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Two Eleven is the sixth studio album by American singer Brandy Norwood. Initially released in Spain on October 12, 2012, and released in the US on October 16, 2012, it served as the singer's debut release with Chameleon Entertainment and RCA Records after departing from Epic Records soon after releasing her previous album, Human (2008). The album's title is taken from Norwood's birthday; it is also the day on which her idol and friend, entertainer Whitney Houston died eight months before Two Elevens release.
Two Eleven is the first album from Norwood to include a diverse roster of collaborators, including songwriting credits from Frank Ocean, Chris Brown and Sean Garrett. Production comes courtesy of the likes of Bangladesh and Rico Love, amongst others. Upon its release, the album received critical acclaim, with many complimenting Norwood's vocals, the album's production and the overall direction. Two Eleven debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 65,000 copies, becoming Norwood's fourth top-ten album and her first in eight years. It also debuted atop the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, her second album to do so.
The album produced two singles. "Put It Down", featuring Chris Brown, was released in May 2012. It peaked within the top five on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, becoming Norwood's tenth top-ten single on the chart and her first in a decade. It peaked at number 65 on the Billboard Hot 100. "Wildest Dreams" was released as the second and final single in August 2012, failing to enter the Billboard Hot 100 and peaking at number 68 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.
Norwood began working on the album with her then-record label, Epic Records, to which she had signed in April 2008. Amongst those to record with the singer were songwriting and production partners Tricky Stewart and The-Dream. In early 2009, songwriter Amanda Ghost was appointed president of Epic Records, ultimately leading to speculation around the future of Norwood's record contract and its eventual termination as confirmed by Tricky Stewart. Soon after, it was reported that Norwood had been dropped by Jay-Z's management company Roc Nation, something which Norwood's team refuted in July 2009 by stating "They Epic have not dropped her. We are trying to get a release from them. We're in waiting" and that "Brandy and Roc Nation parted amicably".
Norwood's joint record deal with RCA and producer Breyon Prescott's Chameleon Records was finalized in late 2010, however, it was not announced to the public until August 2011, when it was also confirmed that Norwood's sixth studio album would be released in 2012. After Norwood was signed in late 2010, professional recording and submissions for the album began. Much of the earlier material recorded under Epic Records was left with the label and allocated to other artists such as Jennifer Lopez. Speaking of her new record deal during an interview with Rolling Stone magazine, Norwood commented: "I'm reinventing myself and I feel fearless, ''Two mature, it's gritty, it's edgy. RCA reminds me of how Atlantic used to be, they really believed in my vision as an artist when they signed me at 14, RCA welcomed me and Breyon Prescott and Peter Edge showed such passion for what I wanted to do". Before Prescott worked with Norwood he sought the permission of the singer's long-time collaborator and friend Darkchild. Prescott told Darkchild that he wanted to work on making an R&B record with Norwood. Darkchild agreed giving him his blessings.
In 2009, Norwood introduced her rapping alter ego Bran'Nu on Timbaland's album Shock Value II (2009), the result of artistic experimentation with the musician, who had tapped her for her rhyming ability after seeing a video on YouTube that Norwood had uploaded and showed her Freestyle rap. Norwood, who had initially thought of rapping as a hobby and fun for friends, felt encouraged by Timbaland to write and perform her own verses on at least three tracks for his album, two of which eventually made it to the track lisiting. In December 2009, the producer revealed his intentions to reteam with her on her next project, producing the bulk of an album that he envisioned to be "half singing, half rapping". Norwood confirmed his idea in an interview she held at the release party of Shock Value II: "What I'm doing on the next album is a little bit different than what everybody knows me for. Timbaland endorsed that ... He really gave me a shot to be different and be versatile. I can't thank him enough for that. This is a wonderful opportunity." Though Norwood went on to record several other rap songs the following months and hoped it would eventually lead to a signing with Timbaland's Mosley Music Group, plans for hip hop-oriented album under his imprint were eventually abandoned as the singer felt the sound would not aim at her core audience. Approached on the subject, she later dismissed the idea of recording a rap album, stating that "it was a hobby. I was convinced to do it professionally, which I never should have listened to that advice."
After unveiling her new record deal in August 2011, Norwood finally revealed that she had found her sound for Two Eleven, stating: "What I'm truly excited about is how the album is all about R&B and figuring out the new sound of R&B, and that was the challenge for me. I wanted to do something different – I didn't want to just sing about love over regular beats". Norwood also stated how Frank Ocean inspired her on this album: "We've always had that great chemistry, and we both understand music in the same ways, to work with him on this album was great as well, and I hope I can get in the with him some more because his music is just so moving; I'm inspired by him. I think he's a great artist and he hasn't even touched on what he will touch on in the future".
