Jagged Edge (Jagged Edge album)

Jagged Edge is the eponymous fifth studio album by American R&B group Jagged Edge. It was released by Columbia Records on May 9, 2006 in the United States. Chiefly produced by band members Brandon and Brian Casey, it features additional production from Chad "Dr. Ceuss" Elliott, John "Cheese" Williams, Don Vito, and songwriting collective The Clutch as well as Dwayne Nesmith and Pierre Medor from Corna Boyz. Julio Voltio, Big Duke and John Legend appear as guest vocalists on the album.

The album earned mixed to negative reviews from music critics some of whom felt that its was repetitious but praised Jagged Edge's vocal performances. It debuted at number four on the US Billboard 200 and number two on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, with first-week sales of 115,000 copies. Jagged Edge produced four singles, including "So Amazing", "Season's Change", "Stunnas" and "Good Luck Charm," the latter of which was certified Gold the by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

Jagged Edge produced four singles, including lead single "So Amazing" and follow-up "Good Luck Charm," which peaked at number 13 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and was certfified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on June 15, 2007,^[1] becoming the album's highest-charting single. "Season's Change" was issued as the album's third single, while "Stunnas" featuring Jermaine Dupri was selected as the fourth and final single from Jagged Edge.

AllMusic editor Andy Kellman rated the album three ouf of five stars. He found that the "album offers little change from what preceded it [...] The Casey twins remain in control on all of the material and wisely keep the few guest appearances low-key. The only real surprise is that the group doesn't turn strictly to rappers [...] Despite a slightly greater proportion of club-oriented tracks, this album is standard-issue Jagged Edge, which is enough to keep them rolling as steadily as they have for the past several years."^[2] Laura Checkoway, writing for Vibe, remarked that "Jagged Edge has always been those ’hood cats who harmonize about relationships, occasionally with endearing cheesiness. And while their gritty-yetgorgeous vocals have ripened over the years, the same can’t be said of their songwriting. But Jagged Edge's emotive delivery compensates for the bumps."^[4] She also rated the album three ouf of five.^[4]

Entertainment Weekly editor Josh Tyrangiel felt that Jagged Edge "dips an awkward toe into Cinemax territory on its fifth album, Jagged Edge. "Watch You," an otherwise predictable ode to voyeurism, includes the least seductive lyric in R&B history. (It's far too long to quote, but it does feature the word "undies.") "Sexy American Girls" fares better thanks to a trilling Spanish guitar hook and sharp, tense production, but Jagged Edge are far too earnest to make lasciviousness compelling. Their hips may be willing, but their hearts don’t follow."^[5] Mike Joseph from PopMatters noted: "While the Jagged Edge guys unquestionably have the pipes necessary for the task, their material is sorely lacking. Even the reappearance of their mentor Dupri on two tracks isn't enough to make this disc even the slightest bit more listenable. Unless the same tired, ghetto buzzwords like "gangsta," "pimpin'," and the like turn your crank, Jagged Edge is best left on the record store shelf."^[3]

Jagged Edge debuted at number four on the US Billboard 200 and number two on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, with first-week sales of 115,000 copies,^[6] While it was Jagged Edge's fourth consecutive album to reach the top ten on both charts,^[7] it was marked their first regular project not to be certified by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).^[8]

Notes and samples

• ^{^[a]} signifies co-producer
• "So High" contains interpolations of "Affirmative Action" by Nas.