Brandy's self-titled 1994 debut album cast her as a teenage R&B phenomenon. Spawning a run of hits that combined her rich voice with soulful, mid-tempo production, the project went platinum. By the time of '98's follow up, Never Say Never, the Mississippi-born singer had formed a tight relationship with the producer Rodney "Darkchild" Jerkins that helped inspire her maturation as a vocalist. Proving her ability to change with the times, 2004's Afrodisiac saw Brandy successfully creating fresh sounds alongside Timbaland and Kanye West.