A Different Me

A Different Me
Studio album by Keyshia Cole
Released	December 16, 2008
Recorded	2007–08
Genre	R&B, soul
Label	Imani, Geffen, Interscope
Producer	Keyshia Cole (exec.), Manny Halley (exec.), Ron Fair (exec.), Polow da Don, The Runners, The Outsyders, Kwamé, Orthodox & Ransom, Carvin & Ivan, Toxic, Tank, Jason T. Miller, Theron "Neffu" Feemster, Reo, The ARE, Poke & Tone, Spandor
Keyshia Cole chronology
Just like You (2007) A Different Me (2008) Calling All Hearts (2010)
Singles from A Different Me
"Playa Cardz Right" Released: October 28, 2008 "You Complete Me" Released: January 20, 2009 "Trust" Released: May 5, 2009

A Different Me is the third studio album by American R&B singer Keyshia Cole, released on December 16, 2008 in the United States.^[1][2] The album has been certified platinum by the RIAA.^[3]

Conception

A Different Me focuses less on heartache and more on maturity of her vocals and lyrics.^[4] Cole explained that, "The first two albums were more…painful. It's a different me this time: a young woman who's still growing and finding myself, exploring life through different routes musically and in other areas. I wrote more about other people's situations than my own. I'm moving forward."^[2]

On the songwriting process, Cole stated, "When I hear something, I hear it—it doesn't take me three, four, five times to hear a song and say, 'OK, let's write.' If I don't write to it right off the bat, it's not working."^[2] All the songs on the album were written or co-written by Cole.^[5] Guest appearances include Amina, Nas, Monica and 2Pac.^[5] Along with the album, Cole was developing a movie based on her life. A screenwriter has develop the script with Cole in 2009.^[2]

The lead single of the album, "Playa Cardz Right" featuring Tupac Shakur, was released on October 21, 2008. It originally appeared on Tupac's Pac's Life, but was rearranged by Cole and producers Ron Fair and Carvin & Ivan.^[2]

Release and promotion

Before the album was released, BET released the third and final season of her reality show, Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is which showed her in the process of finishing the album and writing a movie. Guests during the season include Ron Fair, Polow Da Don, Monica, and Shirley Murdock.

The album was released on December 16, 2008. Earlier that week, Cole made an appearance on BET's 106 and Park being interviewed and introducing the video to "Playa Cardz Right". Cole also embarked on the I Am Music Tour in late 2008 and A Different Me Tour in the summer of 2009. She was featured in magazines Billboard, WordUp and VIBE from winter of 2008 to spring of 2009.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[6]
The Boston Globe	(favorable)[7]
Daily News	[8]
Entertainment Weekly	(B)[9]
Hollywood Reporter	(favorable)[10]
New York Times	(mixed)[11]
Rolling Stone	[12]
Slant	[13]
Spin	[14]
USA Today	[15]

Critical response

The album received generally favorable reviews. Andy Kellman of Allmusic gave the album four out of five stars, calling the album "Cole's most free-spirited and adventurous album to date", going on to say that there are "at least seven songs here that rate as highly as the best from the first two albums".^[16] Jim Farber of Daily News also gave the album four out of five stars, noting that "Cole's assertions of sweetness and light hardly prove as seamless, or simple, as her songs declare". He declares that "her makeover feels less like a day at the spa than a night at the shrink", going on to say that "instead of seeming harrowing or dark", the album's result is "soulful and fulfilling".^[17] The Boston Globe said that "Cole emphatically dares to be different—and pretty great".^[18] On the contrary, Jon Caramanica of The New York Times noted that Cole "let go of her doubt", going on to say that "it's missed".^[19]

Commercial performance

The album debuted at number two on the U.S. Billboard 200, selling 322,000 copies in its first week, giving Cole her best week sales.^[20] In its second week, the album fell to number seven, selling 127,000 copies.^[21] In its third and fourth week, the album remained at number seven, selling 54,000 and 37,000 copies, respectively.^[22][23] In its fifth week, the album fell to number nine, selling 31,000 copies.^[24] In its sixth week, the album climbed to number six, selling 31,000 copies.^[25] In its seventh week, the album fell to number eight, selling 31,000 copies.^[26] In its eighth week, the album fell to number ten. Despite the two tracks not being singles, "Beautiful Music" and "Where This Love Could End Up" both made it on the US R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart at #95 and #79. The album has sold over 1,000,000 copies in the U.S.^[27]

