Released: April 5, 2005
Genre: R&B
Label: Capitol
Producer: Faith Evans ・Todd Russaw ・Bryan Michael Cox ・Jermaine Dupri ・Mike Caren ・Andrew Shack ・Andre Johnsson ・The Neptunes ・Original Head ・Andrew Slater ・Johnnie Smith ・Scott Storch ・Chucky Thompson ・Toxic ・Mario Winans
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Faith Evans is one of the best-selling ladies in R&B. Selling over 20 million records worldwide, Faith Evans has given us some of the best gems of the 1990s & 2000s, such as Soon As I Get Home, You Used to Love Me, Ain’t Nobody, Love Like This, Come Over, Burnin’ Up, You Gets No Love, I Love You & Can’t Believe….being The First Lady of Bad Boy Records.
After leaving Bad Boy in 2003, Faith Evans signed with Capitol Records, and eventually released her first album under the label, which was titled The First Lady. Released on April 5, 2005, The First Lady served as inspiration from the nickname that longtime collaborator Sean “Diddy” Combs gave during the early years of her career. An album with R&B & soul influences, The First Lady album has songs about love, jealousy, feeling good, hopefulness & heartbreak.
Faith stated that the “First Lady” nickname carried over to her new label because she was the first artist in her genre there, and that a lot of her personality reminds her of Jackie Kennedy or Hillary Clinton. & breaking that down, it means when you wear the title of “The First Lady,” you’re human. You go through things as everyone else, but you uphold your dignity and remain a lady despite all of the troubles that you may go through.
The First Lady peaked at number one on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums & number two on the Billboard 200 charts respectively with first week sales of 157,000 copies, giving Faith her highest ranking album on both charts & the best first week sales of her career. The album has since been certified Gold by the RIAA, and was a critical success as well.
Ladies & Gentlemen, I present to you Faith Evans’ “The First Lady.”
Goin’ Out featuring Pharrell & Pusha T
Written by Pharrell Williams ・Terrence Thornton
The album opens up with Goin’ Out, which is a collaboration that features Pharrell & Pusha T. The song is lyrically about the singer breaking up with her now former lover and she’s releasing some of that stress by kicking it with her girls. I love this song because of the production and vibes it gives.
Again
Written by Faith Evans ・Carvin Haggins ・Ivan Barias ・Venus Dodson ・Jerry Harris
If I had to do it all again, I wouldn’t take away the rain
cause I know it made me who I am.
Faith Evans, Again, 2005
Released as the lead single from the album, Again has become to be one of my favorite songs. Again is a song okay! I love everything about the production, because y’all know I am a sucker for a record with Neo soul & 1960s R&B influences. From a lyrical perspective, Again is a song that has the singer speaking that her life experiences made her the woman she is today in a positive way. The song gave a top ten record on the R&B charts, peaking at number seven. The song contains a sample of Genuine by The Whatnauts.
I Don’t Need It
Written by Faith Evans ・Carvin Haggins ・Ivan Barias ・Dexter Wansel ・Cynthia Biggs
I Don’t Need It is a mf record okay! From a lyrical perspective, the singers speaks about loving to have the finer things in life, but if her lover isn’t there with her, then it’s practically useless cause she wouldn’t need it at all. The song heavily samples one of my favorite Philly Soul record Nights Over Egypt by The Jones Girls.
Stop N Go
Written by Faith Evans ・Carvin Haggins ・Ivan Barias ・Jay Shawn Smith ・Johnnie Smith
Stop N Go is one of my favorite songs on the album. The song speaks about the confusion that comes with loving someone. You’re not sure if you want to take it slow or go with the flow. At least that’s the vibe that I get from the song. A true gem in Faith’s catalog.
Mesmerized
Written by Faith Evans ・Stephanie Johnson ・Kameelah Williams ・Todd Russaw ・Carl Thompson ・Andre “AJ” Johnson ・Homer Banks ・Bettye Crutcher ・Don Davis ・Raymond Jackson ・George Benson ・Donald Sebesky
Mesmerized had Faith in her BAG okay!! Paying homage to 1960s Funk, Mesmerized is a song about having some good loving and that man making you addicted to that thang honey! The song contains interpolations of Johnny Taylor’s Who’s Making Love & George Benson’s Footin’ It!
Tru Love
Written by Faith Evans ・Jermaine Dupri ・Johnta Austin ・Bryan Michael Cox
Tru Love is a contemporary R&B ballad that is lyrically about the beauty of love when it isn true and genuine. The song gave Faith a top ten hit on the Billboard Adult R&B Songs chart.
Jealous
Written by Faith Evans ・Carvin Haggins ・Ivan Barias ・Ben Briggs ・Todd Russian ・Laura Barraza
Jealous has the singer letting you know that she isn’t ashamed to let her man know she ain’t playing when it comes to him. & I know that’s right! The song contains a sample of Los Angeles Negros’ Esta Noche la Paso Contigo.
Ever Wonder featuring Mario Winans
Written by Faith Evans ・Mario Winans ・Todd Russaw
Ever Wonder is an amazing collaboration from Faith & former Bad Boy label mate Mario Winans
Catching Feelings
Written by Faith Evans ・Ben Briggs ・Todd Russaw ・Bryan Michael Cox ・Patrice Stewart
Catching Feelings is MY SONGGGGGGGG okay y’all! Lyrically, the song has the singer speaking about a younger lover who she’s had a rendezvous with, who’s falling for her. She feels like if he wasn’t younger, they could be something more. Near the end of the song, she thinks they should take it slow. It is an amazing ballad and is defintely something you should check out if you’ve haven’t.
Get Over You
Written by Faith Evans ・Carvin Haggins ・Ivan Barias ・Johnnie Smith
Get Over You is so relatable to my life right now Chile! Lyrically, the song is about trying to let go of someone you once loved.
Until You Came
Written by Faith Evans ・Carvin Haggins ・Ivan Barias ・Jay Shawn Smith ・Johnnie Smith
Until You Came is a SONGGGGG y’all! Another ballad that snitches your wig, Until You Came is a record about never wanting to experience healthy love until that “perfect” one came along. I can’t wait to experience this Chile!
Lucky Day
Written by Faith Evans ・William Prince ・Rodney Morgan ・Harley White Jr.・Douglas Antoine ・Michael Jamison ・Ben Briggs
I love Lucky Day!!! It’s definitely a feel good record all around.
Hope with Twista
Written by Carl Mitchell ・Fredrick Taylor ・Thomas Callaway
The album closes with Hope, which was apart of the Coach Carter Soundtrack. Twista was the lead artist with Faith featuring on the song, and it was a song okay! Lyrically, the song mainly focused on Twista’s views on the War on Terrorism, and gave optimistic lyrics about being hopeful. The song was a top 40 hit on the R&B & pop charts, peaking at number twenty-four and number thirsty-one respectively.
Faith Evans’ The First Lady album is definitely one of my favorite albums and it shows. Faith is so underrated to me, it makes any sense. Actually, I would say the 2000s work is very underrated, because it was too many gems that got away. Faith will always be that girl to me! -MW.
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