LeToya (album)

LeToya is the debut solo studio album by American R&B singer LeToya Luckett. It was released by Capitol Records on July 25, 2006 in the United States. Luckett who co-wrote nine of the album's 16 songs, worked with a variety of producers on the album, including Teddy Bishop, The CornaBoyz, Bryan-Michael Cox, Jermaine Dupri, Just Blaze, Lil Walt, Candice Nelson, Jazze Pha, J. R. Rotem, and Scott Storch. It marked her first solo project after her departure from girl band's Destiny's Child and Anjel.

LeToya
Studio album by LeToya
Released	July 25, 2006 (2006-07-25)
Length	52:18
Label	Capitol
Producer	Terry "T. A." Allen B-Don Teddy Bishop The CornaBoyz Bryan-Michael Cox Jermaine Dupri Flash Technology Gavo Just Blaze Lil Walt Candice Nelson Jazze Pha J. R. Rotem Scott Storch Wine-O
LeToya chronology
LeToya (2006) Lady Love (2009)
Singles from LeToya
"Torn" Released: March 21, 2006 "She Don't" Released: June 29, 2006 "No More" Released: July 18, 2006^[1] "Obvious" Released: November 21, 2006
Alternative cover
Special edition cover

The album garnered mostly positive reception from music critics, who found that it was demonstrating individuality, while others called the project disjointed and generic. LeToya debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 and was eventually certified Platinum by the RIAA in December 2006. The album spawned three singles: "Torn", "She Don't" and "Obvious". Besides the officially released singles, Luckett's debut album also includes the promo singles, "U Got What I Need" and "All Eyes On Me".

Production

Luckett rose to fame in the late 1990s as a founding member of the R&B girl group Destiny's Child, one of the world's best-selling girl groups of all time. As a member of band, she achieved four US Top 10 hit singles and won two Grammy Awards.^[2][3] In March 2000, she and former fellow group member LaTavia Roberson were ousted from the group.^[4] Ensuing breach-of-contract and defamation of character lawsuits were settled out of court in 2002.^[4] A subsequent pairing with Roberson in a new girl group called Anjel was aborted and in 2002, Luckett established boutique Lady Elle, a clothing and accessory store in Houston, with her mother.^[4]

Moving to Los Angeles for six months, Luckett traveled modeling and acting agencies while recording demos that eventually secured her a recording deal with Capitol Records.^[4] Under the label, in 2004, Luckett began work on her solo debut album.^[4] Stretching from "soulful, sensuous ballads and club jams to spotlighting the city's trademark screwed-up style,"^[4] the singer worked with producers Scott Storch, Jazze Pha, Just Blaze and Jermaine Dupri on material for LeToya.^[4] Luckett who co-wrote nine of the album's 16 songs, commented on the album: "I'm a southern belle who likes heavy-hitting beats. I can give it to you hard or I can be soft and soulful, hip-hop with grace."^[4]

Promotion

The first promotional single from the album was "U Got What I Need,"^[5] released with non-commercial purpose in 2004,^[5] while "All Eyes on Me," issued in 2005, served as another promotional single prior to the album's release.^[4] Selected as the album's "right urban lead single,"^[4] "Torn" was released as the lead single from LeToya in March 2006. Released to strong airplay, it peaked at number 31 on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart,^[6] and became a hit on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, peaking at number two.^[7] It also entered the top twenty on the Rhythmic Top 40 and Adult R&B Songs charts.^[6] Second single "She Don't," produced by Walter Milsap III and Candice Nelson, was issued on June 29, 2006.^[4] Less successful, it became a top 20 hit on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.^[6]

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[8]
The Guardian	^[9]
Now	^[10]
Prefix	^[11]
Rolling Stone	^[12]
The Skinny	^[13]
SPIN	^[14]
Stylus Magazine	C−^[15]
The Phoenix	^[16]

The album garnered mostly positive reception from music critics. Prefix's Norman Mayers called LeToya an "excellent debut from an artist who was destined to become a footnote. The album is a classy affair of quality soul as well as a statement of Letoya's own individuality."^[11] Entertainment Weekly's Raymond Fiore found that "on her solo debut, the 25-year-old Houston native forgoes musical risk and lets hitmakers like Jermaine Dupri, Just Blaze, and Scott Storch ensure that almost every urban-radio formula – from a Southern club-rattler to a Mariah-like midtempo love jam – is represented on the self-titled Letoya. LeToya lacks Beyoncé-caliber pipes, but she’s got enough memorable tunes to make a surprisingly solid bid for solo stardom."^[17] AllMusic editor Anthony Tognazzini felt that the album's "polished, hip-hop-inflected R&B sound recalls Destiny's Child. LeToya gives the singer's former bandmate Beyoncé a run for her money."^[8] The Guardian's Caroline Sullivan noted that "there's almost nothing to dislike, such is its smartly coiffed cheeriness. This album has a voice of its own, nipping and tucking club tracks and slouchy love songs into a cohesive whole that reminds you Destiny's Child was a long time ago."^[9]