Singles

• "Playa Cardz Right" was the debut single featuring a posthumous release from rap icon, Tupac Shakur. The song was originally featured on Pac's Life (2006) before being remastered. It was produced by Carvin & Ivan and Ron Fair. The video was released on BET's Access Granted on October 30, 2008 and was officially released on October 31, 2008. It peaked at number nine on Billboard's US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.
• "You Complete Me" was the second single. It was featured on Cole's Myspace page in December and was officially released on January 20, 2009. It was produced by Theron Feemster and Ron Fair. It peaked at number seven on Billboard's US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.
• "Trust" was the third single. Originally recorded as a solo by Cole and released as an iTunes bonus track to her previous project, Just like You, it was rerecorded featuring vocals from R&B singer and friend, Monica. It was produced by Toxic and Ron Fair. The video premiered on April 9, 2009 and peaked at number one on BET's 106 & Park. It peaked at number five on Billboard's US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, becoming the most successful single of the album.
• "No Other" was to be the fourth and final single of the album. Although the single was never officially released, it did receive radio airplay and a music video.^[28]

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"A Different Me" (Intro)		Reo	1:47
2.	"Make Me Over" (Contains interpolations of Ike & Tina Turner's "Tina's Wish")	E. Dean, Polow da Don, K. Cole[29]	Polow da Don & Ron Fair	3:05
3.	"Please Don't Stop"	K. Cole, A. Harr, J Jackson, R. Fair	The Runners & Ron Fair	4:04
4.	"Erotic"	K. Cole, T. Feemster, R. Fair	"THE-RON" Feemster (Additional Production by Ron Fair)	4:10
5.	"You Complete Me"	K. Cole, T.O. Feemster,	"THE-RON" Feemster (Additional Production by Ron Fair)	3:51
6.	"No Other" (featuring Amina Harris)	K. Cole, Kwame, J. Pyser, J Guido, A. Harris	Kwamé (Additional Production by Ron Fair)	3:34
7.	"Oh-Oh, Yeah-Yea" (featuring Nas)	K. Cole, N. Jones, N. Briscoe, R. Akinyemi	The Outsyders	3:58
8.	"Playa Cardz Right" (featuring 2Pac)	T. Shakur, K. Cole, J. Jackson, C Haggins, I Barias, Y. Fula, T. Himes, M Harding	Carvin & Ivan and Ron Fair	4:51
9.	"Brand New"	K. Cole	Additional Production by Ron Fair	4:16
10.	"Trust" (with Monica)	K. Cole, F. Taylor	Toxic Donald Alford and Ron Fair	4:13
11.	"Thought You Should Know"	K. Cole, J. Bereal, T. Jones	Tank and Ron Fair	4:18
12.	"This Is Us"	E. Bogart, V. Hort, J.T. Miller	Ron Fair and Jason T. Miller	3:16
13.	"Where This Love Could End Up"	K. Cole, J. C. Oliver, S.J. Barnes, R. Gonzalez	Poke & Tone and The ARE	2:55
14.	"Beautiful Music"	K. Cole, J. C. Oliver, S.J. Barnes, A. Mosley	Poke & Tone and Spanador	3:59
15.	"A Different Me" (Outro)	K. Cole, R. Owen	Reo	1:31

iTunes Store bonus tracks
No.	Title	Producer(s)	Length
16.	"Playa Cardz Right (No Rap Version)"	Carvin & Ivan and Ron Fair	3:57
17.	"I Love You (Part 3)" (featuring Lil Wayne))	Carvin & Ivan and Ron Fair	4:23

Personnel

"Toxic" Donald Alford – music producer (Track 10) Ivan "Orthodox" Barias – record producer (Track 8), all other instruments (8) Keyshia Cole – executive producer, vocal arrangement (Tracks 1-4, 6-7, 9-12, 14-15), A&R, vocal producer 1-4, 6-7, 9-12, 14-15) Claudio Cueni – 2Pac original vocal recording engineer (Track 8) Esther Dean – vocal arrangement, vocal producer (Track 2) Bojan Dugich – recording engineer (Track 13-14) Mike "Angry" Eleopoulos – recording engineer (All Tracks) Eric Eylands – audio mixing assistant (Track 10) Ron Fair – organ (Track 2), harmonica (5-6, 8-12, 14), horn conductor (2, 7, 13), producer (2-6, 8-11, 14), vibraphone (5, 8-9, 11), executive producer, vocal arrangement (1-4, 6, 9-12, 14-15), horn arrangements (2, 7, 13), string arrangements (3-6, 8-14), vocal producer (1-4, 6, 9-12, 14-15), string conductor (3-6, 8-14) Ron Feemster – drums (Track 5), additional keyboards (5), music producer (4-5), additional instruments (4-5) Bernie Grundman – mastering Josh Gudwin – recording engineer (Track 2) Carvin "Ransum" Haggins – record producer (Track 8) Manny Halley – executive producer, A&R, management Tal Herzberg – recording engineer (Track 2), Pro-Tools music editing (Tracks 1-5, 7-12, 14-15) Dan Higgins – flute (Track 14) Nate Hill – assistant recording engineer (Track 2) Buffy Hubelbank – production coordination (All Tracks) Chris James – recording engineer (Track 4) Johnny "J" – original 2Pac vocal recording producer (Track 8) Ryan Kennedy – assistant recording engineer (Tracks 2-3, 9, 11)

