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Ain't Nothin' Like Me

{{Infobox album

| name = Ain't Nothin' Like Me

| type = Studio

| artist = Joe

| cover = joeaint.jpg

| alt =

| released = {{start date|2007|04|24}}

| recorded =

| venue =

| studio =

| genre =

| length = 60:51

| label = Jive

| producer = {{flatlist|

}}

| prev_title = And Then ...

| prev_year = 2003

| next_title = Joe Thomas, New Man

| next_year = 2008

| misc = {{Singles

| name = Ain't Nothing Like Me

| type = studio

| single1 = Where You At

| single1date = June 13, 2006

| single2 = If I Was Your Man

| single2date = July 13, 2007

| single3 = My Love

| single3date = September 8, 2007

}}

}}

Ain't Nothin' Like Me is the sixth studio album by American recording artist Joe, released by Jive Records after several delays on April 24, 2007 in the United States. A breakaway from previous projects, Joe co-wrote five songs on the album but left most of the writing and producing to his collaborators, including Bryan Michael Cox and Tank as well as production teams Tim & Bob, Cool & Dre, Stargate, and The Underdogs. Rappers Papoose, Nas, Fabolous, Young Buck, and Tony Yayo appear as guest vocalists.

Upon release, Ain't Nothin' Like Me received generally positive reviews from music critics. It debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200 and on top of the Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart, selling 98,000 copies in its first week, while marking his highest-charting album since My Name Is Joe (2000), which had reached the same position of both charts. In support of the album, three singles were released, including lead single "Where You At" and the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs top 20 hit "If I Was Your Man."

Background

In 2003, Joe released his fifth studio album And Then. Produced by Joe's labelmate R. Kelly along with Roy "Royalty" Hamilton, Kevin "Shekspere" Briggs, Carvin & Ivan, and others, the album reached number 26 on the US Billboard 200 albums chart, selling 121,000 copies in its first week of release. It produced the R&B top thirty single "More & More" and "Ride wit U" and was eventually certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).[http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1052411/lavigne-remains-no-1-as-joe-debuts-high Lavigne Remains No. 1 As Joe Debuts High]

Soon after, Joe started work on his sixth full-length album. Aiming for a new direction, while maintaining the romantic, gospel-influenced R&B style mixed in hip-hop elements, the singer collaborated with a different range of writers and producers to create the bulk of the album, including Bryan Michael Cox, Cool & Dre, Sean Garrett, The Smith Brothers, and Tim & Bob.{{cite web |first=Dale|last=Kawashima|url=http://www.singeruniverse.com/joe123.htm |title=Hit R&B/Pop Artist Joe Discusses The Making Of His Album, Ain't Nothin' Like Me|publisher=Singeruniverse.com |accessdate=2012-08-15}} Although he co-wrote five songs on the album, Joe decided to leave most of the writing and producing to his collaborators: “I look at what the record ultimately needs [...] It’s about making a great record, not about how many songs I have on the album. A lot of artists get into writing too much, and the album starts to sound the same. I like working with several different producers who can bring their own sound to the record. It gives the album more variety and dimension.”

In an interview with Jet, Joe further noted: "The only thing different on this album is the tempo. The rhythm of the songs; it's more uptempo than the past albums I put out."{{cite web|first=Clarence|last=Waldron|title=R&B Singer Joe Returns With Hit CD; Tours With Brian McKnight|work=Jet|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8DoDAAAAMBAJ|date=May 28, 2007|access-date=July 11, 2023}} The singer named “If I Was Your Man” and “It’s Me” as two of his favorite songs on the album; both tracks were written by the Norwegian duo Stargate. Commenting on their work, Joe elaborated, that "it was a blast working with [them]. They are doing something great for R&B, creating strong midtempo and uptempo songs and tracks. There’s normally a lot of slow ballads in R&B, but they bring in more uptempo grooves and sounds.”

Critical reception

{{Album ratings

| rev1 = About.com

| rev1Score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web|first=Mark Edward|last=Nero|title=Joe, "Ain't Nothing Like Me": A Solid Sixth|work=About.com Guide|url=http://randb.about.com/od/reviews/fr/NothingLikeMe.htm |date=2012-10-16|accessdate=July 11, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070703194527/http://randb.about.com/od/reviews/fr/NothingLikeMe.htm|archive-date=July 3, 2007}}

| rev2 = AllMusic

| rev2Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{AllMusic|class=album|id=r1032565}}

| rev3 = Entertainment Weekly

| rev3Score = B−{{cite web |url=https://ew.com/article/2007/04/20/aint-nothin-me/|title=Music Review — Ain't Nothin' Like Me (2007) |publisher=Entertainment Weekly / CNN |last=Vozick-Levinson |first=Simon |date=April 20, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151001041247/https://ew.com/article/2007/04/20/aint-nothin-me/ |accessdate=July 3, 2007|archive-date=1 October 2015 }}

