The Time Is Now

Released in 2018, The Time Is Now represents the second phase of Craig David's career resurgence following the success of Following My Intuition. While his debut was defined by the raw energy of the UK Garage scene, this seventh studio album is a highly calculated, studio-polished pivot toward global pop and contemporary R&B. The record is notable for its extensive list of collaborators, including Bastille, AJ Tracey, and Kaytranada, which helps David navigate various subgenres from tropical house to grime-adjacent pop. Critics noted a heavy reliance on modern vocal processing and Auto-Tune, a departure from the more organic soul leanings of his earlier work, but praised the album's infectious energy and 'hook-laden' songwriting. It reached number two on the UK Albums Chart, solidifying David's status as a rare legacy artist capable of maintaining chart dominance nearly two decades after his debut.