Here I Am by Kelly Rowland

Here I Am is the third studio album by American recording artist Kelly Rowland, released through Universal Motown (Universal Music) on July 22, 2011. The album is Rowland's first release since parting ways with her long-time manager Matthew Knowles and record label Columbia Records. Here I Am is predominately a R&B and pop album with subtle influences of dance. It follows Rowland's assertion that "no one puts her in a box" with common themes around womanhood, sexual intimacy and love. Originally scheduled for release in 2010, the album was pushed back after the first round of singles were released to mixed reception, both with critics and commercially. "Commander" (2010) produced by and featuring David Guetta topped the US Hot Dance Club Songs chart and became a top-ten hit in the UK and some of Europe. Three other singles: "Forever and a Day", "Rose Colored Glasses" and "Grown Woman", all had limited commercial success and are subsequently included on selected editions of the album or excluded all together. The international version of the album features seventeen songs including ones excluded from the US editions and some remixes. Here I Am features guest performances from Lil Wayne, Nelly, Rico Love, Lil Playy, The WAV.s and Big Sean, who features on the single "Lay It on Me". Production of the album was handled by the likes of Rodney Jerkins, Guetta, Jim Jonsin, Hit-boy, RedOne and The Runners. Love wrote half of the songs on the album, while Rowland earns writing credits for three of the songs. After re-recording the majority of the album, a new single featuring Lil Wayne titled "Motivation", preceded the album in the US. It was greeted with a positive reception from critics and topped the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart as well as peaking in the top-twenty of the Billboard Hot 100, becoming Rowland's most successful single to date. Here I Am was received well by critics, many of whom praised the strong productions and vocal performances but questioned some of the guests and a lack of the up-tempo dance sound Rowland had spoken of. Here I Am debuted at number one on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and number three on the US Billboard 200 albums chart, selling 77,000 copies. To date, it is Rowland's highest debuting album in the US. ℗ 2011 Universal Republic Records, a division of UMG Recordings, Inc.