Justified (album)
Template:Short description Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Good article Template:Infobox album
Justified is the debut solo studio album by American singer-songwriter Justin Timberlake. It was released on November 5, 2002, by Jive Records. The album was written and recorded in a six-week period as Timberlake's boy band NSYNC was on hiatus. For his solo album, he began to adopt a more mature image as an R&B artist opposed to the previous pop music recorded by the group. The majority of the album was produced by the Neptunes (credited as "Williams and Hugo") and Timbaland, and features guest appearances by Janet Jackson, Clipse, and Bubba Sparxxx. It primarily is an R&B album that also contains influences of dance-pop, funk, and soul music.
Justified received generally positive reviews from critics, who complimented the mature progression of Timberlake's material, although some criticized its lyrical content. The album earned Timberlake four Grammy Award nominations, including Album of the Year, and won the award for Best Pop Vocal Album. Justified topped the album charts in Ireland, Scotland, and the United Kingdom while reaching the top ten in Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, and the United States. As of 2012, it has sold over 10 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling albums of the 21st century.<ref name="justifiedwwsales"/>
Four singles were released from Justified. The lead single "Like I Love You" peaked at number 11 on the US Billboard Hot 100, while the follow-up singles "Cry Me a River" and "Rock Your Body" peaked within the top five on the chart. "Like I Love You", "Cry Me a River", and "Rock Your Body" peaked at number two in the United Kingdom and in the top ten in Australia (with "Rock Your Body" topping the Australian chart), Ireland, Netherlands, and Belgium. To promote the album, Timberlake performed on several television shows and award ceremonies, including the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards, where he made his solo debut appearance. Furthermore, Timberlake embarked on two concert tours—The Justified World Tour and the Justified & Stripped Tour—with Christina Aguilera accompanying him on the latter.
Background
Following the conclusion of their Celebrity Tour in April 2002, boy band NSYNC went on a hiatus, during which co-lead singer Justin Timberlake began work on what would be his debut solo album.<ref name="mtv5">Template:Cite news</ref> With the album, he wanted to portray a more mature image as an R&B performer, rather than a boy band pop artist.<ref name="mtv5"/> He revealed minimal information regarding the producers and artists involved with Justified during its early recording stage,<ref name="mtv">Template:Cite news</ref> with his management and record label also reluctant to share any information.<ref name="mtv"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> However, MTV News reported that production duo The Neptunes were working on multiple tracks, while rapper P. Diddy and singer Mario Winans contributed to one track.<ref name="mtv"/> Other known producers involved included Mike City, Raphael Saadiq and Rodney Jerkins, though between June and July, none of the aforementioned producers had attended any studio sessions.<ref name="mtv"/> Explaining his involvement with the project, Jerkins said at the 2002 BET Awards that he "just got a call about working on the project" and that whenever Timberlake wanted his assistance, it would "be done".<ref name="mtv"/> The majority of the tracks the Neptunes produced for Justified were originally intended for Michael Jackson.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Since Jackson turned down the tracks, the songs were modified for Timberlake's album.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Brian McKnight's manager stated that his client had already recorded tracks with the singer, while rapper Nelly explained to the reporters that both him and Timberlake had discussed a collaboration effort.<ref name="mtv"/> Early in 2002, Angie Stone revealed that Timberlake "loves the Mahogany Soul album" with him further saying to her "your CD's in my car right now, you have to work on my solo project".<ref name="mtv"/> These assertions were later partially denied by a Jive Records spokesperson who announced that the material produced from the collaboration would not appear on the finalized record.<ref name="mtv1">Template:Cite news</ref>
Recording
Justified was written and recorded in a six-week period. According to Timberlake, the "creative spurt" was reminiscent of "that period of time back in the 1960s and '70s when musicians got together and just jammed and worked out of inspiration. There was no heavy calculation or belaboring songs and mixes. Everything flowed pretty easily and naturally."<ref name="Justin Timberlake In Sync">Template:Cite magazine</ref> Recording sessions took place at various studios in the United States, including the Westlake Recording Studios in Los Angeles, Manhattan Center Studios in New York City and Master Sound Recording Studios and Windmark Recording in Virginia Beach.<ref name="Notes">Template:Cite AV media notes</ref>
