Simply Deep is the debut solo album by American singer Kelly Rowland, first released by Columbia Records on October 28, 2002 in North America, and by February 3, 2003 throughout most international territories. Recorded within the three weeks during the hiatus of former group Destiny's Child and upon the success of worldwide number-one hit single "Dilemma", a collaboration with rapper Nelly, the album facilitated Rowland in becoming a viable solo star. The album features guest appearances from Nelly, Solange Knowles and Joe Budden.

Simply Deep debuted and peaked at number twelve on the Billboard 200 in the US, selling 77,000 copies on the first week. It eventually sold 600,000 copies and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America in 2003.^[1] The album also topped the UK Albums Chart.^[2] It garnered two nominations at the TMF Awards at Holland, and eventually won both trophies, including Best R&B International Artist. The single "Dilemma" won a Grammy Award for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration with Nelly. Simply Deep has sold more than 2 million copies worldwide, becoming Rowland's most successful album to date.

In late-2003, nearly a year after Simply Deep's initial release, Rowland embarked on a European tour, the Simply Deeper Tour, to promote the album. Visiting seventeen venues, Rowland embarked on the tour in the United Kingdom on September 13, 2003 and concluded it on October 6, 2003 in Paris, France.

Production and development[link]

Background[link]

Rowland launched her singing career with all-female R&B group Destiny's Child in the late 1990s. While recording their third studio album, Survivor, in late 2000, the band announced that members of the group would disband for a short period to produce solo albums in the coming years, which they hoped would boost interest in Destiny's Child.^[3] The idea of individual releases emanated from the group's manager, Mathew Knowles.^[4] With different types of music for each member to produce, the albums were not intended to compete on the charts as Destiny's Child's management strategically planned to stagger the release of each group member's album to maximise sales.^[5] While Michelle Williams became the first to release a debut solo album, Heart to Yours, in April 2002,^[5] Knowles debuted on the big screen, starring in the comedy film Austin Powers in Goldmember, and started recording her solo debut Dangerously in Love (2003).^[5] Meanwhile, Rowland collaborated with American rapper Nelly on the song "Dilemma" as a featured artist. The second single to be lifted from the his album Nellyville (2002), it became a worldwide number-one hit that year, leading her label Columbia Records to advance the release date of her debut solo album from 2003 to late 2002.^[5]

Recording[link]

To get done within deadline, the singer was forced to rush the album within three weeks only.^[2][6] Recording sessions for the album took place at several recording studios, including Studio 353, The Hit Factory and Sound-on-Sound Studio in New York, Stankonia Recording Studio in Atlanta, Audio Vision Recording Studios in Miami Beach, and The Enterprise in Burbank, Henson Recording Studios and The Record Plant in Los Angeles, Heeba Jeeba Studios in Sherman Oaks and the Real FM Sound and Nature's Finest Studios in Hollywood.^[7] Several record producers and songwriters collaborated with Rowland on the album, including Damon Elliott, Mark J. Feist, Rob Fusari, Rich Harrison, Teron Beal, Billy Mann, Damon Sharpe, and Robert "Big Bert" Smith, the latter who contributed "Love/Hate," a song co-written by fellow singer Brandy.^[8] Solange Knowles, Beyoncé's younger sister, wrote and co-produced three songs on Simply Deep.^[7]

Rowland who felt pressured by high exepectations, coming from Destiny's Child, was initially terrified by recording solo. "It was a challenge and I did that creatively and vocally," she later revealed, "I was very nervous, but I came through with flying colors because of my family and, of course, Destiny's Child. There were days in the studio where I would run out, like, 'I'm frustrated! I don't wanna do this!' And they would calm me and tell me that everything was gonna be okay. I got through it because of them."^[9] Rowland eventually overcame her fears during the process as her newfound independence offered her an opportunity to branch out and try new things.^[10] In fact, she co-wrote three songs on the album and came up with the vocal arrangements for several tracks.^[10] Musically, the album took Rowland's solo work further into an alternative music mixture, which she described as a "weired fusion [of] a little bit of Sade and a little bit of rock."^[6][11]

Release[link]

Simply Deep was released through Columbia Records in collaboration with Music World Music on October 28, 2002 in both the United States and Canada. The album would not be released worldwide until February 3, 2003. The album yielded three singles. "Stole," a rock pop-influenced mid-tempo track about loss, was released as the album's lead single. The song entered the top twenty on the majority of the charts it appeared on, reaching the top five in Australia, Ireland, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, where it remains her highest-charting solo single to date. ^[12][13] The album's second single was an up-tempo track entitled "Can't Nobody".^[14] The final single, "Train on a Track", was featured on the soundtrack of the romantic comedy film Maid in Manhattan (2003).^[15]

Critical reception[link]

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
Allmusic	[16]
Billboard	(positive)[17]
Blender	[18]
Entertainment Weekly	(mixed)[19]
The Guardian	[20]
The Independent	(favourable)[21]
Slant Magazine	[22]
The Times	[23]
Vibe	[24]

