Critics viewed Open Invitation as a confident return for Tyrese, blending classic R&B elements with both praise for its charm and critique of its lyrical excesses. In 2012, it earned him a nomination for Best R&B Album at the 55th Grammy Awards. A commercial success, the album debuted and peaked at number nine on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 76,000 copies in its first week, making it Tyrese's second top 10 album.[1] The album was supported by two singles, including "Stay" and "Too Easy."
In 2006, Tyrese released Alter Ego, his second studio album with J Records.[2] The album debuted at number 23 on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling 116,000 copies in its first week,[3] but became his lowest selling-album by then.[2] Finding himself with increasingly less say over his projects, while also feeling neglected ober his decision to experience with rap on Alter Ego,[2] he ended his four-year, two-album relationship with J in 2006 and he primarily focused on his acting career, taking on roles in the Transformers franchise and 2011's action sequel Fast Five.[2]
Eager to regain creative control, Tyrese pursued a label deal that would allow him to retain ownership of his masters.[2] After meeting with Jesse Flores from EMI Music Services, he launched his own label Voltron Recordz in February 2011.[2] Even during the founding process, he began production on his next studio album, with Brandon "B.A.M." Hodge taking over chief production.[2] Additional recording sessions involved producers David Banner, R. Kelly, and Lil' Ronnie, as well as guest vocalists Rick Ross, Ludacris, T.I., Jay Rock, Big Sean, Busta Rhymes, and Faith Evans.[2]
The album's lead single "Stay" was released for digital download in the United States on August 16, 2011.[4] The song missed the US Billboard Hot 100 chart, but peaked at number 11 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.[5]Open Invitation's second single "Too Easy" featuring Ludacris was released for digital download on August 30, 2011.[6] It peaked at number 38 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart dated October 15, 2011.[5] A music video for the song was released on October 12, 2011. The album's third single "Nothing On You" peaked at number 61 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart dated June 9, 2012.[5]
Washington Post critic Sarah Godfrey described the project as "great, straightforward R&B" and a "sweet album of love songs." She concluded: "Considering the man is a New York Times bestselling author, a blockbuster actor and, thanks to this latest album, once again an R&B force to be reckoned with, it's a pretty generous offer."[9]AllMusic editor Andy Kellman found that on Open Invitation, Tyrese "flits between sub-R. Kelly exaggerated forms of lechery and chivalry."[7]Billboard noted that "if the singer/actor/author’s musical cachet has diminished as a result of his hiatus, you can't tell from this self-released effort [...] Tyrese makes admiring lyrical reference to Kelly’s 1993 classic 12 Play. "I swear I make it look too easy," he brags elsewhere, and indeed, there's some truth to that."[8]
Open Invitation debuted at number nine on the US Billboard 200 and number two on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, selling 76,000 copies in its first week of release.[1] This became Tyrese's second US top-ten debut on the chart.[1] In its second week, the album fell to number 18 on the chart with 33,000 additional copies sold,[10][11] and in the third week, it dropped to number 28, selling another 21,000 copies.[12][13] By June 2015, the album had sold 375,000 copies in the United States.[14]