The Neptunes told MTV News that the duo and Timberlake drove in a car listening to Earth, Wind & Fire albums for inspiration, with the background of the band's music being what the production duo wanted to implement into JustifiedTemplate:'s musical content.<ref name="mtv3">Template:Cite news</ref> The production duo commented that despite not being content with sampling music, for inspiration, they also listened to both Off the Wall (1979) and Thriller (1982), albums by Jackson.<ref name="mtv3"/> Their intentions were to create music that was similar to Jackson's work without "recycling them".<ref name="mtv3"/> One of the two members of The Neptunes, Chad Hugo, commented that they just wanted to re-create "that sense of those timeless, classic songs, without any of the 'bling, bling, hit me on my two-way' style of the new R&B. It has elements of the old and the new."<ref name="mtv3"/> The producer further went on to say that people wanted Timberlake to be conformed to being part of boy band NSYNC, with the former insisting that the singer is an immaculate vocalist.<ref name="mtv3"/> Hugo acknowledged Timberlake's break-up with singer Britney Spears, saying that some of the album's music could be directed towards it.<ref name="mtv3"/>
Music and lyrics
Template:Listen The opening track on Justified, "Señorita" is a Spanish oriented song that features R&B influences;<ref name="spanish">Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> in it Timberlake sings about a girl with brown eyes.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> "Like I Love You" is a funk influenced song consisted of live drums, tiny guitar strum accompanied with the singer's breathy tenor. According to Ben Ratliff of Rolling Stone, "it's minimalism influenced by Michael Jackson".<ref name="rolling review"/> The third track on the album, "(Oh No) What You Got" was described by Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine as a bit racy for the audience who expected a more boy-band-oriented record.<ref name="slant review"/> Regarding the fourth song, Russell Bailie of The New Zealand Herald wrote that although the album "manages to skirt teen-pop sugariness for the most part, though it does offer quality mush on numbers such as 'Take It From Here'."<ref name="nzherald">Template:Cite news</ref> "Cry Me a River" is a funk<ref name="cry me a river review of billboard">Template:Cite magazine</ref> and R&B song<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> with an instrumentation that features beatboxing,<ref name="slant review"/> synthesizers, Arabian-inspired riffs and Gregorian chants.<ref name="nme review"/> Lyrically, the song is about a brokenhearted man who moves on from his past.<ref name="bbc review">Template:Cite web</ref>
Template:Listen The sixth track, "Rock Your Body", incorporates tinny, "keyboard-set-to-emulate-clavichord" synthesizers of The Neptunes' late 90s productions, overlaid with "keys and a propulsive drum vamp".<ref name="complex1">Template:Cite news</ref> The seventh track of the album is "Nothin' Else"; which according to David Merryweather of Drowned in Sound is a "slinky" and "smooth" song that is similar to the works of American musician Stevie Wonder.<ref name="drowned">Template:Cite web</ref> Influenced by Jackson's musical style<ref name="drowned"/> and Van McCoy's 1975 single "The Hustle", "Last Night" is played with a xylophone.<ref name="slant review"/> "Still On My Brain", the ninth track on the album, is a slow jam,<ref name="slant review"/> similar to the songs performed by Timberlake's former band 'NSYNC.<ref name="drowned"/> "(And She Said) Take Me Now" which features singer Janet Jackson, is a disco, '80s funk and dub song<ref name="nme review"/> that contains racy lyrics.<ref name="slant review"/> Similar to the previous song, "Right For Me", the eleventh track of the album has racy lyrics and features rapper Bubba Sparxxx; on it Timberlake "cockily" sings the line, "I could think of a couple positions for you".<ref name="slant review"/> "Let's Take a Ride" is the twelfth song on the album, on which, according to Uncut magazine, Timberlake "offers to deliver you from your humdrum existence".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The record concludes with "Never Again", a Brian McKnight produced ballad, on which Timberlake becomes "downright maudlin and snippy".<ref name="ew review">Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Singles
