Imperial Blaze

Imperial Blaze
Studio album by
Sean Paul
Released18 August 2009 (2009-08-18)[1][2]
RecordedKingston, Jamaica
Studio
  • 2 Hard Studios
  • Big Ship Studios
  • Coppershot Studios
  • Fresh Ear Studios
  • Vendetta Studios
GenreDancehall[3]
Length66:49
Label
Producer
Sean Paul chronology
The Trinity
(2005) 		Imperial Blaze
(2009) 		Tomahawk Technique
(2012)
Singles from Imperial Blaze
  1. "So Fine"
    Released: 2 June 2009
  2. "Press It Up"
    Released: 4 August 2009[4]
  3. "Hold My Hand"
    Released: 29 September 2009[5]

Imperial Blaze is the fourth studio album by the Jamaican rapper and singer Sean Paul. It was released by VP Records and Atlantic Records on 18 August 2009 in the United States. Produced primarily by Stephen "Di Genius" McGregor, the album was initially intended to move away from party-oriented songs in favor of addressing youth violence in Jamaica, though the final release largely consists of up-tempo party tracks. According to Paul, the album's title, meaning "King's Fire," symbolizes energy and intensity.

The album received polarizing reviews, with some critics praising Paul's energy, dancefloor appeal, and roots-focused production, while others criticized the album as repetitive or declining in quality. Imperial Blaze achieved strong international chart success, including gold certification in France, top-ten positions in several countries, and became the first Jamaican-origin album to debut at number one on the US Billboard Top Rap Albums chart, selling 28,500 copies in its first week and 101,000 by 2012.

Background

The album was originally scheduled for release in the summer of 2007 under the working title The Next Thing, but was later postponed to November 2008.[6][7][8] In an interview with MTV News, Sean Paul stated that he intended to move away from party-oriented songs such as "Get Busy", "We Be Burnin'"," and "Temperature," and instead focus on themes addressing youth violence in Jamaica.[7] However, the final version of the album largely consisted of up-tempo party tracks. As a result, Paul later released a mixtape that more directly explored issues related to youth violence in Jamaica.[7] The album's title translates to "King's Fire." Commenting on its meaning, Sean Paul explained that it was not meant to portray him as a king, but rather as a source of energy and intensity, stating, "I'm not the king. I'm the fire, I'm the flame, I'm the energy."[9] In an interview with DJ Swerve, Sean Paul also revealed that he recorded approximately 60 tracks for the project, with 19 ultimately selected for the final track listing.

Promotion

The album's lead single, "So Fine," reached the top 20 in France and Turkey and peaked at number 50 on the US Billboard Hot 100. Following it, "Press It Up" was released on 4 August 2009 and premiered on Sean Paul's official website on 10 July. Its accompanying music video, directed by Jessy Terrero, debuted on 9 September 2009.[10][11] The third single, "Hold My Hand," featuring Keri Hilson, was sent to U.S. radio on 29 September 2009, completing the album’s primary single lineup.[5][12]

Reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic44/100[13]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[3]
Entertainment WeeklyB+[14]
Now[15]
PopMatters1/10[16]
Q[17]
RapReviews3/10[18]
Rolling Stone[19]
Slant Magazine[20]
Toronto Star[21]
USA Today[22]

Initial critical response to Imperial Blaze was mixed. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream critics, the album has received an average score of 44, based on seven reviews, indicating "mixed or average" reviews.[13] Despite this, the album was nominated for Best Reggae Album at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards.

