Back of My Lac'

Back of My Lac'
Studio album by J. Holiday
Released	October 2, 2007
Recorded	2006–2007
Studio	Studio 13 (Washington D.C.), Signature Sound Studio, Music Line Studio, Triangle Sound Studio, The Red Room, J. Que's Crib, Phonix Ave Studio, DARP Studios (Atlanta, Georgia), The Gin House, (Hollywood, California), Dark Child Studios (Pleasantville, New Jersey)
Genre	R&B hip hop
Length	57:17
Label	Music Line Capitol
Producer	Anthony "TA" Tate (exec.) Corey Green (co-exec.) Los Da Mystro Darkchild The-Dream The Platinum Brothers Donnie Scantz Travis Cherry J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League Sean Garrett Oak Felder
J. Holiday chronology
Back of My Lac' (2007) Round 2 (2009)
Deluxe edition cover
Singles from Back of My Lac'
"Be with Me" Released: October 31, 2006 "Bed" Released: June 19, 2007 "Suffocate" Released: October 2, 2007 "Come Here" Released: April 15, 2008

Back of My Lac' is the debut studio album from American R&B singer J. Holiday that was released in the United States on October 2, 2007, by Music Line Group and Capitol Records. Production for this album was handled by Los Da Mystro, Darkchild, The-Dream, The Platinum Brothers, Donnie Scantz, Travis Cherry, J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League, Sean Garrett and Oak Felder

The album was supported by three singles, "Be with Me", "Bed" and "Suffocate".

Upon its release, Back of My Lac' received generally mixed reviews from music critics. The album debuted at number five on the US Billboard 200, selling 105,000 copies in its first week. The album was nominated for Best Contemporary R&B Album at the 51st Grammy Awards, but lost to Mary J. Blige's Growing Pains.

Background

In early 2000s, he met Corey Green whom he found was in the same direction with him. Soon both formed a duo called 295 that experienced mild popularity. All the while Corey would hook them up with music executives that come to Washington just to watch their performances. They soon got frustrated for not getting discovered and eventually disbanded in 2003 while remaining friends until Holiday's solo career. Holiday would soon secure a record deal with Jazze Pha's Sho'nuff Records.^[1]

The album was originally meant to be released by the end of 2006, however it was pushed back to early 2007 and then pushed to its final release of October 2. J. Holiday worked with Ne-Yo on three songs between December 2005 and January 2006 that did not make the album.

Singles

The album's lead single, "Be with Me", was released on October 31, 2006. The song was produced by Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins. The song did not fare well commercially, failing to chart on the Billboard Hot 100 and has since peaked at #83 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs.^[2]

The second single, "Bed", was released on June 19, 2007, it peaked at number 5 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and number one on Hot R&B/Hip Hop Songs for five weeks total and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).^[2]

The third single, "Suffocate" was released on October 2, 2007, the song has peaked at #2 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Chart and #18 on the Billboard Hot 100.^[2] The video for the single was shot in Paris, France and debuted on BET's 106 & Park on November 7, 2007.^[3]

"City Boy" featuring 8 Ball & MJG was released as a promotional single, the song was not included in the US version of the album, but is featured on the album only as a bonus track in several countries.

"Come Here" was released as a single but was ultimately canceled.

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
About.com	[4]
AllMusic	[5]
Entertainment Weekly	B−[6]
The Guardian	[7]
Rolling Stone	[8]

Back of My Lac' received mixed reviews from critics. Mark Edward Nero from About.com reviewed the album favorably, saying: "It's rare that young artist puts out such a well-rounded album, one that young men can totally relate to and that young women will be swept off their feet by, but Back of My Lac', is just such an album. It's charming, gritty, sensual, original and most of all-real. Ladies and gentlemen, J. Holiday has arrived. And he definitely is that dude."^[4]

Fan reviews remain highly favorable for the album, praising its overall consistency and well roundness. "Fatal", "Bed","Thank You" and "Suffocate" have been frequently referenced as favorites.

Commercial performance

The album debuted on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart at number 5, selling 105,000 copies in its first week.^[9] It debuted at #1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. The album debuted in the Top 20 R&B/Hip Hop albums in Canada and charted within the Top 100 albums in Canada.^{[citation needed]} It became a Top 10 R&B/Hip Hop album in the UK and a Top 40 UK album entry peaking at #32.^{[citation needed]} In the U.S it also made it to #8 on the Tastemakers chart and #5 on the Top Digital Albums and Billboard Comprehensive Albums Chart.

Track listing

Back of My Lac' – Standard edition

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Back of My Lac"	Naham Grymes Quincy Lowe William Robinson Marvin Tarpin William DeVaughn	Quincy Lowe	4:49
2.	"Ghetto"	Grymes Donnie Scantz Sam Thomas	Donnie Scantz	4:11
3.	"Thug Commandments"	Neely Dinkins Vito Colapietto Balewa Muhammad Frank "Sekay" Oliphant Anthony Hester	The Co-Stars Balewa Muhammad	3:29
4.	"Bed"	Carlos McKinney Terius Nash	The-Dream Los Da Mystro	4:35
5.	"Betcha Never Had"	Sean Garrett Warren Felder	Sean Garrett Oak Felder	3:01
6.	"Laa Laa"	Adam Gibbs Mike Chesser Grymes Nash	The Platinum Brothers	4:31
7.	"Come Here"	Gibbs Chesser Robert L. Huggar Travis Cherry Karl Antoine	The Platinum Brothers, co-produced by Travis Cherry	3:30
8.	"Be with Me"	Grymes Jerkins Adonis Shropshire	Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins	3:58
9.	"Suffocate"	Stewart Nash	Christopher 'Tricky' Stewart	3:40
10.	"Fatal"	Paul Smith P. Smith Erika Nuri	Korran Paul Gil Smith II Patrick "J. Que" Smith (co.)	5:16
11.	"Without You"	Jerkins Grymes Shropshire Mitchah Williams Burt Bacharach Hal David	Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins Mitchah "Genesis" Williams	3:47
12.	"Pimp In Me"	Jasper Carmon	Jasper Cameron	4:25
13.	"Thank You"	Shropshire E. Vixon	Adonis Shropshire	4:23
14.	"Fallin'"	Grymes Erik Ortiz C. Brown III Kevin Crowe	J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League	3:42

