T.K.O. (The Knock Out)

{{Quote box|width=25%|align=left|quote=Well, I had to learn patience. I definitely learned that when I want something done, I'm very tunnel-visioned out. I don't come out of the house. I beat myself up. I don't eat. I don't sleep until it's done, especially if I have a deadline in mind. It's the 20th anniversary this year, so I had to be patient. It didn't come out when I wanted it to, but I just said, "OK. We have another anniversary this year on April 20."|source=Mya on the creation and timing of T.K.O. (The Knock Out) with Billboard.}}

T.K.O. (The Knock Out) was recorded between 2015 and 2016 after the release of Smoove Jones (2016). Like with all her independent projects, Harrison served as executive producer for T.K.O. (The Knock Out) as well, which entailed her scouting for producers, songwriters, arranging the album's track listing, and keeping track of the accounting.{{cite web|url=http://youknowigotsoul.com/?p=17456|title=Interview: Mya Talks New Album "K.I.S.S.", Releasing Albums in Japan First, Importance of Her Music|accessdate=2012-01-21|work=YKIGS}} With T.K.O. though, Harrison decided to form a partnership with musician and producer Lamar "MyGuyMars" Edwards. Edwards had contributed production on her last studio effort, Smoove Jones, which catered more towards traditional R&B. The creation process for T.K.O. started when Harrison continued to work with Edwards and formed a musical partnership. Speaking with Billboard, Harrison acknowledged the process to the project was "easy."{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/8475867/mya-tko-album-new-song-gmo-interview|title=Mya Talks Creating 'TKO,' Being an Independent Artist & Developing Confidence as a Live Performer|accessdate=2018-09-22|work=Billboard}} However, before dabbling into the contemporary R&B space for her next independent project, Harrison made the conscious decision to release Smoove Jones first to satisfy longtime fans that connected with that particular sound, which is more eclectic, classic and old school. Musically with T.K.O., since contemporary R&B is more current sonically, Harrison and Edwards just essentially incorporated and fused it with 90's R&B, SWV, Aaliyah, R.Kelly, Mint Condition along with Prince, Teddy Pendergrass and The Isley Brothers influences from the 70s. Using material she recorded back in 2011, 2015, and 2016 from her archive, Harrison commented it was all about "building" and "tweaking" songs. Commenting on the results, Harrison said, "It was all about creating a nice experience for R&B fans, R&B lovers, and have it apply to today's sound of music, sonically, and that's what we did."{{cite web|url=https://theknockturnal.com/exclusive-mya-talks-her-vegan-lifestyle-fashion-new-album-20-years-in-the-game/|title=Exclusive: Mya Talks Her Vegan Lifestyle, Fashion, New Album & 20 Years In The Game|accessdate=2018-05-20|work=The Knockturnal}} As executive producer, Harrison was held responsible for drafting all of her contracts, handling publishing split sheets, and generating her own revenue for/funding each component of a project and to avoid early leakage of the project or any of her music, Harrison drafts and services a pre- and post-recording agreement to hold the producers, writers, artists, and engineers liable for leakage, sharing, placement, and playing of her music.{{cite web|url=http://www.miaminewtimes.com/music/m-as-advice-on-how-not-to-get-your-album-leaked-7772812|title=Mya's Advice on How Not to Get Your Album Leaked|accessdate=2016-02-15|work=Miami New Times}}

