| All or Nothing | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 23 November 2009 | |||
| Recorded | November 2008 – October 2009 | |||
| Genre | R&B[1] | |||
| Length | 51:45 (US edition) | |||
| Label | ||||
| Producer | ||||
| Jay Sean chronology | ||||
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| Singles from All or Nothing | ||||
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All or Nothing is the third studio album by BritishR&B singerJay Sean, released in the United States on 23 November 2009 throughCash Money Records andUniversal Republic as the singer's international debut album and a week later on 30 November 2009 with Jayded Records and2Point9 Records. The album was also released in international markets from December 2009.
The album was preceded by the lead single, "Down" featuring label-mateLil Wayne which impacted in the US on 30 June 2009 and eventually peaked at number one on 17 October 2009. The song was also Sean's highestUK chart entry reaching number three. Following the album's release, "Do You Remember" was released as the second single and in January 2010 peaked at number ten in the US and subsequently making him the first male artist in seven years to have his first two charting singles appear in the Hot 100 simultaneously.
According to aggregated music reviews siteMetacritic, the album received mixed reviews by critics who scored the album 59/100.[2] Despite success with the two lead singles from the album, the album itself only debuted at No. 37 on the USBillboard 200 albums chart. It was also his lowest-charting entry on theUK Albums Chart, debuting there at No. 62. Despite this, it has become his highest-charting album in Japan, reaching No. 11 on theOricon Albums Chart.
Jay Sean has been active in theBritish Asian and GlobalSouth Asian markets since 2003, and put out his second studio album,My Own Way in 2008 throughout Europe and Asia independently via his own Jayded Records. Success withR&B/urban singles like "Ride It" and "Maybe" made him a frequent appearance on theUK R&B Chart. Eventually, that success caught the attention ofRonald "Slim" Williams, the CEO of Cash Money Records, who said
Ten million views and this kid is not in America? I want to help this kid, and he needs our engine, that is Cash Money Records to take him to the next level.[3]
On 15 October 2008 at theMOBO Awards, Sean announced that he had signed with the American record label. He explained, "It's always been a dream for me to sign to an American label. And it's great to be accepted by the best in the game."[4]
With regards to the album title, in February 2010, Sean was intervied by writer Pete Lewis of the award-winningBlues & Soul. Sean commented that, "I don't do things by halves, because there's no point! So I don't want mediocrity. I wanna be the best that I can be. I want it all. And that's what the title and theme of this album is all about!"[5]
After signing with Cash Money, Sean announced through an interview withMTV IGGY that he was recording five new songs for the album. Initial reports suggested that a remix was produced for his single "Tonight" with Lil Wayne, as the record label intended to use the song to introduce Sean to the American market. However, it proved to be an unfounded rumour and instead "Down" was announced as the lead single from the album.[6]
The album was originally intended to be released during the Summer of 2009, then an October release date was confirmed however the final release date, 23 November 2009 was confirmed. Later announcement confirmed that a whole new set of songs was recorded, where some would feature other artists from the Cash Money Records roster.
He discussed a possible collaboration withAkon during theGrammy Awards in 2009, and recorded a song withNadine Coyle ofGirls Aloud and another withKeisha Buchanan of theSugababes.[7][8] On 28 October 2009, Sean posted aTwitter message referring to a collaboration with a legendary UK artist.[9] Later he confirmed the artist to beCraig David who would feature on a previous album song.[10][11]
He was also in the studio withJive Records recording artistLivvi Franc andJared Cotter writing new songs, and label mate,Kevin Rudolf.[12][13] The song with Kevin Rudolf was later confirmed to be "I Made It (Cash Money Heroes)" and released as the first single from Rudolf's second album; and the theme song for the upcomingWWE pay-per-viewWrestleMania XXVI.[14] Prior to the release of the album, "Down" was confirmed to feature Lil Wayne with the rest of the track listing uncertain.[15] Sean described "Down" as "a fun, very easy track something to pump in your car or be played in the clubs". Another song, "War" is about "battling with anybody, whether it's your girl, family or another country never solved anything, the song is about real life".[16] Sean also confirmed the appearance ofDrake on "If I Ain't Got You". Unfortunately, Drake was unable to commit and the second single-release was replaced by "Do You Remember".[17]
Jay Sean released the deluxe edition ofMy Own Way exclusively in the UK and initially, the Deluxe Edition was set for release in the US, but Cash Money Records executives insisted on the release on a new album."[18] The album contains a mix of new material and songs from Sean's previous studio albumMy Own Way, specifically the singles "Ride It" and "Stay" along with "Cry" and the album's title track, "All Or Nothing". A new remixed version of "Stuck in the Middle" with new vocals from both Sean and Jared Cotter is also featured, and for the UK edition, a new version with Craig David was produced.