USA Today editor Steve Jones found that Paul's "music's intensity is as hot as ever. [He] has lost none of his penchant for sexy club scorchers, and percussive first single "So Fine" sets the tone early on [...] He's also avoided trendy hip-hop and R&B producers, relying instead on up-and-coming Jamaican producers like Stephen "Di Genius" McGregor to maintain his edge. He smartly sticks to his roots, and shows no signs of flaming out."[22] Entertainment Weekly's Simon Vozick-Levinson found that "Paul's limitless energy carries him through these 20 tracks, helping him tap-dance over every flashy dancehall riddim that comes his way. The album sags toward the middle, but when he sticks to his strengths, Paul is arguably the ablest pop ambassador Jamaican music has ever had who isn't surnamed Marley."[14] Now critic Jason Richards felt that Imperial Blaze was picking up "exactly where The Trinity left off: at the centre of the dance floor. [...] He delivers a new set of sleek mashup anthems about how you're "So Fine" he'd like to see you in your "Birthday Suit" so he can "Press It Up" at his "Private Party."[15]

Tim Sendra of AllMusic gave the album three and a half out of five stars, praising the sound of the album. He found that "it may bode ill for the commercial prospects of the album, but it does mean that the people who do buy Imperial Blaze will be purchasing a record that is very good, and more importantly, a great deal of fun from beginning to end."[3] Jay Soul of RapReviews gave the album a negative, stating: "It's almost like watching a heavyweight champion past his prime being forced to fight, when all he wants to do is quit the game and be a coach."[18] Christian Hoard, writing for Rolling Stone, gave the album a 2/5 rating, describing the album as "pale versions of past hits."[19] Slant Magazine critic Jesse Cataldo concluded: "Heard at a party or a club, his songs may have a certain offhand charm; in a row they form a bland marathon that’s a challenge to take on,"[20] while Michael Miller from PopMatters called Imperial Blaze the "worst album of 2009."[16]

Critical reception

The album was made available for pre-order on 17 July 2009. Customers who pre-ordered the album received two digital bonus tracks, "She Wanna Be Down" and "Get with It Girl."[23] In Germany, Imperial Blaze was released digitally via the iTunes Store on 14 August 2009.[24]

Imperial Blaze was certified gold in France and achieved strong chart debuts internationally,[25] reaching number four in Switzerland,[26] number eight in France,[27] number five in Canada,[28] number fifteen in Belgium,[29] number seventeen in Austria,[30] and number seventeen in Germany.[31] In the United States, Imperial Blaze became first album of Jamaican origin to debut at number one on Billboard's Top Rap Albums chart, while also reaching number three on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, and number twelve on the Billboard 200, with first-week sales of 28,500 copies.[32] By January 2012, it had sold 101,000 copies in the United States.[33]

Track listing

  • Sean Paul Henriques co-wrote all of the songs on the album; additional writers are listed below.
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Intro: Chi Ching Ching"  0:50
2."Lace It"Stephen McGregorDi Genius2:51
3."So Fine"
  • S. McGregor
  • Nigel Staff
Di Genius3:30
4."Now That I've Got Your Love"S. McGregorDi Genius3:33
5."Birthday Suit"S. McGregorDi Genius3:25
6."Press It Up"S. McGregorDi Genius3:43
7."Evening Ride"
  • Jeremy Harding
  • S. McGregor
Di Genius3:56
8."Hold My Hand" (featuring Keri Hilson)
  • Arif Cooper
  • Clayton Morrison
Supacoop3:26
9."She Want Me"
  • J. Harding
  • S. McGregor
Di Genius3:05
10."Daddy's Home"S. McGregorDi Genius3:30
11."Bruk Out"Craig ParksLeftside3:24
12."Pepperpot"
  • S. Anderson
  • Andrew McIntyre
  • Jason Henriques
Jigzag3:50
13."Wine Baby Wine"J. HardingMister Harding3:04
14."Running Out of Time"
  • Donovan Bennett
  • J. Henriques
Don Corleon3:21
15."Don't Tease Me"S. McGregorDi Genius3:19
16."Lately"S. McGregorDi Genius3:06
17."She Wanna Be Down"S. McGregorDi Genius3:37
18."Straight from My Heart"
  • Delano Thomas
  • Supa Dups
4:26
19."Private Party"
  • Donovan Bennett
  • J. Henriques
Don Corleon3:34
20."I Know U Like It"J. HenriquesSean Paul3:07
Total length:66:49
Japan bonus track[34]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
21."Get with It Girl"
  • D. Bennett
  • D. Lewis
Don Corleon3:06
French bonus track[35]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
21."Hold My Hand" (featuring Zaho)
  • Arif Cooper
  • Clayton Morrison
  • Zaho
Supascoop3:26
Spotify and TTNET Müzik bonus track[36][37]
No.TitleLength
21."Right Time"3:24
iTunes Store deluxe edition bonus tracks[38]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
21."Agarra Mi Mano" ("Hold My Hand" Spanish version)
  • Arif Cooper
  • Clayton Morrison
Supacoop3:29
22."So Fine" (music video)  3:32

