TGJ Replay: Letoya Luckett’s ‘Letoya’ (Debut Album)

Much like our ‘Retro Rewind’ and ‘From the Vault’ segments, readers of That Grape Juice know what avid music lovers we are – especially of hits past.  So in a quest to re-spin the gems and jams of yesterday we introduced a new retrospective segment – ‘TGJ Replay’.

Unlike its ‘Rewind’ and ‘Vault’ predecessors, ‘Replay’ looks to dust off and showcase albums (and eras) from a library of pop music hits.  Today, we lend a look back at Letoya Luckett‘s self-titled, solo debut album…

Southern songbird Letoya Luckett rose to fame as one-fourth of R&b quartet Destiny’s Child.  But, after a string of hits as a foursome, a highly publicized split saw Luckett and fellow former group member Latavia Roberson left behind as the group continued its reign atop charts with new members Michelle Williams and Farrah Franklin (despite Franklin’s addition being short-lived).

‘No No No’

The DC-dismissal did not deter Luckett’s try at chart success, however.  For, after the failure of the quickly defunct group Angel (with Roberson), the Houston-bred beauty began to eye a solo path.  A path all too familiar to her former Destiny’s Child counterparts as, by 2005, each of them had tasted varying levels of solo success.

After the assembly of an all-star production team (Just Blaze, Scott Storch, Jermaine Dupri, Bryan Michael-Cox, Johnta Austin, Teddy Bishop, and more), Luckett crafted an album christened ‘Letoya’.  Boasting writing credits on 10 of the album’s 14 tracks, summer of 2006 saw the ‘You Are Everything’ (Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross) sampled tune ‘Torn’ act as the songstress’s official introduction to charts:

‘Torn’

In an era of music dominated by the hip hop flavored ‘Crunk’ and ‘Snap’ movements, a number of detractors thumbed down Toya’s decision to kick off her debut with a ballad.  As luck or fate would have it, they were wrong…very wrong.  The song shot to the top of R&B and pop charts, lending Letoya her first and only top 20 single on the Hot 100.

‘Torn’ (live)

Heavy promotion of the tune helped the singer nab her first #1 album on Billboard, making her the second Destiny’s Child graduate to do so.  And, despite follow-up singles ‘She Don’t’ (featuring then-boyfriend/rapper Slim Thug) and ‘Obvious’ not making the stamp the album’s lead single did, its success had critics championing the former underdog a winner.

‘She Don’t’

‘Obvious’

We anxiously await what Lady Luck will be offering in the future.   With two very solid, critically acclaimed albums under her belt, we are hoping #3 will be on the same plane – a glowing mix of R&B ballads with Houston-influenced upbeat numbers like modernized versions of ‘Tear Da Club Up’ and ‘Gangsta Grillz’

‘Tear Da Club Up’



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  1. 3j April 12, 2013

    why cant u vote 4 “all eyes on me”?? thats my jam!!

  2. Hur April 12, 2013

    Love Letoya! Love the Fact that she had a number one album!! no one can take that away from her. Looking forward to her 3rd studio album for sure!!!

    • NewLife April 12, 2013

      She has 2 #1 Albums!

      • Matthew Charlery-Smith April 12, 2013

        On the R&B charts yes. LL peaked at #12 on the Album 200 chart.

  3. Sass April 12, 2013

    Loved this album

  4. ya April 12, 2013

    Letoya debut to the scene was a shocking and surprising turn when i first saw the torn video I knew she looked familiar. Even though i didnt buy this record at the time this album is a gem forreal. Obvious This Song, Torn, All Eyes On Me, Tear The Club Up were all jams and Lady Love was just as great i bought that one. no one cared to pay attention, oh well they truely mised out on wat cud a been a great moment 4 r&b at the time. Yall see what happened to regret once pushed by fans.
    I just love me some Lady Love aight dueces

    • B4REAL02 April 12, 2013

      I’m with you on Lady Love that was a great album…. “I Need A U” and “Good to Me” are my favorite 2 but all of the songs were very nice…..the album was a Diamond in the Rough

  5. J April 12, 2013

    My fav latoya’s song is: She aint got s*** on me!!!!!

  6. 3j April 12, 2013

    on her second album lady love ”dont let me get away” should have been the first single!!

    • ya April 12, 2013

      I agree that song had that same vibe that Letoya album had where its was uptempo but melodic at the same time where as Lady Love was leaning more towards a more mainstream or sophisticated R&B SOUND ASIDE FROM THE POP CUTS ON THE ALBUM dnt get me wrong all those songs were hits but Ldy Love compared to this record are the same sound but different if that makes any sense.

    • B4REAL02 April 12, 2013

      I’ve never heard this song, was it a bonus track?

  7. MAYBE April 12, 2013

    OMG this album is HOTT!! i still bump this.

  8. Mark111 April 12, 2013

    This album is the s***. I remember everyone was talking about LeToya and NO ONE was talking about Kelly. Remember Kell was supposed the drop an album that year, but couldn’t get a buzz. So I guess they sent their leader to record an album in 2 weeks and stop Toya. This was the best R&B of 06, that and Future,S**/Love Sounds, it was WAY better then B-Day (I hate that album so much, only that album, the rest of Bey’s are great.)

    • Maybe April 13, 2013

      Bday is not an album I still listen to, I dont think I was ever able to listen to that from start to finish. I have it tho

    • Maybe April 13, 2013

      Gangsta Grillz is my jam! That beat and Mike Jones go hard on that song!

  9. FAN April 13, 2013

    This album is amazing.

    Pure Rnb and the best SOLO album from any destiny’s child member.

  10. ya April 13, 2013

    Yea thats right Matthew was trippin cause he could of been managing four stars Just like Beyonce; Letoya Kelly & LaTavia are all stars in their own right. And Michelle as Well even though she was still finding a way to express her individuality with comfortability.

  11. fshdshdgjh June 9, 2013

    their existence.

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