Brand New (Salt-n-Pepa album) explained

Brand New
Type:	studio
Artist:	Salt-N-Pepa
Cover:	Salt-N-Pepa - Brand New.png
Studio:	Axis (New York City) Quad (New York City) Soundtrack (New York City) The Music Palace (West Hempstead, New York) The Basement, Inc. (Dix Hills, New York) Tone X Recording (Washington, D.C.) Record Plant (Los Angeles) The Hit Factory (New York City) Chung King (New York City) AMG (New York City) Horizon (Capitol Heights, Maryland) Flyte Tyme (Edina, Minnesota)
Length:	57:27
Label:	London
Producer:	Cheryl "Salt" James Sandra "Pepa" Denton Chad "Dr. Ceuss" Elliott Esmail Sean "The Mystro" Mather Josef Powell Al West David "D.J." Wynn
Prev Title:	Very Necessary
Prev Year:	1993
Next Title:	The Best of Salt-N-Pepa
Next Year:	1999

Brand New is the fifth studio album by American hip hop group Salt-N-Pepa, released on October 21, 1997, by London Records. The group's international label at the time, Red Ant Entertainment, filed for bankruptcy before the album was officially released. Salt-N-Pepa toured in support of the album, but the album had little other promotion. Brand New spawned two singles: "R U Ready" and "Gitty Up". The album was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on November 25, 1997.

Production

Brand New was the first Salt-N-Pepa album released after the group parted ways with longtime producer, writer, and manager Hurby "Luv Bug" Azor.^[1] Instead, Salt largely wrote, co-wrote, and co-produced the album.^[2]

Critical reception

Natasha Stovall of Rolling Stone praised the "richer piano-, guitar- and vocal-filled sound, emphasizing gritty soul and sweet, unadulterated funk." Jon Pareles of The New York Times wrote that the group "still juxtapose catchy come-ons ... and determinedly positive messages."^[3] Connie Johnson of the Los Angeles Times wrote that "while it's commendable that they're stretching out in a more uplifting, spiritually motivated arena, the group's forte is still worldly, raunchy, of-the-flesh fare."^[4]

Track listing

Notes

• signifies an additional producer
• signifies a co-producer

Samples

• "R U Ready" contains excerpts from "Watch Out" by Brass Construction.
• "Gitty Up" contains samples from "Give It To Me Baby" by Rick James
• "Say Ooh" contains a sample from "Turn Off the Lights" by Larry Young.
• "Brand New" contains an interpolation of "Love Is Alive" by Gary Wright.

Personnel

• Prince Charles Alexander – Mixing
• Eddie Anzueto, Jr. – Percussion
• Steven Augustine – Bass
• Kent Belden – Creative Director
• Blue Denim – Background vocals
• Mike Campbell – Guitar
• Melvin Chandler – Keyboards
• Lewis Christian – Percussion
• Day Ta Day – Background vocals
• Andre Debourg – Engineer, Mixing
• James Denton – Photography
• Sandy "Pepa" Denton – Producer
• DJ Flexx – Background vocals
• Chad "Dr. Ceuss" Elliott – Programming, Producer, Engineer, Mixing
• Glenn Ellis – Bass
• Esmail – Producer
• Alan Forney – Photo Imaging
• Kirk Franklin – Performer
• Wayne Garrick – Keyboards
• Khari Green – Guitar
• Bernard Grobman – Guitar
• Andrew Hellier – Guitar, Background vocals
• Cheryl "Salt" James – Producer
• Jon Jones – Guitar
• Gerhard Joost – Mixing
• Carol Kirkendall – Executive Producer
• LaTrece – Background vocals
• Michael Lockwood – Guitar
• Al (Taz) Machera – Mixing
• Sean "Mystro" Mather – Producer
• Gary Montoute – Synthesizer
• Michael Moore – Photography
• Rufus Moore – Background vocals, Performer
• Joseph Powell – Programming, Background vocals, Producer, Engineer, Mixing
• Wayne Rickard – Guitar
• Alicia Rushing – Background vocals
• Ken Schubert – Engineer, Mixing
• Dawne Shivers – Background vocals
• Peggy Sirota – Photography
• Sounds of Blackness – Performer
• Spinderella – Performer
• Kevin Thomas – Engineer
• Al West – Producer
• Jimmy White – Bass
• David Wynn – Producer
• George Belton - Bass

Notes and References

1. Web site: Salt-N-Pepa Discuss Their Career and Legacy as Hip-Hop's Matriarchs. Mark C.. Horn. June 18, 2015. Phoenix New Times. https://web.archive.org/web/20150623061623/http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/music/salt-n-pepa-discuss-their-career-and-legacy-as-hip-hops-matriarchs-7420797. June 23, 2015.
2. Web site: Salt-N-Pepa's 'Brand New': Inspirational. Richard. Harrington. October 29, 1997. The Washington Post.
3. Web site: RECORDINGS VIEW; Rapping As Good Business. Jon. Pareles. Jon Pareles. The New York Times. October 26, 1997. https://web.archive.org/web/20150527070544/http://www.nytimes.com/1997/10/26/arts/recordings-view-rapping-as-good-business.html. May 27, 2015.
4. Web site: Johnson. Connie. Album Review. October 19, 1997. Los Angeles Times.
5. Web site: Salt-N-Pepa ARIA chart history, received from ARIA on June 15, 2021 . June 19, 2021 . Imgur. Note: The "High Point" number in the "NAT" column indicates the release's peak position on the national chart.