Speaking to Billboard magazine she said "I think the fans have been very patient with me, but I just wanted to make sure that this album was right – the right type of music, the right core. I feel like we're getting to that point where I felt comfortable with putting something out." Speaking of the types of records she was making, in a separate interview with Rap-Up, Norwood compared her album to previous records. "It's just gonna be a different album, but of course expressing the love that I feel now and the struggles and different situations that I've gone through in the past,... My music always tends to be the soundtrack to my life and definitely inspired by what I see other people go through as well—gritty, edgy, different." Then touching the subject matter of songs on the album, Norwood said she felt like the past failures in her life should be addressed,
During early conceptions of the album, Norwood had wanted to reunite with Rodney Jerkins–her longtime collaborator who had executively produced Human (2008). However, midway through 2009, during an interview with Out magazine, Norwood refused to talk about Human, telling interviews "to hell with that album" when questions were asked about it. It wasn't until 2010 when Norwood would break her silence during an episode of her VH1 reality TV show Brandy and Ray J: A Family Business. During one of the episodes when her brother Ray J announces that he wants to work with Darkchild, Norwood reveals that she felt the producer "did not put his all into the album", and that "was a personal issue between me and him." Elaborating on what she meant, Norwood replied "You know what kind of chemistry Rodney and I have too, but on some personal issues, he doesn't deliver.....I don't want the same thing that happened to me, to happen to you.".
In September 2010, producer Bangladesh confirmed that he had been commissioned by Norwood to helm the production of the entire project, though Norwood later expressed her intent to further connect with several producers, including Jim Beanz, WyldCard, newcomer Kevin McCall, Lonny Bereal, Rico Love, production collectives The Woodworks and The Runners, and singer Sean Garrett who worked on nine songs for the album. Hit-Boy who had previously worked with Frank Ocean on Norwood's Human album returned to production on Two Eleven with the ballad "White Flag", which discusses "emotional defeat". However it was excluded from the final track listing. Norwood's collaboration with Drake was a song written by James Fauntleroy and produced by Noah "40" Shebib; however it failed to come to fruition. A press release from RCA Records announced that Breyon Prescott was overseeing the album with productions by the aforementioned producers as well as Mario Winans and writing from Ester Dean. Despite Prescott stating that Timbaland was in the studios crafting a song for the album, Norwood revealed on August 29, 2012, that the album was complete and that time didn't allow for her and the producer to work together.
Prescott stated that on Two Eleven, Norwood's vocals return to a multi-layered style like those present on previous songs "Angel in Disguise", "Full Moon" and "Afrodisiac". These are present on another ballad on Two Eleven called "Without You", which was originally crafted for singer Alicia Keys. Initially tipped by Norwood as an early contender for the second or third single, Billboards Andrew Hamp said "Without You" showcases Norwood's "strong vocals" with a "confident" attitude. It drew comparisons to "Enough of No Love" by Keyshia Cole, both Cole's song and Norwood's song were produced by Harmony Samuels. Touching on similar subject, "No Such Thing As too Late" sees Norwood talking about the emotions of a new relationship. Lyrics include the line "When you really love somebody / you can wait / 'cause there's no such thing as too late." This goes hand-in-hand with another song "Hardly Breathing", where Norwood speaks of the anguish of having her partner leave. Both of the songs were written and produced by Jim Jonsin and Rico Love.
R&B singer-songwriter Frank Ocean wrote the ballad "Scared of Beautiful" for the album. Ocean previously co-wrote "1st & Love" and "Locket (Locked in Love)" with Rich King for Norwood's Human (2008) album. "Scared of Beautiful" was originally conceived as a duet between Norwood and Ocean, and features the duo exchanging lyrics about looking forwards and not backwards, with lines such as "I wonder why there's no mirrors on these walls no more/ You can't tell me why you're so terrified of beautiful". However the final version features just Norwood. Speaking on how the song came about Norwood said, "Well, he had the song for a while and when I heard it, it really just spoke to me. Sometimes you get to a point in your life where you're scared to be great, you're scared to be beautiful, you're scared to be the best version of you and you talk to yourself and you try to get yourself back on track. I just remember feeling like that at a point in my life. I know there are so many people out there that go through that dark time and I felt like it could speak to a lot of people."
Singer turned producer Mario Winans, wrote and produced a song for the album called "Wish Your Love Away" where Norwood sings with angst for her lover "who played her like a fool". Centred around a melody of "serrated drums" and a "piping" pan flute Norwood singles "Remember that you told me you were with it, and all them other bitches you could do without." "Do You Know What You Have?", helmed by Mike WiLL Made It, switches direction, with Norwood firing back at her love. In the lyrics she "cuts down her man for failing to return her affections." The subject content changes slightly on the Bangladesh-helmed "So Sick", another record which was written by Garrett. On the song, Norwood addresses a lover who pushes her too far and "violating her trust", it includes the lyrics "How far do you think I'll let you push me before I cross the line?".
