Heart on My Sleeve (album)

Heart on My Sleeve
Studio album by
Released6 May 2022 (2022-05-06)
Recorded2019–2021
GenreR&B[1]
Length54:43
Label
Producer
Ella Mai chronology
Ella Mai
(2018)
Heart on My Sleeve
(2022)
3
(2024)
Singles from Heart on My Sleeve
  1. "Not Another Love Song"
    Released: 2 October 2020
  2. "DFMU"
    Released: 28 January 2022
  3. "Leave You Alone"
    Released: 31 March 2022
  4. "How"
    Released: 7 June 2022
  5. "This Is"
    Released: 14 March 2023
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic74/100[2]
Review scores
SourceRating
The Observer[3]
Pitchfork7.3/10[4]

Heart on My Sleeve is the second studio album by English singer and songwriter Ella Mai, released on 6 May 2022 through 10 Summers and Interscope Records.[5] The album was executive-produced by Mustard and Meko Yohannes, and features guest appearances from Latto, Roddy Ricch, and Lucky Daye.[5] It serves as the follow-up to Mai's 2018 self-titled debut album.[6]

A deluxe edition of the album featuring three additional songs was released on 2 February 2023 in conjunction with the announcement of Mai's Heart on My Sleeve North American tour.[7]

Promotion

[edit]

"Not Another Love Song" was released as the lead single on 2 October 2020.[8] Its music video was released on 20 October 2020.[9] "DFMU" was released on 28 January 2022, as the second single, alongside a music video.[10] "Leave You Alone" was released on 31 March 2022, as the third single.[11] "How" featuring Roddy Ricch was sent to rhythmic contemporary radio on 7 June 2022, as the fourth single.[12] Its music video was released on 28 July 2022.[13] "This Is" from the deluxe edition was sent to rhythmic contemporary radio on 14 March 2023, as the fifth single.[14]

Commercial performance

[edit]

Heart On My Sleeve debuted at number 15 on the US Billboard 200, number nine on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and number two on the Top R&B Albums chart, earning 20,000 album-equivalent units (15,000 being pure album sales) in its first week.[15]

Track listing

[edit]
Heart on My Sleeve track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Trying"3:17
2."Not Another Love Song"
  • Mai
  • Varren Wade
4:15
3."Didn't Say" (featuring Latto)
  • Mustard
  • Gylttryp
4:06
4."Break My Heart"
  • Mai
  • Hinshaw Jr.
D'Mile3:15
5."Fallen Angel"
4:22
6."How" (featuring Roddy Ricch)
  • Mustard
  • Nic Nac
  • Bass Charity
3:38
7."Pieces"
  • Mai
  • Wade
3:19
8."DFMU"
  • Mai
  • Hinshaw Jr.
  • Daemon Landrum
  • Jonathan Sanders
  • Tyus Strickland
  • Donell Jones
  • Kyle West
  • Mustard
  • J. Holt
3:18
9."Hide"
3:28
10."Power of a Woman"
  • Mai
  • Wade
  • Mustard
  • Cam Griffin
  • J.LBS
3:34
11."A Mess" (featuring Lucky Daye)
  • Boi-1da
  • SMPLGTWY
  • Peter Iskander
  • Cameron Joseph
3:54
12."Feels Like"
Jorgen Odegard3:20
13."Leave You Alone"
  • Mai
  • Wade
3:29
14."Sink or Swim"
  • Mai
  • Hinshaw Jr.
D'Mile3:55
15."Fading Out"
  • Mai
  • Wade
Sweet3:35
Total length:54:43
Japanese edition bonus track[16]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
16."She Don't" (featuring Ty Dolla Sign)
  • Mustard
  • Twice as Nice
4:24
Total length:59:07
Deluxe edition
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
16."2 O'Clock"
Kaytranada3:50
17."This Is"
  • Mai
  • Dana Meyers
  • Grace Redway
  • Howard Hewett
  • LaDamon "Fatboi" Douglas
  • Mustard
  • LaDamon "Fatboi" Douglas
  • Mustard
3:26
18."Our Song"
3:19
Total length:65:21

Notes

[edit]
  • "Not Another Love Song" was originally released as a single in 2020; the version on the album is extended and features a spoken-word segment by American singer Mary J. Blige beginning at 3:32. "Sink or Swim" also features Blige beginning at 3:32.
  • American singer Kirk Franklin and choir are featured on "Fallen Angel" beginning at 3:18.

Charts

[edit]
Chart performance for Heart on My Sleeve
Chart (2022) Peak
position
UK R&B Albums (OCC)[17] 13
US Billboard 200[15] 15
US Top R&B Albums (Billboard)[18] 2
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[19] 9

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Clark, Trent (21 September 2018). "Ella Mai Reveals Self-Titled Debut Album Cover Art & Release Date". HipHopDX. Retrieved 23 September 2018.
  2. ^ "Reviews and Tracks for Heart On My Sleeve by Ella Mai". Metacritic. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
  3. ^ "Ella Mai: Heart On My Sleeve review – everyday romance parsed with ambition". The Observer. 8 May 2022. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
  4. ^ Torres, Eric. "Review: Heart On My Sleeve". Pitchfork. Retrieved 27 July 2022.
  5. ^ a b Yoo, Noah (21 September 2018). "Ella Mai Announces Debut Album". Pitchfork. Retrieved 23 September 2018.
  6. ^ Peay, Malik (15 June 2022). "Ella Mai Wears Her Heart On Her Sleeve: Every Song Felt "Like A Therapy Session"". grammy.com. The Recording Academy. Retrieved 30 August 2022.
  7. ^ "Ella Mai Announces 'Heart On My Sleeve' Tour And Deluxe Album". Vibe. 25 January 2023. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
  8. ^ Maicki, Salvatore (2 October 2020). "Ella Mai returns with new single "Not Another Love Song"". The Fader. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  9. ^ George, Rachel (15 March 2023). "Ella Mai shares the music video for her single "Not Another Love Song"". ABC Audio. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
  10. ^ Schube, Will (29 January 2022). "Listen To Ella Mai's New Mustard-Produced Single, 'DFMU'". udiscovermusic.com. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  11. ^ Powell, Jon (31 March 2022). "Ella Mai drops off new single "Leave You Alone"". Revolt. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  12. ^ "Top 40 Rhythmic Future Releases | R&B Song and Hip-Hop Music Release Dates | ..." All Access. Archived from the original on 1 June 2022. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  13. ^ Cho, Regina (28 July 2022). "Ella Mai releases new "How" video featuring Roddy Ricch". Revolt. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  14. ^ "Top 40 Rhythmic Future Releases | R&B Song and Hip-Hop Music Release Dates | ..." All Access. Archived from the original on 15 March 2023. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  15. ^ a b Anderson, Trevor (20 May 2022). "Ella Mai Has a Top Five Debut Up Her 'Sleeve'". Billboard. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  16. ^ "ハート・オン・マイ・スリーブ". Universal Music Japan. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  17. ^ "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 20 July 2024.
  18. ^ ""Ella Mai Chart History (Top R&B Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  19. ^ "Ella Mai Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 3 February 2023.