"The Emancipation of Mimi," singer Mariah Carey [ tickets ]'s first new album since 2002, will land in stores on April 12, according to Island Def Jam.

Carey wrote and co-produced every song on the album, which features guest appearances from Snoop Dogg, Nelly and Twista, as well as production help from The Neptunes, Kanye West and Jermain Dupri.

Dupri co-produced the album's first single, "It's Like That," which was last week's highest-charting debut on The Billboard Hot 100 chart; the song entered the chart at No. 53. The cut is streaming at Carey's website.

Director Brett Ratner ("Rush Hour," "Red Dragon") is scheduled to shoot the "It's Like That" music video next week, according to Carey's label.

"The Emancipation of Mimi" is Carey's follow-up to 2002's platinum-certified "Charmbracelet." Carey explained the new album's title in a message posted at her website.

"'Mimi' is a very personal nickname only used by those closest to me," she said. "Just one of those little things that I've kept for myself in an attempt to have some delineation between a public persona and a private life. By naming the album 'The Emancipation of Mimi' I am letting my guard down and inviting my fans to be that much closer to me.

"Most importantly, I am celebrating the fact that I've grown into a person and artist who no longer feels imprisoned by my insecurities or compelled to try and live up to someone else's vision of 'Mariah Carey.' I now feel I can honestly say 'this is me, the real me, take it or leave it.' For the first time in my life, I feel free and unashamed to be who I really am. And that's what the music of this album and its title reflect."