Two Eleven
Two Eleven is the sixth studio album by American singer Brandy. Initially released in Spain on October 12, 2012, and released in the US on October 16, 2012, it served as the singer's debut release with Chameleon Entertainment and RCA Records after departing from Epic Records soon after releasing her previous album, Human. The album's title is taken from Norwood's birthday; it is also the day on which her idol and friend, entertainer Whitney Houston died eight months before Two Elevens release.
Two Eleven is the first album from Norwood to include a diverse roster of collaborators, including songwriting credits from Frank Ocean, Chris Brown and Sean Garrett. Production comes courtesy of the likes of Bangladesh and Rico Love, amongst others. Upon its release, the album received critical acclaim, with many complimenting Norwood's vocals, the album's production and the overall direction. Two Eleven debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 65,000 copies, becoming Norwood's fourth top-ten album and her first in eight years. It also debuted atop the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, her second album to do so.
The album produced two singles. "Put It Down", featuring Chris Brown, was released in May 2012. It peaked within the top five on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, becoming Norwood's tenth top-ten single on the chart and her first in a decade. It peaked at number 65 on the Billboard Hot 100. "Wildest Dreams" was released as the second and final single in August 2012, failing to enter the Billboard Hot 100 and peaking at number 68 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.
Background and development
Two Eleven is Norwood's sixth studio album and follow-up to one of her least commercially-successful releases, Human, and 2005's greatest hits album The Best of Brandy, both of which missed the US Billboard 200 album charts top-ten. Norwood began conceiving Two Eleven in the week Human was released, in December 2008. Human, was originally scheduled to be released in November but was delayed to accommodate last-minute recording sessions with American producer and close friend of Norwood, Timbaland. The records produced were ultimately omitted from Humans track listing due to Timabaland not being able to get his trademark vocals on the songs. As a consequence, Norwood stated in an interview with Rap-Up magazine that she wanted Timbaland to be heavily involved in the next album, along with frequent collaborator Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, who had executively produced Human, expressing her wish of both musicians executive producing her next project together."Norwood began working on the album with her then-record label, Epic Records, to which she had signed in April 2008. Amongst those to record with the singer were songwriting and production partners Tricky Stewart and The-Dream. In early 2009, songwriter Amanda Ghost was appointed president of Epic Records, ultimately leading to speculation around the future of Norwood's record contract and its eventual termination as confirmed by Tricky Stewart. Soon after, it was reported that Norwood had been dropped by Jay-Z's management company Roc Nation, something which Norwood's team refuted in July 2009 by stating "They have not dropped her. We are trying to get a release from them. We're in waiting" and that "Brandy and Roc Nation parted amicably".
Norwood's joint record deal with RCA and producer Breyon Prescott's Chameleon Records was finalized in late 2010, however, it was not announced to the public until August 2011, when it was also confirmed that Norwood's sixth studio album would be released in 2012. After Norwood was signed in late 2010, professional recording and submissions for the album began. Much of the earlier material recorded under Epic Records was left with the label and allocated to other artists such as Jennifer Lopez. Speaking of her new record deal during an interview with Rolling Stone magazine, Norwood commented: "I'm reinventing myself and I feel fearless, mature, it's gritty, it's edgy. RCA reminds me of how Atlantic used to be, they really believed in my vision as an artist when they signed me at 14, RCA welcomed me and Breyon Prescott and Peter Edge showed such passion for what I wanted to do". Before Prescott worked with Norwood he sought the permission of the singer's long-time collaborator and friend Darkchild. Prescott told Darkchild that he wanted to work on making an R&B record with Norwood. Darkchild agreed giving him his blessings.
In 2009, Norwood introduced her rap alter ego Bran'Nu on Timbaland's album Shock Value II, the result of artistic experimentation with the musician, who had tapped her for her rhyming ability after seeing a video on YouTube that Norwood had uploaded and showed her rapping freestyle. Norwood, who had initially thought of rapping as a hobby and fun for friends, felt encouraged by Timbaland to write and perform her own verses on at least three tracks for his album, two of which eventually made it to the track lisiting. In December 2009, the producer revealed his intentions to reteam with her on her next project, producing the bulk of an album that he envisioned to be "half singing, half rapping". Norwood confirmed his idea in an interview she held at the release party of Shock Value II: "What I'm doing on the album is a little bit different than what everybody knows me for. Timbaland endorsed that He really gave me a shot to be different and be versatile. I can't thank him enough for that. This is a wonderful opportunity." Though Norwood went on to record several other rap songs the following months and hoped it would eventually lead to a signing with Timbaland's Mosley Music Group, plans for hip hop-oriented album under his imprint were eventually abandoned as the singer felt the sound would not aim at her core audience. Approached on the subject, she later dismissed the idea of recording a rap album, stating that "it was a hobby. I was convinced to do it professionally, which I never should have listened to that advice."
