Do You Know (Michelle Williams Album) - Background and Composition

Background and Composition

After becoming the first member of Destiny's Child to release a solo album in 2002 (Heart to Yours), Williams did not wait long to start work on its follow-up in 2003. Due to the success of Heart to Yours, which topped the US gospel albums chart and became the best-selling gospel album of 2002, anticipation was high for Williams' second album. Before taking over the lead role in the Broadway musical Aida on November 18, 2003, Williams began working on the album.

Destiny's Child bandmates Beyoncé Knowles and Kelly Rowland feature on "I Know" (co-written and co-produced by Knowles), which first appeared on The Fighting Temptations soundtrack, released in 2003.

Williams told MTV that she couldn't "wait for the world to hear new solo album", describing it as "fresher", "more inspirational" and "more on the secular side". Furthermore, she stated "whether it's gospel or not, I wrote about it", therefore expecting "some of her gospel fans to be a little upset" but wanted to "keep it real". She also discussed one of the album's "primary themes" - "what it's like to be in love" - explaining " mistakes you make when you're in love and how they affect your life" after saying "I was able to experience some things this year and I wrote about them." In describing the album during another interview, this time for GospelCity, Williams said "these songs are just about the real me" and that she "just wrote from heart" before acknowledging that "it didn't turn out to be as 'gospel-ly' as some would have liked", but "the stuff" that's on the album "is stuff went through". Williams then said "this whole album is about God's love and me". After being asked "Michelle, as people listen to the album, Do You Know, as they get acquainted with the songs, what are you hoping to bring to their lives?", Williams responded "That everybody live in peace and not settle for anything less than what the Lord wants to bring your way. I know what I went through, I know God is taking me to another level. I had people around me that were not going where I was going - I had to release them from my life."

On Do You Know, Williams worked with an even greater variety of producers than she did for her debut album. Producers include; PAJAM, Dawkins & Dawkins, Tommy Sims, Solange Knowles, bandmate Beyoncé Knowles and Williams' brother Erron Williams. As with her debut, Williams contributed greatly to the songwriting of the album, co-writing a total of six tracks on the album.