In My Mind (BJ the Chicago Kid album)

In My Mind
Studio album by
BJ the Chicago Kid
ReleasedFebruary 19, 2016
Recorded2015 at 17 Hertz Studio in North Hollywood, CA
GenreR&B
Length62:16
LabelMotown
ProducerEthiopia Habtemariam (exec.), BJ the Chicago Kid, Mike & Keys, DJ Khalil, Cornelio "Corn" Austin, Sean Cooper, DJ Reflex, Matthew Edwards, District 9, Aaron Renner, Jairus Mozee, Joe Syring, Lamar Edwards, Da Internz, Aaron Michael Cox, David Haddon
BJ the Chicago Kid chronology
Pineapple Now-Laters
(2012) 		In My Mind
(2016) 		1123
(2019)
Singles from In My Mind
  1. "Church"
    Released: August 21, 2015
  2. "The Resume"
    Released: December 4, 2015

In My Mind is the second studio album by American singer-songwriter BJ the Chicago Kid. The album, which serves as his major label debut, was released by Motown, on February 19, 2016.[1][2] In My Mind received a nomination for Best R&B Album at the 59th Annual Grammy Awards.[3]

Background

The album was recorded in roughly 30 days, including several nights where BJ slept in the studio.[4] Some of the collaborations on the album, including Kendrick Lamar and Chance the Rapper, were formed with artists that BJ had been friends with for many years prior.[4] BJ was initially introduced to Big K.R.I.T. on Twitter through a mutual friend, which led to the song "The Resume." The pair did not meet in person until the first day of the tour for the album.[5]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic84/100[6]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[7]
Consequence of SoundB−[8]
Exclaim!9/10[9]
HipHopDX4.2/5[10]
Pitchfork Media7.6/10[11]

Upon its release, In My Mind received critical acclaim from music critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album received an average score of 84 based on 7 reviews, which indicates "universal acclaim".[6] In a glowing review for Exclaim!, Michael J. Warren called In My Mind "the most earnest soul album in years," saying that the record is "the proof that his ascension is hardly luck, but rather the result of a 15-year grind and a tremendous work ethic."[12]

Track listing

In My Mind track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Intro (Inside My Mind)"
BJ the Chicago Kid0:41
2."Man Down" (featuring Buddy, Constantine, and PJ Morton)
3:29
3."Church" (featuring Chance the Rapper and Buddy)
  • Mike & Keys
  • Uncle Dave[c]
4:47
4."Love Inside" (featuring Isabella)
  • B. Sledge
  • Aaron Sledge
  • Isabelle Chiappini
  • Cornelio Austin
Austin3:47
5."The Resume" (featuring Big K.R.I.T.)
  • Cooper
  • BJ the Chicago Kid[c]
  • Kincy[c]
6:03
6."Shine"
  • B. Sledge
  • Aaron Sledge
  • Anthony Jaramillo
  • Matthew Edwards
  • DJ Reflex
  • Edwards
3:19
7."Wait Til the Morning" (featuring Isa)
  • B. Sledge
  • Aaron Sledge
  • Demario Bridges
  • Michael Barney
  • Aaron Bennett
  • Aaron Renner
  • Richard Shelton
  • Loren Hill
  • District 9
  • Renner
4:54
8."Heart Crush"
  • B. Sledge
  • Jairus Mozee
Mozee4:38
9."Jeremiah/World Needs More Love" (featuring Eric Ingram)
  • B. Sledge
  • Ingram
  • Mozee
  • Richard Sledge
Mozee5:41
10."The New Cupid" (featuring Kendrick Lamar)
  • BJ the Chicago Kid
  • Joe Syring
5:21
11."Woman's World"
  • B. Sledge
  • Aaron Sledge
  • Austin
  • Mozee
  • Syring
  • Ayaamii Sledge
  • Calvin Frazier
  • David Haddon
  • Rumeal Eggleston
Austin3:35
12."Crazy"
  • B. Sledge
  • Cox
  • Groover
  • Chris Goodman
  • Mike & Keys
  • Kincy[a]
4:02
13."Home"
  • B. Sledge
  • Lamar Edwards
Edwards3:29
14."Falling On My Face"
  • B. Sledge
  • Aaron Sledge
  • Ernest Clark
  • Marcos Palacios
  • Aaron Cox
  • Harold Lilly
  • Da Internz
  • Aaron Michael Cox
4:01
15."Turnin' Me Up"
  • B. Sledge
  • Aaron Sledge
  • Mozee
  • Haddon
  • Mozee
  • Haddon
4:29
Total length:62:16

