Brandy (album)

Brandy (album)

Brandy is the self-titled debut studio album by American recording artist Brandy Norwood. It was released by Atlantic Records on September 27, 1994 in North America, December 5 in the United Kingdom and on several dates in Europe and Oceania, starting on February 3, 1995. The album contains a range of contemporary genres, and the songs are a mix of soft hip hop soul, pop and contemporary mid–1990s R&B. They were chiefly produced by Keith Crouch who would contribute all four single releases from the album. Aside from Crouch, Norwood worked with a range of other writers and producers, including R&B group Somethin' for the People, Arvel McClinton, and Damon Thomas and young Robin Thicke.

Upon release, Brandy received generally positive reviews from music critics, who complimented Norwood's appearance, as well as the album's timeless appeal. It became a commercial success as well. While initial sales were slow, the album reached the top 20 of the US Billboard 200 was certified four-times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), selling over two million copies in the United States. It experienced similar success in Australia and Canada, where it was platinum and gold respectively. Worldwide, the album has sold over six million copies.

Four singles were released from the album, two of which became number-one hits on the Billboard Hot R&B Singles. "I Wanna Be Down" was chosen as the album's lead single, reaching the top ten in the United States and the top 20 in Australia and New Zealand. The song was critically lauded, and was regarded as a standout track on Brandy. The album's second single, "Baby" was also well received and charted even higher. With the following two singles, "Best Friend" and "Brokenhearted" also reaching the top ten in the US, Norwood established herself as one of the most successful of the new breed of urban R&B female vocalists to emerge during the mid-to late 1990s.