This Is How I Feel

This Is How I Feel
This Is How I Feel
Studio album by Tank
Released	May 8, 2012
Length	39:55
Label	Atlantic
Producers	The Composer; Danja; Patrick Hayes; Eric Hudson; Invisible; J-Kits; Kevin McCall; Rex Rideout; T-Minus; Tank; Troy Taylor; Christopher Umana;
Tank chronology
Singles from This Is How I Feel
	"Compliments"; Released: October 17, 2011; "Next Breath"; Released: January 3, 2012;

This is How I Feel is the fifth studio album by American singer Tank. It was released by Atlantic Records on May 8, 2012.^[1] The album was created as a more personal and spontaneous project, with Tank focusing on expressing his emotions, life experiences, and artistic freedom rather than following a specific concept. The project allowed him to explore different sounds while remaining rooted in R&B, creating music without being limited by outside expectations. The album features contributions from producers and collaborators including Danja, Eric Hudson, Kevin McCall, T-Minus, and Troy Taylor.

The album received mixed reviews, with critics praising Tank’s vocals and polished production while criticizing its predictable themes and lack of originality. This is How I Feel debuted at number nine on the US Billboard 200 with 33,000 first-week sales and topped the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, becoming Tank's third number-one R&B album after Force of Nature (2001) and Sex, Love & Pain (2007). The album was supported by two singles, including lead single "Compliments" featuring Kris Stephens and T.I., and follow-up "Next Breath," which topped the Adult R&B Songs chart.

Background

Following the success of Now or Never (2010), Tank prepared his fifth studio album, This Is How I Feel, as a more personal and spontaneous project.^[2] In an interview with YouKnowIGotSou, Tank explained that the album was not built around a specific concept but instead focused on capturing his emotions and experiences in the moment.^[2] He described the project as an opportunity to create music without worrying about expectations, allowing him to explore different sounds while staying rooted in R&B.^[2]

Singles

This Is How I Feel was preceded by two singles. The album’s lead single, "Compliments," was released on October 17, 2011, featuring Kris Stephens and a guest verse from T.I. on the album version.^[3] It peaked at number 75 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and reached number 20 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The second single, "Next Breath," was released on January 3, 2012, and achieved greater success on R&B charts, reaching number one on the Adult R&B Songs chart and number 27 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart, becoming his second chart topper on the adult contemporary chart.^[4]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	^[5]
PopMatters	^[6]

David Jeffries of AllMusic wrote that "Long a cross between Brian McKnight and R. Kelly, R&B's smooth – but chiseled – operator Tank tips the scales toward the [Kelly] side on his 2012 release, filling the album with dreamy, lush productions and 'adults-only' lyrics that sometimes reach the level of 'shameful adults only'."^[5] PopMatters editor David Amidon found that This Is How I Feel "clocks in as Tank’s shortest project yet at just ten tracks and 40 minutes, but somehow it still manages to be something of a trial to get through [...] If you’re just an unabashed fan of male R&B vocals, or the sight of Tank’s pecs on the cover has some sort of brainwashing effect on you, This Is How I Feel might be worth a few cursory spins on Spotify or what have you, but otherwise this is a release that will come and go with very little fanfare."^[6] Writing for The Washington Post, Allison Stewart viewed the project as a technically polished but overly familiar R&B album. She praised Tank's vocal talent and ability as a ballad singer but criticized the record for lacking a unique artistic identity, relying too heavily on predictable relationship themes, and using excessive production effects.^[7]

Commercial performance

This Is How I Feel debuted at number nine on the US Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 33,000 copies,^[8] becoming the second top-ten album of Tank's career.^[9] It also debuted at number one on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, marking his third album to top the chart following Force of Nature (2001) and Sex, Love & Pain (2007).^[10]

