Amy-Elizabeth (album)

Amy-Elizabeth is the debut studio album by the Kuboian television personality and rapper Amy-Elizabeth. It was released on 18th March 2007 through Oyea Records, and was supported by six singles, three of which; "Grow Up Girl", "Within Fahrbahnin Streets" and "I Do", reached number one on the Karuboia charts. Although the album received mixed reviews, it debuted at number one on the Karuboia charts and was the best-selling album in Kuboia that year.

Background
Amy-Elizabeth met Rodrick Miles in the summer of 2005, who offered to sign her to Oyea Records under the condition that she also worked as a television presenter starting in the beginning of 2006. She insisted in a 2008 interview that she never intended to become a presenter, but still signed the contract because she really wanted to start a music career.

When discussing the album, Amy-Elizabeth said she wanted to make an album with a lot of variety in it. Although most of the songs are of the rap rock and alternative hip hop variety, "No Stopping Me Now" and "Cross My Path" are generally cited as "true" lipstick rap songs whilst "Ghetto Girl" has a more Americanised gangsta rap vibe to it. "Set Me Free", "Don't Go" and "See You Again" are what Amy-Elizabeth cites as the "most personal" tracks, as they are about her difficult upbringing and the troubles she has faced in her life.

Critical reception
A Pop Magazine critic awarded the album a B rating saying "Whilst there is definitely some filler in here, Amy does not hold back with her debut and shows that she will not be vanishing anytime soon," praising the album for its variety and citing "Within Fahrbahnin Streets", "Set Me Free" and "Ghetto Girl" as the highlights. American organisation Common Sense Media praised the album for being child-friendly, especially compared to other hip-hop music.

In spite of its early praise, other sources were more mixed regarding the album. Digital Spy awarded it a three out of five stars saying that the album had "potential" and noted that "Within Fahrbahnin Streets" and "I Do" shows signs that lipstick rap music could be evolving to a more "mature" sound, but noted that Amy-Elizabeth still "looks, acts and dresses exactly like every other young woman in the Kubo-rap scene". A reviewer for HipHopDX awarded the album two stars out of five, calling it "rap music for eight year-old girls" and felt that Amy-Elizabeth was trying "too hard" to sound like Eminem. The Rolling Stone meanwhile felt that she "acts and sounds like a spoilt Avril Lavinge fangirl" and felt the album would only appeal to avid lipstick rap fans.

Amy-Elizabeth herself was reportedly upset with the criticism, and claimed it lowered her self-esteem.

Track listing

 * 1) "No Stopping Me Now" (feat. Mayzie Kat)
 * 2) "Grow Up Girl"
 * 3) "In the City"
 * 4) "Within Fahrbahnin Streets" (feat. Dan Guseo)
 * 5) "Don't Go"
 * 6) "Bring It On" (feat. Charlie Karma)
 * 7) "Set Me Free" (feat. Spy Fandel)
 * 8) "Cross My Path"
 * 9) "Ghetto Girl"
 * 10) "Not Today" (feat. Typ Foyard
 * 11) "I Do" (feat. Ericka Streets)
 * 12) "See You Again"

Deluxe edition bonus tracks

 * 13. "Go-Go Gospel" (Northern Project feat. Amy-Elizabeth, Kool Teazer and ZD)

iTunes bonus tracks

 * 13. "Go-Go Gospel" (Northern Project feat. Amy-Elizabeth, Kool Teazer and ZD)
 * 14. "Amy's Anthem"
 * 15. "Peer Pressure"
 * 16. "Within Fahrbahnin Streets" (Remix) (feat. Missy Robins and Dan Guseo)
 * 17. "Bring It On" (Remix) (feat. Charlie Karma and Kool Teazer)
 * 18. "My Last Chance"