Back 2 Life is the third studio album by American R&B singer LeToya Luckett. It was released by eOne Music Entertainment on May 12, 2017.[1] Her first album in eight years, it marked Luckett's first project as an independent artist after the release of her first two solo albums LeToya (2006) and Lady Love (2009), both of which were produced under Capitol Records. Luckett consulted a variety of musicians to work with her on Back 2 Life, including Jo Blaq, Warryn Campbell, D'Mile, Andre Harris, and J. White Did It.
The album earned generally positive reviews from music critics though some found that it lacked cohesiveness. Back 2 Life debuted and peaked at number 91 on the US Billboard 200, marking Luckett's lowest charting project in the United States up to then, and reached number four on the US Independent Albums chart. The album was preceded by two singles, including "Back 2 Life" and "Used To", the former of which peaked at number six on the Adult R&B Songs chart.
In January 2014, Luckett announced that the title of her third studio album would be called Until ThenonThe Wendy Williams Show, with a planned 2016 release.[2][3] "Don't Make Me Wait" was released as a promotional single on February 11, 2014, to iTunes.[4] More than a year later a remix featuring American-rapper T.I. was released on March 10, 2015.[5] On January 5, 2015, Luckett released the track "I'm Ready" on her YouTube channel.[6] On January 16, 2015, Luckett released "Together" inspired to end illegal gun violence in America in recent partnership with the Caliber Foundation.[7][8]
On December 7, 2016, Luckett released the lead single "Back 2 Life" to iTunes.[9] On March 23, 2017, eOne Music released the teaser trailer to the second single "Used To", continuing from the "Back 2 Life" music video. On April 10, 2017, Luckett announced the release date and new title of her upcoming third studio album on her Twitter account: "HEY LOVES!!! Excited to announce my album #Back2Life hits the stores May 12th!!!",[10] thus renaming it from Until ThentoBack 2 Life, with the song "Don't Make Me Wait" removed, and 13 songs added.[11] On April 17, 2017, the album was available for pre-order on iTunes.
"Back 2 Life" was released as the album's lead single on December 7, 2016.[12] The song debuted at number 26 on the US Adult R&B Airplay chart on February 4, 2017[13] and has since peaked at number six.[14] The music video was released to Luckett's Vevo account on January 10, 2017.[15] "Used To" was released as the album's second single on April 17, 2017, with the music video premiering the same day.[16][17] "In The Name" was released as the album's third single on the day of release, and the music video for it was released on July 31, 2017.[18]
Cryptic Rock's Jackie Knightowl called the album "a 13 course musical medley culinary masterpiece." She felt that with Back 2 Life, Luckett "wields her fairy wand and transforms each song into a gilded masterpiece, perfectly assembled with passionate lyrics and catchy rhythmic arrangements."[20]Delux Magazine's Shadress Denise noted that "thirteen tracks of love, heartbreak, loneliness, and questions about where her quest of love will end make up this collection of songs. Each track not only demonstrates her growth in music, but life and love as well."[22]
AllMusic editor Andy Kellman rated the album three stars out of five. He found that Back 2 Life was "worthy of notice" and noted that the album's "moments of pain and unease do alternate with warm slow jams and assured dancefloor grooves with the singer facing new horizons."[19] Edward Bowser from Soul in Stereo called the album a "great showcase of LeToya’s musical diversity but sometimes that comes at the price of consistency. The album too often switches gears, bouncing from retro to big band and back to sparse modern production. While all of those tracks are notable individually, collectively they don’t make for a seamless listen and it hurts the overall package."[21]
In the United States, Back 2 Life debuted and peaked at number ninety-one on the Billboard 200.[23] It also reached number forty-four on the Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart,[24] number thirty on the Top Album Sales chart,[25] number fourteen on the R&B Albums chart,[26] and number four on the Independent Albums chart.[27]Back 2 Life was Luckett's first album not to reach the top spot on the Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart.[28]
