How to Be a Lady: Volume 1

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How to Be a Lady: Volume 1
Tricky Stewart
Singles from How to Be a Lady: Volume 1
  1. "Drink in My Cup"
    Released: December 2008
  2. "So Good"
    Released: February 3, 2009

How to Be a Lady: Volume 1 is the debut album of American

crunk&B, soul and hip hop
, and contains lyrics concerning sexual and gender-related themes.

The album debuted at number 100 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart, selling 5,000 copies in its first week. It produced two singles, "Drink in My Cup" and "So Good", that achieved moderate chart success. “P is For Power” was intended as the third single with a music video, but neither was released. Upon its release, How to Be a Lady: Volume 1 received generally positive reviews from most music critics.

Background

While working as back-up dancers for

Usher in his 2004 Confessions tour,[1] Kyndra "Binkie" Reevey and Lesley Lewis asked Sarah Rosete if she wanted to be a part of their girl group. Rosete agreed to join, but requested that they meet with her best friend Naomi Allen, who they "fell in love with".[2] The group moved to Los Angeles, where they began working with different producers, including Shannon "Slam" Lawrence and Rodney Jerkins.[2] The group officially formed Electrik Red in 2005.[3] They continued to work as professional dancers, individually appearing in videos for artists such as Mariah Carey, and Janet Jackson.[1] After individually performing as dancers and models, they appeared together in Ciara's video for "Like a Boy".[2] In late 2007, Allen and Rosete were cast in the video for The-Dream's single "Shawty Is a 10" (from his 2007 album Love/Hate).[2]

After

Tricky Stewart, who cosigned Electrik Red to their Def Jam-based label, Radio Killa.[2] From then, the pair began producing their music and executive produced their debut album. The group explained they named the album as a "play on the stereotype of what a lady is supposed to be, how she is supposed to act and what she is supposed to say. We're bringing a new age woman to the world". The group wanted to show that it was "okay to be different".[4]

Singles

How to Be a Lady: Volume 1 spawned two official singles, "Drink in My Cup" and "So Good". Music videos were filmed for the singles; "Drink in My Cup" (and one for album track "Friend Lover") were directed by Marc Klasfeld.[5][6] The group shot a video for the remix of their single "So Good" with rapper Lil Wayne.[7] The album's second and final single, "So Good", has peaked at #60 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.[8]

Commercial performance

The album debuted at number 100 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart,[9] with first-week sales of 5,000 copies in the United States.[10] It ultimately spent one week on the chart.[11] It also charted at number 20 on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.[12]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Pitchfork Media
8.2/10[15]
Rolling Stone[16]

How to Be a Lady: Volume 1 received generally positive reviews from music critics. Several writers drew comparisons to the early work of musician

The Huffington Post's Marjon Rebecca Carlos praised the album's sexual and gender themes and its musical execution, stating "Loads of imagery, color, synth-beats and lithe forms come popping forth much to the listener's amusement".[17] The Guardian's Alex Macpherson called it "a fully-formed and magnificently executed vision – of love, of sex – set to beats that thrill and seduce in equal measure, and sung with an unabashed confidence", citing it as "one of the most essential R&B albums of the decade".[14]

In a mixed review, Rolling Stone magazine's Jon Dolan felt that the songwriting lacked "personality".[16] Jon Pareles, writing in The New York Times, commended The-Dream and Tricky Stewart for their production's "lavished musical ingenuity", but found the album's sexual themes unimaginative.[23]

Track listing

All tracks are written by

Christopher "Tricky" Stewart, except where noted

No.TitleProducer(s)Length
1."Muah"The-Dream, Tricky Stewart3:56
2."So Good" (Sean Hall, Nash, Stewart)The-Dream, Tricky Stewart, Sean K.3:25
3."Devotion"The-Dream, Tricky Stewart4:34
4."Freaky Freaky"The-Dream, Tricky Stewart4:17
5."Bed Rest"The-Dream, Tricky Stewart4:30
6."Friend Lover" (Carlos McKinney, Nash)The-Dream, L.O.S Da Mystro3:44
7."P Is for Power"The-Dream, Tricky Stewart3:49
8."W.F.Y."The-Dream, Tricky Stewart3:58
9."9 to 5" (McKinney, Nash)The-Dream, L.O.S Da Mystro3:33
10."On Point"The-Dream, Tricky Stewart3:08
11."Drink in My Cup"The-Dream, Tricky Stewart3:34
12."Go Shawty"The-Dream, Tricky Stewart3:00
13."Kill Bill"The-Dream, Tricky Stewart3:21
14."So Good" (Remix featuring Lil Wayne)The-Dream, Tricky Stewart3:29

