That 'perfect' debut album can be a gift and a curse. It’s every emerging artists’ dream to burst on the scene with a heralded debut album. It sets the tone for his or her entire career. Expectations can be high for that second album which can be a make or break situation for both R&B and Hip-Hop artists.
That jinx is no joke. Sometimes, the second time is the charm.
Let's look at a few albums that avoided the sophomore curse.
Destiny's Child - Writings On The Wall (1999)
Debut: Destiny's Child
With most focus on their lead hit single, "No, No, No," and hardly anything else, Destiny's Child's debut album went overlooked. Then Writing's On The Wall dropped and demanded much more attention. Recruiting producers Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins and Kevin "She'kspere" Briggs to come together for some of their biggest singles including, "Bills, Bills, Bills," "Jumpin', Jumpin," "Say My Name," and "Bug-A-Boo," this would soon turn the soulful quartet into the pop-megastars we know.
Usher - My Way (1997)
Debut: Usher
Usher proved that he had a strong, soulful voice with his self-titled debut, but he fulfilled his potential on his second album, My Way. What makes Usher distinctive from others is the fact that he doesn't over-sing; he simply delivers his songs soulfully. Both Jermaine Dupri and Babyface contribute seamless productions to hits that made the album, giving Usher his signature style, such as, "You Make Me Wanna," "Nice & Slow," "Slow Jam (featuring Monica)," and of course, "My Way." Clocking in right at a 40:22 for the duration of the cd, this urban R&B album is a strong effort showcasing Usher at his best.
D'Angelo - Voodoo (2000)
Debut: Brown Sugar
After a 5 year hiatus from the release of his debut album, D'Angelo worked closely with Questlove, the Soulquarians, DJ Premier, and Raphael Saadiq to help him craft and create an album that will certainly be remembered forever. “Voodoo” is the quintessential neo-soul album. The slow, burning grooves are reminiscent of the ride home on a humid night after having just left a party or club. Although the “Untitled (How Does It Feel)” video caused quite a stir, the true success of this album lies in the formula of spacious drums, deep bass lines, touches of fender rhodes and D’Angelo’s soulful voice. Brown Sugar, his 1995 debut LP, helped establish a reinvigorated organic sound for soul. Alongside contemporaries such as Erykah Badu and Maxwell, Brown Sugar thrust D’Angelo to the forefront of soul music.
With the release of his follow-up Voodoo, composition-wise, this a longer and more difficult album than it's predecessor, but in some ways more rewarding. The album is definitely one for hip hop heads too, as "Devil's Pie" has a vintage DJ Premier beat, and Method Man & Redman deliver a great guest spot on "Left & Right." Aided and abetted by a dazzling array of musicians, producers and engineers, he laid down the 13 songs that took templates of soul music past and fused them to his love of hip-hop. "Untitled (How Does It Feel)" is a true, epic track, where D really bursts out of his quiet, introspective shell. "Voodoo" will take a few listens for it to truly reveal itself to you as there is a lot more going on in the layers than meets the eye. It's a quiet, near subliminal record at times but it's one that opens up and blooms into a beautiful flower.
Alicia Keys - Diary of Alicia Keys (2003)
Debut: Songs in A Minor
There are very few artists in music who debuted with a one-two punch back to back, but Alicia Keys managed to pull off that feat like a few others on this list. Her second album is definitely one of the best of the 2000s, and it's one of the best produced R&B albums I've heard. The production ranges from smooth and melodic to booming soul all the way to piano driven ballads, and that's what makes it so great to me. Whether she's hitting hard on "Karma", singing her heart out on "If I Ain't Got You", going for the man she wants on the Kanye West produced classic "You Don't Know My Name", or sharing vocals alongside a reunited Tony! Toni! Tone! on "Diary", Alicia delivers time and time again on this project, solidifying alongside the other classics on this list as one of the greatest sophomore R&B albums ever.
Erykah Badu - Mama's Gun (2000)
Debut: Baduizm
The year 2000 was a good one for a certain group of like-minded musicians by the name of ‘The Soulquarians’. In the span of just one year, they released modern day classics by Common, Erykah Badu and D’Angelo. After an undisputed classic in Baduizm, Badu returned with an album that was even better. She would work very closely with the Soulquarians on this album, including J. Dilla, and the results would turn out to be epic. Badu came with her brand of smooth jazz inspired music and her relatable yet eccentric lyricism to craft a true gem.
Erykah Badu, one of the primary pioneers of this Neo-Soul sound, brought the genre to new heights of critical and commercial success, with Mama’s Gun in particular doing wonders for a decade’s worth of soul music. This record blends the smooth nature of traditional with the more rough sounds of funk, hip hop and psychedelia, in total creating 1hr 15 of blissful tones mixed in the most harmonious of ways. Badu’s performance are flawlessly melodic and warm with her vocal timbre working superbly over these lush and tranquil instrumentals. This album offers the same atmospherical beauty as artist’s like D’Angelo, yet Mama’s Gun shows more orchestral edition of Neo-Soul than fans had ever been previously exposed to. This record also does not let down in its cohesion, with it making the utter most out of its titanic runtime and various textural depths. So in total, this record is not only one of the most important Neo-Soul works of the early 2000s, but a beautiful exploration of genres and ideas within itself.
Lucky Daye - Candydrip (2022)
Debut: Painted
Candydrip demonstrates a refinement of Lucky Daye's classic R&B sound in nearly all fronts, from the pristine, multi-faceted production to elevated vocal performances, for an album that has equally as much fun bathing in its influences as it does expanding on them. His 2019 debut album Painted was praised from top to bottom by those who enjoyed his serenading vocals. Painted essentially cemented Daye as next up in the genre that so many are quick to call “dead.”
While the aforementioned albums may fall on opposite sides of the spectrum, they’re both undeniable evidence of Lucky Daye’s sprawling versatility. With Candydrip, Lucky Daye provides the reassurance that the state of modern R&B is in a great place. Breathing life into the sounds and styles that defined the genre, while reaching out for others that blend so seamlessly together under his vision, he sets a precedent for his contemporaries to take note of.
Honorable Mentions: Mary J. Blige, My Life ; TLC, CrazySexyCool ; Jodeci, Diary of a Mad Band ; Boyz II Men, II ; Donell Jones, Where I Wanna Be ; Bobby Brown, Don't Be Cruel
Which sophomore R&B albums do you think beat their predecessors? Let us know below.
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