Kid Named Cus – recording engineer (Track 6) Jonathan Merritt – audio mixing assistant (All Tracks) Jason T. Miller – producer (Track 12), guitar, synths Peter Mokran – audio mixing (Tracks 2-3, 6, 8, 10-12) James Murray – recording engineer (Track 5) Vek Neal – illustrations Outsyders – music producer, recording engineer (Track 7) Carlos Oyanedel – audio mixing assistant (Tracks 1, 4, 15) Dave Pensado – audio mixing (Tracks 5, 9, 13) Jason Perry – drums (Track 2) Poke & Tone – music producer (Tracks 13-14) Polow da Don – music producer (Track 2) James Poyser – additional music producer (Track 6) David "DQ" Quinones – recording engineer (Track 12) Josh "Guido" Rivera – guitar (Track 6) Mike Ruiz – photography The Runners – music producer, recording engineer (Track 3) Allen Sides – string recording engineer (Tracks 5-6, 8, 10, 14) Johnnie "Smurf" Smith – keyboards (Track 8) Phil Tan – audio mixing (Tracks 1, 4, 15) Tank – music producer (Track 11) Eric Weaver – audio mixing assistant (Tracks 2-3, 6, 8, 11) Frank Wolf – string recording engineer (Track 3, 9, 11-13) Andrew Wuepper – audio mixing assistant (Tracks 7, 9)

Chart history

Chart (2008)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard 200[30]	2
U.S. Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums[31]	1

References

1. "Keyshia Cole official site". KeyshiaCole.com. Retrieved November 7, 2008.
2. Mitchell, Gail (November 7, 2008). "Keyshia Cole Shows A New Side Of 'Me'". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. Retrieved November 7, 2008.
3. "RIAA – Gold & Platinum". RIAA. Retrieved March 19, 2009.
4. "BET Keeps it all in the Family with the Return of 'Keyshia Cole: The Way It Is' and the New Original Series 'Brothers To Brutha'". MarketWatch. November 6, 2008. Retrieved November 7, 2008.
5. "Keyshia Cole Set to Release 3rd CD – 'A Different Me'". MarketWatch. November 12, 2008. Retrieved 2008-11-15.
6. A Different Me at AllMusic
7. Boston Globe review
8. New York Daily News Review
9. EW review
10. Hollywood Reporter Review
11. The New York Time Review
12. "Rolling Stone Review". Archived from the original on January 29, 2009. Retrieved 2009-01-29.
13. Slant Review
14. Spin Review
15. USA Today review
16. Kellman, Andy. "A Different Me – Overview". Allmusic. Retrieved December 29, 2008.
17. Farber, Jim (December 21, 2008). "A Keyshia Cole front". Daily News. Mortimer Zuckerman. Retrieved December 29, 2008.
18. "Keyshia Cole, A Different Me". The Boston Globe. The New York Times Company. December 15, 2008. Retrieved December 29, 2008.
19. Caramanica, Jon (December 14, 2008). "Critics' Choice – New CDs". The New York Times. The New York Times Company. Retrieved December 29, 2008.
20. Cohen, Jonathan (December 24, 2008). "Taylor Swift Trumps Big Debuts To Stay No. 1". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. Retrieved December 24, 2008.
21. Hasty, Katie (December 31, 2008). "Taylor Swift Reigns Again on Billboard 200". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. Retrieved December 31, 2008.
22. Hasty, Katie (January 7, 2009). "Taylor Swift Still in Control of Billboard 200". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. Retrieved January 7, 2009.
23. Hasty, Katie (January 14, 2009). "Taylor Swift Tops Album Chart For Sixth Week". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. Retrieved January 14, 2009.
24. Hasty, Katie (January 21, 2009). "Swift Makes It Lucky Seven Atop Billboard 200". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. Retrieved January 21, 2009.
25. Hasty, Katie (January 28, 2009). "Taylor Swift Album Starts Eighth Week at No. 1". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. Retrieved January 28, 2009.
26. Hasty, Katie (February 2, 2009). "Springsteen Has 'Dream' Debut Atop Album Chart". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. Retrieved February 2, 2009.
27. "No. 1 or not, Keyshia Cole is still growing". Yahoo! Music. Yahoo!. December 21, 2010. Retrieved July 12, 2012.
28. Keyshia Cole teases fans with new single and tour. http://www.behance.net/gallery/Keyshia-Cole-No-Other/4546693
29. Copyright Catalog. United States Copyright Office. Search by Registration number, PA0001733233. Retrieved on 2011-06-06.
30. "The Billboard 200 – A Different Me – Keyshia Cole". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. Archived from the original on January 1, 2015. Retrieved December 31, 2008.
31. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – A Different Me – Keyshia Cole". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. Retrieved December 31, 2008.