''Pineapple Now-Laters'' is the debut studio album by American R&B singer-songwriter

BJ the Chicago Kid Bryan James Sledge (born November 23, 1984), better known by his stage name BJ the Chicago Kid (or simply BJ), is an American singer and songwriter. Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, Sledge is best known for frequently collaborating with Top ...

. It was released independently on February 21, 2012, through M.A.F.E. Music. The album blends elements of

neo soul Neo soul (sometimes called progressive soul) is a genre of popular music. As a term, it was coined by music industry entrepreneur Kedar Massenburg during the late 1990s to market and describe a style of music that emerged from Soul music, soul ...

, R&B, and

hip hop Hip-hop or hip hop (originally disco rap) is a popular music genre that emerged in the early 1970s from the African-American community of New York City. The style is characterized by its synthesis of a wide range of musical techniques. Hip- ...

, showcasing BJ’s signature storytelling and smooth vocal delivery.

Background

Prior to the album, BJ the Chicago Kid had released several mixtapes, including ''The Life of Love’s Cupid'' (2011). ''Pineapple Now-Laters'' marked his transition into a full-length studio album. The title references the nostalgic candy Now and Laters, symbolizing BJ’s blend of past influences with contemporary sounds.

Composition

The album incorporates soulful melodies, live instrumentation, and hip-hop-infused production. BJ's vocal style draws comparisons to

D'Angelo Michael Eugene Archer (born February 11, 1974), better known by his stage name D'Angelo (), is an American singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and record producer. He first garnered attention after co-producing the single "U Will Know" ...

and

Marvin Gaye Marvin Pentz Gaye Jr. (; April 2, 1939 – April 1, 1984) was an American Rhythm and blues, R&B and soul singer, songwriter, musician, and record producer. He helped shape the sound of Motown in the 1960s, first as an in-house session player an ...

, with lyrical themes centered on love, struggle, and personal growth.

Track listing

All tracks produced by BJ the Chicago Kid unless otherwise noted.

Singles

The album spawned the single "Good Luv’n", which was later promoted by

Motown Records Motown is an American record label owned by the Universal Music Group. Founded by Berry Gordy, Berry Gordy Jr. as Tamla Records on January 12, 1959, it was incorporated as Motown Record Corporation on April 14, 1960. Its name, a portmanteau ...

after BJ signed with the label in August 2012.

Reception

Critics praised the album's soulful production and BJ's vocal delivery, highlighting tracks like "His Pain II" featuring Kendrick Lamar. The album helped BJ secure a record deal with Motown, leading to his major-label debut '' In My Mind'' (2016).

Awards and nominations

References

{{Reflist

External links

Pineapple Now-Laters
at AllMusic
Pineapple Now-Laters
at Discogs
Pineapple Now-Laters lyrics and tracklist
at Genius 2012 debut albums BJ the Chicago Kid albums Self-released albums