Track listing

*This Is How I Feel* – Physical edition
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"Lonely" (featuring Chris Brown)	Durrell Babbs Brown Cedric Hailey Donald DeGrate Floyd Bentley Lonny Bereal James Smith Kristina Stephens Melvin Monroe Vincent Watson	Invisible	4:54
2.	"Your One"	Babbs Jerren "J-Kits" Spruill Troy Taylor	J-Kits Taylor	3:47
3.	"Compliments" (featuring Kris Stephens & T.I.)	Babbs Clifford Harris Stephens	T-Minus	4:12
4.	"Don't Give Up"	Babbs	Tank The Composer	3:28
5.	"Nowhere" (featuring Busta Rhymes)	Babbs Bentley Bereal Smith Monroe	Tank	3:31
6.	"Off Your Hands"	Babbs Kevin McCall	McCall	3:37
7.	"This Is How I Feel"	Babbs Stephens Luke Boyd Marcella Araica Nate Hills	Danja	4:16
8.	"Next Breath"	Babbs Christopher Umana McCall Micah Powell Sammie Bush	Tank The Composer Christopher "C4" Umana Rex Rideout	3:30
9.	"Better Than Me"	Babbs Eric Hudson	Tank Hudson	3:53
10.	"Lost It All"	Babbs Patrick Hayes Taylor	Hayes Taylor	4:42

*This Is How I Feel* – Digital edition
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"How I Feel (Intro)"	Babbs	Tank	2:10
2.	"Lonely" (featuring Chris Brown)	Babbs Brown Hailey DeGrate Bentley Bereal Smith Stephens Monroe Watson	Invisible	4:54
3.	"Your One"	Babbs Spruill Taylor	J-Kits Taylor	3:47
4.	"Compliments (Interlude)"	Babbs	Tank	1:27
5.	"Compliments" (featuring Kris Stephens & T.I.)	Babbs Harris Stephens	T-Minus	4:12
6.	"Don't Give Up"	Babbs	Tank The Composer	3:28
7.	"Nowhere" (featuring Busta Rhymes)	Babbs Bentley Bereal Smith Monroe	Tank	3:31
8.	"Off Your Hands"	Babbs McCall	McCall	3:37
9.	"This Is How I Feel (Interlude)"	Babbs	Tank	2:03
10.	"This Is How I Feel"	Babbs Stephens Boyd Araica Hills	Danja	4:16
11.	"Next Breath"	Babbs Umana McCall Powell Bush	Tank The Composer Umana Rideout	3:30
12.	"Better Than Me"	Babbs Hudson	Tank Hudson	3:53
13.	"Lost It All"	Babbs Hayes Taylor	Hayes Taylor	4:42

iTunes Store deluxe version^[11]
No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
14.	"Underrated"	Babbs Curtis Jackson Andre Young Michael Elizondo	Tank	3:56
15.	"Crazy" (featuring Kevin McCall)	Babbs McCall	McCall	3:39
16.	"Underrated" (music video)			4:02

Samples

"Lonely" contains elements of "My Heart Belongs to You" as performed by Jodeci.

Personnel

Credits for This Is How I Feel adapted from Allmusic.^[12]

* Rebecca Alexis – stylist

Marcella Araica – composer
Marcella "Ms. Lago" Araica – engineer, mixing
John Armstrong – engineer
Durrell Babbs – composer, executive producer, producer
Paul Bailey – engineer
Aaron Bay–Schuck – A&R
Floyd E. Bentley III Composer
Britney Bereal – vocals (Background)
Charlie Bereal – guitar
Lonny Bereal – composer
Josh Berg – engineer
Luke Boyd – composer, vocals (Background)
Chris Brown – composer, Featured Artist
Sammie Bush – composer, vocals (Background)
Clifford Harris – composer
The Composer – producer
Danja – producer
Donald DeGrate – composer
Dustin Douglass – engineer
Lanre Gaba – A&R
Doug Geikie – engineer
Jimmy Gonzales – engineer
Cedric Hailey – composer
Trehy Harris – Assistant
Nico Hartikainen – engineer
Patrick "Guitarboy" Hayes Composer, Producer
Nate Hills – composer
Eric Hudson – composer, producer
Jaycen Joshua – mixing

David Kutch – Mastering
Christian Lantry – Photography
William Marshall – Hair Stylist, Make–Up
Kevin McCall – composer, producer, vocals (Background)
Peter Mokran – mixing
Melvin R. Monroe III Composer
Mark Obriski – Art Direction, Design
Rhea Pasricha – A&R
Micah Powell – composer, vocals (Background)
Erik Reichers – engineer
Rex Rideout – additional production
Poet Ed Sanders – Assistant
Phil Scott III – engineer
James "J–Doe" Smith – composer
Jerren Spruill – composer
Jerren "J–Kits" Spruill – producer
Marsha St. Hubert – Marketing
Kris Stephens – Featured Artist
Kristina Stephens – composer
T.I. – Featured Artist
Tank – Primary Artist, Producer
Troy Taylor – composer, producer
T–Minus – producer
Alex Heme Toval – engineer
Carolyn Tracey – Package Production
Sergio "Sergical" Tsai – engineer
Christopher Umana – composer, producer
Vincent Watson – composer
Vincent "Invincible" Watson – producer

