{{short description|2003 studio album by Ai}} {{Use mdy dates|date=November 2024}} {{Infobox album | name = Original Ai | type = studio | artist = Ai | cover = Ai - Original Ai.png | alt = | caption = Standard edition cover{{NoteTag|On the deluxe edition cover, the clothing is red instead of beige.}} | released = {{Start date|2003|07|23}} | recorded = 2003 | studio = * Michael "Lofey" Sandlofer's home studio (New York City, New York) * Right Track Studios (New York City) * Little Buch Studios * Tai Studio * Folio Sound Studio * Audio Achievements (Hollywood, California) * The Studio (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) * Gunpoint (Philadelphia) * Purple Velvet Studios * Peninsula | genre = {{hlist|J-pop|pop rock||hip hop}} | length = {{duration|m=48|s=57}} | language = {{hlist|Japanese|English}} | label = Def Jam Japan | producer = {{hlist|Lofey|Skane|Desert Storm|813|Carsten Lindberg|Joachim Svare|Ryousuke Imai|Swing-O|Fatin Horton|Rob "Reef" Tewlow|Stephanie Stokes Fountain|Kazunori Fujimoto}} | prev_title = My Name Is Ai | prev_year = 2001 | next_title = 2004 Ai | next_year = 2004 | misc = {{Singles | name = Original Ai | type = studio | single1 = Last Words | single1date = January 28, 2003 | single2 = Thank U | single2date = June 25, 2003 | single3 = My Friend" / "Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence | single3date = October 15, 2003 }} }} '''''Original Ai''''' (stylized in all upper cased lettering) is the second studio album by Japanese–American singer-songwriter Ai. It was released on July 23, 2003, by Def Jam Japan. The album features guest appearances and collaborations from Dabo, American rapper Joe Budden and Sphere of Influence.
Four singles were released from ''Original Ai''. The lead single "Last Words" became Ai's best performing single on the Oricon singles chart until her 2005 single "365".
== Background == Ai previously released her debut studio album, ''My Name Is Ai'' in 2001 under BMG Japan. Following its very little commercial success, Ai moved to Def Jam Japan and became the first woman signed to the label.<ref name="UniversalProfile">{{cite web|title=Biography|url=http://www.universal-music.co.jp/ai/biography/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120813003053/http://www.universal-music.co.jp/ai/biography|archive-date=August 13, 2012|access-date=August 18, 2012|publisher=Universal Music Japan|language=ja}}</ref> Compared to her previous label, Ai stated she felt more at home with Def Jam Japan.<ref name="TDKMedia">{{cite web|title=Special Interview Vol. 5 – Ai talks about Boombox|url=http://www.tdk-media.jp/audio/speaker/xapremium/interview/int00510.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120418072948/http://www.tdk-media.jp/audio/speaker/xapremium/interview/int00510.html|archive-date=April 18, 2012|access-date=August 19, 2012|publisher=TDK|language=ja}}</ref> Her first release under the label was the lead single "Last Words", which peaked at number 27 on the Japanese Oricon singles chart.<ref>{{Cite web|title=最終宣告 {{!}} AI|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/1374/products/498611/1/|access-date=2021-08-17|website=ORICON NEWS}}</ref> The second single "Thank U" was released in June 2003, peaking at number 37 on the Oricon singles chart.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Thank U {{!}} AI|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/1374/products/510044/1/|access-date=2021-08-17|website=ORICON NEWS}}</ref>
== Impact == ''Original Ai'' was released in a time where very little female artists were in the hip hop scene in Japan.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2021-03-03 |title=AIがR＆Bの真髄とその潜在能力の高さを見せた佳作『ORIGINAL A.I.』 |url=https://okmusic.jp/news/415447 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231204193755/https://okmusic.jp/news/415447 |archive-date=December 4, 2023 |access-date=2023-06-21 |website=OKMusic |language=ja}}</ref> In 2021, OKMusic's editorial department described ''Original Ai'' as "a fine work that shows the high potential of Ai".<ref name=":0" /> The journalist noted Ai made history as the first woman signed to Def Jam's Japanese division and helped pave the way for the hip hop and R&B scene in Japan to grow.<ref name=":0" />
== Track listing == {{Track listing | all_writing = | note1 = {{nihongo2|最終宣告}} | length11 = 4:23 | length12 = 4:24 | extra2 = 813 | title3 = Summer Time | length2 = 4:16 | extra10 = {{hlist|S. Fountain|Michael Fountain{{ref|a|[a]}}}} | title11 = My Friend | writer11 = {{hlist|Uemura|Kazunori Fujimoto}} | extra11 = Fujimoto | title12 = Last Words | note9 = {{nihongo2|言ノ音}} | writer1 = {{hlist|Ai Carina Uemura|Lofey|Skane|Desert Storm}} | extra1 = {{hlist|Lofey|Skane|Desert Storm}} | title2 = 2Hot | note12 = featuring Joe Budden | note2 = featuring Sphere of Influence | note6 = featuring Dabo | writer2 = {{hlist|Uemura|Sphere of Influence|George Brown}} | writer6 = {{hlist|Uemura|Ashida Daisuke|Lofey|Skane|Desert Storm}} | writer10 = {{hlist|Uemura|Stephanie Stokes Fountain}} | length1 = 3:23 | length3 = 3:37 | writer7 = {{hlist|Uemura|Michico}} | extra7 = {{hlist|Lofey|Desert Storm|Skane}} | title8 = 2 Face | writer3 = Uemura | extra3 = 813 | title4 = Thank U | headline = ''Original Ai'' {{nobold|– Standard edition}} | extra_column = Producer(s) | total_length = 48:57 | length10 = 4:56 | writer9 = {{hlist|Uemura|Rob "Reef" Tewlow}} | extra9 = Teelow | title10 = Life | length9 = 3:45 | length8 = 3:57 | writer8 = {{hlist|Uemura|Swing-O}} | extra8 = {{hlist|Swing-O|Fatin Horton}} | title9 = Kotonone | title1 = Last Words | length7 = 3:12 | extra6 = {{hlist|Lofey|Desert Storm|Skane}} | title7 = Girl's Talk | length6 = 4:00 | writer5 = {{hlist|Uemura|Ryousuke Imai}} | extra5 = Imai | title6 = Playboy | length5 = 4:42 | writer4 = {{hlist|Uemura|Emanuel Officer|Carsten Lindberg|Joachim Svare}} | extra4 = {{hlist|Lindberg|Svare}} | title5 = Paradise | length4 = 4:16 | writer12 = {{hlist|Uemura|Budden|Lofey|Skane|Desert Storm}} | extra12 = {{hlist|Lofey|Desert Storm|Skane}} }} {{Track listing | all_writing = | headline = ''Original Ai'' {{nobold|– Physical deluxe edition}} | title13 = Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence | note13 = {{nihongo2|戦場のメリークリスマス}} | writer13 = Ryuichi Sakamoto }} '''Notes'''
* {{sup|{{note|a|[a]}}}} signifies a co-producer * Tracks 1, 9 and 13 are titled in Japanese. * Tracks 2, 5, 6, 10, and 12 are stylized in all capitals. * "2Hot" interpolates Kool & the Gang's 1979 song "Too Hot" written by Brown. * "Summer Time" interpolates R. Kelly's 2002 song "Ignition (Remix)" written by Kelly.
