Kimberly: The People I Used to Know
Kimberly: The People I Used to Know | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Studio album by | ||||
Released | December 8, 2017 | |||
Recorded | 2016–2017 | |||
Genre | R&B[1] | |||
Length | 62:59 | |||
Label | Atlantic | |||
K. Michelle chronology | ||||
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Singles from Kimberly: The People I Used to Know | ||||
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Kimberly: The People I Used to Know is the fourth studio album by American singer-songwriter K. Michelle, released on December 8, 2017, through Atlantic Records.[2] The album was preceded by the release of the singles "Birthday", "Either Way", "Make This Song Cry" and "Crazy Like You". Kimberly: The People I Used to Know debuted on the US Billboard 200 at number fifty-six with 8,804 copies sold, becoming the lowest selling debuting album of Michelle's career so far and continuing a downward trend in her commercial success.
Background and release
[edit]"It's a record that is very, very vibey. The direction of the album is actually, I actually am talking about a lot of people -- not bashing them, but speaking on some people who have been influential in my life, whether it was for the good or the bad."
On December 21, 2016, K. Michelle announced that her fourth album would be released in 2017 via Twitter with an acronym "TCE".[4] During the final season of her reality show "K. Michelle: My Life, the singer revealed a song titled "Heaven",[5] calling the song "one of my most personal records on my new album".[6][7] On September 8, 2017, in an interview with Billboard, the album's title was revealed "Kimberly: The People I Used to Know".[3] On October 13, 2017, the album cover, track list and release date was revealed.[8]
Singles
[edit]"Birthday" was released as the album's lead single on September 8, 2017.[9] "Either Way" featuring American singer Chris Brown was released as the album's second single on September 15, 2017.[10] The song debuted at number 19 on the US Billboard R&B Digital Song Sales chart for the week beginning October 7, 2017.[11] "Make This Song Cry" was released as the album's third single on October 6, 2017.[12] "Crazy Like You" was released as the album's fourth single on August 12, 2018.[13]
Critical response
[edit]Review scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [14] |
Newsday | [15] |
Pitchfork | 7.0/10[1] |
Renowned for Sound | [16] |
On AllMusic, Andy Kellman gave the album four stars out of five, stating that "she has too much on her mind - and has such an imaginative and proficient way of getting it all out - to truly bail."[14] Glenn Gamboa from Newsday wrote that "It’s a shoot-from-the-hip style given to hits and misses, but when K. Michelle connects, she hits hard."[15]
Pitchfork's Alfred Soto graded it 7 points out of 10, commenting that "KIMBERLY: The People I Used to Know may lack a thumper like "V.S.O.P." or a slow jam as urgent as "Drake Would Love Me," still her greatest performance, but it continues a remarkable four-album streak."[1] Rachael Scarsbrook of Renowned for Sound gave the album 4 stars out of 5, wrote that "There is enough differentiation to maintain intrigue even if the album is some 20+ tracks long. K Michelle is never one to mince her words, and she’s certainly not going to be changing that any time soon.[16]
Track listing
[edit]No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Welcome to the People I Used to Know" | Kimberly Pate | 0:32 | |
2. | "Alert" | Camper | 2:18 | |
3. | "God, Love, Sex, and Drugs" |
| Bongo | 3:52 |
4. | "Make This Song Cry" |
| Lil' Ronnie | 3:27 |
5. | "Crazy Like You" |
|
| 3:44 |
6. | "Kim K" |
| Camper | 2:33 |
7. | "Takes Two" (featuring Jeremih) |
|
| 3:24 |
8. | "Rounds" |
|
| 3:25 |
9. | "Either Way" (featuring Chris Brown) |
| Ronnie | 4:14 |
10. | "Birthday" |
|
| 4:01 |
11. | "Fuck Your Man" (Interlude) |
| Ronnie | 3:41 |
12. | "No Not You" |
| Ronnie | 3:50 |
13. | "Giving Up on Love" |
| Louis Biancaniello | 3:20 |
14. | "Help Me Grow" (Interlude) | Pate | 0:28 | |
15. | "Heaven" |
| 3:56 | |
16. | "Run Don't Walk" |
| A Louis York | 3:48 |
17. | "Industry Suicide" (Interlude) | Pate | 0:32 | |
18. | "Talk to God" |
|
| 4:27 |
19. | "Brain on Love" |
| Eric Hudson | 3:27 |
20. | "Woman of My Word" |
|
| 2:53 |
21. | "Outro" (performed by Princess Nokia) | Pate | 1:07 | |
Total length: | 62:59 |
Notes
Sample credits
- "Make This Song Cry" contains elements of "Song Cry", written by Shawn Carter, Douglas Gibbs, Randolph Johnson and Justin Smith.