Personnel

Credits for How to Be a Lady: Volume 1 adapted from

Allmusic.[24]

Chart history

Chart (2009) Peak
position 		Sales
U.S. Billboard 200 100[25]
5,000+[10]
U.S. Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums 20[12]
U.S. Billboard Comprehensive Albums 107[26]

References

  1. ^ a b c Odum, Shanel (January 28, 2009). "Electrik Red". Vibe. Archived from the original on April 14, 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-11.
  2. ^ a b c d e Shepherd, Julianne Escobedo (February 2009). "Do you think I'm a nasty girl? With super sexuality and deep swagger, R&B BFFs Electrik Red bust heads... and give hugs". The Fader. pp. 1–2. Archived from the original on 2022-06-08. Retrieved 2009-04-12.
  3. Courier News
    . Retrieved 2009-04-10.
  4. ^ a b "Soul Rebel Speaks to Electrik Red: "It's Okay If You're Not a Stepford Wife"". SOHH. March 26, 2009. Archived from the original on July 18, 2011. Retrieved 2009-04-10.
  5. ^ "Electrik Red Turns Up Voltage with Debut LP". Rap-Up. January 25, 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-11.
  6. ^ "Video: Electrik Red - "Friend Lover"". Rap-Up. March 2, 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-11.
  7. ^ "Lil Wayne Joins Electrik Red for Remix Video". Rap-Up. March 25, 2009. Retrieved 2009-04-11.
  8. ^ [1]. Billboard. Retrieved on 2010-02-15.
  9. ^ Kreps, Daniel. On the Charts: Eminem’s “Relapse” Fends Off Manson, Stays On Top. Rolling Stone. Retrieved on 2010-02-15.
  10. ^
    BET
    . Retrieved on 2010-02-17.
  11. ^ Album Performance: How to Be a Lady: Volume 1. acharts. Retrieved on 2010-04-27.
  12. ^ a b [2]. Billboard. Retrieved on 2010-02-17.
  13. ^
    Allmusic
    . Retrieved on 2009-09-01.
  14. ^ a b c Macpherson, Alex. Review: How to Be a Lady: Volume 1. The Guardian. Retrieved on 2010-02-15.
  15. ^
    Pitchfork Media
    . Retrieved on 2009-12-08.
  16. ^ a b Dolan, Jon. Review: How to Be a Lady: Volume 1. Rolling Stone. Retrieved on 2010-02-15.
  17. ^
    The Huffington Post
    . Retrieved on 2010-02-15.
  18. ^ Lee, Frazi. Review: How to Be a Lady: Volume 1[permanent dead link]. Metro Spirit. Retrieved on 2009-09-01.
  19. ^ Clayton, Jeremy. Review: How to Be a Lady: Volume 1. Giant. Retrieved on 2010-02-15.
  20. ^ Garruad, Tracy. Review: How to Be a Lady: Volume 1[permanent dead link]. Vibe. Retrieved on 2009-09-01.
  21. ^ Electrik Red Reveal HOW TO BE A LADY On Def Jam Debut; Set For May 26 Release!. Island Def Jam. Retrieved on 2010-02-15.
  22. ^ Harvilla, Rob. Review: How to Be a Lady: Volume 1 Archived 2009-05-27 at the Wayback Machine. The Village Voice. Retrieved on 2009-09-01.
  23. ^ Pareles, Jon. Review: How to Be a Lady: Volume 1. The New York Times. Retrieved on 2009-09-01.
  24. ^ Credits: How to Be a Lady: Volume 1. Allmusic. Retrieved on 2010-02-15.
  25. ^ [3]. Billboard. Retrieved on 2010-02-17.
  26. ^ [4]. Billboard. Retrieved on 2010-02-17.

External links

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