Imperial Blaze

The album was originally scheduled to be released in the summer of 2007 under the name The Next Thing,{{cite web|date=19 January 2008 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7_7_W4EibU |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140630090848/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7_7_W4EibU |url-status=dead |archive-date=30 June 2014 |title=Sean Paul talks to paparazzi about new album |via=YouTube |access-date=2009-10-01}}[https://web.archive.org/web/20070125193336/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1550526/20070122/paul_sean.jhtml Sean Paul Hopes To Curb Youth Violence In Jamaica With Next LP.] MTV.com. Retrieved 29 June 2008. but was then pushed to November 2008.{{YouTube|JR8_WwNw-mo|Sean Paul interviewed before concert}}. Retrieved 29 June 2008.

Sean Paul told MTV that he wanted to be less focused on party songs such as "Get Busy", "We Be Burnin'", and "Temperature". He said he wants his songs to focus on youth violence in Jamaica, however, the resulting album contained mainly up-tempo party songs. He subsequently released a mixtape which focused on youth violence in Jamaica.

The album's title means "Kings Fire". Sean Paul commented on the title saying,{{cite web|url=http://www.allseanpaul.com/blog/tracetv-sean-paul-talks-about-his-new-album-imperial-blaze/ |title=TraceTV: Sean Paul Talks About His New Album "Imperial Blaze" |access-date=29 May 2009 |url-status=unfit |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090529074135/http://www.allseanpaul.com/blog/tracetv-sean-paul-talks-about-his-new-album-imperial-blaze/ |archive-date=29 May 2009 }}. All Sean Paul.

{{blockquote|"I'm not the king. I'm the fire, I'm the flame, I'm the energy."}}

In an interview with DJ Swerve, Sean Paul confirmed that he did 60 tracks for the album, with 19 tracks making the final cut.

On 10 July, a song from the album, "Press It Up", was premiered on Sean Paul's official website.[http://www.allseanpaul.com/blog/world-premiere-sean-paul-press-it-up/ WORLD PREMIERE: Sean Paul - "Press It Up".] All Sean Paul. {{webarchive |url=https://archive.today/20090715065730/http://www.allseanpaul.com/blog/world-premiere-sean-paul-press-it-up/ |date=15 July 2009 }} A video was filmed for "Press It Up", which was directed by Jessy Terrero{{cite web|url=http://www.songfacts.com/detail.php?id=16301 |title=Press It Up Songfacts |website=Songfacts |date=2007-04-27 |access-date=2009-10-01}}

The album was put on pre-order on 17 July 2009. Those who pre-ordered will receive two digital track downloads to songs titled "She Wanna Be Down" and "Get with It Girl".[http://www.allseanpaul.com/blog/exclusive-pre-order-bundles-order-your-copy-of-imperial-blaze/ Exclusive "Imperial Blaze" Pre-Order Bundles!] All Sean Paul. {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090721035905/http://www.allseanpaul.com/blog/exclusive-pre-order-bundles-order-your-copy-of-imperial-blaze/ |date=21 July 2009 }} On the German iTunes Store Imperial Blaze was released on 14 August 2009.{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/de/album/imperial-blaze-deluxe-version/327047071 |title=iTunes Store - Sean Paul - Imperial Blaze (Deluxe Version) |date=18 August 2009 |publisher=iTunes |access-date=2009-10-01}}

Sean Paul expressed delight regarding the progress of the album on the international stage. "It's a good feeling and I'm happy – very happy that people like the music, and that they've been going out and getting the album," he said.

"Number 1 in Japan is a big achievement for me. I'm especially proud of that, because outside of Jamaica, Japanese people are really the biggest consumers of dancehall music," he said.

Imperial Blaze was certified gold in France, debuting at number 8 in that country, number 5 in Canada, number 4 in Switzerland, 15 in Belgium, 17 in Austria, and 17 in Germany.

