Liberation (Mya album)

Liberation is the fourth studio album by American singer songwriter Mya. It was intended to be Harrison's debut release with her then new record label Universal Motown following her departure from Interscope in 2005. Before leaving, she had begun work on an album for Interscope called Control Freak set for a summer release 2005 with production by a host of other producers. Ultimately, she decided to leave A&M and Interscope Records and her management; subsequently Harrison made the transition within Universal Music Group to Universal Motown. Within a three month period Harrison had completed and submitted Liberation to her new label. Production on the album, which was classified as "energetic [and] ghetto" with a less classic R&B edge, was primarily handled by Scott Storch and J. R. Rotem with additional contributions from Bryan Michael Cox, Kwame, Carvin & Ivan, longtime contributor Tricky Stewart, and a handful of others. Guest appearances included Long Beach native Snoop Dogg, Murder Inc. rapper Charlie Baltimore and New Orleans rapper Lil Wayne. Liberation spawned two singles, the Storch collaboration "Lock U Down" and R&B ballad "Ridin'". Both singles failed to make an impact at radio and on the charts. Due to the industry's budget cuts, the album suffered numerous delays and pushbacks. However while delaying the album's release again Universal Motown accidentally leaked the album in Japan, and Liberation was subsequently released solely as a digital download in Japan on October 22, 2007, Liberation also later received a digital release in Canada. Liberation marked Harrison's only release on Universal Motown label following her departure in 2008. Mya, who took control of the album in her own hands by producing part of the record herself, described the album as "a combination of a Gwen Stefani, because it's energetic, and Lil Jon, very ghetto," with a less classic R&B edge, explaining further: "Control Freak is basically learning how to gain control of a situation yourself, gaining control in order to be [a] free and beautiful person in life." However, although she intended to release a dance track called "Let It Go" at a particular time, she eventually decided to leave both her management and A&M Records in fall 2005 due to personal differences, before signing a new contract with Universal Motown. During the following months Mya began consulting a few other producers to collaborate on the album, renamed Liberation, including Tim & Bob, Bryan Michael Cox, Kwamé, J. R. Rotem and Tricky Stewart. Back home, Mya bought a house and enlisted her brother to build a recording studio, where she began experimenting, laying down rudimentary tracks and learning how to engineer. Pushed by her newfound abilities in mixing and production, Mya once again intensified work on the re worked Control Freak album, with most of it eventually being completed in a stretch of only three month. "It was an easy process because I knew what I wanted to do when I went in," she commented, comparing the making of the album with a therapy. "I've been honest with myself and have been able to admit some things and analyze myself and save myself at the end of the day [ ] Liberation is a clean slate; my most expressive, vulnerable album."

Liberation opens with "I Am", a throbbing uptempo song produced by Kwamé. One of the first songs recorded for Liberation, Mya recalled creating it "kind of therapy" and described it as "very grown and sexy, very spring time, just an all around feel good record." "Walka Not a Talka" incorporates an organic Cali ambiance and harks back to the exoticism of Britney Spears's "I'm a Slave 4 U". It begins with the sound of a siren, while Mya addresses listeners by saying, “I never should’ve left you.” it exposes what kind of man a woman wants and needs. The Carvin & Ivan produced "Switch It Up" served as the album's ninth track. With a hard hand clap beat and hard lyrics to match, "Switch It Up" shows Mya's man a different side to her. She's being his waitress, his mistress, his everything, but not for long. She's being all these things as a soon to be slap in the face for cheating on her. Mya continues to "Switch It Up" until the end of the song when she begins a little rap verse. While much of the earlier material recorded under A&M was left with the label, Mya set up new recording sessions for her fourth album and renamed it Liberation. also citing business related differences as a reason for its push backs. "It's just business you know [ ] The music industry is suffering so record companies have to scrap for money. Plus I would rather wait for them to get it right before I do an album." Though Liberation was never released officially. Harrison heavily promoted the album. First, she headlined the 8th annual Seagram's Live Tour with rap duo Clipse. Next, she was featured on the 2007's BET Black College Tour where she performed at various historical black universities. Mya was invited to perform at the WNBA's All Star festivities where she performed a medley of her hits as well as a new song "Still A Woman" during the game's halftime show.