Upon its release, Simply Deep received generally mixed to lukewarm reviews from most music critics.^[16] British morning newspaper The Independent gave the album a generally favorable review, writing that "on the whole the album sticks closely to the standard urban-diva formula, mixing garage twitchers with the usual billing and cooing on ballads such as "Haven't Told You". But it's all done with style and intelligence, whether she's luxuriating in the loneliness of "Everytime You Walk Out That Door" or evoking the momentum of the first flush of love in "Train on a Track"."^[21] Lisa Verrico of The Times stated "on first listen, Simply Deep does everything but live up to its title. It sounds like a shallow stroll through the poppier end of urban music [...] But give it another listen and [it] does grow on you if you’re looking for an easy-on-the-ear album. It is a pleasant listen."^[23] Joy Dunbar, writing for BBC Music, noted that while "the albums main weakness is that it tries to offer too much diversity and Kelly tries too hard to stand outside her former incarnation," it was a must-have for fans of R&B music, adding: "Simply Deep endeavours to demonstrate another side of Kelly Rowland, as a song writer and an independent solo artist [...] The in frequent high points make this a must for your collection."^[25]

In her review for Simply Deep, Caroline Sullivan of The Guardian wrote, "Rowland is no longer a mere backing vocalist for Beyoncé Knowles. But while she undoubtedly has talent to burn, her first solo album is a mildly disappointing setting for it. A top-flight example of the American inclination toward lush but lightweight soul, it makes all the right R&B noises without engaging the emotions."^[20] She gave it three out of five stars.^[20] Sal Cinquemani of Slant dismissed the ballads on Simply Deep as "all gloppy-goo and no soul; but through it all Rowland manages to keep her cool. The album's best tracks, the light and breezy "Train on a Track" and "(Love Lives In) Strange Places," infuse the singer's lush harmonies with acoustic guitars and poetic wordplay."^[22] He especially criticized Solange Knowles' contribution to the album, noting her "icky [and] laughable lyrics" as the worst on Simply Deep which he rated two and a half out of five stars.^[22] Jon Caramanica of Entertainment Weekly commented that "Rowland, at times, seems like Destiny's adopted child, never receiving a full helping of Knowles-family adulation. Alas, her first solo project doesn't pull her out from Beyonce's shadow. She needs added star power: Her backup-singer instincts leave even the hottest songs herre feeling somewhat chilly."^[19] Craig Seymour of Vibe was generally disappointed with the album, writing: "Rowland's solo album marks an attempt to further establish herself as a singular talent, but the effort is as misguided as the Nelly hookup was savvy [...] An abundance of of cheesy folk/R&B numbers make Rowland come off like Brandy fronting as India.Arie."^[24] He gave Simply Deep one and a half out of five stars.^[24]

Commercial performance[link]

Simply Deep earned Rowland seven gold and one platinum certification.

Simply Deep peaked at number twelve on the Billboard 200, the official albums chart in the United States, on November 9, 2002,^[26] selling 77,000 units in its first week of release.^[27] Simultaneously, the album also charted on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums tally, reaching number three behind LL Cool J's 10 (2002) and Gerald Levert's The G Spot (2002).^[28] By the end of the year, Simply Deep was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).^[29] It went on to sell more than 600,000 copies in the U.S.^[1]

Released to even bigger success in international territories, in the United Kingdom, the album debuted at number-one on the UK Albums Chart on February 15, 2003, selling more than 100,000 copies in its first week.^[30] It received both a silver and a gold certification by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) the following week, and by April 2011, had been certified platinum for shipping 300,000 units.^[31] Simply Deep also reached the top spot on the Irish Albums Chart and was certified gold by the Irish Recorded Music Association (IRMA).^[32] Elsewhere in Europe, the album managed to enter the top ten in Denmark and the top twenty in Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, and Switzerland.^[33] Across Oceania, it placed fifth and seventh on the Australian and the New Zealand Albums Chart, in the week of January 26, 2003, ^[33] and was certified gold by both the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) and the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ).^[34] In addition, the album became a gold-seller in Canada, Hong Kong and Singapore, resulting into a worldwide sales total of two million copies, making it Rowland's best-selling solo album to date.^[35]

Track listing[link]

Personnel[link]

Credits are taken from the album's liner notes.^[36]

Managerial and imagery

Performance credits

Instruments

Technical and production

Charts and certifications[link]

Chart procession and succession[link]

Release history[link]

References[link]

External links[link]

• Official website
• Simply Deep at Discogs

Kelly Rowland
Rowland Hosts TW Steel Events At Ivy Penthouse in Sydney, Australia 2012.
Background information
Birth name	Kelendria Trene Rowland
Born	(1981-02-11) February 11, 1981 (age 31) Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.
Origin	Houston, Texas
Genres	R&B, pop, hip hop, dance
Occupations	Singer, songwriter, dancer, actress, television personality
Years active	1997–present
Labels	Columbia, Universal Motown, Universal Republic[1]
Associated acts	Destiny's Child, Nelly, David Guetta
Website	kellyrowland.com

Kelly Rowland (born Kelendria Trene Rowland on February 11, 1981) is an American recording artist, songwriter, dancer, actress and television personality. Born in Atlanta, Georgia and raised in Houston, Texas, Rowland rose to fame as one of the founding members of the American R&B girl group Destiny's Child, one of the world's best-selling girl groups of all time.

