Nathan Michael Shawn Wanya is the fifth album by R&B group Boyz II Men in 2000. The only LP issued during the group's brief contract with Universal Records, its title reflects the album's ambitions; unlike previous records, the majority of the tracks were written and produced by Boyz II Men themselves. The two singles, "Pass You By" and "Thank You in Advance", both performed below expectations on the charts.
AllMusic editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine wrote that Nathan Michael Shawn Wanya was Boyz II Men's "first full-fledged adult album," mostly self-written and produced, delivering "lush ballads and swinging hip-hop soul" that were "pleasant" and sometimes "seductive or effortlessly danceable," while cutting back on "vocal histrionics" to create their "most mature yet" record. Similarly, Connie Johnson from The Los Angeles Times praised the album for showing a "grown-up, sophisticated side," balancing "fluffy moments" with surprisingly mature music, highlighting tracks like the "Beautiful Women," the ballad "I Do" with its "sepia-toned, doo-wop sentiments," and Shep Crawford's "Thank You in Advance" for its "heart-tugging poignancy" that contrasts with today's "edgy cynicism."
Entertainment Weekly critic Josh Tyrangiel wrote that on Nathan Michael Shawn Wanya, Boyz II Men "drop the balladeering [...] in favor of mature, danceable, even occasionally sexy tracks" that, while "not perfect," provide a "respite from their past shtick," with hints of "libido and open dissatisfaction with playing nice." Kris Adams from The Stranger noted that Boyz II Men, with Nathan Michael Shawn Wanya, "hope to tap into the success of the current wave of boy bands," whose popularity is "based on the sound that Boyz II Men used in the first place."
Their first album in three years, Nathan Michael Shawn Wanya debuted and peaked at number four on the US Billboard 200 on first-week sales of slightly less than 133,000 copies. A breakaway from their previous album, it only spent three weeks on the chart. By August 2001, it had sold 686,000 copies.