Described as Smoove Jones part two, T.K.O. serves as continuation on Harrison's last studio effort except with Smoove Jones, she blended R&B/soul/hip hop genre with elements of the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s{{cite web|url=http://heroicmag.com/myas-magazine/|title=Mya Is Fearless|accessdate=2015-12-10|work=Heroic}} and geared towards traditional R&B, while T.K.O. is current contemporary R&B with a hint of '90s R&B and influences from the '70s. In terms of sounds, Mya revealed early on that the album is very heavily leaning on R&B slow jams.{{cite web|url=http://www.thisisrnb.com/2018/03/mya-announces-new-album-talks-sculpting-body-dating-industry/|title=Mya Announces New Album, Talks Sculpting Her Body, Dating In The Industry|accessdate=2018-03-15|work= This Is RNB}} T.K.O. (The Knock Out) starts with "Open" featuring DMV rapper GoldLink and is described as a slice of atmospheric trap-flavored R&B.{{cite web|url=http://www.papermag.com/friday-bops-7-1-2561764121.html?rebelltitem=1#rebelltitem1|title=Bops Only: 10 Songs You Need To Start Your Weekend Right|last=Love Michael|first= Michael|date= April 20, 2018|website=Paper|access-date=April 27, 2018}} The pulsating, "Down" serves as the album's fourth track.{{cite web|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/arts/2018/04/26/the-ticket-what-happening-local-arts-world/XUMr81VGfTG3qmRHthYcYN/story.html|title=The Ticket: What's happening in the local arts world|accessdate=2018-05-20|work=The Boston Globe}} Track five, "Ready For Whatever 2.0" is a reimagining of the album's first single and is an homage to Aaliyah's effortless cool. Inspired by Mint Condition and Prince, "Damage" was recorded back in 2011 and serves as the album's sixth track.{{cite web|url=https://www.vibe.com/featured/mya-fifth-ward-interview/|title=After 20 Years In The Game, Mya Is Ready For Whatever|accessdate=2018-05-20|work=Vibe}} Track eight, "You Got Me" is a millennial slow jam that blends combination of steady drums and synths reminiscent of the 90's R&B.{{cite web|url=https://www.vibe.com/2018/02/mya-you-got-me-mp3/|title=Mya Keeps It Smooth And Sexy On New Single "You Got Me"|accessdate=2018-05-20|work=Vibe}}{{cite web|url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/mya-drops-a-sexy-new-track-you-got-me-new-song.1977442.html?_amp|title=Mya Drops A Sexy, New Track, "You Got Me"|accessdate=2018-02-21|work=HotNewHipHop}} The spacey, "Knock You Out" is an Isley Brothers-indebted bedroom jam with guitar licks and spaced-out vocal harmonies and serves as the album's tenth track. The album's final track, the '80s/'90s big ballad "If Tomorrow Never Comes" was originally recorded back in 2011 and inspired by the vocal work of R&B group Jodeci.

Initially, T.K.O. (The Knock Out) was scheduled for a Valentine's Day release to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of her debut single, "It's All About Me," however the project was unable to make its deadline and pushed back. In an interview with Hot 97, Mya confirmed T.K.O. was scheduled for an April 20, 2018 release to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of her debut album Mya (1998).{{cite web|url=http://www.noise11.com/news/new-music-releases-20-april-2018-20180419|title=New Music Releases 20 April 2018|last=Cashmere|first=Paul|date=April 19, 2018|website=Noise11|access-date=April 27, 2018}} Digitally, the release was distributed through indie distribution company, The Orchard. Her first release under Sony Music company.{{cite web|url=https://www.pr.com/press-release/745038|title=Global Icon Mýa Returns with Brand New Single Celebrating 20th Year Anniversary|accessdate=2018-02-20|work=PR}} Through her official website store, physical copies was made available for purchase exclusively in standard, autographed or personalized editions.{{cite web|url=http://www.myamya.com/shop/|title=Mýa's Official Store|accessdate=2015-12-10|work=Mya Mya}} In honor of her twentieth anniversary and to celebrate T.K.O.{{'}}s album release Mya performed at the House of Blues in New York City on April 27, 2018.{{cite web|url=https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mya-live-at-the-throwback-party-nyc-april-27th-tickets-43412320419|title=Mya Live At The Throwback Party NYC *April 27th*|accessdate=2018-04-18|work=Eventbrite}} She held a private album listening session at UnplugdLA's The Study in Los Angeles, California.{{cite web|url=https://www.eventbrite.com/e/unplugdla-soul-sessions-featuring-mya-tickets-44541888989#|title=UnplugdLA SOUL Sessions Featuring Mya|accessdate=2018-05-02|work=Eventbrite}}

