Fantasia

R&B / Soul · 2006 · 14 tracks

Fantasia

A masterclass in raspy, gospel-drenched soul that bridges the gap between 2000s hip-hop production and timeless emotional grit.

December 12, 2006 · J Records

This self-titled sophomore effort is the sound of an artist shedding the constraints of a reality television competition and stepping into her own skin. While her debut leaned into the expected pop-balladry of the era, Fantasia is a deeply rooted R&B record that prioritizes texture and grit over radio-friendly polish. Her voice, a singular instrument characterized by a raspy, church-hewn intensity, acts as the anchor for a variety of mid-2000s production styles, ranging from the boom-bap energy of Swizz Beatz to the smooth, melodic touch of Babyface and Missy Elliott.

Tracklist · 14 Tracks

01

Hood Boy

3:34

02

When I See You

3:37

03

I Nominate You

4:34

04

Baby Makin' Hips

3:21

05

Not the Way That I Do

3:36

06

Only One U

4:00

07

I Feel Beautiful

3:33

08

I'm Not That Type

4:07

09

Uneligible

3:00

10

Two Weeks Notice

4:42

11

Surround U

3:19

12

Bore Me (Yawn)

2:55

13

Sunshine

3:48

14

Bump What Your Friends Say

4:44

Moments Worth Listening For

The brassy, celebratory explosion of Hood Boy where the 1960s soul horns meet 2000s hip-hop percussion

The vulnerable, fluttering vocal runs on the bridge of When I See U that capture the nervousness of a new crush

The raw, unvarnished grit in her voice during the climax of I Feel Beautiful, sounding more like a live performance than a studio take

Where This Album Departs

How does Fantasia sound next to the rest of Fantasia's catalogue?

Empowering+0.9σ

Empowering saturates this record a touch more than the artist's norm.

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