Back of My Lac'

Back of My Lac'
Studio album by J. Holiday
Released October 2, 2007
Recorded 2006–2007; Studio 13 (Washington D.C.), Signature Sound Studio, Music Line Studio, Triangle Sound Studio, The Red Room, J. Que's Crib, Phonix Ave Studio, DARP Studios (Atlanta, Georgia), The Gin House, (Hollywood, California), Dark Child Studios (Pleasantville, New Jersey)
Genre R&B, hip hop
Length 54:32
Label Music Line, Capitol
Producer Los Da Mystro, Darkchild, The-Dream, The Platinum Brothers, Donnie Scantz, Travis Cherry, J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, Sean Garrett, Oak
J. Holiday chronology

Back of My Lac'
(2007)		 Round 2
(2009)
Alternative cover
Deluxe edition cover
Singles from Back of My Lac'
  1. "Be with Me"
    Released: October 31, 2006
  2. "Bed"
    Released: June 19, 2007
  3. "Suffocate"
    Released: October 2, 2007
  4. "Come Here"
    Released: April 15, 2008

Back of My Lac' is the debut album of American singer J. Holiday, released on October 2, 2007, through Music Line Group and Capitol Records (EMI Music). It was promoted with three singles; "Be with Me", "Bed", and Suffocate. All three singles charted within the Billboard charts. Upon its release, Back of My Lac' received generally mixed reviews from music critics.

The album debuted at number 5 on the US Billboard chart, selling 105,000 copies in its first week.[1]

Background

Originally meant to be released by the end of 2006, however it was pushed back to early 2007 and then pushed to its final release of October 2. J. Holiday has spoken about the track "City Boy" featuring 8 Ball & MJG as the only collaboration on the album and the D.C. anthem, the song is featured on the album only as a bonus track. J. Holiday worked with Ne-Yo on three songs between December 2005 and January 2006 that did not make the album

Singles

The album's lead single, "Be with Me", was released on October 2006. The song was produced by Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins. It since has peaked at #83 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.[2]

The second single, "Bed", was released on June 19, 2007, it peaked at number 5 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and number one on Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs for five weeks total.[2]

The third single, "Suffocate" was released on October 2, 2007, the song has peaked at #2 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart and #18 on the Billboard Hot 100.[2] The video for the single was shot in Paris, France and debuted on BET's 106 & Park on November 7, 2007.[3]

"Come Here" was released as a single but was ultimately canceled.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
About.com [4]
Allmusic [5]
The Guardian [6]
Rolling Stone [7]
Stylus C[8]

Upon its release. The album was met with generally mixed reviews from music critics. Christian Hoard of Rolling Stone said Holiday turns out brash, hook-centric R&B that complements silky singing with some fine beats: The bumping "Ghetto" underpins Holiday's insistent sermon on underclass misery with Santana guitar, congas and lite funk, and "Thug Commandments" is an ultrawarm thing with an ace chorus and D'Angelo-worthy falsettos. Then there's the single "Bed" (as in, "I'm-a put you to"), a sex jam so gleefully horny, and hooky, that it ends up charming. So it's too bad that Back of My Lac sinks into slow, sexy tedium: Bland love odes like "Be With Me" sound like they came from the same assembly-line mill that turned out T-Pain's lesser cuts, which is pretty lesser. By Track Twelve, Holiday's praising a hottie who's got "the body of a call girl." How's that for running short on good ideas?[7] CD Universe giving it a 5 out of 5, and Andy Kellman of Allmusic said "Holiday also likes to sing about getting high and drunk, quite possibly far too much for those who don't indulge. While some of the come-ons are problematic as well".

About.com, reviewed the album favorably, saying: "It's rare that young artist puts out such a well-rounded album, one that young men can totally relate to and that young women will be swept off their feet by, but Back of My Lac', is just such an album. It's charming, gritty, sensual, original and most of all-real. Ladies and gentlemen, J. Holiday has arrived. And he definitely is that dude."

Fan reviews remain highly favorable for the album, praising its overall consistency and well roundness. "Fatal", "Bed","Thank You" and "Suffocate" have been frequently referenced as favorites.

