{"product_id":"rainbow-1","title":"Rainbow","description":"\u003cp\u003eRainbow is Mariah Carey’s seventh studio album, released on November 2, 1999 by Columbia Records, and it continues the artistic shift toward contemporary R\u0026amp;B and hip‑hop that she began on Daydream and fully embraced on Butterfly. Made while she was nearing the end of her contract with Columbia and navigating the aftermath of her separation from label head and ex‑husband Tommy Mottola, the album reflects a period of personal transition and increasing creative independence. Musically, Rainbow blends hip‑hop‑influenced R\u0026amp;B jams with sweeping ballads, featuring collaborations with producers and artists who dominated late‑’90s urban pop, including Jimmy Jam \u0026amp; Terry Lewis, Jermaine Dupri, David Foster, Diane Warren, Jay‑Z, Usher, Snoop Dogg, Joe, 98 Degrees, Da Brat, Missy Elliott, Mystikal, and Master P. The record debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, was certified triple platinum in the U.S., and has sold an estimated eight million copies worldwide, making it a commercial success even though it was her first studio album since Emotions not to reach No. 1 in America.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe album opens with “Heartbreaker,” a Jay‑Z‑assisted, Tom Tom Club‑sampling hit that echoes the playful, pop‑rap fusion of “Fantasy” and became Carey’s 14th Billboard Hot 100 No. 1. It then moves through lush ballads like “After Tonight” and “Thank God I Found You” (a gospel‑styled duet with Joe and 98 Degrees) alongside sultrier R\u0026amp;B cuts such as “Bliss,” “How Much” (featuring Usher), and “Crybaby” with Snoop Dogg, which emphasize groove and attitude over traditional adult‑contemporary polish. Thematically, Rainbow deals with love, heartbreak, resilience, and self‑belief: “Can’t Take That Away (Mariah’s Theme)” and “Petals” are particularly personal, touching on her struggles with the label and her childhood experiences, while the “Rainbow (Interlude)” and bright visual aesthetic of the era underscore a narrative of hope after turmoil. Critics generally praised the album’s embrace of hip‑hop and R\u0026amp;B textures and Rolling Stone called it “a sterling chronicle of accessible hip‑hop balladeering at the close of 1999,” though some noted that the Diane Warren‑penned ballads and the Phil Collins cover “Against All Odds (Take a Look at Me Now)” leaned into familiar power‑pop sentimentality. In later retrospectives, fans and writers often view Rainbow as an important bridge between Butterfly’s sultry reinvention and the more turbulent Glitter era, capturing Carey in a colorful, collaborative, and emotionally candid phase of her career.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Record Store","offers":[{"title":"Vinyl \/ 2LP","offer_id":53779241369914,"sku":"39375","price":41.99,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":false},{"title":"Vinyl \/ 2LP - 25th Anniversary Edition Rainbow Colour Vinyl","offer_id":53779245236538,"sku":"39376","price":73.99,"currency_code":"CAD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0784\/2041\/0682\/files\/Screenshot_2026-07-22_at_7.49.36_PM.jpeg?v=1784764271","url":"https:\/\/recordstore.ca\/products\/rainbow-1","provider":"Record Store","version":"1.0","type":"link"}