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{{Use British English|date=September 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2026}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Me Against Myself
| type = studio
| artist = [[Jay Sean]]
| cover = Jay Jean - Me Against Myself.jpg
| alt =
| released = 8 November 2004
| recorded = 2003–2004
| genre = {{hlist|[[Bhangra (music)|Bhangra]]|[[Contemporary R&B|R&B]]|}}
| length = 56:52
| label = {{hlist|[[2Point9 Records|2Point9]]|[[Relentless Records|Relentless]]|[[Virgin Records|Virgin]]}}
| producer = {{hlist|[[Rishi Rich]]|[[Jay Sean]]|Mentor|Iceman J|[[Stargate (production team)|Stargate]]|Paul Brown|Fitzgerald Scott|Peter Biker|Karsten "Delgado" Dahlgaard}}
| prev_title =
| prev_year =
| next_title = [[My Own Way (album)|My Own Way]]
| next_year = 2008
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Me Against Myself
| type = studio
| single1 = [[Dance with You (Nachna Tere Naal)|Dance with You]]
| single1date = 8 September 2003
| single2 = [[Eyes on You (Jay Sean song)|Eyes on You]]
| single2date = 21 June 2004
| single3 = [[Stolen (Jay Sean song)|Stolen]]
| single3date = 25 October 2004
}}
}}

'''''Me Against Myself''''' is the debut studio album by [[Jay Sean]], released 8 November 2004 in the United Kingdom, on [[2Point9 Records]], [[Relentless Records]], and [[Virgin Records]].<ref name=Hindu/>

==Reception==

===Commercial performance===
The album includes three [[UK Singles Chart|UK top-20]] hit singles: "[[Dance with You (Nachna Tere Naal)|Dance with You]]" (No. 12), "[[Eyes on You (Jay Sean song)|Eyes on You]]" (No. 6), and "[[Stolen (Jay Sean song)|Stolen]]" (Mo. 4). Noted for its [[Experimental music|experimental]], creative [[Fusion (music)|fusion]] of [[contemporary R&B]], [[British hip hop]] and [[Music of India|Indian music]],<ref name=BoomBox>{{cite web|title=Jay Sean Says He's a 'More Serious' Beatboxer Than Justin Timberlake|date=3 December 2009|author=Nadeska Alexis|publisher=The BoomBox|url=http://www.theboombox.com/2009/12/03/jay-sean-says-hes-a-more-serious-beatboxer-than-justin-timber|accessdate=2009-12-03}}</ref> as well as its social commentary,<ref name=Telegraph/><ref name=Yahoo/> the album was universally acclaimed by critics<ref name=Star/> and sold more than two million copies worldwide, remaining Sean's most successful album to date.<ref name=About>{{cite web|author=Bill Lamb|title=Jay Sean|publisher=[[About.com]]|url=http://top40.about.com/od/s/p/jaysean.htm|accessdate=2009-12-14|archive-date=24 September 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090924024639/http://top40.about.com/od/s/p/jaysean.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=Independent>{{cite news|title=Jay Sean: Ahead of the race|author=Nick Duerden|work=[[The Independent]]|date=6 December 2009|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/jay-sean-ahead-of-the-race-1832823.html|accessdate=2009-12-03 | location=London}}</ref><ref name=mansized>[http://www.mansized.co.uk/reviews/review.phtml/196/323/ Rishi Rich - The Project - Review] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060821194700/http://www.mansized.co.uk/reviews/review.phtml/196/323/ |date=21 August 2006 }}</ref> ''Me Against Myself'' was influential in pioneering and popularizing [[Bhangra (music)|Bhangra]]-R&B fusion music among the worldwide [[South Asia]]n diaspora.<ref name=AsianID>{{YouTube|6ZG_y_UlrZg|Jay Sean- Interview part 1/3}}</ref>

