Ciara is the
eponymously titled fifth
studio album by American recording artist
Ciara, which was released on July 9, 2013, by
Sony Music Entertainment. This album is the artist's first release under Epic, since publicly asking the now-defunct
Jive Records to release her from her contractual obligations. The singer cited a lack of label support and financial funding for her previous albums
Fantasy Ride (2009) and
Basic Instinct (2010). On this fifth studio album, Ciara is reunited with her long-term mentor and friend
L.A. Reid, chairman of Epic Records. Reid is credited with discovering Ciara in 2003 along with signing her to his
LaFace Records label and executive-producing her debut studio album,
Goodies (2004).