  baptism is the seventh studio album by american rock musician lenny kravitz, released on may 17, 2004, by virgin records. it reached #14 on the billboard 200 and #74 on the uk albums chart. as of march 2008, baptism has sold 551,000 units in the u.s. ==album information== ===production history=== lenny kravitz originally intended this album to be a 1970s style funk album, simply titled the funk album. however, at the point of near completion of the record, he changed his mind when he picked up an acoustic guitar to write the songs for the album. having stated that songs started pouring out of him, kravitz decided that his special project could wait. instead, kravitz recorded a more straightforward rock album similar to his 1989 album let love rule. the album was recorded at hotel edison studios in miami, florida and also features a contribution from rapper jay-z on the song "storm". "storm" was originally titled "(i can't make it) another day" and was originally recorded with superstar michael jackson. kravitz had previously played guitar on jay-z's album the blueprintÂ²: the gift & the curse. kravitz had mentioned in an interview that at the time of the album's production, he was in dispute with his record label, who did not agree with his decisions to alter his project, saying that the album featured some darker material representing his stage of depression and other problems he was going through at that time. ===reception=== {{album reviews |rev1 = allmusic |rev1score = [ allmusic review] |rev2 = blender |rev2score =  |rev3 = entertainment.ie |rev3score = entertainment.ie review |rev4 = entertainment weekly |rev4score = c[
2004_albums Albums_certified_gold_by_the_Recording_Industry_Association_of_America Albums_produced_by_Just_Blaze Albums_produced_by_Lenny_Kravitz Lenny_Kravitz_albums Virgin_Records_albums