, Carl Nappa * Mastering: Chris Gehringer * Photography: Daniela Federici * Art direction: Nicole L. Dollison * Design: Eric Altenburger, Elizabeth Barrett

References

1996 albums Soul for Real albums MCA Records albums Albums produced by Tim & Bob {{1990s-R&B-album-stub