Personnel

Adapted from the Imperial Blaze liner notes.[39]

  • Jimmy Douglass – mixing (2, 7, 10, 14, 16)
  • Fabian Marasciullo – mixing (4, 5, 13, 17, 19)
  • Gary Noble – mixing (8, 11, 12, 18, 20)
  • Robert Orton – mixing (3, 4, 6, 9)
  • Demacio Castellon – mixing (15)
  • Rohan Dyer – mixing (18)
  • Bryan Powell – assistant mixing (2, 7, 10, 14, 16)
  • Marlon James – art
  • Gerard Needham – photography
  • Ivy Jarrin – styling
  • Denise Chen – make up
  • Sara James – Blaze icon concept

Charts

Weekly chart performance for Imperial Blaze
Chart (2009) Peak
position
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[30] 17
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[40] 31
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[29] 11
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[28] 5
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[41] 36
French Albums (SNEP)[27] 8
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[31] 17
Italian Albums (FIMI)[42] 77
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[43] 10
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[26] 4
UK Albums (OCC)[44] 38
US Billboard 200[45] 12
US Reggae Albums (Billboard)[46] 1
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[47] 3
US Top Rap Albums (Billboard)[48] 1

Certifications

Sales and certifications for Imperial Blaze
Region Certification Certified units/sales
France (SNEP)[25] Gold 50,000*