"Like I Love You" featuring Clipse was released as the album's lead single. It was released as a CD single in August 2002 in Germany and the US.<ref name="like i love you us">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="like i love you ger">Template:Cite web</ref> The song was written by Justin Timberlake and The Neptunes, who also produced the track. It received positive reviews from critics, who praised its production and use of instrumentals. "Like I Love You" charted at number eleven on the US Billboard Hot 100,<ref name="billboard hot 100">Template:Cite magazine</ref> and in the top five in the UK,<ref name="UK singles">Template:Cite web</ref> Denmark,<ref name="Denmark discog">Template:Cite web</ref> Netherlands and Ireland.<ref name="Dutch discog">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Irish discog">Template:Cite web</ref> The song was nominated for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration at the 45th Grammy Awards.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
JustifiedTemplate:'s second single is "Cry Me a River", and was released through contemporary and rhythmic radio on November 24, 2002,<ref name="contemporary">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="rhythmic">Template:Cite web</ref> and as a 12" vinyl on December 23 in the US.<ref name="Cry me a river us release">Template:Cite web</ref> The song was written by Timberlake, Scott Storch and Timbaland and produced by the latter. "Cry Me a River" debuted at number 44 on the Billboard Hot 100 on the issue dated December 21, 2002,<ref name="debut">Template:Cite magazine</ref> and eventually peaked at number three.<ref name="billboard hot 100"/> In other countries, the song achieved similar success, reaching number two in Australia and the UK,<ref name="UK singles"/><ref name="Australia discog">Template:Cite web</ref> and the top five in several other territories. "Cry Me a River" has been certified gold in Australia by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA), denoting shipments of 70,000 units,<ref name="Australia 2003 certs">Template:Cite web</ref> and certified silver in France.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It won a Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance at the 2004 ceremony, while the accompanying music video won two MTV Video Music Awards: Best Male Video and Best Pop Video. The song is listed on Rolling Stone's The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
"Rock Your Body" was released as the album's third single, and was released on May 6, 2003, as a CD single in the US.<ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Dead link</ref> It was written by Timberlake and The Neptunes, and produced by the latter. The song topped the charts in Australia for one week,<ref name="Australia discog"/> became Timberlake's third single to reach number two in the UK,<ref name="UK singles"/> and reached the top five in Denmark,<ref name="Denmark discog"/> Ireland,<ref name="Irish discog"/> New Zealand and the US.<ref name="billboard hot 100"/><ref name="New Zealand discog">Template:Cite web</ref> "Rock Your Body" was certified platinum in Australia by the ARIA.<ref name="Australia 2003 certs"/> It received a gold certification in the US by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), denoting shipments of 500,000 units.<ref name="us cert">Template:Cite web</ref>
"Señorita" is JustifiedTemplate:'s fourth single, released through rhythmic radio on July 8, 2003.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It was written by Timberlake and The Neptunes, while being produced by the latter. It reached number 27 on the Hot 100,<ref name="billboard hot 100"/> and achieved its highest peak in Australia and New Zealand, where it reached number six and four, respectively.<ref name="Australia discog"/><ref name="New Zealand discog"/>
Promotion
Template:Main Timberlake performed "Like I Love You" at the 2002 MTV Video Music Awards prior to the album's release. The day of Justified's release, Timberlake appeared on TRL and performed "Like I Love You" and "Cry Me a River" live in Times Square.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> TV specials included a sit-down interview with Barbara Walters on 20/20,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> an episode of MTV Launch that followed the making of Justified,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and the TV concert special, Justin Timberlake: Down Home in Memphis.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Timberlake performed "Cry Me a River" at the 13th annual Billboard Music Awards, held on December 9, 2002, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. He was accompanied by a string section and a 20-member choir.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> He performed "Cry Me a River" on a promotional concert held at House of Blues in West Hollywood, California on June 17, 2003.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On February 1, 2004, the singer performed "Rock Your Body" at the Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show with singer Janet Jackson.<ref name="apologeticjackson">Template:Cite news</ref> At the moment Timberlake sang the lyric "Bet I'll have you naked by the end of this song," he ripped off part of Jackson's costume, momentarily exposing her right breast on live television.