Dopamine (Mila J album)

After being in two girl groups Gyrl and Dame Four and also appearing on tracks by RaRa, IMx, and Omarion, Mila J was set to release her original debut album Split Personality through The Ultimate Group and Universal Motown, but it was ultimately shelved.{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/split-personality-mw0000550295 |title=Mila J |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=August 31, 2012}}{{cite web|last=Ortiz|first=Edwin|title=Jhené Aiko's Sister Mila J Has a New Music Video Starring Ty Dolla $ign That's Incredibly Fun and Sexy|url=https://www.complex.com/music/2014/03/mila-j-f-ty-dolla-sign-smoke-drink-break-up-video|work=Complex|date=March 21, 2014}} The album featured a number of appearances from artists on the T.U.G. roster, including proteges and its associates, such as Marques Houston, Young Rome, Rufus Blaq, and The Underdogs. Most of the songs were later used for her 2014 mixtape called Westside.{{cite web|last=Lilah|first=Rose|title=Mila J - #Westside|url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/mila-j-westside-new-mixtape.110774.html|work=HotNewHipHop|date=April 3, 2014}}{{cite web|title=Mila J - Westside (Mixtape)|url=https://www.ballerstatus.com/2014/04/01/mila-j-westside-mixtape/|date=April 1, 2014|work=Baller Status}} From mid-2012 to early 2014, Mila returned to her career under the name Japollonia as an independent artist.{{cite web|title=Mila J (Japollonia) - Smoke, Drink, Break Up {{!}} New Music|url=https://conversationsabouther.net/mila-j-japollonia-smoke-drink-break-up-new-music/|last=wepluggoodmusic|date=January 31, 2014|website=Conversations About Her}} She later reverted to Mila J and released her debut extended play (EP) Made in L.A. (2014).{{cite web|url=https://singersroom.com/content/2014-10-01/mila-j-announces-mila-made-in-la-ep-release-date/|title=Mila J Announces 'M.I.LA (Made In L.A.)' EP Release Date|date=October 1, 2014|work=Singersroom|author=Gary Gentles}}{{cite web|url=https://www.fuse.tv/videos/2014/10/t10-mila-j-interview|title=Mila J Brings L.A. Culture To 'M.I.L.A.' EP|date=October 30, 2014|work=Fuse}} The EP was originally intended to be released as a full-length album.{{cite web|url=https://www.vibe.com/2014/07/mila-j-talks-new-album-new-deal-little-sis-jhene-aiko|title=Mila J Talks Upcoming Debut Album and New Motown Deal|work=Vibe|date=July 10, 2014}}

In November 2015, Mila told Complex that her debut album would be released in 2016, stating: "It's been a while since anyone has heard something new from me, so I wanted to drop some new music for my fans while I'm working on my first full length studio album that will be released next year 2016."{{cite web|title=Premiere: Stream Mila J's New Mixtape 'The Waiting Game'|url=https://www.complex.com/music/2015/11/mila-j-new-mixtape-premiere-the-waiting-game|last=Morris|first=Jessie|date=November 12, 2017|website=Complex}} Instead of an album, she released her second EP titled, 213 on June 16, 2016.{{cite web|title=Stream Mila J's New EP '213'|url=https://www.rap-up.com/2016/06/17/mila-j-213-ep-stream/|date=June 17, 2016|website=Rap-Up}}

On April 3, 2017, Mila confirmed the album title to be Dopamine.{{cite web|url=https://onsmash.com/music/mila-j-new-song-la-la-land/|title=Stream: Listen Mila J New Song "La La Land"|work=OnSMASH|date=April 3, 2017}} Mila told Essence magazine the album title was inspired by Daniel Levitin's book This Is Your Brain On Music: The Science of a Human Obsession: "It really broke down how our brain reacts to music, what's released when we hear a song, and why we like certain music," she said. "Dopamine is that chemical that's released when things just feel good. It is that favorite song and that favorite band. And, I just feel very very happy and free."{{cite web|url=https://www.essence.com/entertainment/exclusive-mila-j-no-fux-video/|title=EXCLUSIVE: Mila J's "No Fux" Isn't Your Usual Anthem|work=Essence|author=Sydney Scott}}