Note

  • ^[c] indicates a co-producer
  • ^[a] indicates an additional producer

Personnel

Musicians

  • BJ the Chicago Kid – vocals (all tracks), drums (track 13)
  • Rex Rideout – programming (1), piano (14)
  • THX – additional keyboards (2, 14), synthesizer (12)
  • Buddy – additional vocals (2)
  • Constantine – additional vocals (2)
  • Paul Morton, Jr. – additional vocals (2), organ (9, 15)
  • Uncle Dave – guitar (2)
  • Mike & Keys – keyboards, programming (2, 12)
  • Rumeal Eggleston – bass guitar (4)
  • Jairus Mozee – guitar (4, 8, 9, 11, 15), bass guitar (15)
  • Jeff Villaluna – guitar (4)
  • The Regiment Horns – horns (4, 9, 15)
  • Cornelio Austin – keyboards (4, 11), programming (4, 11), piano (11)
  • Isabelle Chiappini – spoken word (4)
  • Marcus Kincy – additional keyboards (5, 7, 12)
  • Sean Cooper – keyboards, programming (5)
  • Aaron Sledge – background vocals (6, 7, 14)
  • DJ Reflex – piano, programming (6)
  • Matthew Edwards – piano, programming (6)
  • Matt Jones – strings (6, 11, 14)
  • Joakima Lynch – spoken word (7)
  • Isa Elliot – vocals (7)
  • Kevin Randolph – organ (8), keyboards (15)
  • Aaron Camper – additional vocals (9)
  • Uncle Chucc – additional vocals (9)
  • Eric Ingram – bass guitar (9, 11)
  • David Haddon – drums (9, 15)
  • Richard Sledge – percussion (9)
  • Amaire Johnson – piano (9)
  • Calvin Frazier – guitar (9, 11)
  • Craig Brockman – piano (15)

Technical

  • Robert Vosgien – mastering
  • Erik Madrid – mixing (2, 3, 7, 8, 12, 14)
  • Richard Furch – mixing (4, 6, 9, 11, 15)
  • Joe Syring – mixing (5, 10, 13), engineering (2–15), editing (2, 12, 14)
  • Rex Rideout – mixing (13), engineering (1–3, 6–8, 12–14), editing (2, 6, 7, 11, 12, 14)
  • Steve Olmon – engineering (2–4, 6–8, 11–14)
  • Jazz Sommers – engineering (7)
  • Derek Ali – engineering (10)
  • Aaron Sledge – vocal production
  • Vincent Wu – mixing assistance (2, 3, 7, 8, 12, 14)
  • Jorel Corpus – mixing assistance (4, 6, 9, 11, 15)
  • Ervin Ablaev – engineering assistance
  • Harold Lilly – assistance
  • Che Pope – assistance

Artwork

  • The Young Astronauts – art direction, photography
  • Dead Dilly – art direction

Charts

Chart (2016) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[13] 43
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[14] 7

References

  1. ^ "In My Mind by BJ the Chicago Kid on iTunes". Itunes.apple.com. Retrieved 2016-02-13.
  2. ^ "BJ the Chicago Kid Announces Debut In My Mind Ft. Kendrick and Chance, Shares "Love Inside" Video". Pitchfork. 2016-01-22. Retrieved 2016-02-13.
  3. ^ Unterberger, Andrew (6 December 2016). "Here Is the Complete List of Nominees for the 2017 Grammys". Billboard. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  4. ^ a b "Interview: BJ The Chicago Kid Discusses 'In My Mind,' His Personal Style and More". Vibe. 2 March 2016.
  5. ^ "BJ the Chicago Kid Discusses 'In My Mind' Album, Connection With Big K.R.I.T. and Why Black Milk Is His Favorite Rapper". XXL Mag. 18 March 2016.
  6. ^ a b "Reviews for In My Mind by BJ the Chicago Kid". Metacritic. Retrieved 2016-02-24.
  7. ^ Andy Kellman. "In My Mind - BJ the Chicago Kid". AllMusic. Retrieved 2016-02-24.
  8. ^ Madden, Michael (2016-02-16). "BJ the Chicago Kid – In My Mind". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 2016-02-24.
  9. ^ Warren, Michael J. (2016-02-22). "BJ the Chicago Kid In My Mind". Exclaim.ca. Retrieved 2016-02-24.
  10. ^ Clark, Trent (2016-02-24). "BJ The Chicago In My Mind Review". Hiphopdx.com. Retrieved 2016-02-26.
  11. ^ "BJ the Chicago Kid: In My Mind". Pitchfork. 2016-02-25. Retrieved 2016-02-26.
  12. ^ Warren, Michael J. (February 22, 2016). "BJ the Chicago Kid - In My Mind". Exclaim!. Retrieved March 18, 2016.
  13. ^ "BJ the Chicago Kid Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved March 1, 2016.
  14. ^ "BJ the Chicago Kid Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved March 1, 2016.