Butterfly is Mariah’s sixth studio album. It was released on September 16, 1997 and peaked at #1 on the Billboard 200 in early October. Developed during her separation from Tommy Mottola, Butterfly is Mariah’s most personal and introspective work. She considers it to be her magnum opus and a turning point in her career. Stylistically, this album continues a transition towards the R&B and hip-hop market, a move that had begun on her previous album Daydream.