The first promotional single called "Fuckboy" was released on February 3, 2017.{{cite web|url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/mila-j-fuckboy-new-song.1972797.html|title=Mila Releases New Song Fuckboy|work=HotNewHipHop|author=Kevin Goddard|date=February 3, 2017}} The track lyrically blasts men who are only in relationships for sex, with Rap-Up stating that the anti-“Fuckboy” anthem "allows the R&B songstress to flex on an ex while empowering others to do the same."{{cite web|url=https://www.rap-up.com/2017/02/03/new-music-mila-j-fuckboy/|title=New Music: Mila J - 'F**kboy'|work=Rap-Up|date=February 3, 2017}} The track has also been described as a "funky mid-tempo track".{{cite web|url=http://www.missinfo.tv/index.php/mila-j-fuckboy/|title=Mila J is here to hold the ladies down with her latest release, "F**kboy"|work=Missinfo.tv|date=March 29, 2019}} The official lead single, "Move" was later released on February 14, 2017.{{cite web|url=http://onsmash.com/music/mila-j-move-new-song-stream/|title=Mila J 'Move' New Song Stream|work=OnSMASH|author=Viral MVP|date=February 14, 2017}} Its music video was unveiled on April 7 and was directed by Mila herself.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHUryef94QE|title=Mila J - MOVE|work=YouTube|date=April 7, 2017}}{{Cite web|title=Mila J - MOVE (2017)|url=https://imvdb.com/video/mila-j-1/move|website=IMVDb}} The album's second single "La La Land" was released on April 3, 2017, and premiered via The Fader.{{cite web|url=https://www.thefader.com/2017/04/03/mila-j-la-la-land-premiere|title=Mila J Is High Off Her Love For Los Angeles On "La La Land"|work=The Fader|author=Lakin Starling|date=April 3, 2017}}

On April 21, 2017, Mila released a self-directed music video for the song "New Crib".{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHUryef94QE|title=Mila J - New Crib|work=YouTube|date=April 21, 2017}} The music video shows Mila with a braided hairstyle, posing in front of a white backdrop. Also, an unbraided version of her is seen packing her belongings and moving into a new living space.{{cite web|title=Mila J releases a self-directed music video for "New Crib"|url=https://www.bongminesentertainment.com/mila-j-new-crib/|last=Entertainment|first=Bong Mines|date=April 23, 2017|website=Bong Mines Entertainment}}

The third and final single from the project "No Fux" was unveiled on May 12 accompanied by its self-directed music video.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGcgShz2ImA|title=Mila J - No Fux|work=YouTube|date=May 12, 2017}}{{cite web|url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/mila-j-no-fux-video-new-video.41638.html|title=Mila J "No Fux" Video|work=HotNewHipHop|author=Kevin Goddard|date=May 16, 2017}} Speaking to Essence about the song and video, Mila says, "I wanted to present it in a pretty way. It sounds pretty, but what I’m saying is pretty real. And, as you follow the story, towards the end ‘No Fux’ is kind of showcasing those vulnerable moments in love."

{{Infobox concert

| concert_tour_name = Move Tour

| image =

| caption =

| artist = Mila J

| type =

| start_date = {{start date|2017|3|24|df=yes}}

| end_date = {{end date|2017|4|23|df=yes}}

| tour =

| album = Dopamine

| number_of_legs = 1

| number_of_shows = 19

| support_act = iRich, Jacob Latimore

| attendance =

| gross =

| website =

| last_tour =

| this_tour =

| next_tour =

}}

To precede and promote the album, Mila embarked on the Move Tour through the United States. The 19-city even began on March 24, 2017 in Miami, Florida.{{cite web|url=https://www.24-7pressrelease.com/press-release/434752/recording-artist-mila-j-announces-her-move-pop-up-tour-coming-to-your-city-from-her-mixtape-milaulongtime|title=Recording Artist Mila J Announces Her "Move" Pop Up Tour Coming To Your City From Her Mixtape Milaulongtime|work=24-7 Press Release|date=February 21, 2017}}{{cite web|title=Mila J Announces 'Move' Pop Up Club Tour|url=https://ratedrnb.com/2017/02/mil-j-announces-move-pop-up-club-tour/|last=Pittman|first=Monica|date=February 21, 2017|website=Rated R&B}} “This tour will be fun and all about the fans that’s why I wanted to do it. So I want all of y’all to come out and have a good time with me! See YOU soon,” Mila said in a press release.