Despite initially failing to reach the top 20 on the [[UK Albums Chart]] (where it peaked at No. 29), the album gradually managed to sell 100,000 copies in the UK<ref name=Duerden/> and went on to become a substantial hit in Asia. "Dance with You" and "One Night" were included on the soundtracks for the [[Bollywood]] films ''[[Boom (2003 film)|Boom]]'' (2003) and ''[[Kyaa Kool Hai Hum]]'' (2005), with Sean making an appearance in the latter, while the Bollywood actress [[Bipasha Basu]] made an appearance in the music video for the song "Stolen".<ref name=Hindu>{{cite web|title=Brit sound, desi flavour|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=23 February 2005|url=http://www.hindu.com/mp/2005/02/23/stories/2005022300480200.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050224132946/http://www.hindu.com/mp/2005/02/23/stories/2005022300480200.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=24 February 2005|accessdate=2009-12-08}}</ref> This helped ''Me Against Myself'' sell over two million copies<ref name=Independent/><ref name=mansized/> and become five-times platinum in [[India]].<ref name=billboard>[http://www.billboard.com/articles/review/1071086/jay-sean-featuring-lil-wayne-down Jay Sean Featuring Lil Wayne, "Down" - Preview], ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]''</ref> Beyond India, the album sold over 300,000 copies across other parts of the world,<ref name=Amazon>{{cite web|title=All or Nothing: Jay Sean|website=Amazon |url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002SEW5Y0|accessdate=2009-11-18}}</ref> including [[Europe]], the [[Middle East]], [[Southeast Asia]],<ref>{{cite web|title=Jay Sean Says He's a 'More Serious' Beatboxer Than Justin Timberlake|date=3 December 2009|author=Nadeska Alexis|publisher=The BoomBox|url=http://www.theboombox.com/2009/12/03/jay-sean-says-hes-a-more-serious-beatboxer-than-justin-timber|accessdate=2009-12-08}}</ref> and [[Hong Kong]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Jay Sean: Bad boy turned good|work=[[Belfast Telegraph]]|date=22 January 2008|url=http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/music/news/jay-sean-bad-boy-turned-good-13378016.html|accessdate=2009-12-08}}</ref> His performance of tracks from ''Me Against Myself'' on [[MTV Asia]] (alongside the [[Rishi Rich Project]]) had a television audience as large as 165 million viewers.<ref name=Star>{{cite web|date=15 October 2007|title=Smooth R&B|author=Jason Cheah|work=[[The Star (Malaysia)|The Star]]|url=http://www.star-ecentral.com/news/story.asp?file=/2007/10/15/music/19148271&sec=music|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071015070229/http://www.star-ecentral.com/news/story.asp?file=%2F2007%2F10%2F15%2Fmusic%2F19148271&sec=music|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 October 2007|accessdate=2009-12-08}}</ref> The album helped establish Sean as a major recognized artist across Asia and among the worldwide [[Desi]] diaspora.

===Critical response===
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = [[AllMusic]]
| rev1score = {{rating|3.5|5}}<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/me-against-myself-mw0000470681 | title=Jay Sean - Me Against Myself | publisher=[[AllMusic]] | accessdate=30 August 2012 | first=Jon | last=O'Brien}}</ref>
| rev2 = ''[[The Guardian]]''
| rev2score = {{Rating|3|5}}<ref name=Guardian/>
| rev3 = ''[[Liverpool Daily Post]]''
| rev3score = {{Rating|3|4}}<ref name=Liverpool/>
| rev4 = [[Yahoo! Music]]
| rev4score = {{Rating|8|10}}<ref name=Yahoo/>
| rev5 = ''[[Zambia Post]]''
| rev5score = {{Rating|8|10}}<ref name=Post/>
}}

''Me Against Myself'' was universally acclaimed by critics across the world, particularly for its [[Experimental music|experimental]], creative [[Fusion (music)|fusion]]<ref name=BoomBox/> of [[contemporary R&B]], [[hip hop music]] (including [[Old-school hip-hop|old-school]] and [[British hip hop]])<ref>{{cite web|title=Jay Sean: 'Ride It'|date=21 January 2008|author=Alex Fletcher|publisher=[[Digital Spy]]|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/singlesreviews/a87316/jay-sean-ride-it.html|accessdate=2009-12-08}}</ref> and [[Music of India|Indian music]] (including [[Bhangra (music)|Bhangra]] and [[Bollywood songs|Bollywood music]]), as well as its social commentary. In the UK, Dan Gennoe of [[Yahoo! Music]] gave the album 8 out of 10 stars, referring to ''Me Against Myself'' as "an album of phenomenally accomplished R&B" and "an album of indisputable quality." He praised the [[Music of Asia|Asian musical]] influence, social commentary, and "well adjusted sense of humour", particularly the "hysterical crisis of integrity" shown in the title track "Me Against Myself" where "rapper Sean mercilessly derides his “pansy” singing [[alter ego]]".<ref name="Yahoo">{{cite web |author=Dan Gennoe |date=8 November 2004 |title=Jay Sean - Me Against Myself |url=http://uk.launch.yahoo.com/041108/33/1x9ys.html |url-status=dead |publisher=[[Yahoo! Music]] |accessdate=2009-12-05 |archive-date=9 May 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060509011820/http://uk.launch.yahoo.com/041108/33/1x9ys.html }}</ref> Antony Hatfield of [[BBC Music]] praised the album, stating that it "is of major league significance" and, with "influences that enter from all angles," it is "an album by gifted people with a vision beyond boundaries and a simple devotion to music." In particular, he also praised the title track "Me Against Myself", where Sean's singer and rapper personae go into [[Rap battle|battle]], for its honesty and self-awareness.<ref name=BBC>{{cite web|author=Antony Hatfield|title=Me Against Myself Review|publisher=[[BBC Music]]|date=2004-11-08|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/8nzf/|access-date=2009-12-05}}</ref>