In September 2017, Mya began releasing a series of singles in support of the album. Mya released the first single from T.K.O.(The Knock Out), "Ready for Whatever" on September 22, 2017.{{cite web|url=http://ratedrnb.com/2017/09/mya-teases-new-single-ready-whatever/|title=Mya Teases New Single 'Ready for Whatever'|last=Samuels|first=Keithan|date=2017|website=Rated R&B|access-date=September 13, 2017}}{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/ready-for-whatever-single/1282150217|title=Ready for Whatever - Single|access-date=2017-09-18|work=iTunes}} A music video for "Ready for Whatever" was produced and directed by Mya co-starring R&B singer Kevin McCall as her love interest.{{cite web|url=http://www.breatheheavy.com/im-pregnant-mya-drops-racy-ready-for-whatever-video/|title=I'm Pregnant. Mya Drops Racy 'Ready For Whatever' Video|last=Miller|first=Jordan|date=October 10, 2017|website=Breathe Heavy|access-date=October 10, 2017}} Less than two months, a remix version, "Ready, Part II" was released on November 24, 2017. The song paid homage to R. Kelly's "It Seems Like You're Ready".{{cite web|url=https://singersroom.com/content/2017-11-24/mya-ready-part-ii-bedroom-mix/|title=Mya – Ready, Part II (Bedroom Mix)|accessdate=2017-11-26|work=Singeroom}}{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/Ready-Part-II-Bedroom-Mix/dp/B077HL8TDF/ref=sr_1_19?s=dmusic&ie=UTF8&qid=1511064325&sr=1-19&refinements=p_n_date:1249098011|title=Ready, Part II (Bedroom Mix)|accessdate=2017-11-20|work=Amazon}} A second single, "You Got Me", was released on February 14, 2018, to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of her debut single "It's All About Me". "Damage", the third single from T.K.O. was released on March 23, 2018.{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/damage-single/1356943731|title=Damage – Single|access-date=2018-03-16|work=iTunes}} Less than a month, a week before the album's release, "Knock You Out" was released as an instant grat download when fans pre-ordered T.K.O. (The Knock Out) alongside previous singles "You Got Me" and "Damage."{{cite web|url=http://www.thisisrnb.com/2018/04/new-music-mya-knock-you-out/|title=New Music: Mya - Knock You Out|accessdate=2018-04-16|work=This Is RNB}} In 2019, as tradition in honor her debut single, Harrison gifted her fans with a new music video to commemorate the anniversary. "With You" was released as a promotional single on February 14, 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/m-a-treads-middle-eastern-sands-in-with-you-videoclip-new-video.45012.html|title=Mýa Treads Middle Eastern Sands In "With You" Videoclip|accessdate=2019-04-18|work=HotNewHipHop}} Approximately two months later, in honor of the one year anniversary of her thirteenth studio project, TKO (The Knock Out), Harrison gifted her fans with the music video for "Down" on April 20, 2019.{{cite web|url=http://www.soulbounce.com/2019/04/mya-down-video/|title=Mya Takes Us To A Tropical Paradise In 'Down'|accessdate=2019-05-24|work=Soul Bounce}}

For the album's packaging, Mya traveled to Nassau, Bahamas and completed a photoshoot for her single and album covers.{{cite web|url=https://andscape.com/features/mya-grammy-winning-artist-5th-ward-houston-show-urban-movie/|title=Grammy-winning artist Mya takes it to the streets in '5th Ward'|accessdate=2018-03-19|work=Andscape}} On the album cover, Mya is dressed in black lingerie with a black robe draping her body, while directing a smoldering stare into the camera.{{cite web|url=http://www.soulbounce.com/2018/04/mya-teases-tantalizes-with-t-k-o-cover-art-tracklist/|title=Mya Teases & Tantalizes With ‘T.K.O.’ Cover Art & Tracklist|accessdate=2018-04-18|work=Soul Bounce}}

Paper magazine gave T.K.O. a favorable review and called it "impressive in its scope" and concluded, "throughout TKO, though Mya is a well-studied product of her influences, she is as an artist all her own, producing, writing, and owning all of it."

T.K.O. (The Knock Out) debuted at number forty-one on the Independent Albums chart.{{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/independent-albums/2018-05-05|title=Independent Albums Week of May 5, 2018|accessdate=2018-05-10|work=Billboard}}

{{Track listing

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| headline = T.K.O. (The Knock Out) track listing

| total_length = 40:38

| title1 = The Fall

| writer1 = {{hlist|Mya Harrison}}

| extra1 = {{hlist|Lamar "MyGuyMars" Edwards|Lyle LeDuff|Mya Harrison{{ref|c|[c]}}}}

| length1 = 2:34

| title2 = Open

| note2 = featuring GoldLink

| writer2 = {{hlist|Harrison|Billy Wes|DeAnthony Carlos}}

| extra2 = {{hlist|Edwards|Harrison{{ref|c|[c]}}}}

| length2 = 3:27

| title3 = Simple Things

| writer3 = {{hlist|Harrison|Shaunise "Niecy Nice" Harris}}

| extra3 = {{hlist|Edwards{{ref|c|[c]}}|Harrison{{ref|c|[c]}}}}

| length3 = 3:41

| title4 = Down

| writer4 = {{hlist|Harrison|Harris|Sydnii "KydSyd" Raymore}}

| extra4 = {{hlist|Edwards|Harrison{{ref|c|[c]}}}}

| length4 = 2:46

| title5 = Ready 4 Whatever 2.0

| writer5 = {{hlist|Harrison|Kevin McCall|Lamar "MyGuyMars" Edwards}}

| extra5 = {{hlist|Edwards{{ref|c|[c]}}|Khirye Tyler{{ref|b|[b]}}|Harrison{{ref|c|[c]}}}}