Commercial performance

The album debuted on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart at number 5, selling 105,000 copies in its first week.[9] It debuted at #1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. The album debuted in the Top 20 R&B/Hip Hop albums in Canada and charted within the Top 100 albums in Canada. It became a Top 10 R&B/Hip Hop album in the UK and a Top 40 UK album entry peaking at #32. In the U.S it also made it to #8 on the Tastemakers chart and #5 on the Top Digital Albums and Billboard Comprehensive Albums Chart.

Accolades

The album was nominated for Best Contemporary R&B Album at the 51st Grammy Awards, but lost to Mary J. Blige's Growing Pains.

Track listing

Back of My Lac' - Standard version
No. TitleWriter(s)Producer(s) Length
1. "Back of My Lac"  Naham Grymes, Quincy Lowe William Robinson, Marvin Tarpin, William DeVaughnQuincy Lowe 4:49
2. "Ghetto"  Grymes, Donnie Scantz, S. ThomasDonnie Scantz 4:11
3. "Thug Commandments"   The Co-Stars 3:29
4. "Bed"  Carlos McKinney, Terius NashThe-Dream & Los Da Mystro 4:35
5. "Betcha Never Had"  Sean Garrett, W. FelderSean Garrett & Oak 3:01
6. "Laa Laa"  A. Gibbs, M. Chesser, Grymes, NashThe Platinum Brothers 4:31
7. "Come Here"   The Platinum Brothers, co-produced by Travis Cherry 3:30
8. "Be with Me"   Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins 3:58
9. "Suffocate"   Christopher 'Tricky' Stewart 3:40
10. "Fatal"  Paul, Smith, P. Smith, E. NoriKorran Paul & Gil Smith 5:16
11. "Without You"  Rodney Jerkins, Grymes, Shropshire, Mitchah Williams, Burt Bacharach, Hal DavidRodney "Darkchild" Jerkins, Mitchah "G.Code" Williams 3:47
12. "Pimp In Me"  Jasper CarmonJasper Cameron 4:25
13. "Thank You"  Adonis Shropshire, E. VixonAdonis Shropshire 4:23
14. "Fallin'"   J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League 3:42

Chart positions

Chart (2007) Peak
position
UK Albums (OCC)[12] 32
US Billboard 200[13] 5
US Digital Albums (Billboard)[14] 5
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[15] 1
US Top Tastemaker Albums (Billboard)[16] 8

Release history

Region Date Version Format(s) Label
United States October 2, 2007 Standard Edition[17] CD, digital download Music Line, Capitol
February 5, 2008 Deluxe Edition

Sales and certifications

Chart Certification Sales
UK Album Sales - 25,000
Japan Sales - 40,000
U.S. Sales Gold 654,881
Worldwide Gold 700,000+

References

  1. ↑ http://www.mariah-charts.com/chartdata/PJHoliday.htm
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 http://www.billboard.com/artist/276550/j-holiday/chart
  3. ↑ Video: J. Holiday - Suffocate Pop-Junkie.com (November 7, 2007). Accessed November 7, 2007.
  4. ↑ About.com review
  5. ↑ Allmusic review
  6. ↑ The Guardian review
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 Rolling Stone review
  8. ↑ Stylus review
  9. ↑ Katie Hasty, "Springsteen Is Boss Of Album Chart With 'Magic'", Billboard.com, October 10, 2007.
  10. ↑ https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/back-my-lac-bonus-tack-version/id716149127
  11. ↑ http://www.discogs.com/J-Holiday-Back-Of-My-Lac/release/2701713
  12. ↑ "J Holiday | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart
  13. ↑ "J. Holiday Album & Song Chart History" Billboard 200 for J. Holiday.
  14. ↑ "Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Digital Albums for J. Holiday. Retrieved February 2015.
  15. ↑ "J. Holiday Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums for J. Holiday.
  16. ↑ "J. Holiday Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Top Tastemaker Albums for J. Holiday.
  17. ↑ "Back of My Lac' by J. Holiday". iTunes Store (US). Apple. Retrieved September 12, 2014.

External links