Prior to '' Unexcpected '' s release , Williams told MTV that she could n't " wait for the world to hear her new solo album " , describing it as " fresher " , " more inspirational " , and " more on the secular side " . Furthermore , she stated " whether it 's gospel or not , I wrote about it " , therefore expecting " some of her gospel fans to be a little upset " but wanted to " keep it real " . She also discussed one of the album 's primary themes – " what it 's like to be in love " – explaining " I talk about mistakes you make when you 're in love and how they affect your life " after saying " I was able to experience some things this year and I wrote about them . " In describing the album during another interview , this time for '' GospelCity '' , Williams said " these songs are just about the real me " and that she " just wrote from her heart " before acknowledging that " it did n't turn out to be as ' gospel-ly ' as some would have liked " , but " the stuff " that 's on the album " is stuff she went through " . Williams then said " this whole album is about God 's love and me " . After being asked " Michelle , as people listen to the album , Do You Know , as they get acquainted with the songs , what are you hoping to bring to their lives ? " , Williams responded " That everybody live in peace and not settle for anything less than what the Lord wants to bring your way . I know what I went through , I know God is taking me to another level . I had people around me that were not going where I was going – I had to release them from my life . " Critical reviews of the album were generally favorable . Kwaku of '' Cross Rhythms '' wrote that " Michelle seems happy to produce music which straddles between contemporary gospel and inspirational R&B " and thus " she certainly is n’t going to have problems facing the congregation when she attends church " . Sony of '' Gospel City '' described the album as a " beautifully written ... very wonderfully produced gospel album that in some places is a throwback to a Duke Ellington jazz minuet , in others it 's a fast paced hip-hop laced gospel after-party , and in others it 's a beautiful testimony of a woman at the well " He then went on to comment that " the true highlight of this album is Michelle 's unique , yet beautiful , timbre and her magnificent song writing . " Caroline Sullivan of '' The Guardian '' however gave a more mixed review , commenting that '' Do You Know ? '' " does n't provide the running start " that Williams " needs " . She then noted that " Williams 's strength is a shimmery jazz lilt . Emily Sogn of '' PopMatters '' likened Williams ' " pleasingly slow paced " singing style to pop contemporaries like Ashanti and Janet Jackson and described the album as " a decent , yet not spectacular sophomore effort " , noting that " while it might not enough to ensure her a successful career outside of her contributions to Destiny 's Child , it is n’t without its particular merits and shining moments " . '' People '' magazine commented that " there is a contemporary R&B sound " to the album " that would n't be out of place on secular radio " and noted that " The Movement " " has a hip-hop vibe , while glossy ballads like " The Way of Love " sound like they could be Destiny 's Child slow jams " . '' Entertainment Weekly '' editor Chris Willman rated the album B - and highlighted the artistic growth on the album . Comparing it to its predecessor he wrote " this second solo foray into contemporary spirituals vastly improves upon her godforsaken 2002 debut " and that " both the beats and girlish chops feel more seasoned , even if she 'll always be more R&B minimalist than the gospel powerhouse she aspires to be " . AllMusic wrote that " working with a wide array of producers ... Williams is subtly more up-tempo than on her debut . " The staff found that the songs " all point to an artist with a considerable amount of self-assurance . Not surprisingly , Williams is never far from the roots that extend back to her day job in Destiny 's Child . " First released on January 26 , 2004 , '' Do You Know '' preceded the release of Destiny 's Child 's fourth and final regular studio album '' Destiny Fulfilled '' , making Williams the only member of the group to release more than one solo album in the group 's hiatus . Williams promoted the album during various TV appearances and live performances , some of the most notable include ; live performances of " Do You Know " ( the album 's first single ) and " Purpose In Your Storm " on various '' TBN '' programs and a live performance of a newly arranged version of " The Way of Love " on '' Regis & Kelly '' . Notably , Williams also performed " Do You Know " live on the 2004 Soul Train Music Awards and throughout the '' Destiny Fulfilled ... And Lovin ' It '' world concert tour – which visited 16 countries throughout Australia , Asia , Europe , and North America with 67 dates in total . A video and audio recording of one such performance of " Do You Know " , recorded in Atlanta was included on the '' Destiny 's Child : Live in Atlanta '' 2006 DVD release , which has since been re-issued on Blu-ray . " Do You Know " was also promoted with the filming and release of a music video for the song
2004 Soul Train Music Awards
2004 Soul Train Music Awards
Do You Know (Michelle Williams album)