During the hiatus of Destiny's Child, Rowland released her debut solo album Simply Deep in 2002, which contained influences of alternative-R&B and rock music. It included her joint worldwide number-one single "Dilemma" with rapper Nelly, and the international top-ten hit "Stole". Following the group's disbandment in 2005, Rowland released her second solo effort Ms. Kelly in 2007 and despite being less successful than its predecessor, it included the international hit singles "Like This" and "Work". In 2009, Rowland scored her second worldwide number-one hit with French DJ David Guetta, on his single "When Love Takes Over". Her third solo album Here I Am was released in 2011 and included the UK top-ten hits "Commander" and "Down for Whatever", as well as the US R&B number-one "Motivation".

As a solo artist, Rowland has amassed estimated sales of four million albums and 18 million lead/featured singles worldwide.^[2] Her work has earned her several achievements, including a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame with Destiny's Child, four Grammy Awards, two Billboard Music Awards, and a Soul Train Music Award. Rowland has been honored by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) and Essence magazine for her contributions to music.

Apart from her work in music, Rowland has also launched a career in film and television. In 2002, she made her acting debut with guest appearances on sitcom series The Hughleys and Taina, prior to appearing in various films, including Freddy vs. Jason (2003), The Seat Filler (2004) and Think Like a Man (2012). In 2007, Rowland appeared as a choirmaster on the reality show Clash of the Choirs, and in 2009 she served as the host on Bravo's reality competition series The Fashion Show alongside Isaac Mizrahi. In 2011, Rowland joined the judging panel on the eighth series of The X Factor (UK).

Biography[link]

1981–1996: Early life and career beginnings[link]

Kelendria Trene Rowland was born in Atlanta, Georgia. She is the daughter of Doris Rowland Garrison and Christopher Lovett.^[3] When she was seven, her mother took her and left her father, who was an abusive alcoholic.^[4] At the age of eight, she relocated to Houston.^[5] Rowland was placed into a rapping and dancing group, along with friends Beyoncé Knowles and LaTavia Roberson.^[6] Originally named Girl's Tyme,^[7] they were eventually cut down to six members.^[8] West coast R&B producer, Arne Frager, flew into Houston to see them and eventually brought them to his studio, The Plant Recording Studio, in Northern California.^[8] As part of efforts to sign Girl's Tyme to a major label record deal, Frager's strategy was to debut them in Star Search,^[9] the biggest talent show on national TV at that time.^[8] They participated, but lost the competition.^[10][11]

To manage the group, Mathew Knowles, Beyoncé's father, resigned in 1995 from his job as a medical-equipment salesman.^[12] He dedicated his time and established a "boot camp" for their training.^[9] At this time Rowland moved in with the Knowles.^[3] Not long after the inclusion of Rowland, Mathew cut the original lineup to four with LeToya Luckett joining in 1993.^[8][13] Rehearsing in Tina Knowles' hair styling salon and their backyards, the group continued performing as an opening act for other established R&B girl groups of the time.^[13] They auditioned before record labels and were finally signed to Elektra Records, only to be dropped months later, before they could release an album.^[14]

1997–02: Breakthrough with Destiny's Child[link]

Destiny's Child performing their 2000 hit "Say My Name" during their farewell concert tour, Destiny Fulfilled ... And Lovin' It

Taken from a passage in the Biblical Book of Isaiah, the group changed their name to Destiny's Child in 1993.^[13] Together, they performed in local events and, after four years on the road, the group was signed to Columbia Records in late 1997. That same year, Destiny's Child recorded their major label debut song "Killing Time", for the soundtrack to the 1997 film, Men in Black.^[11][13] The following year, the group released their self-titled debut album, spawning hits such as "No, No, No".^[10] The album established the group as a viable act in the music industry, amassing moderate sales and winning the group three Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards.^[13] The group rose to stardom after releasing their multi-platinum second album The Writing's on the Wall in 1999.^[15] The record featured some of the group's most widely known songs such as "Bills, Bills, Bills", "Jumpin' Jumpin'" and "Say My Name", which became their most-successful song at the time, and would remain as one of their signature songs. "Say My Name" won Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals and Best R&B Song at the 43rd Grammy Awards.^[13] The Writing's on the Wall sold more than 15 million copies worldwide,^[10] essentially becoming their breakthrough album.^[16][17]