<ref name="apologeticjackson"/> Timberlake distanced himself from the controversy while Jackson faced much criticism.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> He later commented that "America's harsher on women".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He performed "Señorita" live on the sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live in October 2003, where he served as host and musical guest,<ref>Template:Cite episode</ref> and at the 2004 Grammy Awards.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Magazine covers included Rolling Stone, which dubbed him the "New King of Pop",<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Entertainment Weekly,<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Vibe magazine,<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> The Advocate,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Details.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Timberlake did a joint tour in North America with Christina Aguilera entitled the Justified & Stripped Tour, to support both Justified and Aguilera's 2002 album, Stripped.<ref name="tour">Template:Cite news</ref> Timberlake's and Aguilera's managers suggested to both singers to go on a conjoint tour. Timberlake agreed with the suggestion, saying that "It would be fun to be on tour with somebody who's that talented".<ref name="tour1">Template:Cite news</ref> Timberlake's further reasoning for touring with Aguilera was due to both singers wanting to "break the mold of what people look at as teen pop and move into a different direction".<ref name="tour2">Template:Cite news</ref> For the tour, Timberlake wanted to transform arenas into clubs, stating that he wants people "to feel like they're a part of the show and it's a party", remarking that anybody caught sitting down would get booted.<ref name="tour1"/> For the tour, Timberlake performed with eight dancers, a 14-piece band which included four backup singers, three horn players and a DJ.<ref name="tour2"/> The tour commenced on June 4, 2003, in Phoenix, Arizona and concluded on September 2, 2003, in Saint Paul, Minnesota. The tour grossed approximately $45 million.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
In September 2003, McDonald's announced Timberlake as a new spokesmen for their "I'm Lovin' It" campaign. Timberlake recorded "I'm Lovin' It", to be featured in adverts for the franchise, later expanded and released as a single in December 2003. McDonald's later announced they will sponsor a tour for Timberlake, following his successful North American tour with Christina Aguilera, entitled the Justified World Tour.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Timberlake stated "I love what McDonald's is doing with the new 'i'm lovin' it' campaign and it's cool to be part of it [...] We share the same crowd -- people who like to have fun -- and that's what this new partnership and my European concert tour is all about." The tour began with Timberlake playing intimate gigs at clubs and theatres in the United States and Australia before expanding to arenas in Europe.<ref>Template:Cite press release</ref> The tour commenced on May 7, 2003, in Sheffield, England and concluded on June 19, 2004, in Brisbane, Australia. Jive Records released two DVD specials for Justified, Justified: The Videos<ref>Template:Citation</ref> and Justin Timberlake: Live from London.
Critical reception
Justified received generally positive reviews from critics.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album has received an average score of 68, based on 14 reviews.<ref name="metacritic">Template:Cite web</ref> Ben Ratliff of Rolling Stone was receptive to The Neptunes's production, and highlighted both "Like I Love You" and "Cry Me a River" as standout tracks. Ratliff also commented that Justin Timberlake had successfully "vaulted over the canyon" to adulthood.<ref name="rolling review"/> Slant Magazine critic Sal Cinquemani believed that Timberlake meshed with The Neptunes "so well he virtually relinquishes his personality to the super-duo—he could very well be the third member of N.E.R.D." Cinquemani noted the similarities between JustifiedTemplate:'s tracks to the work of musician Michael Jackson, saying that the album should have been Jackson's tenth and final studio album, Invincible (2001).<ref name="slant review">Template:Cite magazine</ref> BBC Music's Denise Boyd praised "Like I Love You", while also commending "Cry Me a River" for its lyrical content and "Rock Your Body", which he notes contains Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder influences.<ref name="bbc review"/> In Entertainment Weekly, David Browne wrote how the album should have been the outcome of Jackson's tenth studio album, as "the ultramodern R&B-pop hybrid". Browne described Justified as "cohesive", favoring the album over NSYNC's previous two efforts: Celebrity (2001) and No Strings Attached (2000).<ref name="EW"/>