Charts

Weekly charts

Weekly chart performance for *This Is How I Feel*
Chart (2012)	Peak position
US Billboard 200^[9]	9
US Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums^[10]	1

Year-end charts

Year-end chart performance for *This Is How I Feel*
Chart (2012)	Position
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)^[13]	63

Release history

*This Is How I Feel* release history
Region	Date	Format	Label	Ref(s)
Various	May 8, 2012	CD Digital download Streaming	Atlantic	^[14]

References

↑ "This is How I Feel". Amazon. 2012.
1 2 3 "This Is How Tank Feels (Exclusive Interview)". youknowigotsoul.com. April 23, 2012. Retrieved July 30, 2026.
↑ "Compliments (feat. Kris Stephens) - Single by Tank". iTunes Store. Apple. October 17, 2011. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
↑ "Next Breath - Single by Tank". iTunes Store. Apple. January 3, 2012. Retrieved January 3, 2012.
1 2 "This Is How I Feel – Tank". AllMusic. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
1 2 Amidon, David (July 1, 2012). "Tank: This Is How I Feel". PopMatters. Retrieved October 25, 2022.
↑ Stewart, Allison (May 17, 2012). "Tank: This Is How I Feel". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 30, 2026.
↑ "Tank Is 'Stronger' Than Ever at No. 1". Billboard.com. August 21, 2012. Retrieved July 30, 2026.
1 2 "Tank Album & Song Chart History: Billboard 100 Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 26, 2012.
1 2 "Tank Album & Song Chart History: Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 26, 2012.
↑ "This is How I Feel (Deluxe Version) by Tank". iTunes. May 8, 2012.
↑ "This Is How I Feel - Tank: Credits: AllMusic". AllMusic.
↑ "R&B/Hip-Hop Albums: Year End 2014". Billboard. January 2, 2013. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
↑ "This Is How I Feel by Tank". Apple Music. Retrieved October 25, 2022.

[1] "This is How I Feel". Amazon. 2012.

[youknowigotsoul-2] 1 2 3 "This Is How Tank Feels (Exclusive Interview)". youknowigotsoul.com. April 23, 2012. Retrieved July 30, 2026.

[3] "Compliments (feat. Kris Stephens) - Single by Tank". iTunes Store. Apple. October 17, 2011. Retrieved October 17, 2011.

[4] "Next Breath - Single by Tank". iTunes Store. Apple. January 3, 2012. Retrieved January 3, 2012.

[AllMusic-5] 1 2 "This Is How I Feel – Tank". AllMusic. Retrieved October 25, 2022.

[popmatters-6] 1 2 Amidon, David (July 1, 2012). "Tank: This Is How I Feel". PopMatters. Retrieved October 25, 2022.

[washingtonpost-7] Stewart, Allison (May 17, 2012). "Tank: This Is How I Feel". The Washington Post. Retrieved July 30, 2026.

[8] "Tank Is 'Stronger' Than Ever at No. 1". Billboard.com. August 21, 2012. Retrieved July 30, 2026.

[Billboard200-9] 1 2 "Tank Album & Song Chart History: Billboard 100 Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 26, 2012.

[BillboardR&B-10] 1 2 "Tank Album & Song Chart History: Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved May 26, 2012.

[11] "This is How I Feel (Deluxe Version) by Tank". iTunes. May 8, 2012.

[12] "This Is How I Feel - Tank: Credits: AllMusic". AllMusic.

[year-end2-13] "R&B/Hip-Hop Albums: Year End 2014". Billboard. January 2, 2013. Retrieved July 31, 2016.

[Apple-14] "This Is How I Feel by Tank". Apple Music. Retrieved October 25, 2022.

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v t e Tank
Discography
Studio albums	Force of Nature One Man Sex, Love & Pain Now or Never This Is How I Feel Stronger Sex Love & Pain II Savage Elevation R&B Money
Singles	"Maybe I Deserve" "Please Don't Go" "Sex Music" "Emergency" "When We"
Featured singles	"She Don't Put It Down"
Related Articles	TGT The Underdogs

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