Michael Freedberg from The Phoenix found that "LeToya’s debut CD [...] has it all. Great songs, funky sexy songs, romantic songs, intense songs, gangsta-girl songs, fun and exotic songs, sexy dance music, a soulful version of regggaetón, and songs reminiscent of 1970s Philly soul. LeToya can sing; her voice hasn’t the luminescent high notes of Beyoncé, but she can riff a melody almost as forcefully as Mary J. Blige."^[16] On the contrary, Evan Serpick from Rolling Stone, wrote: "Unfortunately, on the disc her voice is lost in a sea of tepid R&B; arrangements and hip-hop hybrids. On about half the tracks, LeToya tries to position herself as a passionate emoter in the mold of Mary J. Blige [...] But LeToya's voice has neither the grit nor the exuberance to fill those shoes. On the album's other half, LeToya proves her hometown pride but loses the vibe by collaborating [...] on a series of underbaked, disjointed club tracks."^[12] Now critic Jason Richards called LeToya a "really boring solo disc" as well as "a wellspring of clichés,"^[10] while Wendy Martin from The Skinny summed the project as a "slickly produced album [with] good backing singers, and a selection of male rappers. The result? Twelve tracks that all sound the same."^[13]

Commercial performance

Initially scheduled for a 2005 release, LeToya was released on July 4, 2006 in Japan and on July 25, 2006 in the United States.^[4] The album debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 and the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart,^[4] with first week sales of 165,000 copies.^[18][19] On August 31, 2006, it was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and Platinum on December 11, 2006.^[20] By November 2008, the album had sold 529,000 copies in the US.^[21][7]

Track listing

LeToya track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Intro"	Gavin Luckett Brandon Pitre	Gavo B-Don	0:56
2.	"U Got What I Need"	LeToya Luckett Justin Smith David Young Barry White	Just Blaze	3:45
3.	"So Special"	L. Luckett Teddy Bishop Tamara Savage Young	Bishop	3:30
4.	"Torn"	L. Luckett Bishop Young Thom Bell Linda Epstein	Bishop	4:22
5.	"What Love Can Do"	Keri Hilson Pierre Medor Dwayne Nesmith Patrick "J. Que" Smith	The CornaBoyz	3:47
6.	"She Don't"	Walter "Lil' Walt" Milsap III Candice Nelson Yvette Davis	Milsap Nelson	4:04
7.	"Tear da Club Up (H-Town Version)" (featuring Bun B & Jazze Pha)	L. Luckett Phalon Alexander Bernard Freeman Kayla Shelton Young	Wine-O Jazze Pha^[a]	3:49
8.	"All Eyes on Me" (featuring Paul Wall)	L. Luckett Jonathan Rotem Paul Slayton Young	J. R. Rotem	3:34
9.	"Hey Fella" (featuring Slim Thug)	H. Lang Jr. Stayve Thomas Young	Flash Technology	3:53
10.	"Gangsta Grillz" (featuring Mike Jones & Killa Kyleon)	L. Luckett Terry "T. A." Allen Shannon Graham Jones Kyle Riley Shelton	Allen	3:50
11.	"Obvious"	L. Luckett Bryan Michael Cox Young	Cox Young^[b]	3:55
12.	"I'm Good"	L. Luckett Makeba Riddick Scott Storch Robert Waller	Storch	3:24
13.	"This Song"	Cox Jermaine Dupri Johnta Austin	Dupri Cox^[c]	3:16
14.	"Outro"	L. Luckett Gregory G. Curtis G. Luckett Luckett Pitre	Gavo B-Don	1:37
15.	"Torn (So So Def Remix)" (featuring Mike Jones & Rick Ross)	L. Luckett Bishop Young Bell Epstein Jones William Roberts	Dupri LRoc^[c]	4:35

iTunes Store bonus track

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
16.	"No More"	L. Luckett Millsap Nelson	Millsap Nelson	4:06

International enhanced content

No.	Title	Length
16.	"A Day in the Life of LeToya" (enhanced video)
17.	"Torn" (music video)

Japanese enhanced content

No.	Title	Length
16.	"Torn" (music video)
17.	"She Don't" (music video)
18.	"LeToya in Japan" (special footage)	7:00

Notes

• ^{^[a]} denotes original producer(s)
• ^{^[b]} denotes additional vocal producer(s)
• ^{^[c]} denotes co-producer(s)

Sample credits

• "U Got What I Need" contains a sample of Love Unlimited's "Walkin' in the Rain with the One I Love" (1972).
• "Torn" contains elements of The Stylistics's "You Are Everything" (1971).
• "She Don't" features samples from The Spinners's "We Belong Together" (1973).
• "Outro" contains elements of "Just a Prayer" (1991) by Yolanda Adams.