Back of My Lac' – Deluxe edition (bonus tracks)^[10]

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
15.	"Sooner You Get to Love"	Ned Doheny Donnie Scantz James Stuart Nahum Grymes	Donnie Scantz	3:56
16.	"I Know Love"	Nahum Grymes Gary Cooper William Collins Mike Chesser Adam Gibbs Garry Shider George Clinton Jr. Dayton Wellington	The Platinum Brothers	3:49
17.	"When You Get Home"	Michael A. Chesser Adam M. Gibbs Kenny Gamble Leon A. Huff Nahum Thorton Grymes Travis Demond Cherry	The Platinum Brothers, co-produced by Travis Cherry	3:52

Back of My Lac' - International Bonus Track

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
15.	"City Boy" (featuring 8Ball & MJG)	C. Brown III E. Ortiz K. Crowe Nahum Grymes	J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League	3:42

Back of My Lac' - Japan Bonus Track^[11]

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
15.	"Good for Each Other"	C. Brown III E. Ortiz K. Crowe Nahum Grymes	J.U.S.T.I.C.E. League	3:33

Back of My Lac' - Brazil Bonus Track^[12]

No.	Title	Producer(s)	Length
15.	"Bed (Haji & Emanuel Remix)"	The-Dream & Los Da Mystro	4:35

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for Back of My Lac' Chart (2007) Peak position UK R&B Albums (OCC)[13] 33 US Billboard 200[14] 5 US Digital Albums (Billboard)[15] 5 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[16] 1 US Top Tastemaker Albums (Billboard)[17] 8

Year-end charts Chart (2007) Position US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[18] 57 Chart (2008) Position US Billboard 200[19] 109 US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[20] 23

Release history

Region	Date	Version	Format(s)	Label
United States	October 2, 2007	Standard Edition[21]	CD, digital download	Music Line, Capitol
	February 5, 2008	Deluxe Edition

Certifications and sales

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[22]	Gold	500,000^^
^^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

1. Where Is J. Holiday Now After He Gave Us Mega Hits “Bed” & "Suffocate" | #FindingBET. YouTube. Archived from the original on 2021-12-11.
2. https://www.billboard.com/artist/j.-holiday/chart-history/
3. Video: J. Holiday - Suffocate Pop-Junkie.com (November 7, 2007). Accessed November 7, 2007.
4. Nero, Mark Edward. "Album Review: J. Holiday - "Back of My 'Lac". About.com. Archived from the original on October 13, 2007. Retrieved July 10, 2011.
5. Kellman, Andy. "Back of My Lac' - J. Holiday". AllMusic. Retrieved July 10, 2011.
6. Vozick-Levinson, Simon (September 28, 2007). "Back of My Lac'". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc. Retrieved March 18, 2016.
7. Macpherson, Alex (December 7, 2007). "Review: J Holiday, Back of My Lac'". The Guardian. Retrieved July 10, 2011.
8. Hoard, Christian (October 4, 2007). "Back Of My Lac L J. Holiday". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. Archived from the original on April 1, 2008. Retrieved July 10, 2011.
9. Katie Hasty, "Springsteen Is Boss Of Album Chart With 'Magic'", Billboard.com, October 10, 2007.
10. "Back of My Lac' (Bonus Tack Version) by J. Holiday". iTunes. January 2008.
11. "J. Holiday – Back of My Lac' (2007, CD)". Discogs. 7 November 2007.
12. "J.holiday Back of My Lac Black Funk Pop Regaee Cd Lacrado - R$ 44,99".
13. "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 30, 2023.
14. Billboard 200 – Week of October 20, 2007. Billboard. Archived from the original on November 6, 2023. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
15. "J. Holiday Chart History (Digital Albums)".^{[dead link‍]} Billboard. Retrieved February 2015.
16. Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Week of October 20, 2007. Billboard. Archived from the original on April 23, 2023. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
17. Top Tastemaker Albums – Week of October 20, 2007. Billboard. Archived from the original on March 18, 2024. Retrieved March 18, 2024.
18. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2007". Billboard. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
19. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2008". Billboard. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
20. "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2008". Billboard. Retrieved October 7, 2020.
21. "Back of My Lac' by J. Holiday". iTunes Store (US). Apple. 2 October 2007. Retrieved September 12, 2014.
22. "American album certifications – J. Holiday – Back of My Lac". Recording Industry Association of America.

External links

• J. Holiday's Official Site
• J. Holiday's Myspace Page
• J. Holiday Fan Site
• J. Holiday Live Rooftop Show
• J. Holiday Releases Third Single "Suffocate"
• Back Of My 'Lac Cover, Tracklisting, and Chocolate City MixTape
• Exclusive Interview with J. Holiday
• J. Holiday - Suffocate Video
• Video Stills of Suffocate Video
• City Boy - Unreleased Track