21... Ways to Grow

21... Ways to Grow is the third studio album by American R&B singer Shanice. It was released by Motown Records on June 21, 1994, in the United States. Less successful than her 1991 album Inner Child, it peaked at number 46 on the US Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums and at number 184 on the US Billboard 200. It includes the minor hit singles "Somewhere" and "Turn Down the Lights".^[2]

21... Ways to Grow
Studio album by Shanice
Released	June 21, 1994
Studio	Aire L.A., (Glendale, California) Banana Boat Recording Studio, B and B, Bosstown Recording Studios, D.A.R.P. Doppler Studios, Kross Wire Studio (Atlanta) Flyte Tyme Productions (Edina, Minnesota) Larrabee Sound Studios, Paramount Studios, The Enterprise, Winsonic Process (Los Angeles)
Length	51:08
Label	Motown
Producer	Lance Alexander Bo & McArthur Jermaine Dupri Kiyamma Griffin Krystal Penni Entertainment Ike Lee III Bryan Loren Prof T. Guy Roche Daryl Simmons Chris Stokes Tim & Bob Colin Wolfe
Shanice chronology
Inner Child (1991) 21... Ways to Grow (1994) Shanice (1999)
Singles from 21... Ways to Grow
"Somewhere" Released: May 17, 1994 "Turn Down the Lights" Released: July 26, 1994 "I Like" Released: August 1, 1994[1] "I Wish" Released: August 21, 1994

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[3]
Los Angeles Times	[4]
Vibe	(negative)[5]

Jean Rosenbluth of the Los Angeles Times wrote that: "On this coming-of-age album, the veteran recording artist celebrates adulthood with her most mature effort yet, a cohesive collection of playful hip-hop, come-hither power ballads and aggressive funk."^[4] Vibe contributor Jeremy Helligar commended Shanice's "versatile and finely nuanced" voice and being more involved in the album's production, but felt it lacked cohesiveness when going for numerous R&B demographics, concluding that: "Sure, Shanice wears all these hats well, especially that funky, funky chapeau on "I Like." But she'll have to streamline her scope to compete with the big girls.^[5]

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Ways to Grow (Intro)"	Shanice Wilson Ronnie Hasley Penni Wilson	Krystal Penni	0:37
2.	"I Care (Interlude)"	Tim Kelley Bob Robinson	Tim & Bob	0:46
3.	"Don't Break My Heart"	Daryl Simmons	Simmons	4:24
4.	"Turn Down the Lights"	Bo Watson McArthur Babyface	Bo & McArthur	4:31
5.	"Somewhere"	Wilson Kiyamma Griffin Ike Lee Christopher Williams	Griffin Lee Williams Shanice[a] Crystal Wilson[a]	4:13
6.	"Ace Boon Coon"	Wilson Jermaine Dupri Manuel Seal	Dupri Seal	3:32
7.	"I Like"	Wilson Chris Stokes	Stokes	4:49
8.	"Give Me the Love I Need"	Wilson Stokes	Stokes	4:21
9.	"I'll Be There"	Kelley Robinson	Tim & Bob	5:00
10.	"I Wish"	Lance Alexander Tony Tolbert	Alexander Prof T.	5:56
11.	"When I Say That I Love You"	Bryan Loren Dianne Quander	Loren	3:57
12.	"I Want to Give It to You"	Wilson Colin Wolfe	Wolfe	3:59
13.	"Never Changing Love"	Diane Warren	Guy Roche Shanice	4:16

Japan bonus track(s)

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
14.	"Needing Me"	Wilson Griffin Lee	Griffin Lee Williams Shanice[a] Wilson[a]	4:01
15.	"Jesus Loves Me"	Anna Bartlett Warner William Batchelder Bradbury		0:51
16.	"It's for You"	Wilson Eric Kirkland Michael Angelo Saulsberry	Kirkland Saulsberry	4:05

Notes

• ^{^[a]} denotes a co-producer

Charts

Chart (1994)	Peak position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[6]	150
US Billboard 200[7]	184
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[8]	46