Thug Misses is the debutstudio album by American rapper Khia. It was originally released on October 30, 2001, by Divine Records, followed by a wider release on April 23, 2002, by Dirty Down Records and Artemis Records. The album spawned the singles "My Neck, My Back " and "The K-Wang". Thug Misses was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America on September 20, 2002, and as of June 2007, it had sold 611,000 copies in the United States.
Background
Recording for the album began in 2000 when Khia was signed to Divine Records; the album was originally released on October 30, 2001. However, Khia was displeased with the lack of promotion and proper charting performance, resulting in disputes between Khia and the record label executives. The dispute would later develop over Khia's image and the lead single, "My Neck, My Back." By the end of March 2002, Khia and her newly signed record label, Artemis, released "My Neck, My Back " as the official lead single; the song would go on to peak at number 42 on Billboard Hot 100 and number 20 on BillboardHot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and eventually being certified platinum in the US, making it Khia's most successful single to date. Khia and Artemis, later re-released "Thug Misses" as her official debut album. The album reached number 33 on the Billboard 200 and number 13 on Billboards Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
Release and reception
The album was released on April 23, 2002, to generally mixed reviews. David Jeffries of AllMusic gave the album 3/5 stars. He stated: "Khia's stuck-in-the-ghetto attitude is playful, honest, and endearing and carries her throughout the album, especially during the plentiful filler. Stripclub DJs and freaks of the night should track it down". Steve 'Flash' Juon of RapReviews later criticized the album, saying "In the end Khia will definitely open eyes and turn heads with her debut album "Thug Misses" but doesn't have the music or the lyrics to carry forty-five plus minutes of rap on one album at this early point in her career. By combining her already confidant raps with some more divergent topics and an improved selection of beats, Khia may prove to have the staying power of her femme fatale contemporaries, but until then her debut album will have already taken up twelve of her fifteen minutes of fame. It's up to her to push the clock back and keep it ticking."
Singles
"My Neck, My Back " was released on March 30, 2002, as the lead single from the album. The song was produced by Michael "Taz" Williams and Plat'num House. To date, "My Neck, My Back " remains as Khia's most successful single as a leading artist. "The K-Wang" was released on February 23, 2003, as the second and final single. An official single remix was produced by Jermaine Dupri.