* Sales figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ "New Music: Sean Paul - 'So Fine'". Rap-Up. Retrieved 25 April 2009.
  2. ^ "So Fine" - Audio Detail Archived 13 January 2010 at the Wayback Machine All Sean Paul. Retrieved 25 April 2009.
  3. ^ a b c Sendra, Tim (18 August 2009). "Imperial Blaze - Sean Paul". AllMusic. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
  4. ^ "Press It Up (Album Version): Sean Paul: MP3 Downloads". Amazon. Retrieved 24 February 2012.
  5. ^ a b "®R&R :: Going For Adds™ :: Rhythmic". Gfa.radioandrecords.com. 29 September 2009. Archived from the original on 18 February 2012. Retrieved 24 February 2012.
  6. ^ "Sean Paul talks to paparazzi about new album". 19 January 2008. Archived from the original on 30 June 2014. Retrieved 1 October 2009 – via YouTube.
  7. ^ a b c "Sean Paul Hopes To Curb Youth Violence In Jamaica With Next LP". MTV News. Archived from the original on 25 January 2007. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  8. ^ Sean Paul interviewed before concert on YouTube. Retrieved 29 June 2008.
  9. ^ "TraceTV: Sean Paul Talks About His New Album "Imperial Blaze"". Archived from the original on 29 May 2009. Retrieved 29 May 2009.. All Sean Paul.
  10. ^ "Video: Sean Paul – 'Press It Up'". Rap-Up.com. Retrieved 1 October 2009.
  11. ^ WORLD PREMIERE: Sean Paul - "Press It Up". All Sean Paul. Deprecated link archived 15 July 2009 at archive.today
  12. ^ "Radio1 - UK Forthcoming Singles". Radio1.gr. Archived from the original on 22 December 2010. Retrieved 6 November 2009.
  13. ^ a b "Critic Reviews for Imperial Blaze". Metacritic. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
  14. ^ a b Vozick-Levinson, Simon (21 August 2009). "Imperial Blaze Review". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 16 August 2009. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
  15. ^ a b Richards, Jason (19–26 August 2009). "Sean Paul: Imperial Blaze (VP/Atlantic)". Now. Archived from the original on 24 February 2014. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
  16. ^ a b Miller, Michael (4 February 2010). "Sean Paul: Imperial Blaze". PopMatters. Archived from the original on 5 February 2010. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
  17. ^ At 20 tracks long, Imperial Blaze suffers badly from a lack of editing, however, Paul also spends hald the album in ballad mode. [Nov 2009, p.111]
  18. ^ a b Padania, Jesal "Jay Soul" (25 August 2009). "Sean Paul :: Imperial Blaze :: Atlantic Records". RapReviews. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
  19. ^ a b Hoard, Christian (31 August 2009). "Imperial Blaze : Sean Paul : Review". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 29 March 2010. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
  20. ^ a b Cataldo, Jesse (17 August 2009). "Sean Paul: Imperial Blaze". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
  21. ^ Infantry, Ashante (18 August 2009). "Imperial Blaze: Sean Paul". Toronto Star. Retrieved 9 August 2012.
  22. ^ a b Jones, Steve (19 August 2009). "Listen Up: Paul pours dancehall gas on 'Imperial Blaze'". USA Today. Archived from the original on 26 October 2012. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  23. ^ Exclusive "Imperial Blaze" Pre-Order Bundles! All Sean Paul. Archived 21 July 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  24. ^ "iTunes Store – Sean Paul – Imperial Blaze (Deluxe Version)". iTunes. 18 August 2009. Retrieved 1 October 2009.
  25. ^ a b "French album certifications – Sean Paul – Imperial Blaze" (in French). SNEP. Archived from the original on 4 October 2013. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  26. ^ a b "Swisscharts.com – Sean Paul – Imperial Blaze". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  27. ^ a b "Lescharts.com – Sean Paul – Imperial Blaze". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  28. ^ a b "Sean Paul Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  29. ^ a b "Ultratop.be – Sean Paul – Imperial Blaze" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  30. ^ a b "Austriancharts.at – Sean Paul – Imperial Blaze" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  31. ^ a b "Offiziellecharts.de – Sean Paul – Imperial Blaze" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  32. ^ "Black Eyed Peas Lead the Rap Pack, Sean Paul Fails to Crack Top 10 on Billboard 200". XXL. 26 August 2009. Retrieved 19 January 2026.
  33. ^ "Upcoming Releases". HITS Daily Double. Retrieved 24 February 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  34. ^ "Sean Paul / ショーン・ポール「Imperial Blaze / インペリアル・ブレイズ～帝王激炎～（初回限定バリュー・プライス盤）」｜ワーナーミュージック・ジャパン". Archived from the original on 10 February 2015. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
  35. ^ "Try the TIDAL Web Player".
  36. ^ "Imperial Blaze". 14 August 2009.
  37. ^ "Imperial Blaze / TTNET Müzik". Archived from the original on 10 February 2015. Retrieved 10 February 2015.
  38. ^ "Imperial Blaze (Deluxe Version) by Sean Paul". iTunes. 18 August 2009.
  39. ^ Imperial Blaze (booklet). Sean Paul. VP. Atlantic. 2009. 2-521313.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  40. ^ "Ultratop.be – Sean Paul – Imperial Blaze" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  41. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Sean Paul – Imperial Blaze" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  42. ^ "Italiancharts.com – Sean Paul – Imperial Blaze". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  43. ^ インペリアル・ブレイズ～帝王激炎～(初回生産限定バリュー・プライス) (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on 21 May 2024. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  44. ^ "Official Albums Chart on 6/9/2009 – Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  45. ^ "Week Ending Aug. 23, 2009: Over 50 And Still On Top - Chart Watch". New.music.yahoo.com. Archived from the original on 18 September 2009. Retrieved 1 October 2009.
  46. ^ "Sean Paul Chart History (Reggae Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  47. ^ "Sean Paul Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  48. ^ "Sean Paul Chart History (Top Rap Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
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