"Just Whitney" is the fifth studio album by American singer and actress Whitney Houston, released on November 27, 2002, by Arista Records. It followed her greatest hits compilation Whitney: The Greatest Hits (2000) and was the first album released after Houston re-signed a record-breaking $100 million contract with Arista in 2001, the largest recording deal ever for a female artist at the time. The album marked a return to her music career after the success of her previous multi-platinum album My Love is Your Love (1998).
The album debuted at number nine on the Billboard 200 and number three on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, with first-week sales of 205,147 copies, setting a new high for her Nielsen SoundScan-era album sales. Just Whitney spawned four singles: "Whatchulookinat," "One of Those Days," "Try It on My Own," and "Love That Man." The first, third, and fifth singles topped the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart, while "One of Those Days" reached number one on the Adult R&B Songs chart. "Try It on My Own" also charted in the top ten on the Adult Contemporary chart. The album went on to sell over 2.5 million copies worldwide, earning Platinum certification in the United States and Switzerland, and Gold in several other countries. In 2003, it received a nomination at the Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards for Best R&B/Soul Album of the Year.
Just Whitney blends R&B ballads, mid-tempo tracks, and dance songs, with a touch of rock influence, notably in the track "Tell Me No." Houston described the album as "very soul oriented," and wanted it to reflect themes of survival, family, and the challenges of relationships. It was somewhat of a departure from her previous album My Love is Your Love, which incorporated R&B, hip hop, and reggae influences.
Houston worked with several notable producers, including Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, Missy Elliott, Teddy Bishop, and her then-husband, Bobby Brown, who co-produced one of the tracks. The album features a mix of original songs and samples, such as the use of The Isley Brothers' "Between the Sheets" in "One of Those Days." Houston also covered Debby Boone's classic "You Light Up My Life."
The lead single, "Whatchulookinat," which Houston co-wrote, was seen by many as a response to media scrutiny of her personal life. The album showcases a blend of personal reflections and mood-driven tracks, with Houston aiming to give her fans songs they could connect with and enjoy.