Along with their commercial successes, the group became entangled in much-publicized turmoil involving the filing of a lawsuit by Luckett and Roberson for breach of contract. The issue was heightened after Michelle Williams and Farrah Franklin appeared in the video of "Say My Name", implying that Luckett and Roberson had already been replaced.^[13] Eventually, Luckett and Roberson left the group. Franklin would eventually fade from the group after five months,^[10] as evidenced by her absences during promotional appearances and concerts. She attributed her departure to negative vibes in the group resulting from the strife.^[13] After settling on their final lineup, the trio recorded "Independent Women Part I", which appeared on the soundtrack to the 2000 film, Charlie's Angels. It became their best-charting single, topping the Billboard Hot 100 for eleven consecutive weeks.^[13][16] The success cemented the new lineup and skyrocketed them to fame.^[7] Later that year, Luckett and Roberson withdrew their case against their now-former band mates, while maintaining the suit against Mathew, which ended in both sides agreeing to stop public disparaging.^[13]

Later that year, while Destiny's Child was completing their third album Survivor, Rowland appeared on the remix of Avant's single "Separated", which reached the top spot of the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart.^[18] Survivor, which channeled the turmoil the band underwent, spawned its lead single of the same name, which was a response to the experience.^[19] The song went on to win a Grammy Award for Best R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals.^[20] The themes of "Survivor", however, caused Luckett and Roberson to refile their lawsuit;^[13] the proceedings were eventually settled in June 2002.^[17] Meanwhile, the album was released in May 2001, debuting at number one on the US Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 663,000 copies sold.^[21] To date, Survivor has sold over twelve million copies worldwide, over forty percent of which were sold in the US alone.^[22] The album also spawned the number-one hit "Bootylicious". After releasing their remix album This Is the Remix in 2002, the group announced their temporary break-up to pursue solo projects.^[13]

[edit] 2002–06: Simply Deep, Destiny Fulfilled and group disbandment

Rowland in 2003

In 2002, Rowland teamed up with rapper Nelly to record the chorus and bridge vocals on the track "Dilemma" for his album Nellyville.^[23] Released as the album's second single, the song became one of the most successful singles of the year, topping the charts in Australia, Belgium, Ireland, Netherlands, United Kingdom and the United States.^{[24][25][26][27]} The single saw Rowland establishing herself as a solo artist, and won in the Best Rap/Sung Collaboration category of the 45th Grammy Awards.^[28]

Originally due in early 2003, the success of the collaboration caused the label to advance the release date of Rowland's debut solo album Simply Deep, which Rowland rushed within three weeks to get done.^[29][30] The album has a mixture of alternative-R&B and rock music.^[29][31] Featuring production contributions by Mark J. Feist, Big Bert, Rich Harrison, and singers Brandy and Solange Knowles providing background vocals, the album took Rowland's solo work further into an alternative music mixture, which Rowland described as a "weird fusion [of] a little bit of Sade and a little bit of rock."^[29][31] Released stateside in October 2002 and internationally in 2003, Simply Deep debuted at number 12 on the Billboard 200, with first-week sales of 77,000 copies sold.^[32] It was eventually certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA),^[33] and has since sold 602,000 copies in the US.^[32] Released to an even bigger success in international territories, the album topped the UK Albums Chart and became a gold-seller in Australia,^[34] Canada^[35] and New Zealand,^[36] resulting into worldwide sales total of 2.5 million copies.^[37] In her review for Simply Deep, Caroline Sullivan of The Guardian wrote, "Thanks to the ubiquitous 'Dilemma', a song that practically peeled off its clothes on the spot, Destiny's Child's Kelly Rowland is no longer a mere backing vocalist for Beyoncé Knowles."^[38]

The album yielded three singles. "Stole", a rock pop-influenced mid-tempo track about loss, was released as the album's lead single and became an international top-ten, peaking at number two in Australia and the United Kingdom.^[39][26] In the US, the song failed to capitalize on the success of "Dilemma", reaching the top-thirty only.^[40] The album's second single, an up-tempo track entitled "Can't Nobody", charted significantly lower in the US, but enjoyed top-twenty success in Australia and parts of Europe, where it became another top-five hit on the UK Singles Chart.^[41][26] The album's third and final single "Train on a Track" was featured on the soundtrack of the 2003 romantic comedy film Maid in Manhattan, but failed to chart or sell noticeably, except in the UK, where it became Rowland's fourth consecutive top-twenty entry.^[26]

After a three-year journey that involved concentration on individual solo projects, Rowland rejoined Beyoncé Knowles and Michelle Williams for Destiny's Child's fourth studio album Destiny Fulfilled, released in November 2004.^[13] The album hit number two on the Billboard 200, and spawned "Lose My Breath", "Soldier", "Girl", and "Cater 2 U" as notable mainstream records.^[42] In support of the album, Destiny's Child embarked on their 2005 Destiny Fulfilled ... And Lovin' It world tour, which started in April and ran through September. During the Barcelona, Spain visit of the tour, the group announced their disbandment after the end of their final North American leg.^[13][43] In October 2005, the group released a compilation album, entitled #1's, including all of Destiny's Child's number-one hits and most of their well-known songs. The greatest hits collection also included three new tracks, including their final single "Stand Up for Love". In September 2005, Rowland was featured on American rapper Trina's single "Here We Go", the second single from her album Glamorest Life. The song peaked at number 17 on the US Billboard Hot 100, and became another top-twenty entry in Finland, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.^[44][26] On March 28, 2006, Destiny's Child reunited to accept a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.^[45] According to Time magazine, they were recognized as the world's best-selling female group of all time.^[46]

