Superhero (Brian McKnight album)

Updated on Jan 27, 2024

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Released August 28, 2001 Superhero (2001) U-Turn (2003) Release date 28 August 2001 Label Motown/Universal Records		Recorded 2000-2001 Artist Brian McKnight Genre Contemporary R&B

Similar Gemini, Ten, I Rememb, U‑Turn, Anytime

Brian mcknight prelude

Superhero is the 5th album by Brian McKnight released on August 28, 2001. It is the sixth studio album of his career. McKnight recorded this album to showcase his many musical influences and give listeners a glimpse into the past year of his life. Superhero mixes McKnight's usual R&B style with a touch of rock and roll and rap. Featured guests include Justin Timberlake, Nate Dogg, Fred Hammond, and the St. Lunatics.

Superhero debuted at number seven on the Billboard 200 albums chart, moving 153,000 units in its first week. On October 24, 2001, the album was certified Gold by the RIAA. In 2002, three singles off of the album were nominated for four Grammy Awards.

Brian mcknight biggest part of me superhero

Album Insight

In the CD booklet, Brian McKnight explains why he made the album: "Superheroes are people who do things everyday that go unrecognized... teachers, firemen, police, parents. That sort of grace is what I aspire to and what people should aspire to. These songs talk about those moments and frankly, the sort of man I hope to be. You can view this album as a diary of the past year of my life and these songs as a beacon for me to try to reach higher".

The past year in Brian McKnight's life was full of family and music. With his wife Julia but being separated twice by this time, he was still something of a superhero to his children. His two sons BJ (Brian Jr., 10) and Niko (Cole Nikolas, 7) were following in his footsteps at this point in their life. In the July 2000 edition of Ebony, it states that "BJ has his own music studio in his bedroom. Like his dad, he writes music and shares his father's love of sports. Niko is musically inclined as well and has a drum set in his bedroom..."

Brian McKnight has many influences. He lists them as Stevie Wonder, Earth, Wind, & Fire, Kenny Loggins because "he's a singer/songwriter/guitar player", David Sanborn, Marcus Miller, and Al Jarreau were his jazz influences, and The Police, Chicago (band), Toto (band), and Steely Dan were his rock/pop influences. McKnight's biggest influence was his older brother Claude V. McKnight III, the founder of the a Capella group, Take 6. Brian's motivation grew from seeing his brother's success. Take 6 was signed to Warner Brothers in 1987 and Brian was signed shortly after to Mercury in 1988.

Critical Reception

Superhero garnered generally positive reviews. Cheo Tyehimba of Entertainment Weekly gave the album a 'B' grade and went on to say: "Combining that superpower with his formulaic, but potent songwriting skills, he's created an ambitious CD of mid-tempo hip hop, rock, and gospel grooves." In addition, Lana K. Wilson-Combs of the Sacramento News & Review gave the album praise. She explained: "McKnight—who’s cut from the same old-school cloth as Teddy Pendergrass, Marvin Gaye and Luther Vandross—specializes in sensuous love songs. Here he doesn’t disappoint."

Awards

Brian McKnight was nominated for the 'Outstanding Male Performance' award at the 2002 NAACP Image awards for his work on Superhero. In addition, McKnight was nominated for four Grammy Awards for his work on the album:

Best Pop Vocal Performance - Male for "Still"

Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals for "My Kind of Girl" featuring Justin Timberlake

Best R&B Vocal Performance - Male for "Love Of My Life"

Best R&B Song for "Love Of My Life"

Singles

"Love of My Life" was released as the lead single, peaking at #51 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #11 on R&B.

"Still" was the second single, and did not have a physical single released so was ineligible to chart on the Billboard Hot 100. It peaked at #22 on the Adult Contemporary chart.

"Tell Me What's It Gonna Be" was released as the third and final single, peaking at #91 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #48 on R&B.

Superhero & more...

In 2002 Brian McKnight reissued the album Superhero called Superhero & more... The imported version has a second CD with three audio bonus tracks and three bonus music videos. The Superhero and more... album features the Korean singer Cho-Kyu-Chan and the music group Urban Xchange.