Released October 25, 2005 Length 3:41 | Genre R&B Label Capitol | |
Writer(s) Johnta Austin, Bryan Michael Cox, Jermaine Dupri, Faith Evans Producer(s) Jermaine Dupri, Bryan Michael Cox | ||
"Tru Love" is a song by American recording artist Faith Evans. It was written by Johnta Austin, Evans, Bryan Michael Cox, and Jermaine Dupri for her fourth studio album The First Lady (2005), while its production was handled by the latter two. The contemporary R&B ballad was released as the album's third and final single in October 2005 and reached number 27 on the US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
Contents
Background
"Tru Love" was penned by Evans along with singer Johnta Austin and producers Bryan Michael Cox, and Jermaine Dupri. Phil Tan and Dupri mixed the track, while Brad Todd handled the recording of "Tru Love". Built along a harp, the song is a contemporary R&B ballad reminiscent of other Cox/Dupri collaborations at that time, including Usher’s "Burn," which was released a year prior.
Critical reception
The song garnered a generally mixed to positive reception from music critics. MusicOMH's Sam Shepherd stated that "Tru Love" was "an understated love song, and it allows Evans to show off an impeccable timing in her delivery." He however felt that "sadly there is little weight or edge to the song and it fails to impress." Michael Benning from Blogcritics ranked "Tru Love" among those tracks which showed "off [Evan's] ability to drive slower numbers with sultry relaxed vocals." On the other hand, Raymond Fiore from Entertainment Weekly found that the album was "blemished by a few toothless slow jams" such as "Tru Love" and album cut "Ever Wonder."