| rev4 = People

| rev4Score = {{Rating|2|4}}{{cite magazine|url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20062147,00.html|title=Picks and Pans Review: Quick Cuts |magazine=People |first1=Chuck|last1=Arnold|first2=Ralph|last2=Novak |date=May 7, 2007|accessdate=July 11, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006120716/https://people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20062147,00.html|archive-date=October 6, 2014}}

| rev5 = PopMatters

| rev5Score = 6/10{{cite web|url=https://www.popmatters.com/joe-aint-nothin-like-me-2496240448.html|title=Joe: Aint Nothin Like Me |magazine=PopMatters |first1=Mike |last1=Joseph |date=June 5, 2007 |accessdate=July 11, 2023}}

}}

Upon release, Ain't Nothin' Like Me received generally positive reviews from music critics. Andy Kellman from AllMusic wrote that "contemporary as ever, Joe seeks production and songwriting assistance from a number of ubiquitous heavyweights and up-and-comers [...] While a very basic name, a lack of flashiness, and sizeable gaps of inactivity have only gotten in the way of his popularity, Joe has maintained relevant and reliable since he debuted."

Mark Edward Nero, writing for About.com, felt that with Ain't Nothin' Like Me the singer "doesn't vary much from the tone and image he established for himself on previous albums; there's the same emotional ballads, the same sexy bedroom music, the same obligatory guest appearances by rappers. Joe's approach on the album seems to be if it ain't broke, don't fix it. And the approach works; Ain't Nothing Like Me is a solid, if unspectacular, album that should be appealing to the women and men who are fans of Joe's earlier work."

Laura Checkoway from Vibe felt that the "album, though heavy on cheese, is surprisingly pleasant, especially as there is a deficit right now of true grown-man R&B. Joe stays young with A-list production and rap cameos."{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qyYEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22Ain%27t+Nothin%27+Like+Me+%22&pg=PA132|title=Music Revolutions |publisher=Vibe |last= Checkoway|first=Laura |date=April 24, 2007|accessdate=July 11, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071101021822/http://www.vibe.com/music/revolutions/2007/04/joe_aint_nothin/|archive-date=November 1, 2007}} Less empathic Entertainment Weekly{{'}}s Simon Vozick-Levinson wrote that the "album is most entertaining when New York City MCs like Nas and Papoose drop by for lively guest spots. Joe's solo ballads, however, make the disc's title seem like a cruel joke: His voice is consistently easy on the ears, sure, but contemporary R&B is full of also-rans who sound exactly like him." People magazine wrote that "the title of Joe's latest CD seems to attest to his singular abilities as a loveman. But on these slow jams and hip-hoppish midtempo numbers he doesn't sound much different from fellow R&B Romeos like R. Kelly ("Go Hard"), Brian McKnight ("Feel for You") and Usher ("Let's Just Do It")." The magazine rated the album two out of four stars. New York Times critic Kelfa Sanneh cited "Just Relax" and "Feel for You" as highlights and wrote: "Joe is best when he's whiny."{{Cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/07/arts/music/07choi.html |title=New CDs |work=New York Times|date=May 7, 2007|access-date=July 11, 2016 }} DJ Booth gave the album four out of five spins.{{Cite web |url=http://djbooth.net/albums/review/joe-aint-nothin-like-me |title=Ain't Nothin' Like Me Reviews |access-date=July 11, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161001182624/http://djbooth.net/albums/review/joe-aint-nothin-like-me |archive-date=October 1, 2016 |url-status=dead }}

Commercial performance

Following its release, it debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200 and on top of the Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart, selling about 98,000 copies in its first week.{{cite magazine|first=Katie |last=Hasty|title=Lavigne Remains No. 1 As Joe Debuts High|magazine=Billboard|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1052411/lavigne-remains-no-1-as-joe-debuts-high |date=2007-07-02|accessdate=2012-10-16}} It marked his highest-charting album since My Name Is Joe, which reached the same position of both charts. By July 2007, it had sold 224,823 copies in the United States.

