Chain Letter

• Artist: Brooke Valentine
• Rating:
• Release Date: March 15, 2005
• Type: Lyrics are included with the album, Contains explicit content
• Genre: Rhythm & Blues

Review

Brooke Valentine and the people behind her could not have been any smarter when it came to seeking attention with the first single. In early 2005, production and grunts from Lil Jon, a guest verse from OutKast's Big Boi, and subject matter unlike anything else on the radio -- in this case, female fisticuffs, a very crunk-friendly topic -- was priceless. It was a bold move, too; not many female artists are willing to show their tough side right off the bat, if ever. As effective and unique as "Girlfight" is, it proves to only be a gateway to an album with a good number of chart-bound singles, none of which are quite as rowdy. Producers Jermaine Dupri, Bink!, Heatmakerz, Soul Diggas, and mentor/collaborator Deja (remember H-Town?) are due some of the credit, but Valentine comes off like a veteran full of fire and confidence, knowing all the hits of the past several years and how to leave a memorable impression while remaining contemporary. She does have quite a few disparate moods running throughout the album, which can be jarring on a couple occasions. "Cover Girl," a somber song led by acoustic guitar and churchy organ swells, is one of the album's few stumbling blocks. One look at any of the photos boldly displayed in the sleeve should tell you that it -- an "if I were only pretty" moment in which Valentine wonders what she has to do to attract a man -- has no business here. "I Want You Dead" makes up for it though, a demented revenge fantasy in which she does funny and gruesome things to a wrongdoing ex-lover. A debut that fulfills and promises at the same time, Chain Letter contains 40 faultless minutes of club tracks and a few minutes of seductive balladry. That's not bad for someone who put it all to bed before hitting the age of 20. ~ Andy Kellman, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Girlfight	Chris "Tricky" Stewart, Antwan Patton, P. Magnet, Brooke Valentine	Lil Jon, Big Boi, Brooke Valentine	(3:54)
Taste of Dis (Lyrics)	Brooke Valentine	Brooke Valentine	(4:21)
Long as You Come Home (Lyrics)	Brooke Valentine	Brooke Valentine	(3:25)
Blah-Blah-Blah	Brooke Valentine	Dirt McGirt, Brooke Valentine	(3:32)
Cover Girl (Lyrics)	Brooke Valentine	Brooke Valentine	(4:12)
Playa (Lyrics)	J.C. Phillips, Brooke Valentine	Jermaine Dupri, Brooke Valentine	(3:23)
Ghetto Supastarz	R. Harrell, P. Magnet, Brooke Valentine	Brooke Valentine	(3:33)
Tell Me Why? (You Don't Love Me)	R. Harrell, Brooke Valentine	Brooke Valentine	(2:59)
Million Bucks (Lyrics)	G.C. Green, S. Thomas, G. Randall Wright, Brooke Valentine	Brooke Valentine, Queenz Deliz	(3:31)
I Want You Dead (Lyrics)		Brooke Valentine	(3:46)
Dying of a Broken Heart	Brooke Valentine	Brooke Valentine	(3:52)
Pass Us By (Lyrics)	Brooke Valentine	Brooke Valentine	(3:50)
Laugh Til I Cry (Lyrics)	Brooke Valentine	Brooke Valentine	(4:55)
American Girl (Lyrics)	F.L. Howard, Brooke Valentine	Brooke Valentine	(3:38)
Whatcha Lookin At	Brooke Valentine	Brooke Valentine	(2:25)

Credits

Andrew McPherson (Photography), Jermaine Dupri (Producer), Jermaine Dupri (Mixing), Jermaine Dupri (Vocal Producer), Barry Howard (Producer), LaMarquis Mark Jefferson (Bass), LROC (Producer), Tony Maserati (Mixing), Adam Rogers (Guitar), Ray Seay (Mixing), Phil Tan (Mixing), Josh Deutsch (Executive Producer), Erik Nordquiest (Guitar), Erik Nordquiest (Engineer), Randy Washington (Guitar), Randy Washington (Programming), Randy Washington (Program Assistant), Craig Love (Guitar), Matt Still (Engineer), Matt Serletic (Executive Producer), Sean Mosher-Smith (Creative Director), Rob Vaughan Merrick (Engineer), Lil Jon (Programming), Lil Jon (Vocals), Lil Jon (Producer), Chris Traynor (Guitar), Sheila Taylor (Programming), Blair Wells (Engineer), John Horesco IV (Engineer), John Horesco IV (Mixing Assistant), John Horesco IV (Assistant), Big Boi (Vocals), Bloodshy (Programming), Bloodshy (Producer), Soul Diggas (Programming), Soul Diggas (Producer), Avant (Programming), Avant (Producer), Avant (Engineer), Bink (Programming), Bink (Producer), Gimel Keaton (Mixing), David Jimenez Lopez (Sound Effects), David Jimenez Lopez (Engineer), David Jimenez Lopez (Mixing), Henrik Jonback (Guitar), Dirt McGirt (Vocals (Background)), Heatmakerz (Producer), Liza Lowinger (Art Coordinator), Sharief Hobley (Guitar), Mac Attkisson (Assistant Engineer), Mac Attkisson (Assistant), Corte Ellis (Vocals (Background)), Guyora Kats (Organ), Stefanie Sapala (Package Coordinator), Brooke Valentine (Vocals (Background)), Brooke Valentine (Main Performer), Deja (The Great) (Guitar), Deja (The Great) (Composer), Deja (The Great) (Programming), Deja (The Great) (Vocals), Deja (The Great) (Producer), Deja (The Great) (Engineer), Deja (The Great) (Executive Producer), Deja (The Great) (Vocal Arrangement), Deja (The Great) (Vocal Producer), Brandon Howard (Programming), Brandon Howard (Producer), J.R.K. (Vocals), J.R.K. (Vocals (Background)), Queenz Deliz (Rap)

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