Robert Christgau wrote of Timberlake in The Village Voice, "though his talent and character were there for all to see, who knew he'd turn out this heady or beatwise?"<ref name="CG">Template:Cite news</ref> The newspaper's Christopher O'Connor commended The Neptunes' production, while praising "Like I Love You" and the Janet Jackson collaboration "(And She Said) Take Me Now", saying how the songs show that Timberlake "has the balls to pursue the A-plus list."<ref name="village review">Template:Cite news</ref> O'Connor showed ambivalence towards "Right for Me" and "Cry Me a River", noting the former as "awkward" and the latter as "a lousy Aaliyah impression".<ref name="village review"/> Tyler Martin from Stylus Magazine deemed "Señorita" and "Like I Love You" as the record's highlights, while writing that the album does not maintain Timberlake's masculine persona, but still "paints a picture of a complicated young man, growing into adulthood".<ref name="stylus review">Template:Cite magazine</ref>
NMETemplate:'s Alex Needham was less enthusiastic, writing that Timberlake's lyrics are "soppy platitudes that may or may not be about Britney".<ref name="nme review" /> Caroline Sullivan of The Guardian believed the only noticeable tracks are "Cry Me a River" and "Rock Your Body", noting the latter as "predictable", while criticising the album's lyrics as being "suggestive mumbling".<ref name="guardian review" /> Some critics accused Timberlake of borrowing inspiration too heavily from Michael Jackson's work.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> AllMusic's Stephen Thomas Erlewine commented that Timberlake "shamelessly borrows from Jacko, from the Thriller-era", going on to criticize his vocals as to lack substance, with his falsetto lacking character, though calling him a "technically skilled vocalist".<ref name="allmusic" />
Accolades
Justified was ranked second on The FaceTemplate:'s "Recordings of the Year",<ref>Template:Citation</ref> and 46 on Village VoiceTemplate:'s "Pazz + Jop 2003".<ref>Template:Citation</ref> Justified was listed at number 37 on The A.V. ClubTemplate:'s Best music of the decade list.<ref name="av club decade list">Template:Cite news</ref> The album was also included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> It was also included on The GuardianTemplate:'s list of "1000 albums to hear before you die", calling the artist "the quintessential modern crossover act".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2009 MTV Base included the album among the 100 "Greatest Albums Ever", which ranked 15 after the public poll.<ref>Template:Citation</ref> In 2014, writers from Paste considered it the 7th best solo debut, and in 2017 from Cleveland.com, the best boy band solo debut.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Justified ranked 5 on NMETemplate:'s greatest debut albums turning 15 in 2017, with the author saying "perhaps a few more listens would have changed NME's mind at the time."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In 2019, The Guardian ranked it number 87 in their list of "The 100 best albums of the 21st century", saying: "Timberlake's Neptunes/Timbaland-helmed debut was slick, sexy and most importantly, convincing."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Awards
Justified earned Timberlake three American Music Award nominations, including Favorite Pop/Rock Album, Favorite Pop/Rock Male Artist and Fan Choice Award.<ref name="ama 2003">Template:Cite web</ref> Timberlake won the award for Favorite Pop/Rock Album.<ref name="ama 2003"/> At the 45th Grammy Awards, Timberlake had one nomination for Best Rap/Sung Collaboration for "Like I Love You".<ref name="grammy 2003">Template:Cite web</ref> The following year, Justified earned Timberlake nominations for Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album, while "Cry Me a River" was nominated for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance.<ref name="grammy 2004 nominee">Template:Cite web</ref> Timberlake won the latter two awards.<ref name="grammy 2004">Template:Cite web</ref> For Justified, Timberlake won Best Male, Best Pop and Best Album at the 2003 MTV Europe Music Awards.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Justified won the International Album award at the 2004 Brit Awards.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
At the 2003 BET Awards, he received two nominations for Best R&B Male Artist and Best New Artist.<ref name="bet nominees">Template:Cite magazine</ref> Among others, it was nominated Best Album at the MOBO Award,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> International Album of the Year at the NRJ Music Awards,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Foreign Album of the Year at the Danish Music Awards.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Legacy
