Simply Deep
| Simply Deep | ||||
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| Studio album by Kelly Rowland | ||||
| Released | October 22, 2002 | |||
| Recorded | 2001–2002 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 53:09 | |||
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| Kelly Rowland chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Simply Deep | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
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| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic |   |
| Billboard | (positive) |
| Blender | |
| Entertainment Weekly | (mixed) |
| The Guardian | |
| The Independent | (favourable) |
| Slant Magazine |  |
| The Times | |
| Vibe | |
Simply Deep is the debut solo studio album by American singer Kelly Rowland. It was first released through Columbia Records and Music World Entertainment on October 22, 2002 in North America, and by February 3, 2003 throughout most international territories. Recorded within three weeks during the hiatus of former group Destiny's Child and upon the success of worldwide number-one hit single "Dilemma", a collaboration with rapper Nelly, the album facilitated Rowland in becoming a viable solo star. The album includes guest appearances from Nelly, Solange Knowles and Joe Budden.
Simply Deep debuted and peaked at number twelve on the US Billboard 200, becoming Rowland's lowest-charting album to date, selling 77,000 copies in its first week. It eventually sold 600,000 copies and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in 2003. The album also topped the UK Albums Chart. It garnered two nominations at the TMF Awards in the Netherlands and eventually won both trophies, including Best R&B International Artist. Simply Deep has sold over two million copies worldwide, becoming Rowland's best-selling album to date.
In late 2003, nearly a year after Simply Deep's initial release, Rowland embarked on a European tour, the Simply Deeper Tour, to promote the album. Visiting seventeen venues, Rowland embarked on the tour in the United Kingdom on September 13, 2003 and concluded it on October 6, 2003 in Paris, France.
Rowland launched her singing career with all-female R&B group Destiny's Child in the late 1990s. While recording their third studio album, Survivor, in late 2000, the band announced that members of the group would disband for a short period to produce solo albums in the coming years, which they hoped would boost interest in Destiny's Child. The idea of individual releases emanated from the group's manager, Mathew Knowles. With different types of music for each member to produce, the albums were not intended to compete on the charts as Destiny's Child's management strategically planned to stagger the release of each group member's album to maximize sales. While Michelle Williams became the first to release a debut solo album, Heart to Yours, in April 2002, Knowles debuted on the big screen, starring in the comedy film Austin Powers in Goldmember, and started recording her solo debut Dangerously in Love (2003). Meanwhile, Rowland collaborated with American rapper Nelly on the song "Dilemma" as a solo artist. The single originally appeared on his album Nellyville (2002), becoming a worldwide number-one hit that year, allowing her label Columbia Records to advance the release date of Simply Deep from 2003 to late 2002.
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