Finally (Blackstreet album)

Finally is the third album from R&B group Blackstreet. It was released on Interscope Records on March 23, 1999. Finally was the only album to feature Terrell Phillips, after the departure of Mark Middleton.[9] After the success of their multi-platinum last album Another Level, their label allowed them a bigger budget for the next album. Finally was recorded at Teddy Riley's studio Future Recording Studios based in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Originally given the working title Get Higher, the album was scheduled for a November 1998 release until it was pushed back to March 1999.[10]

Finally
Studio album by
Blackstreet
ReleasedMarch 23, 1999 (U.S.)
Recorded1998
StudioFuture Recording Studios
(Virginia Beach, Virginia, U.S.)
Genre
Length56:46
LabelInterscope
ProducerTeddy Riley, Warryn Campbell, Eric Williams
Blackstreet chronology
Another Level
(1996)		 Finally
(1999)		 Level II
(2003)
Singles from Finally
  1. "Take Me There"
    Released: November 30, 1998
  2. "Girlfriend/Boyfriend"
    Released: May 25, 1999
  3. "Think About You"
    Released: July 31, 1999
  4. "In a Rush"
    Released: January 22, 2000
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic[2]
The Baltimore Sun[3]
Entertainment WeeklyB+[4]
Hartford Courant(favorable)[5]
NME(6/10)[6]
Q[7]
Rolling Stone[8]
Spin(8/10)[7]
Vibe(favorable)[7]

The album has high-profile guests, such as Janet Jackson, Stevie Wonder and Hezekiah Walker. The album also features several songs with string arrangements from conductor Jeremy Lubbock.[11] The music video for the single "Girlfriend/Boyfriend" was directed by Joseph Kahn. Complete with computer animation and 3D graphics, the video was considered to be one of the most expensive at the time.[12] Finally was critically acclaimed but a commercial disappointment, moving units at only a fraction of what their previous album sold. Shortly after the release of the single "Think About You", Riley left Blackstreet to reform his previous group Guy and Blackstreet were subsequently dropped by Interscope Records.[13]

Despite the album's failure, a couple of songs have been covered by other artists. British singer Sonique covered the song "Drama" on her album Hear My Cry as a duet with R&B singer Calvin Richardson. Korean pop group SS501 later covered the song "In A Rush" live in one of their concert performances.[14]

Track listing
No.TitleProducer(s), *Co-producerLength
1."Blackstreet Intro/Can You Feel Me"Teddy Riley, Kaseem Coleman*4:22
2."Girlfriend/Boyfriend" (with Janet Jackson featuring Ja Rule and Eve)Teddy Riley4:03
3."Yo Love" (featuring Sauce Money)Teddy Riley, Walter "Mucho" Scott*4:43
4."I Got What You On" (featuring Beanie Sigel)Teddy Riley, Davel McKenzie*4:12
5."Drama/Misery Interlude"Teddy Riley, Eric Williams, Wesley Hoggs*, Darryl "Dezo" Adams*7:39
6."I'm Sorry"Teddy Riley5:26
7."Think About You"Teddy Riley4:36
8."Black & White"Teddy Riley, Jack Knight*, Screwface*3:38
9."In A Rush" (featuring Stevie Wonder)Teddy Riley, Warryn Campbell4:09
10."Hustler's Prayer"Teddy Riley, Trevis Williams*, Jodie Wilson*4:48
11."Finally" (featuring Hezekiah Walker & Love Fellowship Tabernacle)Teddy Riley4:54
12."Take Me There (Remix)" (featuring Mýa)Teddy Riley, Gerald Baillergeau, Victor Merritt4:14
13."On the Floor (Enhanced CD bonus track)" (featuring Queen Pen)Teddy Riley, Jack Knight*, Screwface*4:22

Charts
Chart (1999) Peak
position
Canada Albums Chart 11
China Albums Chart 34
German Albums Chart 34
French Albums Chart [15] 33
Netherlands Albums Chart 21
UK Albums Chart 27
U.S. Billboard 200 9
U.S. Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums -

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[16] Gold 50,000^
United States (RIAA)[17] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. "Finally - Blackstreet | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic". AllMusic.
  2. Allmusic review
  3. The Baltimore Sun review
  4. Entertainment Weekly review
  5. Hartford Courant review
  6. NME review
  7. Album reviews at CD Universe
  8. Rolling Stone review
  9. Ivory. "SoulBounce's Class Of 1994: Blackstreet 'Blackstreet'". soulbounce.com. Soul Bounce. Retrieved 2015-07-19.
  10. "Blackstreet - Get Higher". allmusic.com. All Media Network, LLC. Retrieved 2015-12-23.
  11. "Arranging Credits 1". Jeremy Lubbock. jeremylubbock.com. Retrieved 2012-08-27.
  12. "SoYouWanna know the ten most expensive music videos?". soyouwanna.com. Archived from the original on 2012-08-26. Retrieved 2012-08-28.
  13. DeCurtis, Anthony (August 2000). "Blackstreet's Chauncey "C-Black" Hannibal tells all about Teddy Riley". Vibe Magazine- August 2000. Retrieved 2012-08-28.
  14. "SS501 - In A Rush ((LIVE)) Original by BlackStreet". Live Performance. youtube.com. Archived from the original on 2021-12-14. Retrieved 2012-08-28.
  15. "Album performance". AustrianCharts. Retrieved 2007-05-09.
  16. "Canadian album certifications – Blackstreet – Finally". Music Canada. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
  17. "American album certifications – Blackstreet – Finally". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved October 21, 2023.
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