For a 2018 Billboard article, writers Taylor Weatherby and Nina Braca said the album "may possibly be the most iconic debut album from a former band member in pop music history", describing it as "[a] bona-fide success that foreshadowed Timberlake's superstardom to come" and "at the same time, a declaration of independence from his poppier beginnings."<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> From the same magazine, Dan Weiss deemed Justified as Timberlake's "classic album".<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Writers from Consequence of Sound deemed it "the standard for former teen pop stars' bids to be taken seriously" when comparing it to other debut solo albums released later,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and Herald Sun considered it a "boy band to men blueprint".<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> British singer-songwriter Ed Sheeran cited the album as an inspiration for his 2014 single "Sing",<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> and Shawn Mendes for his 2018 song "Lost in Japan".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> One Direction's Liam Payne, talking about his debut solo album, stated he was focusing on making a record like Justified.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Commercial performance
Justified debuted at number two on the Billboard 200, selling 439,000 copies in its opening week.<ref name="mtv4">Template:Cite news</ref> The album was expected to top the chart, replacing the 8 Mile soundtrack (2002).<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Instead the soundtrack sold 507,000 copies, due to being propelled by Eminem's "Lose Yourself".<ref name="mtv4"/> The following week, Justified sold 188,770 copies and fell two positions to number four.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> In its third week, the album sold 110,000 copies and remained within the top ten on the chart.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> The album appeared on the Billboard 200 chart for seventy-two weeks, and eventually went on to sell 3.5 million copies in the US.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> It has been certified three times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), for shipments of three million copies.<ref name="us cert"/> As of 2018, the album has accumuladed 4.6 million album-equivalent units in the US, combining sales and equivalent streams.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Justified debuted and peaked at number two on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.<ref name="R&BUSalbum">Template:Cite magazine</ref> The album charted on the Billboard 200 and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums 2003 year-end charts, reaching number eleven and twenty-six, respectively.<ref name="bb200 year-end"/><ref name="r&b year-end"/>
Internationally, Justified received a similar response. In the United Kingdom, Justified debuted at number six on the week of November 16, 2002, and eventually peaked at number one, remaining atop for seven non-consecutive weeks.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name="uk chart">Template:Cite web</ref> The album has appeared on the chart for eighty-four weeks; it has been certified seven times platinum by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI) for shipments of 2.1 million copies.<ref name="uk chart"/> As of March 2015, Justified is the 41st best-selling album of the millennium in the United Kingdom.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In Canada, the album peaked at number three and has been certified two times platinum by Music Canada.<ref name="Canada Charts">Template:Cite magazine</ref> Justified debuted and peaked at number four in Denmark and the Netherlands, remaining on the charts for forty and seventy-two weeks, respectively.<ref name="ultratop50">Template:Cite web</ref> The album peaked at number five in New Zealand for one week, appearing on the chart for thirty-six weeks, and receiving a two times platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of New Zealand (RIANZ) for shipping 15,000 units.<ref name="ultratop50"/> Justified peaked in the top ten in Belgium, Australia and Norway.<ref name="ultratop50"/> The album charted within the top thirty and forty in several other countries.<ref name="ultratop50"/> As of June 2012, the album has sold over 10 million copies worldwide.<ref name="justifiedwwsales">Template:Cite web</ref>
In 2003, Justified was ranked as the 11th most popular album of the year on the Billboard 200.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> According to Billboard, as of 2022, Justified is one of the 15 best-performing 21st-century albums without any of its singles being number-one hits on the Billboard Hot 100.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>
Track listing
Notes
- Template:Note signifies a co-producer
- "Señorita" features additional vocals by Pharrell Williams.
- "Like I Love You" features a rap performed by Clipse.
- "Right for Me" features a rap performed by Bubba Sparxxx and additional vocals by Timbaland.
