It almost took two decades for American Amerie fans to get their hands on a digital version of her critically acclaimed third studio album ‘Because I Love It,’ but the 2007-released effort finally has a home on major streamers like Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, TIDAL, and more.
As music lovers prepare for the R&B diva’s long-awaited fifth studio album due later this year, they were given a pleasant surprise when ‘Because’ became available for streaming Stateside this week.
Long considered a sabotaged effort at the time of its release (given the momentum of its ‘1 Thing‘-housing predecessor ‘Touch‘), the 2007 album – home to singles ‘Take Control,’ ‘Gotta Work,’ and ‘That’s What U R’ – failed to chart in the United States because it was only available in Europe and Japan at the time of its unveiling.
By the time the physical LP hit American shelves in Fall 2008, momentum had severely died – sending the doomed project into obscurity.
Amerie discusses about the way that Columbia Records sabotaged the “Because I Love It” release in America in a latest interview with the Quest Love Supreme Podcast. pic.twitter.com/oegxgPH01p
— ☾ᥴᵂ☽ (@CombatWychi) November 16, 2024
As recently as late 2024 (as seen above), Amerie addressed the label fallout around the ‘Because’ drop.
“That’s when I was really thinking of leaving the label because it’s like when I wanted one single [over others], it was so hard to move and to do anything,” she shared before relaying why she disagreed with the strategy of a staggered global release.
Nearly 20 years later, justice for the ill-fated yet critically acclaimed effort comes in the form of its availability on streaming platforms.
Check it out on Spotify and Apple Music below.
Your thoughts?
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Yesss Hunnie! Ling Ling used to jam the sh I t outta BILI! Finally! The whole album is a masterpiece! It is such a shame that never released in US physically! Some like it, take control, gotta work, crush, that’s what U R, crazy wonderful & when loving you was easy are defiantly the highlights. I was so mad that take control & gotta work flopped in US. Im still blaming Sony for mishandling her music career.
Love the cover. She always has the best artworks that match her album and songs.
CrazySexyWonderful is probably my fave song of hers ever.
I just never liked her voice. And her biggest hit us just a lot of noise to me. I wish her well.
It’s sad cause the album received critical acclaimed to reviewers who got to hear the album as her best…the album was successful overseas! Glad american listeners get access to such a great album.
She flopped after she left Rich. The album shows. A true flop sonically and commercially. Still a few bops on it though.
2025 is Amerie’s big year and I’m soooo happy to see this. As a huge Amerie fan from back then we definitely been knew what was up and know what’s up with “In Love & War” too. And don’t get me started on “Touch”. I still stand by that as my fav album from her! So glad to see her getting her just due. Yessssss!