Rated Love is the fourth studio album by American R&B recording artist Keke Wyatt. It was released on April 22, 2016, by Aratek Entertainment and INgrooves via Universal Music Group.The album was preceded by the release of three singles: "Sexy Song", "Love Me" and "Jodeci".

Rated Love
Studio album by
ReleasedApril 22, 2016
Recorded2015
Genre
Length46:07
Label
Keke Wyatt chronology
Ke'Ke'
(2014)
Rated Love
(2016)
Keke Covers
(2017)
Singles from Rated Love
  1. "Sexy Song"
    Released: November 20, 2015
  2. "Love Me"
    Released: March 18, 2016
  3. "Jodeci"
    Released: October 21, 2016

Release and promotion edit

In 2015, after the release of her previous album Ke'Ke' (2014), Keke Wyatt started recording her upcoming fourth album, titled Rated Love. Wyatt posted a video on her personal YouTube account, previewing a snippet of her lead single "Sexy Song" for her fourth album Rated Love on November 7, 2015.[1] On February 19, 2016, Wyatt announced on her Twitter, that the album would be available for pre-order on digital music stores, while also revealing the album cover.[2] On March 18, 2016, Wyatt announced on social media such as Instagram, Twitter and Facebook, with a release of her second single from Rated Love would be called "Love Me".[3][4][5] On October 13, 2016, Wyatt revealed a new single, called "Jodeci" on her Instagram account, stating "I think we got a new one with my new single Jodeci!!! I wanna know what ya'll think" revealing it would be released with a deluxe version of her album Rated Love on October 21, 2016.[6]

Critical response edit

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Soulinstereo     [7]
CentricPositive[8]

Soulinstereo gave the album a 3.5 rating, stating that "If the album’s title wasn’t enough to clue you in on this album’s themes, the tracks themselves tell the story: “Love Me,” “Dumb Love,” Still Have Love,” “Love Reigns” — KeKe’s fourth album is an audio love letter, with the mistress of ceremonies simply narrating life’s emotional rollercoasters.[7]

Centric gave a review of the album stating "Her single "Love Me," perfectly captures the ups and downs of marriage and relationships, particularly when you're faced with conflict but yet can't help but be with the one you love. Another standout record on the album, "If It Ain't You"—among many others—is a beautiful ballad that showcases Keke's natural ability to breathe life into a love song like no other."[8]

Singles edit

"Sexy Song" was released as the album's lead single on November 20, 2015.[9] The single featured on the U.S. Adult R&B Songs chart peaking at number 26.[10] The music video for "Sexy Song" was released on Wyatt's YouTube channel on February 18, 2016, directed by Steven C. Pitts and filmed by Rite Media Group.[11]

"Love Me" was released as the album's second single on March 18, 2016.[12]

"Jodeci" was released as the album's third single. The music video was released to Wyatt's YouTube channel on October 17, 2016.Keke also sings a bit of Jodeci's "I'm Still Waiting", which was released in 1992, at the end of the track.[13]

Live performances edit

Wyatt performed an impromptu version of the lead single "Sexy Song" at SOB's in New York City.[14] Wyatt also performed "Sexy Song" at the Capitale night club in Washington, DC on December 12, 2015, and on Essence Live on February 12, 2016.[15][16]

Commercial performance edit

The album debuted at number 11 on the US Billboard's Top R&B Albums,[17] number 16 on the Billboard's Top Independent Album,[18] and number 19 on the Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts on May 14, 2016.[19] The album also charted at number eighty on the Billboard Top Current Albums chart.[20]

Track listing edit

Album credits taken from Discogs.[21]

Rated Love — Standard edition[22]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Anything"Ke'Tara "Keke" Wyatt, Robert ErnessRobert Erness3:16
2."Sexy Song"Wyatt, Brandon Hesson, Peter PennDominic "Dom" Gordon3:54
3."On Repeat"Hesson, Gordon, Jenny Karr, Wyatt, Kyle Christopher, Shantee TaylorDiego Morales, Eero Turunen3:11
4."Things Change (Interlude)"WyattGordon0:10
5."24 Hours"Wyatt, ErnessErness3:57
6."No Peace"Hesson, Gordon, Wyatt, TaylorGordon3:24
7."If It Ain't You"Hesson, Gordon, Wyatt, TaylorGordon3:39
8."Dumb Love"Hesson, Gordon, Wyatt, TaylorGordon3:35
9."Make It Work (Interlude)"WyattGordon0:10
10."Love Me"Wyatt, Hesson, GordonGordon3:00
11."Still Have Love"Carmael M. FrithJevon Hill, Theodore Thomas3:15
12."I Know"Wayne WilsonAaron Scott, Johniee Miller, Kevin "KP" Pridgen Jr., Terrell "Hendrix" Green3:42
13."If I Had You"Hesson, Gordon, Wyatt, TaylorGordon4:33
14."Love Reigns (Interlude)"WyattGordon0:06
15."It's Reigning"Wyatt, ErnessErness2:42
16."If I Had You" (radio edit)Hesson, Gordon, Wyatt, TaylorGordon3:33
Total length:46:07
Rated Love — Deluxe edition[23]
No.TitleLength
17."Jodeci"3:24
18."Red Light"3:17
19."I Won't Complain"3:14
20."Back to You"3:20