| length5 = 3:22

| title6 = Damage

| writer6 = {{hlist|Harrison|Lindsey "Mavelle" Gilbert}}

| extra6 = {{hlist|Los Da Mystro|Edwards{{ref|b|[b]}}|Lindsey "Mavelle" Gilbert{{ref|c|[c]}}|Harrison{{ref|c|[c]}}}}

| length6 = 4:43

| title7 = Ready (Part III – 90's Bedroom Mix)

| writer7 = {{hlist|Harrison|Harris|Raymore|Robert Kelly}}

| extra7 = {{hlist|Edwards|Tyler{{ref|b|[b]}}|Robert Kelly{{ref|b|[b]}}|Harrison{{ref|c|[c]}}}}

| length7 = 4:00

| title8 = You Got Me

| writer8 = {{hlist|Harrison|Raymore}}

| extra8 = {{hlist|Edwards{{ref|c|[c]}}|Harrison{{ref|c|[c]}}}}

| length8 = 3:23

| title9 = T.K.O. Interlude

| note9 = featuring A Guy Named Cliff

| writer9 = {{hlist|Harrison}}

| extra9 = {{hlist|Edwards|Harrison{{ref|c|[c]}}}}

| length9 = 0:50

| title10 = Knock You Out

| writer10 = {{hlist|Harrison|Marsha Ambrosius}}

| extra10 = {{hlist|Edwards|Tyler{{ref|b|[b]}}|Harrison{{ref|c|[c]}}}}

| length10 = 3:51

| title11 = With You

| note11 = featuring My Guy Mars

| writer11 = {{hlist|Harrison|Edwards|Alexandria Dopson}}

| extra11 = {{hlist|Edwards{{ref|c|[c]}}|Harrison{{ref|c|[c]}}}}

| length11 = 4:16

| title12 = If Tomorrow Never Comes

| writer12 = {{hlist|Harrison|Gilbert}}

| extra12 = {{hlist|Philip "DJ HardWerk" Constable|Gilbert{{ref|c|[c]}}|Harrison{{ref|c|[c]}}}}

| length12 = 3:45

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Vinyl bonus track

| total_length =

| title13 = Open

| note13 = solo mix

| length13 =

}}

Notes

• {{sup|{{note|a|[a]}}}} signifies a co-producer
• {{sup|{{note|b|[b]}}}} signifies an additional producer
• {{sup|{{note|c|[c]}}}} signifies a vocal producer

Sample credits

• "The Fall" contains a musical interpolation of "Saudade Vem Correndo" and a lyrical interpolation of "Fallen".
• "Open" contains an interpolation of "My Life" by Mary J. Blige.
• "Damage" contains an excerpt of "Breakin' My Heart (Pretty Brown Eyes)" by Mint Condition.
• "Ready (Part III – 90's Bedroom Mix)" contains an interpolation of "It Seems Like You're Ready" by R. Kelly.
• "T.K.O. Interlude" contains an interpolation of "Love T.K.O." by Teddy Pendergrass.

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

Instruments

• Guitars – Lamar "MyGuyMars" Edwards, Andrew White, Matt Spatola

Technical and production

• Engineering – Mya Harrison, Derek Anderson
• Mastering – Malcolm Tariq
• Mixing – Derek Anderson, Malcolm Tariq
• Production – Lamar "MyGuyMars" Edwards, Lyle LeDuff, Philip "Hardwerk" Constable, Carlos McKinney
• Additional production – Khirye Tyler

{{col-2}}

Visuals and imagery

• Graphic design – Theresa Harrison, Carlos Perales
• Photography – Reesee of Zigga Zagga, Baxter Stapleton
• Videography – Josh Sikkema, Dana Rice, Baxter Stapleton, Michael Korte, Kumari Suraj, Jeremy Strong, Kaelynn Harris, Oth'than, Kelly Yvonne, Ysabelle Capitule

{{col-end}}

{{reflist}}

• {{Discogs master|11891928|T.K.O. (The Knock Out) }}

{{Mýa}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:2018 albums

Category:Mýa albums

Category:Albums produced by Mars (record producer)