My Thoughts

Released in May 2000, My Thoughts served as the debut for Cleveland-born singer Avant and acted as the flagship release for Magic Johnson's Magic Johnson Music. Produced largely by Steve 'Stone' Huff, the album is a cohesive exercise in contemporary R&B that bridged the gap between the New Jack Swing era and the more minimalist neo-soul movement. The album's commercial success was driven by the massive single 'Separated,' which spent several weeks atop the R&B charts, and 'My First Love,' a cover of the René & Angela classic that introduced the world to the potent chemistry between Avant and KeKe Wyatt. While critics at the time, such as those at AllMusic, noted some tracks followed a routine urban contemporary formula, the album's platinum certification and enduring radio presence solidified Avant as a central figure in the 2000s slow jam canon. The record is notable for its thematic range, moving from the bitterness of infidelity to the social consciousness of the sprawling closer 'Why.'