Brand New (Salt-n-Pepa album)

Brand New is the fifth studio album by American hip hop group Salt-N-Pepa, released on October 21, 1997, by London Records. The group's international label at the time, Red Ant Entertainment, filed for bankruptcy before the album was officially released. Salt-N-Pepa toured in support of the album, but the album had little other promotion. Brand New spawned two singles: "R U Ready" and "Gitty Up". The album was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on November 25, 1997.

Production
Brand New was the first Salt-N-Pepa album released after the group parted ways with longtime producer, writer, and manager Hurby "Luv Bug" Azor. Instead, Salt largely wrote, co-wrote, and co-produced the album.

Critical reception
Natasha Stovall of Rolling Stone praised the "richer piano-, guitar- and vocal-filled sound, emphasizing gritty soul and sweet, unadulterated funk." Jon Pareles of The New York Times wrote that the group "still juxtapose catchy come-ons ... and determinedly positive messages." Connie Johnson of the Los Angeles Times wrote that "while it's commendable that they're stretching out in a more uplifting, spiritually motivated arena, the group's forte is still worldly, raunchy, of-the-flesh fare."

Samples

 * "R U Ready" contains excerpts from "Watch Out" by Brass Construction.
 * "Gitty Up" contains samples from "Give It To Me Baby" by Rick James
 * "Say Ooh" contains a sample from "Turn Off the Lights" by Larry Young.
 * "Brand New" contains an interpolation of "Love Is Alive" by Gary Wright.

Personnel

 * Prince Charles Alexander – Mixing
 * Eddie Anzueto, Jr. – Percussion
 * Steven Augustine – Bass
 * Kent Belden – Creative Director
 * Blue Denim – Background vocals
 * Mike Campbell – Guitar
 * Melvin Chandler – Keyboards
 * Lewis Christian – Percussion
 * Day Ta Day – Background vocals
 * Andre Debourg – Engineer, Mixing
 * James Denton – Photography
 * Sandy "Pepa" Denton – Producer
 * DJ Flexx – Background vocals
 * Chad "Dr. Ceuss" Elliott – Programming, Producer, Engineer, Mixing
 * Glenn Ellis – Bass
 * Esmail – Producer
 * Alan Forney – Photo Imaging
 * Kirk Franklin – Performer
 * Wayne Garrick – Keyboards
 * Khari Green – Guitar
 * Bernard Grobman – Guitar
 * Andrew Hellier – Guitar, Background vocals
 * Cheryl "Salt" James – Producer
 * Jon Jones – Guitar
 * Gerhard Joost – Mixing
 * Carol Kirkendall – Executive Producer
 * LaTrece – Background vocals
 * Michael Lockwood – Guitar
 * Al (Taz) Machera – Mixing
 * Sean "Mystro" Mather – Producer
 * Gary Montoute – Synthesizer
 * Michael Moore – Photography
 * Rufus Moore – Background vocals, Performer
 * Joseph Powell – Programming, Background vocals, Producer, Engineer, Mixing
 * Wayne Rickard – Guitar
 * Alicia Rushing – Background vocals
 * Ken Schubert – Engineer, Mixing
 * Dawne Shivers – Background vocals
 * Peggy Sirota – Photography
 * Sounds of Blackness – Performer
 * Spinderella – Performer
 * Kevin Thomas – Engineer
 * Al West – Producer
 * Jimmy White – Bass
 * David Wynn – Producer
 * George Belton - Bass