[edit] 2007–08: Ms. Kelly

Rowland in 2008

Rowland's second solo album Ms. Kelly was released in June 2007. Not as successful as its predecessor,^[47] the album produced the hit singles "Like This" and "Work". Originally entitled My Story, the album's first version was actually scheduled for a June 2006 release, but the singer, her management and Columbia Records decided to shelve the album at the last minute to re-work a version with a different vibe as the singer considered the final tracklisting "too full of midtempos and ballads."^[48][49] Rowland eventually consulted additional producers to collaborate on the album, renamed Ms. Kelly, including Billy Mann, Scott Storch, and Atlanta-based Polow da Don who contributed to "Like This", a collaboration with rapper Eve.^[50] A moderate success around the globe, the song reached the top-ten in Ireland and the UK, and the top-twenty in Australia and New Zealand.^[51][26] Upon its release, Ms. Kelly debuted at number six on the Billboard 200, and number two on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, with moderately successful first week sales of 86,000 copies.^[52] Outside the US, the album widely failed to reprise the success of Simply Deep, barely reaching the top-forty on the majority of all charts it appeared on, except for the UK, where it opened at number 37.^[26]

Rowland had been working on the conception of the album on and off since 2004, with some of her early recordings — such as the Bryan Michael Cox-produced "Bad Habit" — even being used on the Destiny's Child's albums Destiny Fulfilled (2004) and Destiny's Child: Live in Atlanta (2006).^[49] The album's first draft, entitled My Story, saw her actually writing and recording with a wider range of well-known contemporary R&B producers and artists as she wanted to go "in the urban, more R&B route [in general]" with the album, involving Big Tank, Patrick "J. Que" Smith, Rich Harrison, Rodney Jerkins, and Robin Thicke.^[49] Female rappers Remy Ma and Shawnna also lent their voices to guest parts.^[49] Anxious to avoid hasty productions as on previous album Simply Deep, Rowland took a wider role in the production of the album: she co-wrote the majority of the songs and shared ideas in which one to produce. "I wrote a lot on this record [...] and it's especially from me [to my fans]," she said of the album. "It's more R&B [...] and it definitely has a feel-good vibe to it as well."^[49]

A few months before the scheduled release of My Story however, Rowland felt the album was not going into the direction she had previously envisioned, and thus, she asked to revamp the album.^[53] "It was basically a list of songs that I put together about the past three years of my life, with love and relationships," she said of the original track listing. "And I remember listening to the record, and I was just like, 'I don't want this to be too deep to where, you know, [I] lose people.' And the record was too full of midtempos and ballads, so I wanted to bring it up a little bit."^[48] Rowland eventually consulted new producers to collaborate on the album, including Mysto & Pizzi, Sean Garrett, Scott Storch, Polow da Don, and Eve.^[50]

In addition, the singer decided to rename the album. "I really put my heart and soul into this record," she said, "and not only am I excited that everyone's going to hear the music, I'm looking forward to people getting to hear the real me. That's the reason I called the album Ms. Kelly. Because the title is all about respect, being an adult and that's how I feel about my life, and my music."^[48] Rowland cited former bandmate Beyoncé Knowles, and singers Brandy and Whitney Houston as major inspirations while recording her album.^[48]

In continued support of the album, Rowland released the album cuts "Ghetto" and "Work" as singles, respectively. While the Snoop Dogg-featured "Ghetto" underperformed stateside, the latter became a top-ten hit in Australia and New Zealand, as well as in most European markets, including France, Italy, Switzerland and the UK.^[54][26] In 2008, a reissued version of the album, branded Ms. Kelly Deluxe, received a release. Its lead single is the previously unreleased Bobby Womack cover "Daylight", a collaboration with rapper Travie McCoy (of alternative rap group Gym Class Heroes)^[55] that reached the top-twenty of the UK Singles Chart.^[26] By April 2008, Ms. Kelly had managed to sell over 1.2 million copies worldwide.^[47] In October 2008, Rowland was featured on French singer Nâdiya's single "No Future in the Past".

[edit] 2009–11: New management, label, and Here I Am

French DJ David Guetta and Rowland performing at the Orange Rockcorps in London, England in 2009

In 2009, Rowland was featured on Italian singer Tiziano Ferro's single "Breathe Gentle", which was released on February 20, 2009. It reached the top ten of The Netherlands' Single Top 100 chart.^[56] On January 28, 2009, it was announced that Rowland and her manager Mathew Knowles had parted ways.^[57] She released a statement to the media, saying "Mathew Knowles has been a positive influence in my career. I have had great success under his guidance – both as a member of Destiny's Child and with my solo projects. Although we have decided to part ways professionally, the Knowles family and the entire Music World Entertainment team will always be my family."^[57] Then two months later, on March 31, 2009, Rowland issued a statement that she had also left her record label of 13 years, Columbia Records, to explore other ventures.^[58] She added that she "felt the need to explore new directions, new challenges, and new freedoms outside my comfort zone."^[58] Later in a 2010 interview with Entertainment Weekly, Rowland stated that the decision to leave was not hers: the label ended her contract because her previous album Ms. Kelly was not commercially successful.^[59]

