Romanticism

Romanticism is the second studio album by American recording artist Kenya, released on October 27, 2014 by Blacklight Records. It was recorded between April and July 2014, three years after Kenya's debut release Harlem Renaissance (2011). As executive producer, Kenya enlisted a number of top producers, including DJ Christian Stone, Dev Hynes, Mike WiLL Made It, Noah "40" Shebib and Timbaland. Kenya chose not to include any collaborations with other recording artists in order to let the album "stand on its own two feet." Romanticism is mainly a pop and R&B album that incorporates elements of alternative music, hip hop and EDM in its production.

Kenya released the buzz single "I Been On That" in August 2014. Ahead of the album's release, Kenya unveiled three promotional singles — "Part II (Indian Oceans)", "I'll Always Fuck U" and "Romance V3", culminating in the release of the album and its second official single "We're Already There". The album became Kenya's second number one solo chart-topper, selling over 100,000 copies in its first week. Following the album's release, Romanticism spawned three further singles — "Northern Star" (which reached number one), "Candlelight" and "Sleep Alone Tonight". It was also promoted with Kenya's second headlining tour as a solo act, 2015's Romance World Tour.

Upon its release, Romanticism received generally positive reviews from music critics, who commended its expansive production, emotional themes, and Kenya's songwriting. It was included on year-end lists by several publications, including The New York Times and Los Angeles Times, both of which ranked it number one, and received a nomination for Best R&B/Urban Album at the 26th Urapopstar Awards.

Background and production
In late 2010, Kenya released her debut solo single, "White Bitches (Pat My Weave)", after rising to fame with the award-winning girl group Tiger Tiger. The following year, Kenya released her debut solo album Harlem Renaissance (2011). The album was rooted in pop, R&B, and dance, but also incorporated a variety of other musical genres such as hip hop and dubstep. Harlem Renaissance topped the albums chart, as did the Twisted Disco-produced lead single "Vodka Bomb". The album spawned two more singles and a tour of the same name. Kenya reformed with Tiger Tiger to release their second album Tiger II (2011). In 2012, Kenya joined forces with Loretta Lambert to form Birds of Prey. The "super duo" released a number one album and a hat trick of top three singles, including a number one hit. Following the band's dissolution, a tabloid-pushed war of words erupted between the pair.

Kenya confirmed in July 2014 that she had been working on her sophomore solo album, following a three-year wait. It was confirmed that she had signed a solo deal with Birds of Prey's label Blacklight Records, following the closure of her previous solo label Saturdays Records in 2011. Kenya revealed that she had been working with Brian Kennedy, Mike WiLL Made It, Noah "40" Shebib and Timbaland among others. She explained her interest in developing new soundscapes: "I love experimenting and I love working with different sounds and putting them together so they’re not one-dimensional." In August 2014, it was confirmed that Kenya had been working with American DJ Christian Stone on a number of dance tracks for Romanticism.

Music and lyrics
Romanticism features an atmospheric sound that is characterized by low-key musical elements and incorporates R&B, pop, hip-hop, and electronic dance styles. Kenya's lyrics mostly eschew boastful raps for introspective lyrics that deal with topics such as intimacy, failed romances, fear, growing wealth and fame, and despondency. The album has been noted by music writers for its minimalist R&B elements, candid lyrics, and Kenya's further experimentation with rapped vocals. Kenya's work with producers Noah "40" Shebib and Dev Hynes (also known under the moniker Blood Orange) experiments with "murky" alternative R&B, while other producers' tracks are more up-tempo and shift from the melancholic mood.

The opening track "We're Already There" was inspired by R&B and pop music of the 1980s in an attempt to "create something with a timeless melody," according to Kenya. The song's lyrics urge the protagonist's lover to give in to love with the chorus saying, "Look around you, babe, we're already there." "Part II (Indian Oceans)" is an "electro-R&B love ballad" that contains a sample of Tiger Tiger's 2009 album track "'09 Bonnie & Clyde". Lyrically, the song continues the story of two lovers on the run. Romanticism continues with "Sunsets Over," a two-minute interlude that segues into "Fortune's Fool", produced by Pharrell Williams. The former is a down-tempo, "chilled-out" song, while the latter is "breakbeat-heavy." "Fortune's Fool" ponders what a failed relationship could have been.

"I'll Always Fuck U" is a "moody" track that speaks of staying in a relationship for sex. Like much of the album, the track has been noticed for its "PBR&B" sound. "Romance V3" is a mashup of Aaliyah's "Rock the Boat" and Orchestral Manoeuvres in the Dark's "The Romance of the Telescope", originally produced by Girls On Top (Richard X) and re-produced here by Christian Stone. "Northern Star" and "Love In Summer", both produced by Stone, are pop tracks with EDM influences and lyrics that speak of being in love. "Light It Up (Grape Swisher)" is an R&B song with trap influences. Lyrically, it has been described as a "sex song."