== Personnel == Credits adapted from album's liner notes and Tidal.<ref>''Original Ai'' (CD). Ai. Def Jam Japan. 2003. UICJ-1012.</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=AI / Original AI |url=https://listen.tidal.com/album/35315554/credits |access-date=April 24, 2023 |website=Tidal |date=July 2005 |language=en}}</ref>
'''Musicians''' {{div col|colwidth=25em}} * Ai Carina Uemura – vocals * Cartsen Lindberg – instrumental (4) * Joachim Svare – instrumental (4) * Mine-chang – electric guitar (5) * Michico – background vocals (7) * DJ Miz – cuts (8) * Damon Bennet – keyboard (8), flute (10) * Swing-O – keyboard (8) * Eric Harvey – cuts (10) * John Kegler – bass guitar (10) {{div col end}}
'''Technical''' {{div col|colwidth=25em}} * Bob Horn – engineering, mixing (1, 12) * Yukiko Matsushita – engineering (2, 6, 7) * Sumiya Ishikawa – engineering (2) * Chisaki – mixing (2) * Troy Staton – engineering, mixing (3) * Joachim Svare – engineering, mixing (4) * Carsten Lindberg – engineering, mixing (4) * Yoshiaki Onshi – engineering, mixing (5, 11) * Makoto Hoshino – rap recording (6) * Chris Conway – mixing (6) * Bob Iadeluca – mixing (7) * Swing-O – chorus arrangement (8), programing (8) * Masato Watanabe – mixing (8) * Blair Wells – engineering (9) * Chris Conway – mixing (9) * Michael Fountain – engineering (10) * Stephanie Stokes Fountain – engineering (10) * Carlos "Storm" Martinez – engineering (10) * Takeshi Hirata – engineering (11) * Masaki Shmizu – engineering assistance (11) * Chris Gehringer – mastering {{div col end}}
'''Visuals and imagery''' * Hiroaki Doi – art direction, design * Toru Wada – design * Satoshi Minakawa – photography * Rie Inada – hair, makeup * Noriko Gotoh – stylist * Teknical – tag * Mayuko Sudo – coordination
== Charts == {| class="wikitable" |+ Chart performance for ''Original Ai'' !Chart (2003) !Peak{{break}}position |- |Japanese Albums (Oricon)<ref>{{Cite web|title=AIのアルバム作品|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/1374/products/album/|access-date=2021-08-17|website=ORICON NEWS}}</ref> | align="center" |15 |}
== Release history == {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" |+ Release history and formats for ''Original Ai'' ! scope="col" |Region ! scope="col" |Date ! scope="col" |Format(s) !Version ! scope="col" |Label ! scope="col" |{{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |- ! rowspan="4" scope="row" |Japan | rowspan="2" |July 23, 2003 |{{hlist|Digital download|streaming}} | rowspan="2" |Standard |{{hlist|Def Jam Japan|Universal}} | rowspan="2" |<ref>{{Cite web|title=ORIGINAL A.I. {{!}} AI|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/1374/products/513073/1/|access-date=2021-08-17|website=ORICON NEWS}}</ref> |- |CD |Universal Japan |- | rowspan="2" |November 26, 2003 |{{hlist|Digital download|streaming}} | rowspan="2" |Deluxe |{{hlist|Def Jam Japan|Universal}} | rowspan="2" |<ref>{{Cite web|title=「ORIGINAL A.I.」デラックス・エディション {{!}} AI|url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/1374/products/524625/1/|access-date=2021-08-17|website=ORICON NEWS}}</ref> |- |CD |Universal Japan |- !scope="row" |Various |December 5, 2012 |{{hlist|CD|digital download|streaming}} |Standard |USM Japan |<ref>{{Cite web |title=『ORIGINAL A.I.』 {{!}} AI |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/prof/1374/products/994494/1/ |access-date=2022-07-18 |website=ORICON NEWS}}</ref> |}
== Notes == {{NoteFoot}}
== References == <references />
== External links ==
* {{AllMusic|id=original-ai-mw0002115955}} {{Ai (singer)}} {{Authority control}}
Category:2003 albums Category:Ai (singer) albums Category:Def Jam Japan albums