He was invited to perform withJustin Timberlake at"The Justin Timberlake and Friends Concert Benefiting Shriners Hospitals For Children" on 17 October 2009 where he performed an acoustic version of "Down".[19] Other artists performing there includedTaylor Swift andAlicia Keys. It became one of the highest-earning charity events of the year, raising more than $9 million.[20] On 11 December 2009, Sean became the firstSouth Asian origin artist sinceFreddie Mercury to perform atMadison Square Garden, as part of theJingle Ball concert, alongside fellow British beatboxerMC Zani.[21] Sean's performance "had the entire crowd - parents and children, teens and twenty-somethings - dancing."[22] Jay Sean returned to his roots on 14 February 2010 as he prepares to spend Valentine's Day atLondon's Wembley Arena, alongside American R&B star Ne-Yo.[23]
Jay Sean had a launch party for the album at theRoyal Exchange, London. Sean, along with his Cash Money Records family, was in London to celebrate the milestone. Pop artistRihanna stepped into the building.Alesha Dixon,Alexandra Burke and Craig David was on the party too.[24] One week after the party in London, Jay Sean had a launch party inHollywood, Los Angeles, for the album, with dancehall artist Sean Paul and rapper Drake showing up to support Sean.[25][26]
Jay Sean went on a small tour to promote the album.
"Down" was chosen as the lead single for the album. It was released to U.S. radio stations on 31 May 2009 and was officially released on iTunes on 30 June 2009. The song debuted at No. 72 on theBillboard Hot 100 before it started to climb the chart. After several weeks of remaining within the top five, "Down" reached number one, overtaking the long run ofThe Black Eyed Peas' record-setting single, "I Gotta Feeling".[27] "Down" is the seventh-best selling song of 2009, having sold more than three million digital copies in the United States alone.[28][29][30] It also received a largeairplay of two billion listener impressions on radio worldwide.[31] The song also charted inside the top 3 of theUK Singles Chart, becoming Sean's highest charting single to date there. "Down" is Sean's third top 10 and sixth top 20 hit in his home country.[32][33]
The album's second single "Do You Remember" featuresSean Paul with additionalad-libs byLil Jon.[34] The single was released to US radio stations on 20 October 2009 and released as a digital download on iTunes on 2 November 2009. It has also entered the top ten of the Hot 100 chart, during the week end of 9 January 2010.[35] That same week, "Down" was also at No. 7, thus doubling Sean's presence within the top ten. Like the first single, "Do You Remember" has also sold more than a million copies in the United States.[36]
The first week sales ofAll or Nothing in the United States were 32,000 copies.[37] It debuted at No. 37 on theBillboard 200[38] and at No. 22 on theDigital Albums chart.[39] It dropped to No. 87 on theBillboard 200 the following week, selling over 13,000 copies.[40] As of 5 August 2013, the album has so far sold over 225,000 copies in the United States.[41]