In April 2009, Rowland was featured on the dance song "When Love Takes Over", the first single from French DJ David Guetta's album One Love (2009), in which Rowland contributed vocals on two other tracks.^[60] The song was a commercial success, reaching number one in ten countries, including in the UK, Ireland, Italy and Switzerland.^[61] "When Love Takes Over" earned the pair a Grammy Award nomination in the Best Dance Recording category of the 52nd Grammy Awards.^[62] In October 2009, it was suggested that the success of the single had made Rowland consider signing a new record deal with EMI Music.^[63] Then in May 2010, speculation of Rowland's new record deal ended when an official press release revealed that she had signed to Universal Motown Records.^[64] It was whilst recording within the studios with Guetta that Rowland caught the attention of the head of Universal Motown, Sylvia Rhone, which led to the new deal.^[65] On the decision to go with Rhone's label, Rowland said "they have really embraced me and have set me up to succeed. I decided, after careful thought, to sign with Universal Motown not only because of their track record of success, but also because they truly put their artists first".^[64]

In 2010, Rowland released the single "Everywhere You Go", which featured several African and South African artists known as the Rhythm of Africa, as the theme song for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.^[66] Rowland continued her live appearances throughout 2010 in Australia, performing at the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras party with George Michael on March 7, and was part of the Supafest tour in April.^[67][68] A song titled "Commander" featuring David Guetta, was released on May 17, 2010 as the first international single from Rowland's third studio album Here I Am.^[69] Upon release, the single was met with positive reception from music critics who praised the dance sound of the song.^[70][71] In the United Kingdom, "Commander" topped the UK Dance Chart and became a top-ten hit on the UK Singles Chart.^[72][26] Despite not being serviced as a single in the US, it managed to top the Hot Dance Club Songs chart.^[73] In the US, "Rose Colored Glasses" and "Grown Woman" were released as the album's lead pop and R&B singles, respectively.^[74] Both songs failed to match the chart success that their predecessor achieved, and resulted in "Grown Woman" being excluded from the album.^[75][76] Eventually, Rowland announced that Here I Am would be rebooted with a brand new lead single for the US market. In April 2011, she released a song titled "Motivation" featuring rapper Lil Wayne, replacing the previous lead singles. "Motivation" peaked at number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100, and number one on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.^[77] It was eventually certified platinum by the RIAA,^[33] and became Rowland's highest charting single on the Hot 100 as a lead artist thus far.^[78][79] The song won the award for Song of the Year at the 2011 Soul Train Music Awards,^[80] and was nominated in the Best Rap/Sung Collaboration category of the 54th Grammy Awards.^[81]

Rowland continued her musical collaborations by lending her vocals to British rapper Tinie Tempah's single "Invincible", from his album Disc-Overy (2010). The single peaked at number 11 on the UK Singles Chart.^[82] In addition, she reunited with rapper Nelly on the single "Gone", and appeared on Italian DJ Alex Gaudino's single "What a Feeling".^[83] After several delays, Here I Am was finally released in the US on July 26, 2011.^[84] The album debuted on the Billboard 200 at number three, and number one on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, with first-week sales of 77,000 copies sold.^[85][86] To date, it is Rowland's highest debuting and charting album in the United States.^[85] As of December 2011, Here I Am has sold 178,000 copies in the US.^[87] Two more singles were released from the album; "Lay It on Me" and "Down for Whatever", the latter became a top-ten hit in the UK.^[88] In August 2011, Rowland was announced as the ambassador and spokesperson for rapper Sean Combs' second fragrance, Empress.^[89] In December 2011, Rowland was announced as a worldwide ambassador for the watchmakers company, TW Steel.^[90]

2012–present: Fourth studio album[link]

Rowland performing at Supafest in Sydney, Australia, April 2012

Work on Rowland's fourth album reportedly began in August 2011. Producer Rico Love remarked in an interview with Rap-Up magazine, "While she's on tour, I'm gonna be writing records for her new album. We can kinda roll that out and drop her new single in late spring 2012. Excited about that".^[91] Rowland stated in an interview with MTV News that the album will have a theme: "I made sure that I locked in on a concept and everyone that's come in to work on this album, we've all built around it. It's just building up so beautifully. I'm so proud! So I can't wait till all of my fans hear it".^[92] During a radio interview, Lonny Bereal stated that the album will see Rowland returning to her R&B roots:

"Kelly is returning to real R&B music. She's going in so hard with the R&B. Of course, she is going to give the Pop crowd what they're looking for. But, she really is returning to R&B on this album. Her delivery is real confident now. It's definitely a new Kelly Rowland. She wouldn't even let me put autotune on her voice this time round. She was like 'No, I want people to really get me'. She's killing everything from the uptempo's to the ballads".^[93]