Credits and personnel edit

Album credits taken from AllMusic.[24]

Performers and musicians
  • Keke Wyatt – vocals, background vocals, composition
Technical personnel
  • Aaron Scott – production
  • Alex D. Rogers – photography
  • Brandon Hesson – composition
  • Carmael Frith – composition
  • Diego Morales – production
  • Dominic Gordon – composition, engineering, mixing, production
  • Eero Turunen – production
  • Jenny Karr – composition
  • Jevon Hill – production
  • Johnnie Miller – production
  • Kevin "KP" Pridgen, Jr. – engineering, mixing, production
  • Kyle Christopher – composition
  • Michael Ford – executive production
  • Peter Penn – composition
  • Profango Amore – graphic design
  • Robert Erness – composition, production
  • Shantee Tyler – composition
  • Steve Morales – engineer, mixing
  • Terrell "Hendrix" Green – production
  • Theodore Thomas – production
  • Wayne Wilson – composition

Charts edit

Chart (2016) Peak
position
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[19] 19
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[18] 16

Release history edit

Region Date Edition Format Label Ref
Worldwide April 22, 2016 Standard Digital download, CD Aratek Entertainment, INgrooves [22]
Worldwide October 21, 2016 Deluxe Digital download, CD [23]

References edit

  1. ^ "Keke Wyatt *NEW SINGLE* snippet". YouTube. YouTube. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
  2. ^ "Guess What?!.... My album "Rated Love" is available for Pre-Order NOW.. Any where music is sold digitally". Twitter. KeKe Wyatt. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  3. ^ "My new single "Love Me" is available NOW". Instagram. Retrieved March 18, 2016.
  4. ^ "Keke announces second single on Facebook". Facebook. Retrieved March 18, 2016.
  5. ^ "Check out my new single". Twitter. Retrieved March 18, 2016.
  6. ^ "I think we got one with my new single "Jodeci"!!! I wanna know what y'all think??? #RATEDLOVEDELUXE #OCT21 #JODECI". Instagram. Keke Wyatt. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
  7. ^ a b Bowser, Edwin. "ALBUM REVIEW: KEKE WYATT, RATED LOVE". SoulinStereo. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
  8. ^ a b Gaynor, Gerren Keith. "EVERYBODY LOVES KEKE WYATT [EXCLUSIVE]". Centrictv. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
  9. ^ "Sexy Song by KeKe Wyatt on iTunes". iTunes. iTunes. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  10. ^ "Keke Wyatt – Chart History". Billboard. Billboard. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  11. ^ "Keke Wyatt's Official "Sexy Song" Video". YouTube. YouTube. Retrieved February 18, 2016.
  12. ^ "Keke Wyatt – Love Me (Audio)". YouTube. Retrieved March 18, 2016.
  13. ^ "Keke Wyatt – Jodeci". YouTube. YouTube. Retrieved October 18, 2016.
  14. ^ "Keke Wyatt – Sexy Song (Impromptu)". YouTube. YouTube. Retrieved November 19, 2015.
  15. ^ "KeKe Wyatt performs "Sexy Song" Live in Washington DC". YouTube. Concert Daily. Retrieved December 12, 2015.
  16. ^ "KeKe Wyatt sings "Sexy Song" on Essence Live". YouTube. YouTube. Retrieved February 12, 2016.
  17. ^ "KeKe Wyatt Billboard R&B Albums Chart". Billboard. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
  18. ^ a b "KeKe Wyatt Billboard Chart History R&B Albums". Billboard. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
  19. ^ a b "KeKe Wyatt Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Chart". Billboard. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
  20. ^ "Chart Search Top Current Albums for KeKe Wyatt". Billboard. Retrieved May 14, 2016.
  21. ^ "Keke Wyatt – Rated Love (CD, Album) at Discogs". Discogs. Retrieved September 1, 2016.
  22. ^ a b "Rated Love by KeKe Wyatt on iTunes". iTunes. iTunes. Retrieved February 19, 2016.
  23. ^ a b "Rated Love (Deluxe Edition) by KeKe Wyatt on Apple Music". iTunes. iTunes (UK). Retrieved October 22, 2016.
  24. ^ Kellman, Andy. "Rated Love – Keke Wyatt Credits AllMusic". AllMusic. AllMusic. Retrieved October 23, 2016.