In the UK, where the album was released independently by Jayded Records, it debuted at No. 62 on theUK Albums Chart, No. 11 on theUK R&B Chart,[42] and No. 2 on theUK Indie Albums Chart.[43] It is his lowest charting album in the UK to date, largely due to many of its tracks already being available in the UK as part of his previous albumMy Own Way. Three songs fromAll or Nothing which were not released as official singles in the UK entered theUK Indie Singles Chart independently, based on downloads from the album, on the week of release: "Do You Remember" at No. 6, "Far Away" (featuringKeisha Buchanan) at No. 16, and "Stuck in the Middle" (featuringCraig David) at No. 20. "Ride It" also re-entered the UK Indie Singles Chart at No. 24, based on downloads from theAll or Nothing album.[44]
In Australia, the album has reached No. 67 on theARIA Australian Albums Chart, on the week ending 15 February 2010.[45] In Japan, the album debuted on the JapanOricon Albums Chart at No. 13 on the week dated 1 March 2010. It rose to No. 11 the following week, dated 8 March 2010, making it Sean's highest-charting album in Japan.[46]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |    [47] |
| Billboard | 72/100[48] |
| BBC Music | favourable[49] |
| DesiHits | [50] |
| The Guardian | [1] |
| The Independent | favourable[51] |
| OK! | [52] |
| Slant Magazine | [53] |
| The Telegraph | [54] |
| Yahoo! Music | [55] |
The album received mixed reviews onMetacritic, earning a score of 59 out of 100, based on 5 reviews.[56] In North America,Billboard gave the album a score of 72 out of 100, concluding that "The saying goes: If it isn't broken, don't fix it."[48] David Jeffries ofAllMusic gave the album 3.5 out of 5 stars, stating that "All or Nothing is a strong U.S. debut for thisAkon-meets-Chris Brown-styled singer, one that takes advantage of his suave back catalog and the hip new possibilities now possible via Cash Money."[47]DesiHits gave the album 4 out of 5 stars, stating that "Jay Sean's smooth vocals and emotional lyrics make his album a treat for all."[50]Spartanburg Herald-Journal, owned byThe New York Times Company, also gave the album a largely positive review, stating that "Sean demonstrates a flair for harmonious R&B that will undoubtedly continue the success he has already achieved."[57] In the Netherlands,FOK! also gave the album a positive review, giving it a rating of 4 out of 5 stars.[58]
In the United Kingdom, Caroline Sullivan ofThe Guardian gave the album 3 out of 5 stars, stating, "The only signs of Britishness are the drum'n'bass foundations of If I Ain't Got You and a duet with ex-SugababeKeisha Buchanan on Far Away – a performance of such weediness that it could only be by two Brits. A collaboration with Craig David, Stuck in the Middle, is much more vigorous. The rest is glossy, super-catchy R&B that should finally establish him in the UK."[1] Neil McCormick ofThe Telegraph also gave the album 3 out of 5 stars, stating, "You'll find no evidence of hisLondon orPunjabi roots on Jay Sean's formulaic third album, but his sleekly effective R’n’B pop has made him arguably the most successful British urban artist ever. His single Down topped US charts this year. Sean specialises in structurally concise, melodic, romantic songs delivered in a clear, sweet voice to a gushing, synthetic backdrop. Bland but effective."[54] Mike Diver ofBBC Music stated that the album is a mainstream, "polished, chart-conquering affair," reminiscent of "the slick RnB/soul of numerous US pop stars", but that it is detached from his BritishAsian Underground roots (alongside theRishi Rich Project) that had characterized his debut albumMe Against Myself (2004) and, to a much lesser extent, his second albumMy Own Way (2008).[59]
