Fantasia (Fantasia Barrino album)

Fantasia
Studio album by Fantasia Barrino
Released December 12, 2006
Recorded 2006
Genre
Length 50:08
Label
Producer
Fantasia Barrino chronology
Free Yourself
(2004)		 Fantasia
(2006)		 Back to Me
(2010)
Singles from Fantasia
  1. "Hood Boy"
    Released: November 25, 2006
  2. "When I See U"
    Released: April 17, 2007
  3. "Only One U"
    Released: June 29, 2007

Fantasia is the self-titled second studio album by American recording artist Fantasia Barrino, released by J Records on December 12, 2006. In its first week of sales, Fantasia entered the U.S. Billboard 200 chart at number nineteen, with 133,000 discs sold.[1] In June 2007, Fantasia was certified Gold by the RIAA for shipments of 500,000 copies.[2]

Background and recording

Missy Elliott returned as one of the writers on the album, joining Big Boi of Outkast and Diane Warren as contributors. Production duo Midi Mafia, best known for their 50 Cent hit "21 Questions", also contributed five tracks to the project.[3]

The beat for "Baby Makin' Hips" was created by Don Cheegro and Dirty Harry, new producers working under the guidance of Dre & Vidal, producers of Ludacris' song "War with God". Her second single "When I See U" peaked at number thirty-two on the Billboard Hot 100 and at number-one for eight weeks on the Urban charts. The music video for When I See U was shot by Lenny Bass on March 26, in Brooklyn.

Commercial performance

Fantasia peaked at number nineteen on US Billboard 200 albums chart.[4] It sold 133,000 copies in its first week and sold a total of 530,000 copies in the United States.[5] It was certified Gold by Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[6] It also peaked at number two on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.[7]

The first single from the album, "Hood Boy," peaked at number three on Bubbling Under Hot 100 and number twenty-one on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. The second single, "When I See U," peaked at number twenty-one on the Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The third single, "Only One U," peaked at number nineteen on the US Adult R&B Airplay chart and number thirty-six on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

Critical response

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic link
Entertainment WeeklyB+ link
PopMatters(7/10) link
Rolling Stone link at the Wayback Machine (archived October 13, 2007)
Slant link
Stylus MagazineB+ link

Critical response to Fantasia was largely positive, as reviewers praised her vocals and charisma as well as the album's production; she drew multiple comparisons to Aretha Franklin, Tina Turner and Patti LaBelle.[8][9][10] Rolling Stone magazine said the album "expands her range, adds some attitude and comes up with some genuine R&B gems."[8] Allmusic found it "a bolder, better album than Free Yourself," adding that it "breaks Barrino free of her American Idol persona, giving her a sound and style that she can build a career upon."[10] PopMatters.com said that "Fantasia is a solid second effort, made above average by that gem of a voice."[11] Many critics also commented that the album's decidedly R&B nature (which translates to a reduced audience) was inevitable due to the lack of crossover success from Barrino's debut.[9][10] Thomas Inskeep with Stylus magazine praised Fantasia's "rather astounding, multi-octave...voice, capable of the smoothest singing but also heavy on the grit," while at the same time lamenting that she will never be "America’s pop star...She’s too black." He then declared, "Fantasia wasn't meant to be America's pop star, anyway."[9] Sal Cinquemani with Slant Magazine said that "Fantasia's sophomore effort isn't exactly her Breakaway [Kelly Clarkson's hugely successful second album], but it's certainly a more unified artistic statement than 2004's Free Yourself."[12]

On December 6, 2007, Fantasia garnered three 50th Annual Grammy Award nominations: Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for “When I See U”, Best Contemporary R&B Album for Fantasia, and Best R&B Song for "When I See U".

Track listing

No. TitleWriter(s)Producer(s) Length
1. "Hood Boy" (featuring Big Boi)Johnta Austin, Frank DeVol, Holland-Dozier-Holland, Anthony McIntyre, Antwan PattonTone Mason 3:34
2. "When I See U"  Sam Watters, Louis Biancaniello, Kevin Risto, Waynne Nugent, Janet Sewell, Erika NuriMidi Mafia, Mzmeriq 3:37
3. "I Nominate U"  Vidal Davis, Andre Harris, Balewa Muhammad, Candice NelsonDre & Vidal 4:34
4. "Baby Makin' Hips"  Davis, Vidal, Muhammed, NelsonDre & Vidal, Dirty Harry, Don Cheegio[a] 3:21
5. "Not the Way I Do"  Sean GarrettKwamé, Sean Garrett[a] 3:35
6. "Only One U"  Bryan-Michael Cox, Thabiso "Tab" Nkhereanye, The Clutch, Ezekiel Lewis, Muhammad, NelsonBryan-Michael Cox 4:00
7. "I Feel Beautiful"  Diane WarrenBabyface 3:33
8. "I'm Not That Type"  Missy ElliottMissy Elliott, Cainon Lamb[a] 4:07
9. "Uneligible"  Muhammad, NelsonDanja 3:00
10. "Two Weeks Notice"  Craig Brockman, Corte Ellis, ElliottMissy Elliott, Craig Brockman[a] 4:42
11. "Surround U"  Denzil Miller, Kurt Walker, Kasseem Dean, Lawrence Smith, Makeba RiddickSwizz Beatz 3:19
12. "Bore Me (Yawn)"  Muhammad, NelsonDanja 2:55
13. "Sunshine"  Harold LillyHarold Lilly, Cainon Lamb[a] 3:47
14. "Bump What Your Friends Say" (featuring Missy Elliott)Elliott, Phillip LeesMissy Elliott, Phil Lees, Soul Diggaz[a] 4:44
Total length:
 50:08
Sample credits

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2006) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[13] 19
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[14] 3

Year-end charts

Chart (2007) Position
US Billboard 200[15] 105
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums[16] 22

Sales and certifications

Country Certification (sales thresholds)
Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) Gold (500,000)

Unreleased tracks

References

  1. ↑ Jonathan Cohen, "Young Jeezy, Hicks Enter Atop The Billboard 200", Billboard.com, December 20, 2006.
  2. ↑ RIAA
  3. ↑ Fantasia First Listen – AOL Music
  4. ↑ http://www.billboard.com/artist/1496871/Fantasia/chart?f=305
  5. ↑ http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/956754/fantasia-moves-forward-despite-personal-challenges
  6. ↑ http://www.riaa.com/gold-platinum/?tab_active=default-award&se=fantasia#search_section
  7. ↑ http://www.billboard.com/artist/1496871/Fantasia/chart?f=333
  8. 1 2 Serpick, Evan (December 7, 2006). "Fantasia" RollingStone.com. Retrieved October 22, 2007
  9. 1 2 3 Inskeep, Thomas (2007-01-02). "Fantasia" StylusMagazine.com. Retrieved October 22, 2007
  10. 1 2 3 Erlewine, Stephen Thomas (2006). "Fantasia" AllMusic.com. Retrieved October 22, 2007
  11. ↑ Joseph, Mike (January 5, 2007). "Fantasia" PopMatters.com. Retrieved October 22, 2007
  12. ↑ Cinquemani, Sal (2006). "Fantasia" SlantMagazine.com. Retrieved October 22, 2007
  13. ↑ "Fantasia – Chart history" Billboard 200 for Fantasia.
  14. ↑ "Fantasia – Chart history" Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums for Fantasia.
  15. ↑ "2007 Year-End Charts – Billboard 200 Albums". Billboard. Retrieved April 26, 2016.
  16. ↑ "2007 Year-End Charts – Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard. Retrieved April 26, 2016.
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