It was also the first Jamaican album to debut atop the Billboard Rap charts. The wholly Jamaican produced project debuted atop the Billboard Reggae Charts, number 3 on the Hip Hop/R&B Albums chart and number 12 on the Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 28,500 copies in the US.[https://www.xxlmag.com/black-eyed-peas-top-hip-hop-charts-again/ Black Eyed Peas Lead the Rap Pack, Sean Paul Fails to Crack Top 10 on Billboard 200]

As of January 2012, the album has sold 101,000 copies in United States.{{cite web|url=http://www.hitsdailydouble.com/sales/sales_ur.cgi |title=Upcoming Releases |publisher=HITS Daily Double |access-date=2012-02-24 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140129032930/http://www.hitsdailydouble.com/sales/sales_ur.cgi |archive-date=29 January 2014 |df=dmy-all }}

• The first official single is "So Fine", peaking at number 50 on the Billboard Hot 100.
• The second official single is "Press It Up". It was released on 4 August 2009. The music video was released on 9 September 2009.{{cite web|url=http://www.rap-up.com/2009/09/09/video-sean-paul-press-it-up/ |title=Video: Sean Paul – 'Press It Up' |publisher=Rap-Up.com |access-date=2009-10-01}}
• The third single is "Hold My Hand", which features Keri Hilson. It was sent to U.S. radio on 29 September 2009.{{cite web|url=http://www.radio1.gr/music/forthcoming_uk_singles.htm |title=Radio1 - UK Forthcoming Singles |publisher=Radio1.gr |access-date=2009-11-06 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101222065316/http://radio1.gr/music/forthcoming_uk_singles.htm |archive-date=22 December 2010 |df=dmy-all }}

{{Music ratings

| MC = 44/100

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite web|last=Sendra |first=Tim |url={{AllMusic|class=album |id=r1621087 |pure_url=yes}} |title=Imperial Blaze - Sean Paul |website=AllMusic |date=2009-08-18 |access-date=2012-08-09}}

| rev2 = Entertainment Weekly

| rev2score = B+{{cite magazine |first=Simon |last=Vozick-Levinson |url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20297453,00.html |title=Imperial Blaze Review |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=2009-08-21 |access-date=2012-08-09 |archive-date=16 August 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090816004016/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20297453,00.html |url-status=dead }}

| rev3 = Now

| rev3score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite news|last=Richards |first=Jason |url=http://www.nowtoronto.com/music/story.cfm?content=170906 |title=Sean Paul: Imperial Blaze (VP/Atlantic) |newspaper=Now |date=19–26 August 2009 |access-date=2012-08-09}}

| rev4 = PopMatters

| rev4score = 1/10{{cite magazine|last=Miller |first=Michael |url=http://www.popmatters.com/pm/review/118233-sean-paul-imperial-blaze/ |title=Sean Paul: Imperial Blaze |magazine=PopMatters |date=2010-02-04 |access-date=2013-04-07}}

| rev5 = Q

| rev5score = {{rating|3|5}}At 20 tracks long, Imperial Blaze suffers badly from a lack of editing, however, Paul also spends hald the album in ballad mode. [Nov 2009, p.111]

| rev6 = RapReviews

| rev6score = 3/10{{cite web|last=Padania |first=Jesal "Jay Soul" |url=http://www.rapreviews.com/archive/2009_08_imperialblaze.html |title=Sean Paul :: Imperial Blaze :: Atlantic Records |publisher=RapReviews |date=2009-08-25 |access-date=2012-08-09}}

| rev7 = Rolling Stone

| rev7score = {{Rating|2|5}}{{cite magazine|last=Hoard |first=Christian |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/29606142/review/29951404/imperial_blaze|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100329055840/http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/29606142/review/29951404/imperial_blaze|archive-date=2010-03-29 |title=Imperial Blaze : Sean Paul : Review |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=2009-08-31 |url-status=dead |access-date=2012-08-09}}

| rev8 = Slant Magazine

| rev8score = {{Rating|1.5|5}}{{cite magazine|last=Cataldo |first=Jesse |url=http://www.slantmagazine.com/music/review/sean-paul-imperial-blaze/1808 |title=Sean Paul: Imperial Blaze |magazine=Slant Magazine |date=2009-08-17 |access-date=2013-04-07}}

| rev9 = Toronto Star

| rev9score = {{Rating|2.5|4}}{{cite news|first=Ashante |last=Infantry |url=https://www.thestar.com/entertainment/music/2009/08/18/imperial_blaze_sean_paul.html |title=Imperial Blaze: Sean Paul |newspaper=Toronto Star |date=2009-08-18 |access-date=2012-08-09}}

| rev10 = USA Today

| rev10score = {{Rating|3|4}}{{cite news|last=Jones |first=Steve |url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/music/reviews/2009-08-17-listen-up-paul_N.htm |title=Listen Up: Paul pours dancehall gas on 'Imperial Blaze' |newspaper=USA Today |date=2009-08-19 |access-date=2012-08-09}}

}}

Initial critical response to Imperial Blaze was mixed. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album has received an average score of 44, based on seven reviews, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.{{cite web | url=http://www.metacritic.com/music/imperial-blaze/sean-paul/critic-reviews | title=Critic Reviews for Imperial Blaze | work=Metacritic | access-date=7 April 2013}} Tim Sendra of Allmusic gave the album 3.5 stars out of 5, praising the sound of the album; "It may bode ill for the commercial prospects of the album, but it does mean that the people who do buy Imperial Blaze will be purchasing a record that is very good, and more importantly, a great deal of fun from beginning to end." Jay Soul of RapReviews, gave the album a negative review with a 3 out of 10 score by stating "I am a massive Sean Paul fan, and it's almost like watching a heavyweight champion past his prime being forced to fight, when all he wants to do is quit the game and be a coach." Christian Hoard of Rolling Stone gave the album 2 stars out of 5, describing the album as "pale versions of past hits". The album was nominated for Best Reggae Album at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards.

• Sean Paul Henriques co-wrote all of the songs on the album; additional writers are listed below.

{{Track listing

| headline =

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| total_length = 66:49

| title1 = Intro: Chi Ching Ching

| writer1 =

| extra1 =

| length1 = 0:50

| title2 = Lace It

| writer2 = Stephen McGregor

| extra2 = Di Genius

| length2 = 2:51

| title3 = So Fine

| writer3 = S. McGregor, Nigel Staff

| extra3 = Di Genius

| length3 = 3:30

| title4 = Now That I've Got Your Love

| writer4 = S. McGregor

| extra4 = Di Genius

| length4 = 3:33

| title5 = Birthday Suit

| writer5 = S. McGregor

| extra5 = Di Genius

| length5 = 3:25

| title6 = Press It Up

| writer6 = S. McGregor

| extra6 = Di Genius

| length6 = 3:43

| title7 = Evening Ride

| writer7 = Jeremy Harding, S. McGregor

| extra7 = Di Genius

| length7 = 3:56

| title8 = Hold My Hand

| note8 = featuring Keri Hilson

| writer8 = Arif Cooper, Clayton Morrison

| extra8 = Supacoop

| length8 = 3:26

| title9 = She Want Me

| writer9 = J. Harding, S. McGregor

| extra9 = Di Genius

| length9 = 3:05

| title10 = Daddy's Home

| writer10 = S. McGregor

| extra10 = Di Genius

| length10 = 3:30

| title11 = Bruk Out

| writer11 = Craig Parks

| extra11 = Leftside

| length11 = 3:24

| title12 = Pepperpot

| writer12 = S. Anderson, Andrew McIntyre, Jason Henriques

| extra12 = Jigzag

| length12 = 3:50

| title13 = Wine Baby Wine

| writer13 = J. Harding

| extra13 = Mister Harding

| length13 = 3:04

| title14 = Running Out of Time

| writer14 = Donovan Bennett, J. Henriques

| extra14 = Don Corleon

| length14 = 3:21

| title15 = Don't Tease Me

| writer15 = S. McGregor

| extra15 = Di Genius

| length15 = 3:19

| title16 = Lately

| writer16 = S. McGregor

| extra16 = Di Genius

| length16 = 3:06

| title17 = She Wanna Be Down

| writer17 = S. McGregor

| extra17 = Di Genius

| length17 = 3:37

| title18 = Straight from My Heart

| writer18 = Andrew Thompson, Delano Thomas, Dwayne Chin-Quee, Mitchum Chin, Cezar Cunningham

| extra18 = Delano Thomas, Supa Dups

| length18 = 4:26

| title19 = Private Party

| writer19 = Donovan Bennett, J. Henriques

| extra19 = Don Corleon

| length19 = 3:34

| title20 = I Know U Like It

| writer20 = J. Henriques

| extra20 = Sean Paul

| length20 = 3:07

|

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Japan bonus track{{Cite web |url=http://wmg.jp/artist/SeanPaul/WPCR000013621.html |title=Sean Paul / ショーン・ポール「Imperial Blaze / インペリアル・ブレイズ～帝王激炎～（初回限定バリュー・プライス盤）」｜ワーナーミュージック・ジャパン |access-date=10 February 2015 |archive-date=10 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150210165340/http://wmg.jp/artist/SeanPaul/WPCR000013621.html |url-status=dead }}

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title21 = Get with It Girl

| writer21 = D. Bennett, D. Lewis

| extra21 = Donovan "Don Corleon" Bennett

| length21 = 3:06

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = French bonus track{{Cite web|url=https://listen.tidal.com/album/35051732|title=Try the TIDAL Web Player}}

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title21 = Hold My Hand

| note21 = featuring Zaho

| writer21 = Arif Cooper, Clayton Morrison, Zaho

| extra21 = Supascoop

| length21 = 3:26

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Spotify and TTNET Müzik bonus track{{Cite web|url=https://play.spotify.com/album/4IX8op5M9BbxU1jYi22DXW|title = Imperial Blaze|date = 14 August 2009}}{{Cite web |url=https://www.ttnetmuzik.com.tr/album/Imperial_Blaze/325534 |title=Imperial Blaze / TTNET Müzik |access-date=10 February 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150210170758/https://www.ttnetmuzik.com.tr/album/Imperial_Blaze/325534 |archive-date=10 February 2015 |url-status=dead }}

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title21 = Right Time

| writer21 =

| extra21 =

| length21 = 3:24

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = iTunes Store deluxe edition bonus tracks{{Cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/imperial-blaze-deluxe-version/327047071|title=Imperial Blaze (Deluxe Version) by Sean Paul|website=iTunes|date=18 August 2009}}

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title21 = Agarra Mi Mano

| note21 = "Hold My Hand" Spanish version

| writer21 = Arif Cooper, Clayton Morrison

| extra21 = Supacoop

| length21 = 3:29

| title22 = So Fine

| note22 = music video

| length22 = 3:32

}}

Adapted from the Imperial Blaze liner notes.{{cite AV media notes|title=Imperial Blaze|others=Sean Paul|publisher=VP. Atlantic|year=2009|type=booklet|id=2-521313}}

• Jimmy Douglass – mixing {{small|(2, 7, 10, 14, 16)}}
• Fabian Marasciullo – mixing {{small|(4, 5, 13, 17, 19)}}
• Gary Noble – mixing {{small|(8, 11, 12, 18, 20)}}
• Robert Orton – mixing {{small|(3, 4, 6, 9)}}
• Demacio Castellon – mixing {{small|(15)}}
• Rohan Dyer – mixing {{small|(18)}}
• Bryan Powell – assistant mixing {{small|(2, 7, 10, 14, 16)}}
• Marlon James – art
• Gerard Needham – photography
• Ivy Jarrin – styling
• Denise Chen – make up
• Sara James – Blaze icon concept

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.allseanpaul.com/ AllSeanPaul.com] – Sean Paul official website
• [https://www.myspace.com/seanpaul Sean Paul] on MySpace
• [http://www.bluesandsoul.com/feature/437/shhhh_its_sean_paul/ Sean Paul interview by Pete Lewis, 'Blues & Soul' August 2009] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718235626/http://www.bluesandsoul.com/feature/437/shhhh_its_sean_paul/ |date=18 July 2011 }}
• {{Metacritic album}}

{{Sean Paul}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Sean Paul albums

Category:2009 albums

Category:Atlantic Records albums

Category:VP Records albums