Personnel
Credits for Justified adapted from AllMusic and album's liner notes.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite AV media notes</ref>
Musicians
- Lainie Aguilar – background vocals Template:Small
- Marsha Ambrosius – background vocals Template:Small
- Damon Bennett – flute Template:Small
- Clipse Template:Small – rap Template:Small
- Vidal Davis – percussion Template:Small
- Nathan East – bass Template:Small
- Omar Edwards – keyboards Template:Small
- Prescott Ellison – drums Template:Small
- Larry Gold – conductor and string arrangements Template:Small
- Chad Hugo – instruments Template:Small
- Janet Jackson – additional vocals Template:Small
- Ben Kenney – guitar Template:Small
- Vanessa Marquez – additional vocals Template:Small
- Harvey Mason, Jr. – music Template:Small
- George "Spanky" McCurdy – drums Template:Small
- Brian McKnight – instruments and vocal arrangements Template:Small
- Bill Meyers – conductor and string arrangements Template:Small
- Bill Pettaway – guitar Template:Small
- Bubba Sparxxx – rap Template:Small
- Scott Storch – clavinet Template:Small
- Damon Thomas – music Template:Small
- Timbaland – background vocals Template:Small
- Justin Timberlake – lead vocals, background vocals, vocal arrangements
- Thaddeus Tribbett – bass Template:Small
- Tye Tribbett & G.A. – background vocals Template:Small
- Charles Veal & The Southwest Chamber Orchestra – strings Template:Small
- Frank "Knuckles" Walker – percussion Template:Small
- Pharrell Williams – instruments and vocal arrangements Template:Small, additional vocals Template:Small
- Benjamin Wright – conductor and string arrangements Template:Small
Production
- Produced by The Neptunes Template:Small, Timbaland Template:Small, The Underdogs Template:Small Template:Small, Brian McKnight Template:Small
- Co-produced by Scott Storch Template:Small
- Recorded by Andrew Coleman Template:Small, Steve Penny Template:Small, Jimmy Douglass Template:Small, Dave "Natural Love" Russell and Dabling Harward Template:Small, Chris Wood Template:Small
- Mixed by Serban Ghenea Template:Small, Jimmy Douglass and Timbaland Template:Small, Dave "Natural Love" Russell Template:Small, Dave "Hard Drive" Pensado Template:Small
- Assistant engineers: Daniel Betancourt and Tim Roberts Template:Small; "Steamy" Template:Small; Carlos "Storm" Martinez Template:Small; Mary Ann Souza, Joe Brown, and Ethan Willoughby Template:Small
- Strings recorded by Tommy Vicari Template:Small
- Pro Tools engineer: Jimmy Randolph Template:Small
- Additional Pro Tools engineering by John Hanes Template:Small
- Additional vocals recorded by Eddie Delena Template:Small
- Mastered by Herb Powers Jr. at The Hit Factory for PM Entertainment
- A&R Direction: Silas White
- Photographer: Steven Klein
- Creative director: David Lipman
- Producer: Gabriel Ray Sanchez
- Stylist: Arianne Phillips
- Hair: Jimmy Paul
- Makeup: Carla White
- Set design: Marla Weinhoff
Charts
Template:Col-begin Template:Col-2
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
| Chart (2002) | Position |
|---|---|
| Canadian Albums (Nielsen SoundScan)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | 58 |
| Canadian R&B Albums (Nielsen SoundScan)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | 10 |
| UK Albums (OCC)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | 93 |
| US Billboard 200<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> | 119 |
| Chart (2003) | Position |
|---|---|
| Australian Albums (ARIA)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | 20 |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | 21 |
| Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | 30 |
| Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | 10 |
| French Albums (SNEP)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | 97 |
| German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | 29 |
| Irish Albums (IRMA)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | 3 |
| New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | 12 |
| Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | 54 |
| Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | 31 |
| UK Albums (OCC)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | 2 |
| US Billboard 200<ref name="bb200 year-end">Template:Cite magazine</ref> | 11 |
| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)<ref name="r&b year-end">Template:Cite magazine</ref> | 26 |
| Worldwide Albums (IFPI)<ref name="ww03">Template:Cite web</ref> | 19 |
Decade-end charts
| Chart (2000–09) | Position |
|---|---|
| UK Albums (OCC) | 31 |
Certifications and sales
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Release history
| Country | Date | Format | Label | Template:Abbr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | November 4, 2002 | CD | RCA | <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| Canada | November 5, 2002 | Sony | <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | |
| United States | Jive | <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | ||
| Japan | November 7, 2002 | Sony | <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | |
| Australia | November 11, 2002 | <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | ||
| United States | November 19, 2002 | LP | Jive | <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
| United Kingdom | December 2, 2002 | RCA | <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | |
| Canada | April 16, 2013 | Sony | <ref>Template:Cite web</ref> |
See also
References
External links
- 2002 debut albums
- Justin Timberlake albums
- Albums produced by the Neptunes
- Albums produced by Brian McKnight
- Albums produced by Scott Storch
- Albums produced by Timbaland
- Albums produced by the Underdogs (production team)
- Brit Award for International Album
- Grammy Award for Best Pop Vocal Album
- Jive Records albums