Jeremih

Jeremih's self-titled debut is a landmark of late-2000s R&B, notable for being almost entirely a two-man collaboration between the singer and producer Mick Schultz. Recorded while Jeremih was a student at Columbia College Chicago, the album's sound was a departure from the heavy hip-hop soul of the mid-2000s, opting instead for a 'cleaner,' more synth-driven aesthetic. The album's success was propelled by the massive single 'Birthday Sex,' which showcased Jeremih's signature staccato delivery - a technique that would influence a generation of melodic rappers and R&B singers. Critics at the time, including AllMusic, noted his vocal similarities to Slim of 112 and Raphael Saadiq, praising his 'charmingly sly' tone. Despite some criticism regarding the use of Auto-Tune, the album was a commercial triumph, debuting at number six on the Billboard 200 and establishing Jeremih as a primary architect of the 'nocturnal r&b' sound that would dominate the following decade.