Ella Mai (album)

Ella Mai is the debut studio album by English singer and songwriter Ella Mai, released on 12 October 2018 through 10 Summers and Interscope Records.[2] It includes the singles "Boo'd Up" and "Trip".[2] It is executive-produced by DJ Mustard, and features guest appearances from Chris Brown, John Legend, and H.E.R.[2]

This article is about the self-titled album. For the English singer, see Ella Mai.

Ella Mai
Studio album by
Ella Mai
Released12 October 2018 (2018-10-12)
Recorded2017–2018
GenreR&B[1]
Length52:06
Label
Producer
Ella Mai chronology
Ready
(2017)		 Ella Mai
(2018)		 Heart on My Sleeve
(2022)
Singles from Ella Mai
  1. "Boo'd Up"
    Released: 20 February 2018
  2. "Trip"
    Released: 3 August 2018
  3. "Shot Clock"
    Released: 29 January 2019

"Boo'd Up" was originally included on Mai's 2017 EP Ready and reached number five on the US Billboard Hot 100 in July 2018.[3] The follow-up single, "Trip", released in August 2018, has reached number 11.[3] After her own headline tour of the United States, Mai appeared as a supporting act on dates of Bruno Mars' 24K Magic World Tour from 4 October leading up to the release of the album.[4] The album debuted in the top 20 in the UK and at number five on the US Billboard 200. The album was nominated for Best R&B Album at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards.

Background

In August 2018, DJ Mustard explained to Billboard that upon signing Mai, there was a plan to make three EPs and see if any of the songs caught enough public attention to make an album.[5] Following the success of "Boo'd Up", DJ Mustard said: "So the plan worked. What people don't understand, this is like my little sister. This project coming is like my baby. I'm pressing for it more than my own shit. It's all about her right now."[5]

Music

The album has been called a "throwback R&B record",[1] with influences from trap and rap.[6][7] Interviewed by Keryce Chelsi Henry of Forbes, Ella Mai talked about the creative process and musical arrangements for the album:[7]

"Mustard and I really wanted to make sure that the album was cohesive with the EPs, sound-wise, but also elevated; [...] I worked with a few other producers on the album to add more variety, but as executive producer, Mustard really worked hard with me to expand our sound and create something that we love and are extremely proud of. [...] During the recording process I really had to dig deep, challenge and push myself to the limits. I hope that listening to Ella Mai makes you feel the exact same way I felt when I was recording it."

Critical reception
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic73/100[8]
Review scores
SourceRating
Albumism[9]
The Guardian[6]
The Observer[10]
Rolling Stone[11]
Pitchfork6.6/10[12]
NME[13]

Commercial performance

Ella Mai debuted at number 18 on the UK Albums Chart, becoming her first entry on that chart.[14] It was certified gold by the BPI in August 2022.[15]

In the United States, the album debuted at number 5 on the US Billboard 200, earning 69,000 album-equivalent units (including 17,000 were pure album sales) in its first week. This became Mai's highest entry on the chart.[16] Less than two weeks later, the album was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for combined sales and album-equivalent units of over 500,000 units in the United States.[17] In March 2019, the album was then certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for combined sales and album-equivalent units of over 1,000,000 units in the United States. As of October 2021, the album would go on to reach double platinum status for combined sales and album-equivalent units of over 2,000,000 units in the United States.[18]

Track listing

Adapted from Tidal, Mai's Twitter, DJ Mustard's Instagram, ASCAP, and BMI.[19][20]

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Emotion"Myles Jason Howell 0:12
2."Good Bad"
Rogues3:49
3."Dangerous"
Cox4:39
4."Sauce"
3:04
5."Whatchamacallit" (featuring Chris Brown)
  • DJ Mustard
  • Holt[a]
3:00
6."Cheapshot"
H*Money4:01
7."Shot Clock"
DJ Mustard3:21
8."Boo'd Up"
  • DJ Mustard
  • Rance[a]
3:59
9."Everything" (featuring John Legend)
  • McFarlane
  • Gulledge
  • Mai
  • Jeff Shum
  • Dayyon Alexander
  • Rush Hr.
  • DJ Mustard[a]
  • Gulledge[b]
3:01
10."Own It"
4:11
11."Run My Mouth"
DJ Mustard2:35
12."Gut Feeling" (featuring H.E.R.)
  • DJ Mustard
  • Gulledge[b]
3:56
13."Trip"
  • McFarlane
  • Mai
  • Wade
  • Gulledge
  • DJ Mustard
  • Gulledge
  • [b]
3:34
14."Close"
  • Mai
  • Wade
  • McFarlane
  • Bulledge
  • DJ Mustard
  • Gulledge[b]
4:12
15."Easy"
  • Peder Losnegård
  • Mai
  • Charles
  • McFarlane
  • Robbie Grey
  • Gary McDowell
  • Richard Brown
  • Michael Conroy
  • Stephen Walker
  • Gulledge
4:32
Total length:52:06
Digital bonus track / Target exclusive track & Japanese Bonus Tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
16."Naked"
  • Samuel Jean
  • Mai
  • McFarlane
  • Hook
  • Daniel Jean
  • Omer Fedi
  • Paul Jean
  • Nathalie Jean
  • Timothy Jean
  • Dimi Sloane Sesson II
  • Giscard Friedman
  • Andrew Groziuso
3:17
Japanese bonus tracks[21]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
17."Boo'd Up (Remix)" (featuring Nicki Minaj & Quavo)
3:37
Total length:59:07

