Round 2 (J. Holiday album)
Round 2 is the second studio album by American recording artist J. Holiday, it was released on March 10, 2009, by Music Line Group and Capitol Records.[1] It is the follow-up to his debut album, Back of My Lac', which was released in 2007. This record would later be his final studio release with Capitol. The album was supported by the lone single, "It's Yours", which achieved moderate chart success.
Round 2 | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | March 10, 2009[1] | |||
Recorded | 2008–2009 | |||
Studio | Various
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Genre | ||||
Length | 47:04 | |||
Label |
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Producer |
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J. Holiday chronology | ||||
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Singles from Round 2 | ||||
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Upon release, Round 2 received mixed reviews from music critics, who complimented its production and songwriting and was considered to be an improvement from his previous album.
Singles
The first single "It's Yours", was released on December 16, 2008. The song had achieved minor chart success, debuting at number 25 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and also debuting at number 33 on the Japan Hot 100 chart. A music video was released and directed by Jonathan Mannion.
The second single that was supposed to be released was Fall, but due to label problems it was canceled like "Come Here" on his previous album.
Commercial performance
The album sold 55,000 copies in its first week and debuted at number 4 on the Billboard 200.[2] The album has sold 300,000 copies in the United States.
Critical reception
Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
Album of the Year | 65/100[3] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
About.com | [4] |
AllMusic | [5] |
Associated Press | (favorable)[6] |
DJBooth | [7] |
PopMatters | 6/10[8] |
Rolling Stone | [9] |
Vibe | (mixed)[10] |
Round 2 received mixed reviews from music critics. Andy Kellman of AllMusic said, "Holiday instead delivers a second album that is not a retread. It's not a reinvention, either, but the roster of collaborators is almost completely different, and Holiday all but eliminates the tough guy and stoner talk."[5] Mark Edward Nero of About.com said Round 2 is a well-sung, well-written, well-produced album, but the one negative is that it's a little bland and leans too much on love songs.[4] Nathan Slavik of DJBooth stated that Round 2 finds Holiday shifting away from Lac’s harder-edged image in favor of a smoother sound, resulting in a well-crafted album that shows that while Holiday’s got a ways to go before he reaches elite status, no one will ever be able to call him a one-hit wonder again.[7]
Track listing
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | "Intro" | Nahum Grymes | J. Holiday | 0:36 |
2. | "It's Yours" |
|
| 4:06 |
3. | "Fall" |
| The Platinum Brothers | 3:32 |
4. | "Don't Go" |
| Chuck Harmony | 3:31 |
5. | "Wrong Lover" (featuring Rick Ross) |
|
| 4:12 |
6. | "Run into My Arms" |
| The Platinum Brothers | 4:04 |
7. | "Sing 2 U" |
| Reginald Hamlet | 3:15 |
8. | "Lights Go Out" |
| Allstar | 3:52 |
9. | "Make That Sound" |
|
| 4:07 |
10. | "Forever Ain't Enough" |
|
| 4:22 |
11. | "Fly" |
| The Co-Stars | 4:17 |
12. | "Homeless" |
| State of Emergency | 3:43 |
13. | "I Tried" |
| State of Emergency | 3:49 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|---|
14. | "Magic Man" |
| Donnie Scantz | 3:18 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
14. | "Holiday" | |
15. | "Bed (Haji & Emanuel Remix)" |
- Notes
- ^[a] signifies an co-producer
- Sample credits
- "Wrong Lover" contains interpolations from the composition "Hurry Up This way Again" written by Cynthia Biggs & Dexter Wansel.
Personnel
Credits for Round 2 adapted from Allmusic.[13]
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Charts
Chart (2009) | Peak position |
---|---|
US Billboard 200[14] | 4 |
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[15] | 2 |
References
- "J. Holiday Returns For 'Round 2`". Rap-Up. Retrieved December 12, 2008.
- http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/269179/kelly-clarkson-tops-billboard-200
- "J. Holiday - Round 2 - Reviews - Album of the Year". Album of the Year. Retrieved November 18, 2018.
- Nero, Mark Edward. "Holiday In Love". About.com. Archived from the original on September 4, 2009. Retrieved August 8, 2011.
- Kellman, Andy. "Round 2 - J. Holiday". AllMusic. Retrieved August 8, 2011.
- https://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090309/ap_en_re/music_review_j_holiday
- Slavik, Nathan (March 11, 2009). "J Holiday - Round 2". DJBooth. Retrieved August 8, 2011.
- Lewis, Tyler (November 10, 2009). "J. Holiday: Round 2". PopMatters. Retrieved March 4, 2015.
- https://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/26218056/review/26749314/round_2
- Garraud, Tracy (March 10, 2009). "J. Holiday: Round 2". Vibe. Eldridge Industries. Archived from the original on March 15, 2009. Retrieved August 8, 2011.
- "Itunes - J. Holiday - Round Two". Itunes Mp3 (Apple Inc). 2009-03-10.
- https://www.discogs.com/J-Holiday-Round-2/release/7208271
- http://www.allmusic.com/album/round-2-mw0000811112/credits
- "J. Holiday Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
- "J. Holiday Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard.