Notebook Paper
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Notebook Paper
| type = studio
| artist = Huey
| cover = HueyNotebookPaper.JPG
| alt = An image of a man wearing a brown hoodie, black t-shirt and faded blue jeans sitting on a classroom desk. Behind him is a chalkboard with the artist's logo and album title.
| released = June 19, 2007
| recorded = 2006–07
| studio =
| genre = Hip hop
| length = {{Duration|m=57|s=51}}
| label = {{hlist|Hitz Committee|Jive|Zomba}}
| producer = {{hlist|Huey (exec.)|MeMpHiTz (exec.)|BUTTER|D'Andre "Po Po" Smith|D'Scorch|Jay Wes|Jazze Pha|J$Mil|Key|Laudie|Raw Beatzz|"Rio" the Suproducer|StarGate|T-Mix|T-Pain|Calvin Miller}}
| next_title = Redemption
| next_year = 2010
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Notebook Paper
| type = studio
| single1 = Pop, Lock & Drop It
| single1date = September 19, 2006
}}
}}
Notebook Paper is the debut studio album by American rapper Huey. It was released on June 19, 2007 via Hitz Committee/Jive/Zomba Records. Production was handled by several record producers, including Jazze Pha, StarGate, T-Mix and T-Pain. It features guest appearances from Asia Cruise, Diamond, Kydd Trell, Bow Wow, Lloyd, MeMpHiTz, T-Pain, Trey Songz and Yo Gotti.
The album garnered mixed reviews from critics pointing out the overall obviousness throughout the production and track listing. It debuted at number 26 on the Billboard 200 and spawned one singles: "Pop, Lock & Drop It". The song peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100 and became Huey's only hit.
Critical reception
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{Cite web|last=Jeffries|first=David|title=Notebook Paper - Huey {{!}} Songs, Reviews, Credits {{!}} AllMusic|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/notebook-paper-mw0000584934|language=en-us|access-date=June 30, 2020|website=AllMusic}}
| rev2 = RapReviews
| rev3 = XXL
| rev3score = L{{Cite web|last=Howard|first=Jacinta|date=June 6, 2007|title=HueyNotebook Paper - XXL|url=https://www.xxlmag.com/hueynotebook-paper/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=June 30, 2020|website=XXL|language=en}}
}}
AllMusic editor David Jeffries said that despite repeated mentions of the Hitz Committee label and Huey being held back as a rapper, he praised the variety of different styles used throughout the track listing, saying they sound "more like highlights than missed opportunities". He concluded that, "While more outside help might have shown them the way to something stunning, it's a testament to Huey and the Hitz Committee team that they made a rewarding rather than just promising debut out of some everyday beats and ideas". Steve Juon of RapReviews commended the production and "radio ready" tracks but found the overall record to be "rather obvious" with said tracks and the various topics it speaks about, saying that, "[I]f you're looking through Huey's notebook to find anything deep or substantive then disappointment is bound to ensue. [...] the feeling overall is that this album was carefully packaged and planned in a corporate record label's hitmaking factory".
Commercial performance
The album debuted at number 26 on the Billboard 200 with 29,000 copies sold in its first week.{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1051279/bon-jovi-scores-first-no-1-album-since-1988|title=Bon Jovi Scores First No. 1 Album Since 1988|last=Hasty|first=Katie|magazine=Billboard|date=June 27, 2007|accessdate=June 28, 2007}} It dropped thirty-six spots to number 62 the next week and placed number 89 the week after.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/2007-07-14|title=Billboard 200: July 14, 2007|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=May 10, 2018}}{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/2007-07-21|title=Billboard 200: July 21, 2007|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=May 10, 2018}}
Track listing
{{Track listing
| all_writing =
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| title1 = Intro/Notebook Paper
| writer1 = {{hlist|Lawrence Franks Jr.|Ryan Belcher|Ruben Gonzalez}}
| extra1 = {{hlist|Ryan "Key" Belcher|Laudie}}
| length1 = 4:09
| title2 = Bout Dat
| writer2 = {{hlist|Franks Jr.|Dennis Preston Jr.}}
| extra2 = D'Scorch
| length2 = 4:11
| title3 = Aye
| writer3 = {{hlist|Franks Jr.|Gonzalez}}
| extra3 = Laudie
| length3 = 3:51
| title4 = Pop, Lock & Drop It
| writer4 = {{hlist|Franks Jr.|D'Andre Smith|Calvin Miller}}
| extra4 = {{hlist|D'Andre "Po Po" Smith|Calvin Miller ({{abbr|add.|additional producer}})}}
| length4 = 4:21
| title5 = Closet Full of Clothes
| note5 = featuring Kydd Trell
| writer5 = {{hlist|Franks Jr.|Latrell Weaver|Gonzalez}}
| extra5 = Laudie
| length5 = 4:03
| title6 = 2 Nite
| writer6 = {{hlist|Franks Jr.|Jamil Debardlabon}}
| extra6 = J$Mil
| length6 = 4:20
| title7 = Tell Me This (G-5)
| note7 = featuring MeMpHiTz
| writer7 = {{hlist|Franks Jr.|Mickey Wright Jr.|John Wesley|Gonzalez}}
| extra7 = {{hlist|Jay Wes|Laudie}}
| length7 = 6:30
| title8 = Money Ova
| note8 = featuring Diamond and Yo Gotti
| writer8 = {{hlist|Franks Jr.|Brittany Carpentero|Mario Mims|Robert Crawford|Demario Hammonds}}
| extra8 = {{hlist|Butter|"Rio" the Suproducer}}
| length8 = 5:02
| title9 = My Zone
| writer9 = {{hlist|Franks Jr.|Triston Jones}}
| extra9 = Mannie Fresh
| length9 = 3:28
| title10 = When I Hustle
| note10 = featuring Lloyd
| writer10 = {{hlist|Franks Jr.|Lloyd Polite|Phalon Alexander}}
| extra10 = Jazze Pha
| length10 = 3:31
| title11 = Luv N Ya Life
| note11 = featuring Asia Cruise
| writer11 = {{hlist|Franks Jr.|Ashley Bell|Faheem Najm}}
| extra11 = Raw Beatzz
| length11 = 3:54
| title12 = Nobody Loves the Hood
| note12 =
| writer12 = {{hlist|Franks Jr.|Mikkel Storleer Eriksen|Tor Erik Hermansen|Taj Jackson}}
| extra12 = StarGate
| length12 = 4:08
| title13 = Glad 2 Be Alive
| note13 = featuring T-Pain
| writer13 = {{hlist|Franks Jr.|Najm}}
| extra13 = T-Pain
| length13 = 3:53
| title14 = Pop, Lock & Drop It (Remix)
| note14 = featuring Lil' Bow Wow and T-Pain
| writer14 = {{hlist|Franks Jr.|Shad Moss|Najm|Smith|Miller}}
| extra14 = {{hlist|D'Andre "Po Po" Smith|Calvin Miller ({{abbr|add.|additional producer}})}}
| length14 = 4:34
| total_length = 57:51
}}
Japanese edition (bonus track)
{{Track listing
| all_writing =
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| title6 = I Got Em On (Adidas)
| extra6 = Jay Wes
| length6 = 3:09
}}
Personnel
{{div col}}
- Lawrence Franks Jr. – main artist, executive producer
- Latrell "Kydd Trell" Weaver – featured artist (track 5)
- Mickey "MeMpHiTz" Wright Jr. – featured artist (track 7), executive producer, A&R
- Brittany Nicole Carpentero – featured artist (track 8)
- Mario Sentell Giden Mims – featured artist (track 8)
- Lloyd Polite Jr. – featured artist (track 10)
- Asia Nalani Vernimo – featured artist (track 11)
- Tremaine Aldon Neverson – featured artist (track 12)
- Faheem Rasheed Najm – featured artist (tracks: 13, 14), producer (track 13), recording (tracks: 11, 13)
- Shad Gregory Moss – featured artist (track 14)
- Carlton McClendon – keyboards (track 6)
- Aaron Clay – guitar (track 10)
- Ryan "Key" Belcher – producer (track 1a)
- Ruben "Laudie" Gonzalez – producer (tracks: 1b, 3, 5, 7), recording (track 7)
- Dennis Preston Jr. – producer (track 2)
- D'Andre "Po Po" Smith – producer (tracks: 4, 14)
- Calvin Miller – additional producer (tracks: 4, 14)
- Jamil Debardlabon – producer (track 6)
- John Wesley – producer (tracks: 7, bonus)
- Robert Crawford – producer (track 8)
- Demario Hammonds – producer (track 8)
- Triston "T-Mix" Jones – producer (track 9)
- Phalon Anton Alexander – producer (track 10)
- Ashley J. Bell – producer (track 11)
- Mikkel Storleer Eriksen – producer & recording (track 12)
- Tor Erik Hermansen – producer (track 12)
- Howard "Ross" Vanderslice – recording (tracks: 1a, 14)
- Danny Ogle – recording (track 1b), assistant recording (track 9)
- Justin Trawick – assistant recording (tracks: 1b, 9)
- Chris Robinson – recording (tracks: 2, 5)
- Marc “Matrix” DuPain – assistant recording (tracks: 2, 5)
- Matt Sawicki – recording (tracks: 3, 4)
- Ralph Cacciurri – recording (tracks: 6, 8)
- Rich Tapper – recording (track 7)
- Leo Goff – recording (track 8)
- Nico Solis – recording (tracks: 9-11)
- Mike Wilson – recording (track 9)
- James "Scrappy" Stassen – recording (track 13)
- Travis Daniels – recording (track 14)
- Leslie Brathwaite – mixing (tracks: 1, 4, 6-8, 10, 14)
- John Frye – mixing (tracks: 1, 2, 5)
- Fabian Marasciullo – mixing (tracks: 9, 13)
- Phil Tan – mixing (tracks: 11, 12)
- Kori Anders – assistant mixing (tracks: 1, 4, 6-8, 10, 14)
- Gary Fly – assistant mixing (tracks: 1, 2, 5)
- Douglas Sadler – assistant mixing (tracks: 9, 13)
- Josh Houghkirk – assistant mixing (tracks: 11, 12)
- Brian Gardner – mastering
- Rico Washingston – management
{{div col end}}
Charts
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
! Chart (2007) ! Peak |
| {{album chart|Billboard200|26|artist=Huey|rowheader=true}} |
| {{album chart|BillboardRandBHipHop|10|artist=Huey|rowheader=true}} |
| {{album chart|BillboardRap|4|artist=Huey|rowheader=true}} |
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Discogs master|140810|Huey – Notebook Paper}}
{{Huey}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Albums produced by T-Pain