Other songwriters and producers working on the album, include T-Pain, Da Internz, Eric Hudson and Sean Garrett.^[93][94] On February 8, 2012, Rowland was honored for her contributions to the music industry at Essence magazine's 2012 Black Women in Music Event.^[95] In April 2012, Rowland travelled to Australia as one of the supporting acts at Supafest.^[96] A song titled "Need a Reason" featuring American rappers Future and Bei Major, was featured on the soundtrack album for the 2012 film Think Like a Man, in which Rowland stars.^[97] In May 2012, she made a cameo appearance in Trey Songz' music video for the single "Heart Attack", as his love interest.^[98] At the 2012 Billboard Music Awards, Rowland's song "Motivation" featuring Lil Wayne won in the Top R&B Song category.^[99]

Artistry[link]

Musical style and influences[link]

	"Commander" (2010) noicon A 19-second sample of "Commander". Rowland has stated that meeting David Guetta has inspired her to record dance music.[100]
Problems listening to this file? See media help.

Rowland's music includes various styles of musical genres, including contemporary R&B,^[101] pop,^[102] hip hop,^[103] soul,^[104] rock^[101] and dance.^[102] Her debut solo album Simply Deep (2002) followed an adult-alternative rock sound, while her second album Ms. Kelly (2007) featured an urban sound.^[101][105] In an interview with The Independent, Rowland admitted that with her first two albums she struggled to find her sound. "I was in a stage with the first two records where I was searching and I was like, let me try a rock-dance approach, the label [and management] wanted me to try it and I did it ... And then after that came a more urban approach with Ms. Kelly in 2007."^[105] Her third album Here I Am (2011) consisted of a pop and R&B sound, with subtle influences of dance.^[102] Rowland stated that meeting French DJ David Guetta has influenced her to record dance music.^[100] During production of the album, Rowland stated that part of the reason for the new sound on Here I Am was wanting to do something different, saying "I knew I couldn't be afraid of this direction, and I wasn't going to let the thoughts and opinions of others make me afraid to go in this direction".^[105]

Most of the lyrical themes in Simply Deep (2002) speak of love and life experiences,^[106] particularly in the songs "Dilemma", in which Rowland expresses her endless love to her love interest,^[107] and "Stole", in which she sings about an emotional "tale of school shootings and suicides".^[108] In Ms. Kelly (2007), Rowland covers topics such as her "deeply personal relationship issues" in her songs, "Still in Love with My Ex", "Flashback", "Love", "Better Without You" and "Gotsta Go (Part I)".^[109] Alex Macpherson of The Guardian noted that the songs could be about Rowland's former relationship with American football player Roy Williams.^[110] Here I Am (2011) included common themes of womanhood, sexual intimacy and love.^[111] Some of Rowland's other songs such as "Work", "I'm Dat Chick" and "Work It Man" have been musically compared to the work of former bandmate Beyoncé Knowles.^{[112][104][113]}

Rowland has cited Whitney Houston and Janet Jackson as her biggest musical influences.^[114][115] Following the news of Houston's death, Rowland commented, "I am beyond heartbroken. Whitney Houston was undoubtedly one of the greatest singers & performers of all time & such a huge influence on me. She embraced me when I first started out with Destiny's Child, with love, with encouragement and with that powerhouse voice".^[114] Rowland has also drawn inspiration from Beyoncé, Destiny's Child, Sade, Martin Luther King Jr., Donna Summer, Diana Ross, and Oprah Winfrey.^{[116][117][118]} When speaking of Winfrey, she stated, "Nobody's perfect, but she comes so close! She's like the female version of God. She inspires me to work hard and give back".^[117] Rowland also stated that living Miami has influenced her style, growth, and music.^[117] From a fashion perspective, Rowland has viewed her grandmother, Halle Berry, Jennifer Lopez, Beyoncé, and Oprah as her style icons.^[116]

Other ventures[link]

Film and television career[link]

Rowland branched out into acting with a guest stint on the sitcom The Hughleys in 2002, before appearing in other UPN shows such as Eve and Girlfriends in the years of 2003 and 2006 respectively.^[49] Having played the role of Tammy Hamilton, an ambitious 21-year-old apprentice to realtor Toni (Jill Marie Jones) in latter sitcom, Rowland initially hoped her three-episode stint would expand to a larger recurring role, but as the show was moved to The CW network the following year plans for a return eventually went nowhere.^[49] Also in 2003, she appeared in American Dreams as Martha Reeves of Martha & The Vandellas, singing a version of the group's single "Nowhere to Run".^[119]

In 2003, Rowland made her big screen debut in the slasher film Freddy vs. Jason, a crossover film directed by Ronny Yu. Cast as one of the female leads, she portrayed Kia Waterson, the frank best friend of lead character Lori Campbell, played by Monica Keena.^[120] Released to generally mixed reviews from critics, the movie topped the U.S. box office, gaining $36.4 million on its first weekend.^[121] Budgeted at $25 million, the film became a financial success, resulting in a worldwide box office total of $114.3 million.^[121] The following year, Rowland returned to the big screen, this time for a lead role in the romantic comedy The Seat Filler, starring opposite Duane Martin and Shemar Moore. Executive produced by Will Smith and Jada Pinkett Smith, the film hit theaters in the summer of 2005 and debuted at number eighteen at the box office top twenty.^[122] It eventually earned a total domestic gross ticket sales of $10.2 million. In the film, for which she recorded two songs, Rowland played a pop star who falls for an awards-show seat filler in which she mistakes for a high-profile entertainment attorney.^[123] Released to a limited number of festivals only, the film went straight to DVD in 2006.^[49]

