Claim: Britney Spears released her third album in 2001 in the United States.

Britney is the self-titled third studio album by American singer Britney Spears . It was released on November 2 , 2001 , by Jive Records . Looking to transition from the teen pop styles of her earlier albums ... Baby One More Time -LRB- 1999 -RRB- and Oops ! ... I Did It Again -LRB- 2000 -RRB- , Spears began to embrace a more mature sound with her next studio effort . Its music incorporates genres of pop and dance-pop with influences of R&B and occasionally dips into elements of disco , hip hop and rock ; its lyrics address the subjects of reaching adulthood and sexuality . Contributions to its production came from a variety of collaborators , including Max Martin and Rami Yacoub . Spears herself assumed a more prominent role in the album 's development , co-writing five of its tracks .   Upon its release , Britney received generally mixed reviews from music critics , who complimented the progression from Spears 's earlier works , but criticized her increasingly provocative image . The album debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 745,000 copies . Its success made Spears the first female artist to have her first three albums debut atop the chart , a record she would later break again with her fourth record In the Zone -LRB- 2003 -RRB- . To promote the album , Spears embarked on the Dream Within a Dream Tour , which began in November 2001 and continued through July 2002 . The album received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Pop Vocal Album .   Six singles were released from the album . `` I 'm a Slave 4 U '' reached the top 10 in several countries as well as hitting top 40 in the United States peaking at number 27 . `` Overprotected '' and `` I 'm Not a Girl , Not Yet a Woman '' had alternated as the second and third single of the album , both of which performed similarly internationally by reaching top 10 in several countries . `` I 'm Not a Girl , Not Yet a Woman '' and `` Boys '' did not chart in the United States while the latter two reached the top 10 in several countries albeit in less than its preceding singles .