"Baby What About Us?" is an R&B song with pop and electronic influences, written with and produced by Dev Hynes (also known under the moniker Blood Orange). The song is about the dissolution of a once-happy relationship. "Sleep Alone Tonight", produced by Noah "40" Shebib, mourns a lost lover as Kenya sings, "In my dreams I'm hopeful I might / Not have to sleep alone tonight." "Chemistry" is a "throwback" to '90s R&B, while "Candlelight" is a piano ballad that sees Kenya take on her first full rap verse. The album closes with lead single "I Been On That", a red herring in that it does not talk about love. Instead, the song is a diss track.

The deluxe edition features solo versions of "King" and "Paper Tigers", tracks written by Kenya for Tiger Tiger's sophomore album Tiger II (2011). The album spawned only one single, so Kenya decided to revisit the songs here.

Critical reception
Romanticism received generally positive reviews from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 78, based on 34 reviews. John McDonnell of NME dubbed it "an affecting masterpiece" and commended its "delicate, mellifluous sound and unashamedly candid, emotive lyrics." Pitchfork Media's Ryan Dombal found Kenya's "technical abilities" to be improved and stated, "Just as his thematic concerns have become richer, so has the music backing them up." Chicago Tribune writer Greg Kot complimented the depth of Kenya's lyrics and stated, "the best of it affirms that Kenya is shaping a pop persona with staying power." Nitsuh Abebe of New York wrote that the album "is full of gorgeous tones ... And the lyrics surrounding them can be rich with meaning." Evan Rytlewski of The A.V. Club found it "plenty downbeat, but [also] gorgeous, an immersive headphone masterwork that's tender and intimate like little else in contemporary rap and R&B."

In a mixed review, Kyle Anderson of Entertainment Weekly panned its content as "one overlong woozy monologue" and called the album a "total downer", adding that "Kenya half-bakes her monotonous croon and glazes it with sluggish keyboard hums, stalling the album’s momentum." Alex Macpherson of The Guardian found Kenya's singing "insipid", her rapping "inert", and her lyrics "hollow", writing that "she doesn't seem to realise that introspection is only worth a damn if you're an interesting person."

According to Metacritic, Romanticism was the ninth best ranked album in year-end top 10 lists by music critics, based on 135 lists. It was named the best album of 2012 by the Los Angeles Times and The New York Times, and was ranked number three by Now and MTV, number four by Slate, number five by Billboard and The Washington Post, number seven by Fact, number eight by The Globe and Mail, NPR, and Pitchfork Media, number 14 by Slant Magazine, and number 22 by Rolling Stone and Spin.

Commercial performance
Romanticism charted at number one in its opening week of release, shifting 104,475 copies. Following Kenya's debut album Harlem Renaissance (2011), it became her second solo record to top the charts (her third overall if you consider Birds of Prey's self–titled 2012 release. Romanticism sold an additional 92,688 copies at number three in its second week on the albums chart. It slipped to number ten in its third week before dropping out of the top ten. The following week, Romanticism was certified silver. The album quickly fell down the charts amidst the Christmas rush, resurfacing in the top twenty in its tenth week of release ahead of third single "Northern Star". As the single topped charts, Romanticism re-entered the top ten at number six. The next week, it returned to the top five and received a gold certification for selling over 500,000 copies. The album spent an additional week in the top ten. With the release of "Candlelight", Romanticism returned to number ten in the chart for the week ending March 29, 2015.

Singles and promotion
Kenya released the buzz single "I Been On That" in August 2014, which outsold all of her previous singles. Ahead of the album's release, Kenya unveiled three promotional singles in a partnership with iTunes — "Part II (Indian Oceans)", "I'll Always Fuck U" and "Romance V3". In the gap between these promotional singles, Kenya partnered with VEVO for a series of videos dubbed Romanticism Sessions, recorded at an unannounced and "intimate" concert at New York's Brooklyn Bowl. On October 27, to accompany the release of Romanticism, Kenya released the album's second official single "We're Already There".

"Northern Star" was released as the album's third single on January 5, 2015. Despite an underwhelming promotional campaign, the dance track became Kenya's second single as a solo artist to reach the pole position. "Northern Star" became one of the most played tracks in clubs across the United Kingdom and the United States, as well as many other countries. It became Kenya's first single to peak at number one on the US Hot Dance Club Songs and Hot Dance/Electronic Songs charts. The track was followed by R&B ballad "Candlelight" in late March, becoming the album's fourth top three hit.

Kenya launched the Romance World Tour in late April 2015.