The Id

Studio album by

Released

September 17, 2001

Studio

Paramount, Hollywood
Record Plant, Hollywood
The Studio, Philadelphia
Remote Recording Services, Philadelphia
Aragon Ballroom, Chicago

Genre

Length

56:25

Label

Epic

Producer

Macy Gray chronology

On How Life Is
(1999)

The Id
(2001)

The Trouble with Being Myself
(2003)

Singles from The Id

"Sweet Baby"
Released: September 3, 2001
"Sexual Revolution"
Released: November 26, 2001

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	71/100^[1]
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[2]
Blender	^[3]
Chicago Sun-Times	^[4]
Entertainment Weekly	B^[5]
The Guardian	^[6]
Los Angeles Times	^[7]
NME	^[8]
Q	^[9]
Rolling Stone	^[10]
Spin	8/10^[11]

The Id is the second studio album by American singer and songwriter Macy Gray. It was released on September 17, 2001, by Epic Records. The album was not as commercially successful as its predecessor, On How Life Is, in the United States, where it debuted at number 11 on the Billboard 200 with 93,000 copies sold in its first week.^[12] As of January 2004, it had sold 593,000 copies in the US.^[13] Elsewhere, The Id topped the charts in the United Kingdom and Denmark, while reaching the top five in Australia, Italy, and Switzerland.

The Tom Morello mix of "My Nutmeg Phantasy" was included on the soundtrack to the 2002 film Spider-Man, and "Relating to a Psychopath" was featured in the 2002 Disney Channel Original Movie Cadet Kelly.

Track listing

No.	Title	Lyrics	Music	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Relating to a Psychopath"	Macy Gray	Jeremy Ruzumna Darryl Swann Dave Wilder	Swann Gray	4:48
2.	"Boo"	Gray	Swann Ruzumna Wilder Victor Indrizzo Zac Rae	Swann Gray	4:25
3.	"Sexual Revolution"	Gray	Ruzumna Wilder Swann	Swann Gray	4:45
4.	"Hey Young World Part 2" (featuring Slick Rick)	Ricky Walters	Walters	Swann Gray Kiilu Grand^[a] Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson^[b]	4:03
5.	"Sweet Baby" (featuring Erykah Badu)	Gray	Joe Solo	Swann Gray	3:49
6.	"Harry"	Gray	Gray	Swann Gray	3:10
7.	"Gimme All Your Lovin' or I Will Kill You"	Gray	Rita Marley Arik Marshall Ruzumna Swann	Swann Gray	4:45
8.	"Don't Come Around" (featuring Sunshine Anderson)	Gray	Ruzumna	Swann Gray Raphael Saadiq^[a]	4:37
9.	"My Nutmeg Phantasy" (featuring Angie Stone and Mos Def)	Gray Lonnie Marshall	Marshall Keith Ciancia Tom Ralls Finn Hammer Swann	Swann Gray	4:55
10.	"Freak Like Me"	Gray	Eric Hord Gary Zekley Swann	Swann Gray	3:38
11.	"Oblivion"	Gray	Brian Lester	Swann Gray	2:49
12.	"Forgiveness"	Gray	Swann Hoyt Axton	Swann Gray	5:17
13.	"Blowin' Up Your Speakers"		Gray Swann	Swann Gray	1:07
14.	"Shed" (hidden track)	Gray	Gray Swann Ruzumna	Swann Gray	4:17

Notes

^{^a} signifies a co-producer
^{^b} signifies an additional producer

Sample credits

"Hey Young World Part 2" contains elements of "Ms. Fat Booty 2" by Mos Def featuring Ghostface Killah.
"Gimme All Your Lovin' or I Will Kill You" contains an interpolation of "Jah Jah Don't Want" by Rita Marley.
"Freak Like Me" embodies portions of "Tell Me Who You Love" by Chris Knight and Maureen McCormick.
"Forgiveness" contains elements of "Never Been to Spain" by Three Dog Night.

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of The Id.^[14]

