Simply Deep is the debut solo studio album by American singer Kelly Rowland. It was first released through Columbia Records and Music World Entertainment on October 22, 2002, in North America, and on February 3, 2003, in other areas. Recorded in three weeks during the hiatus of her group Destiny's Child, it established Rowland as a solo star. It includes guest appearances by Solange Knowles and Joe Budden. It was preceded by the single "Dilemma" with Nelly. It debuted and peaked at #12 on the US Billboard 200, becoming Rowland's lowest-charting album to date, selling 77,000 copies in its first week. It eventually sold over 600,000 copies and was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in 2002. It also topped the UK Albums Chart. and won two trophies at the TMF Awards in the Netherlands, including Best R&B International Artist. It is Rowland's best-selling album to date with more than 2 million copies worldwide. In late 2003, nearly a year after the album's initial release, Rowland embarked on her debut solo Simply Deeper Tour to promote the album in Europe. It started in the United Kingdom on September 13, 2003, and concluded on October 6, 2003, in Paris, France, its 17th venue. Production and development Background Rowland launched her singing career with all-female R&B group Destiny's Child in the late 1990s. While recording their third studio album, Survivor, in late 2000, the band announced that members of the group would disband for a short period to produce solo albums in the coming years, which they hoped would boost interest in Destiny's Child. The idea of individual releases emanated from the group's manager, Mathew Knowles. With different types of music for each member to produce, the albums were not intended to compete on the charts as Destiny's Child's management strategically planned to stagger the release of each group member's album to maximize sales. While Michelle Williams became the first to release a debut solo album, Heart to Yours, in April 2002, Beyoncé Knowles debuted on the big screen, starring in the comedy film Austin Powers in Goldmember, and started recording her solo debut Dangerously in Love (2003). Meanwhile, Rowland collaborated with American rapper Nelly on the song "Dilemma" as a solo artist. The single originally appeared on his album Nellyville (2002), becoming a worldwide number-one hit that year, allowing her label Columbia Records to advance the release