Chapter II (album)

For other uses, see Chapter II (disambiguation).

Chapter II
Studio album by Ashanti
Released	July 1, 2003 (United States)
Recorded	Crackhouse Studios (New York) SoundCastle Studios (Los Angeles)
Genre	R&B, pop, hip hop, hip hop soul, soul
Length	65:04
Label	Murder Inc., Island Def Jam
Producer	Ashanti Douglas (exec.) Irv Gotti (exec.) Chink Santana
Ashanti chronology
Ashanti (2002) Chapter II (2003) Ashanti's Christmas (2003)
Singles from Chapter II
"Rock Wit U (Awww Baby)" Released: July 1, 2003 "Rain on Me" Released: October 14, 2003 "Breakup 2 Makeup (Remix)" Released: 2004

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[1]
Blender	[2]
Entertainment Weekly	(B-)[3]
Mojo	[4]
Rolling Stone	[5]
Slant Magazine	[6]

Chapter II is the second studio album by American R&B singer Ashanti, released by Murder Inc. and Island Def Jam on July 1, 2003 in the United States. The album involves production by Irv Gotti and Chink Santana and features a guest appearance by Ja Rule. Chapter II spawned three singles including the Billboard Hot 100 number two song "Rock Wit U (Awww Baby)", the melodrama R&B-ballad "Rain on Me" and the Irv Gotti-produced "Breakup 2 Makeup (Remix)".

The album debut at number one on the Billboard 200 chart in July 2003 with first-week sales of 326,000 units. The album was certified Platinum on August 14, 2003. It earned Ashanti three Grammy nominations for Best Contemporary R&B Album, Best Female R&B Vocal Performance, and Best R&B Song.

Background

Chart performance

Chapter II debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 albums chart in July 2003 and Billboard's Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart at number one with first-week sales of 326,000 units sold. The album was certified Platinum by the RIAA on August 14, 2003 and remained on Billboard 200 album for 30 consecutive weeks. Chapter II has sold 1.5 million copies in the United States alone, according to Nielsen Soundscan. The album was the 54th best-selling album of 2003. As of 2007, the album has sold 3 million copies globally.^[7]

Singles

• The first single from the album "Rock Wit U (Awww Baby)" peaked at number two on Billboard Hot 100 and number four on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The single became a commercial success stateside and Ashanti's third top ten hit (solo). It was a moderate success internationally, it reached the top five in Canada and Japan, the top ten in United Kingdom, top twenty in Australia, and the top forty in Ireland, New Zealand, and Switzerland.
• The second single "Rain on Me", peaked at number seven on Billboard Hot 100 and number two on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The single became Ashanti's fourth top ten hit (solo) and another success stateside. It was a moderate success internationally, reaching the twenty in United Kingdom and the top forty in Canada.

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Intro/Medley"	Ashanti Douglas, 7 Aurelius, Irving Lorenzo, E. Jordan, M. DeBarge, R. Calhoun, A. Parker, Jeffery Atkins, T. Bell, L. Creed, T. Lane, L. Troutman, R. Troutman, M. Dean, B. Jordon	1:18
2.	"Shany's World" (featuring Chink Santana)	Douglas, Parker, Lorenzo	3:05
3.	"Rock wit U (Awww Baby)"	Douglas, Parker, Lorenzo	3:29
4.	"What Are They Gonna Say Now" (skit)		0:31
5.	"Breakup 2 Makeup"	Douglas, Parker, Lorenzo	3:41
6.	"I Found Lovin'"	Johnny Flippin, Michael L. Walker	4:15
7.	"Rain on Me"	Douglas, Parker, Lorenzo, Burt Bacharach, Hal David	4:57
8.	"Then Ya Gone" (featuring Chink Santana)	Douglas, Parker, Lorenzo, E. Isley, M. Isley, O. Isley, R. Isley, R. Isley, C. Jasper, Lorenzo	4:59
9.	"Living My Life"	Douglas, Parker, Lorenzo	3:46
10.	"Black Child" (skit)	Douglas, Parker, Lorenzo, R. Gills	1:28
11.	"Feel So Good"	Douglas, Parker, Lorenzo, Austin Johnson, Smead Hudman	4:31
12.	"Carry On"	Douglas, Parker, Lorenzo	3:15
13.	"The Sugar Shack" (skit)		1:10
14.	"The Story of 2"	Douglas, Parker, Lorenzo, Rick James	4:33
15.	"Ohhh Ahhh"	Douglas, Parker, Lorenzo	4:36
16.	"Shany Shia" (skit)		1:11
17.	"Sweet Baby"	Douglas, Atkins, Lorenzo, S. Aurelius, Al Green	4:08
18.	"U Say, I Say" (featuring Gunnz)	Douglas, Parker, Lorenzo	4:09
19.	"I Don't Mind"	Douglas, Parker, Lorenzo	5:04
20.	"Outro" (featuring Chink Santana)	Douglas, Parker, Lorenzo	0:58

Japan / UK Bonus Track
No.	Title	Length
21.	"I Know"

Japan Bonus Track
No.	Title	Length
22.	"Not Scared"

Samples

• "Rain on Me" contains a sample of "Look Of Love" by Isaac Hayes.
• "Then Ya Gone" contains a sample of "Ain't I Been Good to You" by The Isley Brothers.
• "Then Ya Gone" also contains a sample of "One Day" by UGK.
• "Feel So Good" contains a sample of "Playing Your Game, Baby" by Barry White.
• "The Story of 2" contains a sample of "Dream Maker" by Rick James.
• "Sweet Baby" contains a sample of "I'm Glad You're Mine" by Al Green.
• "U Say I Say" contains a sample of "Never Enough" by Groove Theory.

Charts and certifications

Chart (2003)	Peak position
Australian Albums Chart	19
Austrian Albums Chart	65
Canadian Albums Chart	5
Netherlands Albums Chart	26
German Albums Chart	12
French Albums Chart	62
New Zealand Albums Chart	22
Swiss Albums Chart	9
UK Albums Chart	5
US Billboard 200	1

Year-end charts

Year	Chart	Rank
2003	Billboard 200	54[8]
	Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums	27[9]

Credits

• Robert Bacon – bass guitar, guitar
• Ashanti Douglas – executive producer
• Duro – mixing
• Daniela Federici – photography
• Brian "Big Bass" Gardener – mastering
• Irv Gotti – producer, executive producer
• JJ – make-up
• Darcell Lawrence – A&R
• Demetrius McGhee – piano, soloist
• Rosie Michel – stylist
• Milwaukee Buck – engineer
• Rick Patrick – creative director
• Patrick "Plain Pat" Reynolds – A&R
• Chink Santana – producer
• Todd "Shortma" Simms – A&R
• Shereese Slate – hair stylist
• Laura Tamburino – art producer
• Tony Vanias – recording director
• Errol "Eezie" Vaughan Jr. – A&R assistance
• Andy West – art direction

Preceded by Dangerously in Love by Beyoncé

U.S. Billboard 200 number-one album July 19, 2003 – July 26, 2003

Succeeded by Bad Boys II Soundtrack

References

1. ^ Allmusic review
2. ^ Blender review
3. ^ Entertainment Weekly review
4. ^ Mojo review
5. ^ Rolling Stone review
6. ^ Slant Magazine review
7. ^ http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1077/is_5_60/ai_n12934945/
8. ^ http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/yearendcharts/2003/tlptitl.jsp
9. ^ http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/yearendcharts/2003/blptitl.jsp