Not all of the songs are mid-tempo or ballads, Bangladesh also produced a song called "Let Me Go" which Hammp described as an "up-tempo club song". On the chorus, Norwood sings "You know how I get when you let me go", and later in the song she makes reference to Twitter and her mother. The song interpolates "Tonight" by Swedish pop music singer Lykke Li. Deluxe edition bonus track "Can You Hear Me Now?", producer Danja's sole contribution on Two Eleven, works up an extended musical foreplay around a single mind-numbing groove. Built around an instrumental that was originally produced for Diddy – Dirty Money's 2010 album Last Train to Paris, it was re-constructed by Love for Norwood. Danja used heavy vocoding during production of the song.
On July 18, Norwood performed "Put It Down" for the first time at the Howard Theatre in Washington, D.C. The first televised performance of the song occurred at the MDA Show of Strength benefit concert, which aired on September 2. In October, Norwood performed the song on television shows 106 & Park, Good Morning America and Live with Kelly and Michael. Norwood performed the song, along with the album's second single "Wildest Dreams", at the Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve special on January 1, 2013, being the only R&B performer at the event. In February, Norwood performed "Without You"–originally scheduled for release as the album's third single–at The BET Honors.
In July 2012, during an interview with Angie Ange on 93.9 WKYS radio, Norwood said that two songs were in contention to become the second single. While Norwood favored "Without You", Chameleon and RCA wanted to release the Sean Garrett-produced "So Sick" first and then service "Without You" as the third single from Two Eleven. However, at an album listening party at Germano Studios in Manhattan, it was revealed that The Bizness-produced "Wildest Dreams" would serve as the album's second single. "Wildest Dreams" premiered online on August 21, 2012, and was released for digital download on August 28, 2012. Serviced to urban adult contemporary radio stations on September 11, 2012, it peaked at number 68 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and was seen as a commercial failure compared to "Put It Down".
In an interview with Rap-Up, Norwood stated that she would like the third single to be the Rico Love and Jim Jonsin-helmed "No Such Thing as Too Late". Garrett also tipped a song he produced, "Let Me Go", for the album's third single release. However, during The BET Honors in February 2013, "Without You" was introduced as Norwood's new single and she performed the song live for the first time. It remained unreleased, however. After the release of Two Eleven, urban contemporary radio stations began playing "Do You Know What You Have?" and "Wish Your Love Away", which resulted in them peaking at numbers 61 and 66 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart, respectively. "Scared of Beautiful" also charted at number 48 on the Gaon Chart, based on downloads alone.
Andrew Chan from Slant Magazine commented that while Two Eleven was "touted as progressive R&B, it doesn't exactly redefine the singer as a visionary. What's refreshing about this new work, though, is how it clears a place for her in the realm of forward-thinking urban music while also reaching back to clarify her distinctive position in the diva pantheon." He called the record "the clearest portrait yet of Brandy's instrument", praising the "unusual tone of, its strange mix of warmth and cold, hard edges", and felt that the album revealed a "contradictory admiration for ... Drake, Frank Ocean, and Kanye West circa 808s & Heartbreak". Ken Capobianco of The Boston Globe believed that with Two Eleven "Brandy delivers one of her better sets with these songs tracking love's mysterious ways ... Unlike some past efforts, which sounded like musical wallpaper, there's swagger to the club tracks and real soul in the ballads." Andrew Hampp, writing for Billboard, felt that the album "features some of her freshest beats since 2004's experimental, critically adored Afrodisiac" and summed it as "a collection of old-school R&B songs with a modern, often futuristic twist with no trend-chasing experiments with EDM", calling it "her most focused album since 1998's Never Say Never".
Entertainment Weeklys Tanner Stransky called the album "a well-crafted for-the-fans album. Ignore what's pushed to pop radio. Brandy scores when her raspy-sweet voice soars during ballads and slow jams, and that's what stands out on this intimate, often ethereal collection." He gave the album a B+ rating. Sarah Godfrey from Washington Post complimented the songs on the album and wrote that the album "serves as a fine tribute to, in part because it is a testament to the fact that, despite whatever trends are happening in popular music right now, a good voice always shines through." Vibe noted that "experimentation can spell struggle for some artists, but Two Eleven finds Brandy cruising fluidly past the predictable. Swinging from OVO-worthy emo-ethereal reflections to quirky up-tempos, the 18-year vet deviates from overdone slow-tempo production." Rich Juzwiak from Gawker felt that Two Eleven "doesn't sound any younger or older than Brandy is. It's not obtusely hip or desperately serious. It just is, it's just now and it's just right." Less enthusiastic with the album, Noah Berlatsky from The Atlantic felt the songs on the album were "worse than the largely ignored Human, but better than the beloved-yet-boring 2002 Full Moon", and added, that "but such parsing seems mostly beside the point. If you're one of the dwindling number of fans of this '90s style, you know what you're getting; if not you'll probably skip it anyway."
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