Musicians

Macy Gray – vocals (tracks 1–12, 14); vocal arrangement (tracks 1–4, 6, 8–11); background vocals (tracks 1, 2)
Victor Indrizzo – drums (tracks 1, 2, 5, 9–13); additional drums (track 6)
Marina Bambino – percussion (tracks 1, 3, 5); background vocals (tracks 1, 8)
Davey Chegwidden – percussion (tracks 1, 6)
Dave Wilder – bass (tracks 1, 4–7)
Jinsoo Lim – guitar (tracks 1, 3, 4, 9, 10)
Darryl Swann – guitar (tracks 1, 7, 9); vocal arrangement (tracks 2–4, 6, 8, 9, 11); acoustic guitar (tracks 2, 10, 12, 13); string arrangement (track 4); skit (track 7); background vocals (tracks 9, 11); percussion (tracks 12, 13); programming (all tracks)
Jeremy Ruzumna – Moog (tracks 1, 3); clav, tack piano (track 1); organ (tracks 1, 5–7, 10, 12, 13); piano (tracks 4, 8, 10); synths, skit (track 7); whirly (track 9)
Zac Rae – Chamberlin (tracks 1, 2, 4–7, 12, 13); Casio (tracks 1, 2); Stylophone (track 1); Rhodes (track 2); guitar (track 4); piano (tracks 4, 5, 9, 10, 12, 13); organ (track 6); Moog (track 9); whirly, synths (track 10); clarinet, Wurlitzer, orchestration (tracks 12, 13)
Stephanie Alexander – background vocals (tracks 1–3, 6, 8, 11)
Dawn Beckman – background vocals (tracks 1, 3, 6–11); skit (track 7); vocal arrangement (track 10)
Sy Smith – background vocals (tracks 1–3, 6–9); vocal arrangement (track 7)
Ericka Yancey – background vocals (tracks 1, 3)
Mike Elizondo – bass (tracks 2, 3, 8, 10–13)
Arik Marshall – guitar (tracks 2, 3, 6, 7, 12); lead guitar (track 13)
Lejon Walker – background vocals (tracks 2, 9)
Latina Webb – background vocals (track 2)
Lili Haydn – string arrangement, strings (track 3)
Printz Board – horn arrangement (tracks 3, 7–9); background vocals (track 3); trumpet (tracks 3, 7–9, 12, 13)
Steve Baxter – trombone (tracks 3, 7–9); background vocals (track 3)
Tim "Izo" Orindgreff – saxophone (tracks 3, 7, 9); background vocals (track 3); clarinet (tracks 6, 9); flute (tracks 7, 8)
Issiah Avila – drums (track 3); additional drums (track 6)
Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson – percussion (tracks 3, 4, 6–13); drums (tracks 4, 6, 8)
Jane Lopez – background vocals (track 3)
Slick Rick – guest vocals (track 4)
Kiilu Grand – turntables (tracks 4, 6, 9, 12, 13)
Herb Graham Jr. – additional drums (tracks 4, 6)
Aanisah Hinds – kids choir (track 4)
Mel Hinds – kids choir (track 4)
Kaya Tafari Joseph – kids choir (track 4)
Sequoia Reyes – kids choir (track 4)
Shawki Jibri – kids choir (track 4)
Darice Murphy – kids choir (track 4)
Ronesha Davis – kids choir (track 4)
Tyler Beckwith – kids choir (track 4)
Paloma Elsesser – kids choir (track 4)
Sunnie Shawn – kids choir (track 4)
Erykah Badu – guest vocals, vocal arrangement (track 5)
Charles Veal Jr. – string arrangement (tracks 5, 8)
John Frusciante – guitar (track 5)
Billy Preston – organ (tracks 5, 8, 9); clav (track 9)
Darren Johnson – Rhodes (track 5)
Keefus Ciancia – Farfisa (track 5); whirly (tracks 7, 9); Moog, synths (track 7); Kurzweil (track 9)
Rick Rubin – vocal arrangement (track 5)
Frank Walker – percussion (tracks 6, 10–13)
Dustin Boyer – guitar (track 6)
Tim Carmon – organ (track 6)
Fannie Franklin – background vocals (tracks 6, 7, 9, 11)
Audra Cunningham Nishita – background vocals (tracks 6, 7, 9, 11); skit (track 7)
Pamela Williams – background vocals (tracks 7, 9)
Sunshine Anderson – guest vocals (track 8)
Raphael Saadiq – string arrangement, guitar (track 8)
James Wooten – organ (track 8)
Angie Stone – guest vocals (track 9)
Mos Def – guest vocals (track 9)
Dion Murdock – additional drums (track 9)
Lonnie "Meganut" Marshall – bass (track 9)
Gabby Lang – sitar (track 9)
Marc Cross – background vocals (track 9)
Brian J. Durack – pipe organ (track 11)
Thom Russo – background vocals (track 11)
Tom Ralls – trombone (tracks 12, 13)
Tracy Wannamoe – bass clarinet (tracks 12, 13)

Technical

Kiilu Grand – co-production (track 4)
Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson – additional production, mixing (track 4)
Raphael Saadiq – co-production (track 8)
Thom Russo – additional mixing (track 11); Pro Tools engineering, additional engineering (all tracks)
Darryl Swann – production, engineering
Macy Gray – production, executive production
Rick Rubin – executive production
Dave Way – mixing
Vlado Meller – mastering
Tim LeBlanc – mix assistance, additional engineering
Jay Goin – mix assistance, second engineer
Rich Veltrop – mix assistance
Anthony Kilhoffer – mix assistance
Robert Read – mix assistance
Allissa Myhowich – mix assistance
Mike Melnick – additional engineering
Adam Olmstead – additional engineering
Jeff Chestek – additional engineering
Phil Gitomer – additional engineering, second engineer
Sean McClintock – additional engineering, second engineer
John Myers – additional engineering
Neil Ward – second engineer
Kristof Zizka – second engineer
Ricky Chao – second engineer
Steve Kadison – mastering assistance
Jim Goodwin – additional Pro Tools

