The album spawned hits that remain staples of the genre today:

A duet with a then-unknown (but credited) background vocalist. A Motown-esque plea for connection. The chord progression is deceptively simple, but the arrangement—strings swelling behind Legend’s piano—is pure Phil Spector without the controversy.

, this minimalist piano ballad became the album's breakout hit and remains one of his signature songs. Critical Success : The album won Best R&B Album at the 48th Grammy Awards, while Legend himself took home Best New Artist Get Lifted

His career shifted when he began collaborating with an then-up-and-coming producer named Kanye West