Notes

  • ^[a] signifies a co-producer
  • ^[b] signifies an additional producer

Personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.[19]

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[39] Gold 35,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[40] Gold 40,000‡
New Zealand (RMNZ)[41] Gold 7,500‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[42] Gold 100,000‡
United States (RIAA)[43] 2× Platinum 2,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. Clark, Trent (21 September 2018). "Ella Mai Reveals Self-Titled Debut Album Cover Art & Release Date". HipHopDX. Retrieved 23 September 2018.
  2. Yoo, Noah (21 September 2018). "Ella Mai Announces Debut Album". Pitchfork. Retrieved 23 September 2018.
  3. "Ella Mai Chart History: Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Retrieved 26 September 2018.
  4. "Ella Mai Reveals Release Date, Cover Art for Debut Album". Rap-Up. 21 September 2018. Retrieved 23 September 2018.
  5. Saponara, Michael (21 September 2018). "Ella Mai Announces Eponymous Debut Album Release Date and Cover Art". Billboard. Retrieved 23 September 2018.
  6. Kasambala, Natty (12 October 2018). "Ella Mai: Ella Mai review – Boo'd Up singer's R&B statement of intent". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  7. Henry, Keryce Chelsi (15 October 2018). "Ella Mai Discusses Her Debut Album And Addition To Pepsi's The Sound Drop Platform". Forbes. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
  8. "Reviews and Tracks for Ella Mai by Ella Mai". Metacritic. Retrieved 12 June 2018.
  9. Hicks, Kenneth (16 October 2018). "Ella Mai Transcends Hefty Expectations by Crafting Diverse, Dynamic Eponymous Debut". Albumism. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  10. "Ella Mai: Ella Mai review – a missed opportunity". theguardian.com, The Observer. 14 October 2018. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  11. Leight, Ellias (12 October 2018). "Review: Ella Mai Shows 'Boo'd Up' Is No Fluke on Debut LP". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  12. Myers, Owen. "Review: Ella Mai". Pitchfork. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  13. Mylrea, Hannah (12 October 2018). "Ella Mai – 'Ella Mai' review". nme. Retrieved 16 October 2018.
  14. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  15. BPI Certified Awards Search
  16. Caulfield, Keith (21 October 2018). "'A Star Is Born' Soundtrack Spends Second Week at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Chart". Billboard. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
  17. "Gold & Platinum". Recording Industry Association of America.
  18. Ella Mai - Gold & Platinum
  21. "エラ・メイ". Universal Music Japan. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
  22. "Australiancharts.com – Ella Mai – Ella Mai". Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  23. "Ultratop.be – Ella Mai – Ella Mai" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  24. "Ultratop.be – Ella Mai – Ella Mai" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  25. "Rap Dominates This Week's Chart, But A Star Is Born Remains No. 1". FYIMusicNews. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  26. "Dutchcharts.nl – Ella Mai – Ella Mai" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  27. "Irish-charts.com – Discography Ella Mai". Hung Medien. Retrieved 20 October 2018.
  28. "Ella Mai on Billboard Japan Hot Albums". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved 23 September 2020.
  29. "Billboard Japan Top Download Albums". Billboard Japan. 29 October 2018. Retrieved 27 October 2018.
  30. "Ella Mai". Oricon. Retrieved 22 September 2020.
  31. "Charts.nz – Ella Mai – Ella Mai". Hung Medien. Retrieved 19 October 2018.
  32. "Ella Mai Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 23 October 2018.
  33. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2018". Billboard. 2 January 2013. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  34. "Top Selling Albums of 2019". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
  35. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2019". Billboard. 2 January 2013. Retrieved 6 December 2019.
  36. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2019". Billboard. 2 January 2013. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  37. "Top Selling Albums of 2020". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 7 December 2020.
  38. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2020". Billboard. 2 January 2013. Retrieved 5 December 2020.
  39. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2023 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  40. "Canadian album certifications – Ella Mai – Ella Mai". Music Canada. Retrieved 3 February 2022.
  41. "New Zealand album certifications – Ella Mai – Ella Mai". Recorded Music NZ. 26 April 2019. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
  42. "British album certifications – Ella Mai – Ella Mai". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  43. "American album certifications – Ella Mai – Ella Mai". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved 4 January 2020.
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