Artwork

Helmut Newton – photography
Adam Owett – executive creative direction
Hooshik – art direction, design
Kristian Russell – illustration

Charts

Weekly charts[edit]

Chart (2001)	Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA)^[15]	3
Australian Urban Albums (ARIA)^[16]	1
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)^[17]	7
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)^[18]	8
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)^[19]	7
Canadian Albums (Billboard)^[20]	6
Canadian R&B Albums (Nielsen SoundScan)^[21]	6
Danish Albums (Hitlisten)^[22]	1
European Albums (Music & Media)^[23]	2
Finnish Albums (Suomen virallinen lista)^[24]	8
French Albums (SNEP)^[25]	25
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)^[26]	10
Irish Albums (IRMA)^[27]	7
Italian Albums (FIMI)^[28]	4
Japanese Albums (Oricon)^[29]	34
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)^[30]	7
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)^[31]	8
Polish Albums (ZPAV)^[32]	7
Scottish Albums (OCC)^[33]	1
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)^[34]	14
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)^[35]	4
UK Albums (OCC)^[36]	1
UK R&B Albums (OCC)^[37]	1
US Billboard 200^[38]	11
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)^[39]	9

Chart (2003)	Peak position
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)^[40]	13

Year-end charts[edit]

Year-end chart performance for *The Id*
Chart (2001)	Position
Australian Albums (ARIA)^[41]	77
Canadian Albums (Nielsen SoundScan)^[42]	124
Canadian R&B Albums (Nielsen SoundScan)^[43]	30
Danish Albums (Hitlisten)^[44]	91
European Albums (Music & Media)^[45]	54
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)^[46]	64
UK Albums (OCC)^[47]	123

Chart (2002)	Position
Canadian R&B Albums (Nielsen SoundScan)^[48]	124

Certifications


Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)^[49]	Gold	35,000^{^}
Canada (Music Canada)^[50]	Platinum	100,000^{^}
New Zealand (RMNZ)^[51]	Gold	7,500^{^}
Switzerland (IFPI Switzerland)^[52]	Gold	20,000^{^}
United Kingdom (BPI)^[53]	Gold	100,000^{^}
United States (RIAA)^[54]	Gold	593,000^[13]
^{^} Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Region	Date	Label	Ref.
Germany	September 17, 2001	Sony	^[55]
United States	September 18, 2001	Epic	^[56]
Japan	September 19, 2001	Sony	^[57]

References

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^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "The Id – Macy Gray". AllMusic. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
^ Himmelsbach, Erik (October–November 2001). "Macy Gray: The Id". Blender. No. 3. p. 104. ISSN 1534-0554. Archived from the original on August 20, 2004. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
^ DeRogatis, Jim (September 9, 2001). "Macy Gray, 'The Id' (Epic)". Chicago Sun-Times. Archived from the original on November 19, 2018. Retrieved June 21, 2017 – via HighBeam Research.
^ Browne, David (September 14, 2001). "The Id". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved December 7, 2018.
^ Petridis, Alexis (September 14, 2001). "Macy Gray: The Id (Epic)". The Guardian. Retrieved June 21, 2017.
^ Hilburn, Robert (September 16, 2001). "Macy Gray 'The Id' Epic". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 9, 2019.
^ Needham, Alex (September 11, 2001). "Macy Gray : The Id". NME. Archived from the original on July 23, 2015. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
^ "Macy Gray: The Id". Q. No. 182. October 2001. p. 127. ISSN 0955-4955.
^ Touré (September 4, 2001). "Macy Gray: The ID". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on December 5, 2008. Retrieved February 2, 2007.
^ Weisbard, Eric (October 2001). "Dirty Mind: Macy Gray takes you higher". Spin. Vol. 17, no. 10. pp. 123–4. ISSN 0886-3032. Retrieved July 23, 2015 – via Google Books.
^ Martens, Todd (September 27, 2001). "Jay-Z's 'Blueprint' Enters Second Week At No. 1". Billboard. Retrieved March 21, 2013.
^ ^a ^b Benson, John (January 26, 2004). "Macy Gray Perseveres Despite Shrinking Sales". Billboard. Retrieved July 23, 2015 – via Zee News.
^ The Id (liner notes). Macy Gray. Epic Records. 2001. EK 85200.((cite AV media notes)): CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
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v t e Macy Gray
Discography
Studio albums	On How Life Is The Id The Trouble with Being Myself Big The Sellout Covered Talking Book The Way Stripped Ruby
Other albums	The Very Best of Macy Gray Live in Las Vegas
Singles	"Do Something" "I Try" "Still" "Why Didn't You Call Me" "Sweet Baby" "Sexual Revolution" "When I See You" "Love Is Gonna Get You" "Finally Made Me Happy" "Shoo Be Doo" "Beauty in the World" "Kissed It" "Lately"
Featured singles	"Demons" "Geto Heaven Remix T.S.O.I. (The Sound of Illadelph)" "Request + Line" "Can't Hold Back"