After unveiling her new record deal in August 2011, Norwood finally revealed that she had found her sound for Two Eleven, stating: "What I'm truly excited about is how the album is all about R&B and figuring out the new sound of R&B, and that was the challenge for me. I wanted to do something different – I didn't want to just sing about love over regular beats". Norwood also stated how Frank Ocean inspired her on this album: "We've always had that great chemistry, and we both understand music in the same ways, to work with him on this album was great as well, and I hope I can get in with him some more because his music is just so moving; I'm inspired by him. I think he's a great artist and he hasn't even touched on what he will touch on in the future".
Speaking to Billboard magazine she said "I think the fans have been very patient with me, but I just wanted to make sure that this album was right – the right type of music, the right core. I feel like we're getting to that point where I felt comfortable with putting something out." Speaking of the types of records she was making, in a separate interview with Rap-Up, Norwood compared her album to previous records. "It's just gonna be a different album, but of course expressing the love that I feel now and the struggles and different situations that I've gone through in the past,... My music always tends to be the soundtrack to my life and definitely inspired by what I see other people go through as well—gritty, edgy, different." Then touching the subject matter of songs on the album, Norwood said she felt like the past failures in her life should be addressed,
Recording and production
Norwood began recording the album in early 2009 with her then-record label Epic Records. Among those to first work with the singer were Ne-Yo, Stargate, and production and songwriting duo Tricky Stewart and The-Dream. The duo produced the record "Louboutins" for Norwood but after losing her record deal it was re-recorded by actress and singer Jennifer Lopez for her album Love?. Another record which Norwood recorded under Epic was titled "Decisions", which was produced by Stargate and featured guest vocals from American R&B singer-songwriter Ne-Yo. The record was reclaimed and eventually recorded by upcoming girl group RichGirl for their debut mixtape Fall in Love with RichGirl. By late 2009, the singer resumed recording, this time with a duo called The Chase. In early 2010, Norwood stated that she wanted to work with will.i.am and Akon. Throughout 2010, Norwood continued recording independently with a variety of musicians, including producers Danja, Clinton Sparks, The Jam, Corey Gibson and songwriter Stacy Barthe. Some of this was chronicled on her VH1 reality series Brandy & Ray J: A Family Business, which originally aired from April 2010 to February 2011 and spawned a soundtrack of the same name, on which some of the tracks were included.During early conceptions of the album, Norwood had wanted to reunite with Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins–her longtime collaborator who had executively produced Human. However, midway through 2009, during an interview with Out magazine, Norwood refused to talk about Human, telling interviews "to hell with that album" when questions were asked about it. It wasn't until 2010 when Norwood would break her silence during an episode of her VH1 reality TV show Brandy and Ray J: A Family Business. During one of the episodes when her brother Ray J announces that he wants to work with Darkchild, Norwood reveals that she felt the producer "did not put his all into the album", and that "was a personal issue between me and him." Elaborating on what she meant, Norwood replied "You know what kind of chemistry Rodney and I have too, but on some personal issues, he doesn't deliver.....I don't want the same thing that happened to me, to happen to you.".
In September 2010, producer Bangladesh confirmed that he had been commissioned by Norwood to helm the production of the entire project, though Norwood later expressed her intent to further connect with several producers, including Jim Beanz, WyldCard, newcomer Kevin McCall, Lonny Bereal, Rico Love, production collectives The Woodworks and The Runners, and singer Sean Garrett who worked on nine songs for the album. Hit-Boy who had previously worked with Frank Ocean on Norwood's Human album returned to production on Two Eleven with the ballad "White Flag", which discusses "emotional defeat". However it was excluded from the final track listing. Norwood's collaboration with Drake was a song written by James Fauntleroy and produced by Noah "40" Shebib; however it failed to come to fruition. A press release from RCA Records announced that Breyon Prescott was overseeing the album with productions by the aforementioned producers as well as Mario Winans and writing from Ester Dean. Despite Prescott stating that Timbaland was in the studios crafting a song for the album, Norwood revealed on August 29, 2012, that the album was complete and that time didn't allow for her and the producer to work together.