| No. | Title | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Do You" | J-Remy & Bobby Bass | 4:05 |
| 2. | "Fire" | J-Remy & Bobby Bass | 3:20 |
| 3. | "Down" (featuringLil Wayne) | J-Remy & Bobby Bass | 3:32 |
| 4. | "Do You Remember" (featuringSean Paul andLil Jon) | J-Remy & Bobby Bass | 3:31 |
| 5. | "Ride It" | Alan Sampson | 3:01 |
| 6. | "Love Like This (Eternity)" | J-Remy & Bobby Bass | 3:38 |
| 7. | "If I Ain't Got You" | J-Remy & Bobby Bass | 3:18 |
| 8. | "War" | J-Remy & Bobby Bass | 3:45 |
| 9. | "Cry" | J-Remy & Bobby Bass | 4:35 |
| 10. | "All or Nothing" | J-Remy & Bobby Bass | 4:23 |
| 11. | "Stuck in the Middle" (featuringJared Cotter) | J-Remy & Bobby Bass, Jay Sean, Jared Cotter | 3:37 |
| 12. | "Stay" | Alan Sampson | 3:39 |
| 13. | "Lights Off" | J-Remy & Bobby Bass | 4:13 |
| 14. | "Down" (Candle Light Remix) | J-Remy & Bobby Bass | 3:15 |
| No. | Title | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15. | "Down" (featuring Lil Wayne;Jason Nevins Remix) | J-Remy & Bobby Bass | 3:39 |
| No. | Title | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Down" (featuring Lil Wayne) | J-Remy & Bobby Bass | 3:32 |
| 2. | "Fire" | J-Remy & Bobby Bass | 3:20 |
| 3. | "Do You Remember" (featuringSean Paul andLil Jon) | J-Remy & Bobby Bass | 3:31 |
| 4. | "Love Like This (Eternity)" | J-Remy & Bobby Bass | 3:39 |
| 5. | "Do You" | J-Remy & Bobby Bass | 4:04 |
| 6. | "War" | J-Remy & Bobby Bass | 3:45 |
| 7. | "If I Ain't Got You" | J-Remy & Bobby Bass | 3:19 |
| 8. | "Ride It" | Alan Sampson | 3:00 |
| 9. | "Far Away" (featuringKeisha Buchanan) | Alan Sampson | 3:32 |
| 10. | "Stuck in the Middle" (featuringCraig David) | J-Remy & Bobby Bass, Jay Sean, Jared Cotter | 3:36 |
| 11. | "Lights Off" | J-Remy & Bobby Bass | 4:13 |
| 12. | "All or Nothing" | J-Remy & Bobby Bass | 4:22 |
| 13. | "Stay" | Jay Sean & Alan Sampson | 3:38 |
| 14. | "Cry" | J-Remy & Bobby Bass, Jay Sean | 4:36 |
| No. | Title | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15. | "Down" (Candle Light Remix) | J-Remy & Bobby Bass | 3:15 |
| 16. | "Stay" (Boy Better Know Mix; featuringChipmunk, Skepta, Frisco & Jammer) | Alan Sampson | 3:37 |
| No. | Title | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15. | "I'm Gone" | J-Remy & Bobby Bass | 3:15 |
| 16. | "Walking Alone" | Stargate | 3:37 |
| 17. | "Down" (Candle Light Remix) | J-Remy & Bobby Bass | 3:15 |
| 18. | "Down" (featuring Lil Wayne;Jason Nevins Remix) | J-Remy & Bobby Bass | 3:39 |
Credits forAll or Nothing adapted fromAllMusic.[62]
| Chart (2009–2010) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums (ARIA)[45] | 67 |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[63] | 85 |
| French Albums (SNEP)[64] | 168 |
| Japanese Albums (Oricon)[46] | 37 |
| UK Albums (OCC)[65] | 62 |
| UK Independent Albums (OCC)[66] | 2 |
| UK R&B Albums (OCC)[67] | 11 |
| USBillboard 200[68] | 37 |
| Chart (2010) | Position |
|---|---|
| USBillboard 200[69] | 182 |
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand (RMNZ)[70] | Platinum | 15,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
| Country | Date | Label(s) | Catalogue |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 23 November 2009 | Cash Money Records,Universal Republic | 001368302 |
| Canada | |||
| United Kingdom | 30 November 2009[71] | Jayded Records,2Point9 Records | |
| Japan | 17 February 2010 | Universal Music Group | |
| Various | 28 February 2010 | Universal Music Group |