Tareck Ghoneim of [[Contactmusic.com]] also praised the album, referring to Sean as an "[[British Asian|Asian]] sensation" who is breaking barriers "making [[Pop music|pop songs]] that include sounds from Sean’s cultural background and with potential mass appeal." He stated that the "album is progressive in that it shows a fusion of Asian sounds with r’n’b and pop music."<ref name=Contactmusic>{{cite web|author=Tareck Ghoneim|title=Jay Sean - Me Against Myself - Album Review|publisher=[[Contactmusic.com]]|year=2004|url=http://www.contactmusic.com/new/home.nsf/webpages/jayseanx22x11x04|accessdate=2009-12-05}}</ref> Caroline Sullivan of ''[[The Guardian]]'' gave the album 3 out of 5 stars, praising "the Bollysoul arrangements that underscore his vocals", in reference to the fusion of Bollywood and [[soul music]], especially in the song "Stolen".<ref name=Guardian>{{cite news|title=Jay Sean, Me Against Myself (Relentless)|author=Caroline Sullivan|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=5 November 2004|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2004/nov/05/popandrock.shopping10|accessdate=2009-12-06 | location=London}}</ref> The ''[[Liverpool Daily Post]]'' gave the album a score of 3 out of 4 stars.<ref name=Liverpool>{{cite web|title=CD review|work=[[Liverpool Daily Post]]|date=5 November 2004|url=https://www.questia.com/read/1G1-124153082|accessdate=2009-12-08}}{{Dead link|date=March 2026 |bot=InternetArchiveBot }}</ref> Peter Culshaw of ''[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]'' referred to the album as "highly accomplished R&B, with minor Indian musical elements", but considered the best tracks in the album to be the hip hop tracks "You Don't Know Me" and "Me Against Myself" for their social commentary which deal with Sean's inner conflicts and the difficulties in "trying to make it as an Asian in the hip-hop arena." Culshaw praised Sean's talent and stated that, "currently attracting the attention of demi-god producer [[Timbaland]], it will be fascinating to see how Sean resolves his musical [[schizophrenia]]."<ref name=Telegraph>{{cite news|author=Peter Culshaw|title=Pop CDs of the week: Eminem, Destiny's Child, Jay Sean, Pavement|date=15 November 2004|work=[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/music/cdreviews/3631877/Pop-CDs-of-the-week-Eminem-Destinys-Child-Jay-Sean-Pavement.html|accessdate=2009-12-06 | location=London}}</ref>

The album received similarly positive reviews in Asia, where its British-Asian fusion sounds were also seen as a novelty. In India, A. Vishnu of ''[[The Hindu]]'' stated that, "After having kick-started the `British sound with an Indian flavour' concept, Sean has created a cutting-edge formula, which appeals to Hip-hop fans and Bhangra enthusiasts alike." He concluded that the "album previews the future of Brit-Bhangra music, which sure is here to stay. It's time to take Bhangra to the next level."<ref name=Hindu/> ''[[The Statesman (India)|The Statesman]]'' stated, "A mixture of R & B, hip hop and rap, it has [[desi]] flavours as well. With bhangra influences in the background, this album is one of the most popular UK Asian crossover offerings till date."<ref name=Statesman>{{cite web|title=Jay Sean: Me Against Myself|work=[[The Statesman (India)|The Statesman]]|date=25 March 2005|url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-19223534_ITM|accessdate=2009-12-08}}</ref> In Malaysia, Kiren Kaur of ''[[New Straits Times]]'' also praised the album, referring to the songs "Eyes On You" and "Dance With You" in particular as "dance-floor favourites with the fusion of Desi rhythms with R&B tones."<ref name="Kaur">{{cite web |author=Kiren Kaur |date=9 January 2005 |title=Danceable Jay |url=http://www.accessmylibrary.com/coms2/summary_0286-18530665_ITM |accessdate=2009-12-08 |work=[[New Straits Times]]}}</ref> In the African country of [[Zambia]], Candice Soobramoney of the ''[[Zambia Post]]'' gave the album a rating of 8/10.<ref name=Post>{{cite web|title=Good food and fast horses|author=Candice Soobramoney|work=[[Zambia Post]]|date=29 June 2005|url=http://www.thepost.co.za/index.php?fSectionId=738&fArticleId=2603680|accessdate=2009-12-08}}</ref>