Personnel

• Executive producers: LeToya Luckett; Carl "Mister C" Cole; Terry Ross
• Mixing: Manny Marroquin (tracks 1, 6, 8–12, 14); Dave Russell (5); Kevin "KD" Davis (7); Jean-Marie Horvat (2, 3, 4); Jermaine Dupri (13, 15); Phil Tan (13, 15); Josh Houghkirk (assistant – 15)
• Recording Engineers: Phil Tan (track 15); Jermaine Dupri (15); Danny Cheung (1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 14, additional music – 2, 11, 12), Walter Millsap (additional music – 6), Dave Lopez (6); Terrence Cash (10), Dave Ashton (8); Ryan West (2), Tadd Mingo (assistant – 15); Pierre Medor of Tha Corna Boys (5); Sam Thomas (11); Leslie Brathwaite (7); John Horesco IV (13, 15); Conrad Golding (12)
• Additional vocals from: Candice Nelson (additional background vocals- 6); Dave Young (additional vocals- 11)
• Art directions: Eric Roinestad
• Design: Eric Roinestad
• Photography: Dusan Reljin

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for LeToya Chart (2006) Peak position Japanese Albums (Oricon)^[22] 37 UK R&B Albums (OCC)^[23] 39 US Billboard 200^[24] 1 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)^[25] 1

Year-end charts Year-end chart performance for LeToya Chart (2006) Position US Billboard 200^[26] 138 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)^[27] 26

Release history

Release dates and formats for LeToya

Region	Date	Edition(s)	Format(s)	Label
Japan	July 4, 2006	Standard	CD digital download	EMI Japan
United States	July 25, 2006			Capitol
Canada	August 15, 2006			EMI Music
Australia	September 16, 2006
Europe	October 2, 2006
Puerto Rico	December 24, 2006
Japan	February 7, 2007	Special		EMI Japan

References

1. "No More - Single by LeToya". iTunes Store (US). Apple Music inc. January 2006. Retrieved July 18, 2006.
2. . Sony BMG Australia. September 2, 2005. Archived from the original on September 26, 2007. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
3. "Destiny's Child Ruled at World Music Awards". Softpedia. September 3, 2005. Retrieved January 17, 2023.
4. Mitchell, Gail (July 22, 2006). "Survivor". Billboard. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
5. "Chicago native Sharif Atkins in 'Preacher's Kid'". abc7chicago.com. January 29, 2010. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
6. "Artist Chart History – LeToya". billboard.com. Retrieved February 10, 2006.
7. Mitchell, Gail (18 April 2009). "LeToya ends waiting game with new album". Reuters. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
8. Allmusic review
9. Sullivan, Caroline (October 6, 2006). "Review: LeToya, Le Toya". The Guardian. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
10. Richards, Jason (August 10, 2006). "Discs: LETOYA (Capitol/EMI)". NOW. Archived from the original on March 5, 2007. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
11. Mayers, Norman (August 21, 2006). "New CDs". Prefix. Archived from the original on January 17, 2008. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
12. Serpick, Evan (August 21, 2006). . Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on June 21, 2008. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
13. Martin, Wendy (October 13, 2006). "LeToya − Le Toya". The Skinny. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
14. . SPIN. August 1, 2006. Archived from the original on July 19, 2006. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
15. Shipley, Al (August 14, 2006). "LeToya, Le Toya". Stylus Magazine. Archived from the original on November 12, 2006. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
16. Freedberg, Michael (August 21, 2006). "LeToya, Capitol". The Phoenix. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
17. Fiore, Raymond (July 21, 2006). "Music Review: LeToya". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved August 25, 2023.
18. Harris, Chris (2 August 2006). "PHARRELL LOSES BILLBOARD BATTLE TO LETOYA AND NOW 22". mtv.com. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
19. Boucher, Geoff (3 August 2006). "Luckett no longer torn from chart success". LA Times. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
20. "Gold & Platinum - RIAA". RIAA. Retrieved 14 August 2021.
21. Grein, Paul (November 21, 2008). . Yahoo. Archived from the original on December 4, 2008. Retrieved August 14, 2021.
22. "ラトーヤ" (in Japanese). Oricon. from the original on February 13, 2023. Retrieved February 12, 2022.
23. "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
24. "LeToya Luckett Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
25. "LeToya Luckett Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved November 10, 2021.
26. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2006". Billboard. Retrieved October 1, 2020.
27. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2006". Billboard. Retrieved October 1, 2020.