Beauty & the Streets Vol. 1

Beauty & the Streets Vol. 1 is a mixtape by Mya. The mixtape was released on September 29, 2009 by Young Empire Music Group with distribution from Fontana Distribution.

The project surfaced when Mya felt as if she had abandoned her fan base in the United States & wanted to release music for them.

The mixtape served as her third independently-released project on her own label imprint Planet 9 and was created to serve the clubs, strip clubs, whips & bedroom with a predominantly southern sound.

The production on the mixtape was primarily handled by in house producers selected by Harrison; enlisting the assistance of producers Young Yonny, The Bama Boyz, T-Minus, Arkatech Beatz and a host of other producers.

Mya lent a hand in the songwriting process; co-writing several of the mixtapes’ tracks with many different artists and songwriters and served as executive producer to the project.

The guest features on the mixtape included a then unknown female rapper Nicki Minaj, rappers Bun B, Chamillionaire, Trae, Slim Thug, Z-Ro and Shawty Lo.

The mixtape spawned two promotional singles: "Show Me Somethin'" and "Black Out." Even though both singles were released digitally on iTunes, neither of the singles were sent or serviced to radio.

On October 17, 2009, "Beauty & the Streets Vol. 1" debuted at number fifty-five on Billboard’s Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.

Mixtape Development
Prior to Mya recording the mixtape, she released her first independent album "Sugar & Spice" in 2008 in Japan which was catered more towards her Japanese fans.

"Beauty & the Streets Vol. 1" is basically an R&B/hip-hop album.

In an interview with "BrownSista", Mya elaborated more on her direction to record a mixtape:

"Well, people have actually asked me before about doing a mix tape. I stepped of the scene for a minute. Teamed up with Young Empire and there is a demand for Mýa to come back but I had to come back in a different way. Because I have a fan base and reputation for doing so many collaborations I’m like I want to do that and you know that rap dominates now so this is for the jeeps. The mix tape is really about who Mýa is and the streets. If I have anything to do with it I am going to keep serving my fans. There should never be a time for any artist where they aren’t providing for their fans just because there is funny business going on."

She later gave further details to "Rolling Out" magazine adding:

"It’s a setup to keep the streets hot until my album comes out in 2010. So this is to service my fans with music now that I’m in the position to do so."

Tracklisting

 * 1) I'm Back (Slim Thug feat. Mya) (5:03) (written by Mya Harrison, Christopher Moore & Stayve Thomas; produced by Jimmy Klev)
 * 2) About My B.I. (Shawty Lo feat. Mya) (4:39) (written by Mya Harrison, Christopher Moore, S.A. Baker & Q. Jordan; produced by Mike "Trauma" D & Jugrnaut)
 * 3) Show Me Somethin' (feat. Bun B) (4:05) (written by Mya Harrison, A. Harrison, T. Beal & B. Freeman; produced by D. Botts)
 * 4) Boss (feat. Z-Ro) (4:13) (written by Mya Harrison, T. Beal & J. McVey; produced by Big Tyme)
 * 5) Ponytail (feat. Nicki Minaj) (4:53) (written by Mya Harrison, T. Beal, Onika Maraj; produced by C. Wallace)
 * 6) $ Can't Buy Me Love (4:50) (written by Mya Harrison & Christopher Moore; produced by Black Mike)
 * 7) Control Freak (feat. Gator Mane) (5:07) (written by Mya Harrison, E. Williams & K. Piper; produced by Mr. Lee)
 * 8) Club Go Crazy (Chamillionaire feat. Mya) (3:56) (written by Mya Harrison, Christopher Moore & H. Seriki; produced by Young Yonny)
 * 9) Now or Lata (Blo Pop feat. Mya) (4:01) (written by Mya Harrison, T. Beal & Christopher Moore; produced by Cory Mo)
 * 10) Manaholic (4:51) (written by Mya Harrison, T. Beal & T. Ramsey; produced by The Bama Boyz)
 * 11) Go Hard or Go Home (5:19) (written by Mya Harrison & T. Beal; produced by R. Lee)
 * 12) Full Service (4:43) (Trae feat. Mya) (written by Mya Harrison, Christopher Moore & F. Thompson; produced by Joe Traxx)
 * 13) The Only One (4:02) (written by Mya Harrison; produced by Young Yonny)
 * 14) Work It Out (4:00) (written by Mya Harrison, T. Beal & Christopher Moore; produced by D. Botts)
 * 15) Black Out (3:27) (written by Mya Harrison & Chanell; produced by T-Minus)

Personnel

 * Mya - Composer, Engineer, Producer, Executive Producer
 * The Bama Boyz - Producer, Engineer
 * Brandon Bishop - Mixing
 * Cory Mo - Producer, Engineer, Mixing
 * Mike Dean - Mixing
 * B. Freeman - Composer
 * Tom Gardner - Engineer
 * A. Harrison - Composer
 * Aaron "Swamp" Holland - Engineer
 * R. Lee - Producer
 * J. McVey - Composer
 * Mike Mo - Engineer, Mastering, Mixing
 * Christopher Moore - Composer
 * Reverend C.L. Moore - Vocal Arrangement
 * T. Ramsey - Composer
 * S. Thomas - Composer
 * C. Nwasike - Producer
 * E. Williams - Composer