The creativity and experimentalism of his debut album ''Me Against Myself'' later became a point of criticism towards Sean's more mainstream follow-up albums, ''[[My Own Way (album)|My Own Way]]'' (2008) and ''[[All or Nothing (Jay Sean album)|All or Nothing]]'' (2009), for lacking the experimental British-Asian fusion sounds (alongside [[Rishi Rich]]) and the social commentary that had characterized his debut album ''Me Against Myself'', in favour of mainstream American-influenced R&B pop music in his later albums.<ref>{{cite web|author=Mike Diver|title=Jay Sean All or Nothing Review|publisher=[[BBC]]|date=2009-12-04|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/reviews/5zfd/|access-date=2009-12-05}}</ref><ref name=Batey/> In his review of ''My Own Way'', Angus Batey of ''The Guardian'' stated that Sean "has lost - not for ever, one hopes - the stuff that made him stand out" in ''Me Against Myself''.<ref name=Batey>{{cite news|author=Angus Batey|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2008/apr/25/urban|title=Jay Sean, My Own Way|work=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=2009-12-08 | location=London | date=2008-04-25}}</ref> Sean later responded that the reason he gave up on the Indian-R&B fusion music that he helped popularize is because it had eventually become too common in [[Asian Underground]] and [[Indian pop]] music.<ref name=AsianID/>

==Track listing==
{{Track listing
| headline = ''Me Against Myself'' track listing
| extra_column = Producer(s)
| title1 = Intro
| note1 = Balcony skit
| extra1 = Jay Sean, [[Rishi Rich]]
| length1 = 0:59
| title2 = [[Eyes on You (Jay Sean song)|Eyes on You]]
| extra2 = Rishi Rich, [[Stargate (production team)|StarGate]]
| length2 = 3:11
| title3 = One Night
| extra3 = Rishi Rich
| length3 = 4:08
| title4 = Don't Rush
| extra4 = Rishi Rich
| length4 = 3:49
| title5 = On & On
| extra5 = Peter Biker, Karsten "Delgado" Dahlgaard
| length5 = 3:39
| title6 = [[Stolen (Jay Sean song)|Stolen]]
| extra6 = StarGate, Rishi Rich
| length6 = 4:04
| title7 = Come with Me
| extra7 = Paul Brown, Rishi Rich
| length7 = 4:11
| title8 = Holding On
| extra8 = Rishi Rich
| length8 = 4:37
| title9 = Interlude
| note9 = Irony skit
| extra9 = Jay Sean, Mentor
| length9 = 1:01
| title10 = [[Dance with You (Nachna Tere Naal)|Dance with You]]
| note10 = featuring [[Rishi Rich]] and [[Juggy D]]
| extra10 = Iceman J, Rishi Rich
| length10 = 2:56
| title11 = Man's World ([[Taal (film)#Soundtrack|Ramta Jogi]])
| extra11 = Paul Brown, Rishi Rich, [[A. R. Rahman]]
| length11 = 3:44
| title12 = I Believe in You
| extra12 = Fitzgerald Scott
| length12 = 3:23
| title13 = One Minute
| extra13 = Jay Sean, Rishi Rich
| length13 = 4:04
| title14 = Meri Jaan
| note14 = featuring Juggy D
| extra14 = Rishi Rich
| length14 = 3:11
| title15 = Me Against Myself
| extra15 = Jay Sean, Mentor
| length15 = 3:11
| title16 = You Don't Know Me
| note16 = hidden track
| extra16 = Jay Sean, Rishi Rich
| length16 = 3:00
| title17 = Who Is Kamaljit
| note17 = hidden track
| extra17 = Jay Sean, Mentor
| length17 = 3:44
| total_length = 56:52
}}

==Music videos==
*{{YouTube|NNJNlhfLr6A|Dance With You}}
*{{YouTube|LjCpoDdTJ1g|Eyes On You}}
*{{YouTube|QWD9LWrYyIo|Stolen}}
*{{YouTube|3xsy-dnfpaA|One Night}}
*{{YouTube|MrEAsH8AJBc|Me Against Myself}}

==Charts and certifications==
{|class="wikitable"
|+Chart performance and certifications for "Me Against Myself"
!align="left"|Country
!align="left"|Providers
!align="left"|Peak<br/>position
!align="left"|Certification
!align="left"|Shipments/Sales
|-
|align="left"|[[UK Albums Chart|United Kingdom]]
|align="left"|[[The Official UK Charts Company]]
|align="center"|29
|align="left"|Gold<ref>[http://www.bpi.co.uk/certifiedawards/search.aspx BPI certification search engine] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090924015932/http://www.bpi.co.uk/certifiedawards/search.aspx |date=24 September 2009 }}</ref>
|align="left"|100,000<ref name=Duerden>{{cite news|title=Jay Sean: Ahead of the race|author=Nick Duerden|work=[[The Independent]]|date=6 December 2009|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/jay-sean-ahead-of-the-race-1832823.html|accessdate=2009-12-06 | location=London}}</ref>
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Jay Sean}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:2004 debut albums]]
[[Category:Albums produced by Stargate]]
[[Category:Jay Sean albums]]

Me Against Myself - Revision history

StephanieCrowthe: created article