Charts
[edit]Chart (2017) | Peak position |
---|---|
US Billboard 200[17] | 56 |
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[18] | 23 |
Release history
[edit]Region | Date | Format | Label | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|
United States | December 8, 2017 | Digital download, CD | Atlantic | [2] |
Canada | [19] | |||
United Kingdom | December 10, 2017 | [20] | ||
Spain | [21] | |||
France | [22] | |||
Germany | [23] |
References
[edit]- ^ Jump up to: a b c Soto, Alfred (December 8, 2017), "K. Michelle:KIMBERLY:The People I Used to Know Album Review", Pitchfork, retrieved August 15, 2018
- ^ Jump up to: a b "iTunes – Music – KIMBERLY: The People I Used to Know by K. Michelle". iTunes Store. Retrieved October 17, 2017.
- ^ Jump up to: a b "K. Michelle On New Album 'Kimberly: The People I Used to Know,' R. Kelly Allegations and Surrogacy With Fiance". Billboard. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
- ^ ""Album #4 in 2017! #TCE" - K. Michelle on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 21 December 2016.
- ^ "K. Michelle: My Life - Season 3, Ep. 7 - Love Is On The Air - Full Episode". VH1. Archived from the original on February 3, 2017. Retrieved 30 January 2017.
- ^ ""Heaven" is one of my most personal records on my new album. I can't wait to share it in full with all of you! - K. Michelle on Twitter". Twitter. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
- ^ ""Heaven" is exactly where I am right now. So glad I could share a snippet with you all last night on #KMichelle: My Life! ❤️ Album #4 is coming VERY soon". Facebook. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
- ^ "K. Michelle Reveals Album Cover, Track listing and Release Date for 'Kimberly: The People I Used To Know'". The Grape Juice. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
- ^ "Birthday - Single by K. Michelle on Apple Music". Apple Music (U.S. Store). Retrieved 8 September 2017.
- ^ "Either Way (feat. Chris Brown) - Single by K. Michelle on Apple Music". Apple Music (U.S. Store). Retrieved 15 September 2017.
- ^ "Billboard Chart Search for K. Michelle Either Way". Billboard. Retrieved 7 October 2017.
- ^ "Make This Song Cry - Single by K. Michelle on Apple Music". Apple Music (U.S. Store). Retrieved 6 October 2017.
- ^ "Crazy Like You - Single by K. Michelle on Apple Music". Apple Music (U.S. store). Retrieved 12 August 2018.
- ^ Jump up to: a b Kellman, Andy, "AllMusic Review: Kimberly: People I Used to Know - K. Michelle", AllMusic, retrieved August 15, 2018
- ^ Jump up to: a b Gamboa, Glenn (December 6, 2017), "'Kimberly: The People I Used to Know' review: K. Michelle speaks her mind", Newsday, retrieved August 15, 2018
- ^ Jump up to: a b Scarsbrook, Rachael (December 24, 2017), "Album Review: K Michelle – Kimberly: The People I Used to Know", Renowned for Sound, retrieved August 15, 2018
- ^ "K Michelle Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
- ^ "K Michelle Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
- ^ "KIMBERLY: The People I Used to Know on Apple Music". Apple Music (Canada Store). Retrieved 17 October 2017.
- ^ "KIMBERLY: The People I Used to Know by K. Michelle on Apple Music". Apple Music (UK Store). Retrieved 17 October 2017.
- ^ "KIMBERLY: The People I Used to Know on Apple Music". Apple Music (Spain Store). Retrieved 17 October 2017.
- ^ "KIMBERLY: The People I Used to Know on Apple Music". Apple Music (France Store). Retrieved 17 October 2017.
- ^ "KIMBERLY: The People I Used to Know on Apple Music". Apple Music (German Store). Retrieved 17 October 2017.