The Diary of Alicia Keys
The Diary of Alicia Keys is the second studio album by American singer Alicia Keys. It was released on December 2, 2003, by J Records. The album was recorded at several recording studios, and production was handled primarily by Keys with contributions from Kanye West and Kerry Brothers Jr., who described it as "an R&B album".[3]
The Diary of Alicia Keys
December 2, 2003
Late 2002 – August 2003
- Kampo
- KrucialKeys
- Quad
- The Hit Factory (New York City)
- Hit Factory Criteria (Miami)
- Plus XXX (Paris)
- Sarm West (London)
- Soundwise (Amsterdam)
57:45
- Alicia Keys
- Kerry Brothers, Jr.
- Kanye West
- Timbaland
- Dre & Vidal
- Easy Mo Bee
- D'wayne Wiggins
- Kumasi
Upon its release, The Diary of Alicia Keys received generally positive reviews from music critics. The album debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 618,000 copies in its first week. It became Keys's second consecutive number-one debut in the United States and spawned three top-ten singles. The Diary of Alicia Keys earned Keys three Grammy Awards at the 47th Annual Grammy Awards. The album has sold over five million units in the United States and over eight million copies worldwide.
In 2023 the album was reissued for its 20th anniversary under the title The Diary Of Alicia Keys 20, with nine additional tracks. At the 66th Annual Grammy Awards the album won for Best Immersive Audio Album.
Singles[edit]
"You Don't Know My Name" was released as the lead single from The Diary of Alicia Keys on November 10, 2003.[43] It peaked at number three on the US Billboard Hot 100 and atop the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, becoming her second Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs number-one.[44][45] The song's accompanying music video, directed by Chris Robinson and Andrew Young, features Keys as a waitress at a restaurant and rapper Mos Def playing Michael Harris, her love interest. At the 47th Annual Grammy Awards (2005), the song won the Grammy Award for Best R&B Song.[46] "You Don't Know My Name" was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on August 11, 2020, for shipping 500,000 units in the United States.[47]
"If I Ain't Got You" was released as the second single on February 23, 2004.[48] It peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 and became her second consecutive Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs number-one.[44][45] Its accompanying music video, directed by Diane Martel, is set in a wintry New York City and features a cameo by rapper and actor Method Man as Keys' on-screen boyfriend.[49] The song outpeaked its Billboard Hot 100 position on the 2004 Billboard Hot 100 year-end chart, placing at number three,[50] while being number one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs year-end chart.[51] At the 47th Annual Grammy Awards, the song won for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, while being nominated for Song of the Year.[46] On August 11, 2020, "If I Ain't Got You" was certified quadruple platinum by the RIAA for shipments of four million units.[52]
"Diary" was released as the third single on May 24, 2004.[53] It became Keys' third consecutive Billboard Hot 100 top-ten single, peaking at number eight, while peaking at number two on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.[44][45] The song's music video, directed by Lamont "Liquid" Burrell, Rod Isaacs, Jeff Robinson, and Brian Campbell, contains footage of several live concerts from both the Verizon Ladies First Tour (2004), which Keys took part in, and her own Diary Tour (2005). At the 47th Annual Grammy Awards, the song was nominated for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals. "Diary" was certified gold by the RIAA on August 11, 2020.[54]
"Karma" was released as the fourth and final single on November 1, 2004.[55] It became the album's only single to miss the top ten on both Billboard Hot 100 and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, peaking at numbers 20 and 17 on the charts, respectively.[44][45] The music video for "Karma", directed by Chris Robinson and Keys herself, was filmed over three days in August 2004, with parts shot in New York City and at Casa de Campo's Altos de Chavón amphitheatre.[56] At the 2005 MTV Video Music Awards, the video earned Keys the award for Best R&B Video. "Karma" was certified gold by the RIAA twice–on September 27, 2005, and on August 11, 2020.[57]
Commercial performance[edit]
The Diary of Alicia Keys debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 618,000 copies in its first week.[87] This became Keys' second consecutive number-one debut.[87] It was the highest first-week sales by a female artist of the year. In its second week, the album dropped to number two on the chart, selling an additional 324,000 copies,[88] but returned to the top in its third week with 370,000 units sold.[89] The album spent 88 weeks on the chart, leaving at number 198 in 2005. By January 2006, the album had sold 4.4 million copies in the United States.[90] On August 11, 2020, the album was certified quintuple platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for combined sales and album-equivalent units of five million units in the United States.[91]
In the United Kingdom, The Diary of Alicia Keys debuted at number 13 on the UK Albums Chart and atop the UK R&B Albums Chart.[92][93] The album was certified platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for shipping 300,000 units.[94] It reached the top ten in Finland, France, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands and Norway, while peaking at number one in Switzerland[95] and number five on the European Top 100 Albums.[96] By November 2007, the album had sold over eight million copies worldwide.[97]
Notes
Sample credits