Justified (album)
Justified is the debut solo studio album by American singer-songwriter Justin Timberlake. It was released on November 5, 2002, by Jive Records. The album was written and recorded in a six-week period as Timberlake's band NSYNC was on hiatus. For his solo album, Timberlake began to adopt a more mature image as an R&B artist opposed to the previous pop music recorded by the group. The majority of the album was produced by the Neptunes (credited as "Williams and Hugo") and Timbaland, and features guest appearances by Janet Jackson, Clipse, and Bubba Sparxxx. Primarily an R&B album, Justified also contains influences of dance-pop, funk, and soul music.
Justified
November 5, 2002
Summer 2002
63:15
Justified received generally positive reviews from critics, who complimented the mature progression of Timberlake's material, although some criticized its lyrical content. The album earned Timberlake four Grammy Award nominations, including Album of the Year, and won the award for Best Pop Vocal Album. Justified debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200 and sold 439,000 copies in its first week. It was certified three-times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), having sold over 3.9 million copies in the US. As of 2012, the album has sold over 10 million copies worldwide.[1]
Four singles were released from Justified. The lead single "Like I Love You" peaked at number 11 on the US Billboard Hot 100, while the follow-up singles "Cry Me a River" and "Rock Your Body" peaked within the top five on the chart. "Like I Love You", "Cry Me a River", and "Rock Your Body" peaked at number two in the United Kingdom and in the top ten in Australia (with "Rock Your Body" topping the Australian chart), Ireland, Netherlands, and Belgium. To promote the album, Timberlake performed on several television shows and award ceremonies, including the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards, where he made his solo debut appearance. Furthermore, Timberlake embarked on two concert tours—The Justified World Tour and the Justified and Stripped Tour—with Christina Aguilera accompanying him on the latter.
Background[edit]
Following the conclusion of their Celebrity Tour in April 2002, boy band NSYNC went on a hiatus, during which co-lead singer Justin Timberlake continued work on what would be his debut solo album.[2] The album was said to be "more than halfway completed" by early 2002.[3][4] With the album, he wanted to portray a more mature image as an R&B performer, rather than a boy band pop artist.[2] He revealed minimal information regarding the producers and artists involved with Justified during its early recording stage,[5] with his management and record label also reluctant to share any information.[5][6] However, MTV News reported that production duo The Neptunes were working on multiple tracks, while rapper P. Diddy and singer Mario Winans contributed to one track.[5] Other known producers involved included Mike City, Raphael Saadiq and Rodney Jerkins, though between June and July, none of the aforementioned producers had attended any studio sessions.[5] Explaining his involvement with the project, Jerkins said at the 2002 BET Awards that he "just got a call about working on the project" and that whenever Timberlake wanted his assistance, it would "be done".[5] The majority of tracks for Justified were originally intended for Michael Jackson's tenth studio album Invincible (2001).[7] Jackson turned down the tracks, so the songs were modified for Timberlake's album.[8][9]
Brian McKnight's manager stated that his client had already recorded tracks with the singer, while rapper Nelly explained to the reporters that both him and Timberlake had discussed a collaboration effort.[5] Early in 2002, Angie Stone revealed that Timberlake "loves the Mahogany Soul album" with him further saying to her "your CD's in my car right now, you have to work on my solo project".[5] These assertions were later partially denied by a Jive spokesperson who announced that the material produced from the collaboration would not appear on the finalized record.[10]
Singles[edit]
"Like I Love You" featuring Clipse was released as the album's lead single. It was released as a CD single in August 2002 in Germany and the US.[28][29] The song was written by Justin Timberlake and The Neptunes, who also produced the track. It received positive reviews from critics, who praised its production and use of instrumentals. "Like I Love You" charted at number eleven on the US Billboard Hot 100,[30] and in the top five in the UK,[31] Denmark,[32] Netherlands and Ireland.[33][34] The song was nominated for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration at the 45th Grammy Awards.[35]
Justified's second single is "Cry Me a River", and was released through contemporary and rhythmic radio on November 24, 2002,[36][37] and as a 12" vinyl on December 23 in the US.[38] The song was written by Timberlake, Scott Storch and Timbaland and produced by the latter. "Cry Me a River" debuted at number 44 on the Billboard Hot 100 on the issue dated December 21, 2002,[39] and eventually peaked at number three.[30] In other countries, the song achieved similar success, reaching number two in Australia and the UK,[31][40] and the top five in several other territories. "Cry Me a River" has been certified gold in Australia by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), denoting shipments of 70,000 units,[41] and certified silver in France.[42] It won a Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance at the 2004 ceremony, while the accompanying music video won two MTV Video Music Awards: Best Male Video and Best Pop Video. The song is listed on Rolling Stone's The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.[43]