In October 2007, Rowland auditioned for the role of Louise, Carrie Bradshaw's assistant, in the 2008 film adaptation of HBO's comedy series Sex and the City. The part eventually went to Jennifer Hudson.^[124] In fall 2007, Rowland appeared as a choirmaster on the NBC reality show Clash of the Choirs. Rowland was among superstars like Michael Bolton, Patti LaBelle, Nick Lachey, and Blake Shelton. Rowland's choir finished fifth in the competition.^[125] In 2009, she was cast to host Bravo's reality competition series The Fashion Show alongside Isaac Mizrahi. The series premiered on May 7, 2009.^[126] On 30 May 2011, Rowland was confirmed as a judge for the eighth series of British television show The X Factor.^{[127][128][129]} In addition to her judging stint, Rowland also had a supporting role in the motion picture Think Like a Man (2012), which also starred Keri Hilson, Chris Brown and Gabrielle Union.^[130] On 30 April 2012, it was officially announced that Rowland had stepped down as a judge on The X Factor, due to a conflicting schedule.^[131] Rowland was awarded Ultimate TV Personality at the 2011 Cosmopolitan Ultimate Women of the Year Awards,^[132] and TV Personality of the Year at the 2012 Glamour Women of the Years Awards, for her role on the show.^[133]

Philanthropy[link]

Effects of Hurricane Katrina

Rowland and the Knowles family founded the Survivor Foundation, a charitable entity set up to provide transitional housing for 2005 Hurricane Katrina victims and storm evacuees in the Houston, Texas area.^[14] The Survivor Foundation extended the philanthropic mission of the Knowles-Rowland Center for Youth, a multi-purpose community outreach facility in downtown Houston.^[14] Also in 2005, Rowland and Knowles lent their voices to a collaboration with Kitten K. Sera, entitled "All That I'm Lookin for". The song appeared on The Katrina CD album, whose proceeds went to the Recording Artists for Hope organization.^[134]

In 2006, Rowland joined other artists such as Pink and Avril Lavigne in ads for so-called empowerment tags for the ALDO Fights AIDS campaign, which went on sale exclusively at ALDO stores and benefited the YouthAIDS initiative.^[135] In 2007, Rowland, along with stars such as Jessica Simpson and the cast of Grey's Anatomy autographed pink Goody Ouchless brushes that were made available for auction on eBay, with all proceeds going to Breast Cancer Awareness.^[135] In addition, the singer teamed up with Kanye West, Nelly Furtado and Snoop Dogg to design a Nike sneaker for another eBay auction. All proceeds went to AIDS Awareness.^[135]

In 2008, Rowland officially became ambassador for MTV's Staying Alive Foundation, which aims to reduce discrimination against HIV and AIDS victims.^[136] She has since visited projects in Tanzania and Kenya to promote the charity, and underwent a HIV and AIDS test in Africa to raise awareness of the deadly diseases.^[137] In March 2009, she spearheaded a bone marrow drive.^[60] In 2009, Rowland connected with Serve.MTV.com, MTV's platform to connect young people with local volunteerism opportunities, for a series of on-air PSAs. From battling homelessness to beautifying impoverished neighborhoods to saving whales, Rowland was joined by the likes of Cameron Diaz, will.i.am, and Sean Kingston as they discuss causes they volunteer to support, and urge young people to join with their friends in making civil service a part of their lifestyle.^[138] Also in 2009, Rowland along with fellow singers Alesha Dixon and Pixie Lott created T-shirts for River Island in aid of the Prince's Trust, profits from which help change young lives.^[139] In March 2010, Rowland launched her brand new charity, I Heart My Girlfriends. According to Rowland's official website, the charity focuses on self-esteem, date violence prevention, community service, abstinence, sports, drug and alcohol and smoking avoidance, obesity, disabilities, education and more.^[140] On April 26, 2010, she was at Grand Ballroom's "City of Hope — Spirit of Life Awards" for a charity event.^[141]

Discography[link]

• Simply Deep (2002)
• Ms. Kelly (2007)
• Here I Am (2011)

Tours[link]

Headlining

• 2003: Simply Deeper Tour
• 2007: Ms. Kelly Tour

Supporting

• 2010: Supafest
• 2011: F.A.M.E. Tour (as an opening act for North America)
• 2012: Supafest

Filmography[link]

See also[link]

• List of awards and nominations received by Kelly Rowland

References[link]

External links[link]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Kelly Rowland

• Official website
• Kelly Rowland at the Internet Movie Database

R&B and Soul Music portal