Track listing

{{tracklist

| headline = Ain't Nothin' Like Me track listing

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title1 = Get to Know Me

| note1 = featuring Nas

| writer1 = {{flat list|

}}

| extra1 = Tim & Bob

| length1 = 4:03

| title2 = If I Was Your Man

| writer2 = {{flat list|

}}

| extra2 = Stargate

| length2 = 3:52

| title3 = If I Want Her

| writer3 = {{flat list|

}}

| extra3 = {{flat list|

  • Ric Rude
  • Garrett{{ref|a|[a]}}

}}

| length3 = 3:50

| title4 = Where You At

| writer4 = {{flat list|

}}

| note4 = featuring Papoose

| extra4 = {{flat list|

}}

| length4 = 4:15

| title5 = My Love

| writer5 = {{flat list|

}}

| extra5 = {{flat list|

  • Cox
  • Curtis
  • Dean{{ref|a|[a]}}

}}

| length5 = 4:04

| title6 = Go Hard

| writer6 = {{flat list|

}}

| extra6 = {{flat list|

  • Cox
  • Dean{{ref|a|[a]}}

}}

| length6 = 3:39

| title7 = Ain't Nothin' Like Me

| note7 = featuring Young Buck & Tony Yayo

| writer7 = {{flat list|

}}

| extra7 = {{flat list|

}}

| length7 = 3:47

| title8 = It's Me

| writer8 = {{flat list|

  • Hermansen
  • Jackson
  • Eriksen

}}

| extra8 = Stargate

| length8 = 3:45

| title9 = Let's Just Do It

| note9 = featuring Fabolous

| writer9 = {{flat list|

}}

| extra9 = Cool & Dre

| length9 = 4:19

| title10 = Feel for You

| writer10 = {{flat list|

  • Cox
  • Austin
  • Dean

}}

| extra10 = {{flat list|

  • Cox
  • Dean{{ref|a|[a]}}

}}

| length10 = 4:06

| title11 = Just Relax

| writer11 = {{flat list|

}}

| extra11 = {{flat list|

  • Cool & Dre
  • Mark Pitts{{ref|a|[a]}}

}}

| note11 = featuring Dre of Cool & Dre

| length11 = 3:46

| title12 = Love Is Just a Game

| writer12 = Shannon Douglas Jones

| extra12 = Smith Bros.

| length12 = 3:16

| title13 = You Should Know Me

| writer13 = {{flat list|

  • Michele Williams
  • Thomas
  • Jolyon W. Skinner

}}

| extra13 = {{flat list|

  • Cox
  • Thomas

}}

| length13 = 5:15

| title14 = Life of the Party

| writer14 = {{flat list|

  • Thomas
  • Skinner

}}

| extra14 = {{flat list|

  • Joshua Thompson
  • Thomas}}

| length14 = 4:30

}}

{{tracklist

| headline = Circuit City exclusive bonus

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title15 = That's What I Like

| writer15 = {{hlist|Thomas|Kelley|Robinson}}

| extra15 = Tim & Bob

| length15 = 4:15

}}

{{tracklist

| headline = UK bonus track

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title16 = Run It Back

| writer16 = {{flat list|

  • Cox
  • Austin
  • Dean

}}

| extra16 = {{flat list|

  • Cox
  • Dean{{ref|a|[a]}}

}}

| length16 = 4:34

}}

Notes

  • {{note|a|[a]}} signifies a co-producer

Sampling credits

Charts

{{col-start}}

{{col-2}}

=Weekly charts=

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"

|+ Weekly chart performance for Ain't Nothin' Like Me

scope="col"| Chart (2007)

! scope="col"| Peak
position

{{album chart|France|101|M|title=Joe – Ain't Nothin' Like Me|url=https://lescharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Joe&titel=Ain't+Nothin'+Like+Me&cat=a|publisher=lescharts.com. Hung Medien|accessdate=April 12, 2014|artist=Joe|album=Ain't Nothin' Like Me|rowheader=true}}
{{album chart|Netherlands|60|M|title=Joe – Ain't Nothin' Like Me|url=http://dutchcharts.nl/showitem.asp?interpret=Joe&titel=Ain%27t+Nothin%27+Like+Me&cat=a|publisher=dutchcharts.nl. Hung Medien|accessdate=December 20, 2013|artist=Joe|album=Ain't Nothin' Like Me|rowheader=true}}
{{album chart|UK2|25|date=20070429|rowheader=true|accessdate=July 10, 2018}}
{{album chart|UKR&B|2|date=20070429|rowheader=true|accessdate=March 14, 2023}}
{{album chart|Billboard200|2|artist=Joe|rowheader=true|accessdate=December 19, 2014}}
{{album chart|BillboardRandBHipHop|1|artist=Joe|rowheader=true|accessdate=December 19, 2014}}

{{col-2}}

= Year-end charts =

class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"

|+ Year-end chart performance for Ain't Nothin' Like Me

scope="col"| Chart (2007)

! scope="col"| Position

scope="row"| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard){{cite magazine|title=R&B/Hip-Hop Albums: Year End 2007|magazine=Billboard|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2007/top-r-and-b-hip-hop-albums|accessdate=July 10, 2018}}

| style="text-align:center;"|50

{{col-end}}

References

{{Reflist|2}}

{{Joe}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Joe (singer) albums

Category:2007 albums

Category:Jive Records albums

Category:Albums produced by Tim & Bob

Category:Albums produced by Bryan-Michael Cox

Category:Albums produced by Sean Garrett

Category:Albums produced by Cool & Dre

Category:Albums produced by Stargate

Category:Albums produced by the Underdogs (production team)