"Rock Your Body" was released as the album's third single, and was released on May 6, 2003, as a CD single in the US.[44] It was written by Timberlake and The Neptunes, and produced by the latter. The song topped the charts in Australia for one week,[40] became Timberlake's third single to reach number two in the UK,[31] and reached the top five in Denmark,[32] Ireland,[34] New Zealand and the US.[30][45] "Rock Your Body" was certified platinum in Australia by the ARIA.[41] It received a gold certification in the US by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), denoting shipments of 500,000 units.[46]
"Señorita" is Justified's fourth single, released through rhythmic radio on July 8, 2003.[47] It was written by Timberlake and The Neptunes, while being produced by the latter. It reached number 27 on the Hot 100,[30] and achieved its highest peak in Australia and New Zealand, where it reached number six and four, respectively.[40][45]
Awards[edit]
Justified earned Timberlake three American Music Award nominations, including Favorite Pop/Rock Album, Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist and Fan Choice Award.[91] Timberlake won the award for Favorite Pop/Rock Album.[91] At the 45th Grammy Awards, Timberlake had one nomination for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for "Like I Love You".[92] The following year, Justified earned Timberlake nominations for Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album, while "Cry Me a River" was nominated for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance.[93] Timberlake won the latter two awards.[94] For Justified, Timberlake won Best Male, Best Pop and Best Album at the 2003 MTV Europe Music Awards.[95] Justified won the International Album award at the 2004 Brit Awards.[96]
At the 2003 BET Awards, he received two nominations for Best R&B Male Artist and Best New Artist.[97] Among others, it was nominated Best Album at the MOBO Award,[98] International Album of the Year at the NRJ Music Awards,[99] and Foreign Album of the Year at the Danish Music Awards.[100]
Legacy[edit]
For a 2018 Billboard article, writers Taylor Weatherby and Nina Braca said the album "may possibly be the most iconic debut album from a former band member in pop music history", describing it as "[a] bona-fide success that foreshadowed Timberlake's superstardom to come" and "at the same time, a declaration of independence from his poppier beginnings."[101] From the same magazine, Dan Weiss deemed Justified as Timberlake's "classic album."[102] Writers from Consequence of Sound deemed it "the standard for former teen pop stars' bids to be taken seriously" when comparing it to other debut solo albums released later,[103] and Herald Sun considered it a "boy band to men blueprint."[104] British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran cited the album as an inspiration for his 2014 single "Sing",[105] and Shawn Mendes for his 2018 song "Lost in Japan".[106] One Direction's Liam Payne, talking about his debut solo album, stated he was focusing on making a record like Justified.[107] In 2009, Filipina singer Nina covered "Never Again" for her acoustic radio show and album, Renditions of the Soul.
Commercial performance[edit]
Justified debuted at number two on the Billboard 200, selling 439,000 copies in its opening week.[108] The album was expected to top the chart, replacing the 8 Mile soundtrack (2002).[109] Instead the soundtrack sold 507,000 copies, due to being propelled by Eminem's "Lose Yourself".[108] The following week, Justified sold 188,770 copies and fell two positions to number four.[110] In its third week, the album sold 110,000 copies and remained within the top ten on the chart.[111] The album appeared on the Billboard 200 chart for seventy-two weeks, and eventually went on to sell 3.5 million copies in the US.[112] It has been certified three times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), for shipments of three million copies.[46] As of 2018, the album has accumuladed 4.6 million album-equivalent units in the US, combining sales and equivalent streams.[113] Justified debuted and peaked at number two on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.[114] The album charted on the Billboard 200 and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums 2003 year-end charts, reaching number eleven and twenty-six, respectively.[115][116]
Internationally, Justified received a similar response. In the United Kingdom, Justified debuted at number six, and eventually peaked at number one on the week of November 16, 2002, remaining atop for seven non-consecutive weeks.[117][118] The album has appeared on the chart for eighty-four weeks; it has been certified five times platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for shipments of 1.5 million copies.[118] As of March 2015, Justified is the 41st best-selling album of the millennium in the United Kingdom.[119] In Canada, the album peaked at number three and has been certified two times platinum by Music Canada.[120] Justified debuted and peaked at number four in Denmark and the Netherlands, remaining on the charts for forty and seventy-two weeks, respectively.[121] The album peaked at number five in New Zealand for one week, appearing on the chart for thirty-six weeks, and receiving a two times platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ) for shipping 15,000 units.[121] Justified peaked in the top ten in Belgium, Australia and Norway.[121] The album charted within the top thirty and forty in several other countries.[121] As of June 2012, the album has sold over 10 million copies worldwide.[1]
In 2003, Justified was ranked as the 11th most popular album of the year on the Billboard 200.[122] According to Billboard, as of 2022, Justified is one of the 15 best-performing 21st-century albums without any of its singles being number-one hits on the Billboard Hot 100.[123]
Notes