Shontelle

2008–2009: Shontelligence[edit]

Shontelle began work on her debut studio album in early 2008, and completed the album in six months. The album's title was given to her by the album's engineer who used the word "shontelligence" as a joke after Shontelle and her producers were playing a game that involved making up words from her name.^[4] "T-Shirt", Shontelle's debut single, was released in July 2008 and reached number thirty-six on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming a moderate hit. However, it peaked within the top ten of the charts in Belgium and the United Kingdom.^[4]


Shontelle's debut album, Shontelligence, was released on 18 November 2008. The album reached number 115 on the US Billboard 200,^[5] selling 6,200 records in its first week,^[6] and reached number twenty-four on the R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.^[5] It was re-released on 10 March 2009, and has since sold 30,000 records in the US.^[6]


The second single from the album, "Stuck with Each Other", featuring Akon, was released in February 2009 in the US and May 2009 in the UK. The single failed to chart in the US, but reached number 23 in the United Kingdom. Shontelle toured as a supporting act for the UK leg of the New Kids on the Block World Tour in January 2009. Shontelle was also Beyoncé's opening act for her I Am... World Tour from May to June 2009 during the British leg.^[7] Shontelle Also began writing songs for many artists in Barbados including the 2007 crop over hit Roll It Gyal for the Queen of Soca Alison Hinds and the 2018 crop over hit Winners for Shanta Prince. Shontelle was also the host of My Prom Style! and Universal Motown's 2009 Ultimate Prom fashion reality series. She performed at a high school prom in New York City in June 2009, but first she led three students in a competition to design the dress that singer Kat DeLuna, the headliner, would wear at the Ultimate Prom concert.^[8] Shontelle As of 2012, Shontelligence has sold 50,000 copies in the US.