{{Album ratings

|rev1 = HotNewHipHop

|rev1Score = {{rating|3|4}}{{cite web|last=Mistry |first=Anupa |url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/mila-j-dopamine-album-stream-new-mixtape.117037.html |title=Mila J - Dopamine [Album Stream] |publisher=HotNewHipHop.com |date=2017-04-07 |access-date=2017-10-21}}

}}

Dopamine was met with generally positive reviews from music critics. At Album of the Year, a website that aggregate reviews of music albums, which assigns normalized scores based on user ratings, the album received an average score of 60, based on 8 ratings.{{cite web|author=Andy Kellman |url=https://www.albumoftheyear.org/album/76907-mila-j-dopamine.php |title=Dopamine - Mila J |publisher=Album of the Year |date=2017-04-07 |access-date=2017-10-21}} Adelle Platon of Billboard highlighted multiple songs from the album, such as "I Do Love You", "Fuckboy", and "Body". Kevin Goddard of HotNewHipHop said, "Laced with 13 tracks in total, the follow-up to last year’s 213 EP features explicit slow jams and groovy bops. The album also features a lone appearance from multi-talented LA artist I Rich, who appears on the track I Do Love You." Rap-Up.com added to their blog, "Mila J is giving fans a Dopamine rush with the release of her latest project."{{cite news |title=Stream Mila J's Dopamine Project |url=https://www.rap-up.com/2017/04/07/mila-j-dopamine-stream/ |publisher=Rap-Up |date=April 7, 2017}} Elle Breezy of Singersroom said that Dopamine features "slow jams and bangers in the style of her carefree brand of female empowerment."{{cite web |author=Elle Breezy |title=Mila J Drops 'Dopamine' Project (Stream) |url=https://singersroom.com/content/2017-04-07/mila-j-drops-dopamine-project-stream/ |website=Singersroom |access-date=April 7, 2017}}{{cite news |title=Mila J Drops 'Dopamine' Project (Stream) |url=https://www.newslocker.com/en-us/music/r-b-news/mila-j-drops-dopamine-project-stream/ |access-date=2017-10-21 |publisher=Newslocker.com}}

All tracks produced by iRich.

{{Track listing

| headline =

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| total_length =

| title1 = No Fux

| writer1 =

| extra1 =

| length1 = 2:52

| title2 = La La Land

| note2 =

| writer2 =

| length2 = 3:16

| title3 = Transform U

| note3 =

| writer3 =

| extra3 =

| length3 = 3:04

| title4 = I Do Love You You

| note4 = featuring iRich

| writer4 =

| extra4 =

| length4 = 4:15

| title5 = New Crib

| note5 =

| writer5 =

| extra5 =

| length5 = 4:29

| title6 = Lit

| note6 =

| writer6 =

| extra6 =

| length6 = 3:26

| title7 = Doomed

| note7 =

| writer7 =

| extra7 =

| length7 = 3:22

| title8 = Longway

| note8 =

| writer8 =

| extra8 =

| length8 = 2:44

| title9 = Move

| note9 =

| writer9 =

| extra9 =

| length9 = 2:47

| title10 = Fuckboy

| note10 =

| writer10 =

| extra10 =

| length10 = 3:52

| title11 = Drippin

| writer11 =

| extra11 =

| length11 = 4:31

| title12 = Body

| note12 =

| writer12 =

| extra12 =

| length12 = 3:59

| title13 = Bonfire

| note13 =

| writer13 =

| extra13 =

| length13 = 4:10

| all_writing = Mila J

}}

;Sampling credits

• "La La Land" samples the song "Delay" by JMSN from his 2014 eponymous album JMSN.{{cite web|title=Mila J's 'La La Land' sample of JMSN's 'Delay'|url=https://www.whosampled.com/sample/506943/Mila-J-La-La-Land-JMSN-Delay/|website=WhoSampled}}

• Mila J discography
• List of 2017 albums

{{Reflist}}

• [https://open.spotify.com/artist/0jKQLdTcE9YP6eK8trHOFd Dopamine on Spotify]
• [https://tidal.com/album/72276286 Dopamine on Tidal]

{{Mila J}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:2017 debut albums

Category:Mila J albums

Category:Hip-hop albums by American artists