Star is the third studio album from American R&B group 702. It was originally scheduled to be released on November 19, 2002 by Motown,[4] but was later delayed to March 25, 2003. In the United States. The album peaked at number forty-five on the US Billboard 200 and produced the singles “Star” and "I Still Love You".
| Star | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | March 25, 2003 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 64:06 | |||
| Label | Motown | |||
| Producer | ||||
| 702 chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Star | ||||
| ||||
Critical reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Allmusic | |
| Slant Magazine | |
| Vibe | |
Andy Kellman of Allmusic rated the album two and a half stars out of five and gave the work a rather dismissive review, stating that "it continues in the group's tradition of being able to deliver a couple of solid singles surrounded by middling to fair album tracks."[5] PopMatters thought the album was dated and "trapped in a time warp" and that "It wants to be pre-Mary J. Blige hip-hop and R&B with some notable exceptions".[8] Overall, they praised both Mario Winans and the Neptunes contributions to the album, and felt they managed "to create some haphazard hits here, lack of creativity aside".[8]
Sal Cinquemani from Slant Magazine was mixed in his review.[6] Cinquemani praised the albums first half of material, while disapproving of the second half calling it "a bit less successful".[6] Nonetheless, he declared, "702 comes closest to capturing the buttery warm harmonies of Diana Ross and the Supremes—Destiny’s Child be damned. Star exists to prove that surprises can indeed be pleasant".[6] Vibe editor Craig Seymour called the album "a sassy throwback" and added: "Star might have been garbage, given that the group recently reformed after a three-year recording hiatus [but] it manages to be a rare, pleasant surprise in today’s R&B world. Blame much of the set’s success on the beats, which are as tight and lean as a Kenyan runner."[7]
Chart performance
editThe album peaked at forty-five on the US Billboard 200 and reached the twenty-second spot on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.[9][10] The album sold 21,000 copies in its first week.[10]
Track listing
edit| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Let Your Hair Down" |
| She'kspere | 2:46 |
| 2. | "Star" (featuring Clipse) | The Neptunes | 4:04 | |
| 3. | "Trouble" |
| Winans | 3:29 |
| 4. | "Feelings" |
| She'kspere | 3:41 |
| 5. | "Come & Knock on My Door" |
| She'kspere | 4:04 |
| 6. | "I Still Love You" |
| The Neptunes | 4:47 |
| 7. | "Reality" |
| Winans | 2:29 |
| 8. | "Certified" |
| Kollective | 4:33 |
| 9. | "Places" |
| Kollective | 7:34 |
| 10. | "Stringing Me Along" | Michael Flowers | Mike City | 3:57 |
| 11. | "No Way" |
| She'kspere | 3:27 |
| 12. | "Blah Blah Blah Blah" |
| Reynolds | 3:15 |
| 13. | "Betcha She" |
| Bishop | 3:32 |
| 14. | "Better Day (Ghetto Girl)" |
| 3:59 | |
| 15. | "Jealousy" | Flowers | City | 4:12 |
| 16. | "I'm Wit It" |
| Farrar | 4:17 |
Notes
- ^[a] denotes co-producer
Personnel
editInformation taken from Allmusic.[11]
- a&r – Nina Freeman, Kedar Massenburg, Shante Paige, Marsha Reid
- arranging – Ted Bishop
- art direction – Chris Kornmann
- assistant – Vincent Alexander, Mike Butler, Vadim Chislov, Stephen Glicken, Dion Peters, Alexis Seton, Rich Tapper, Javier Valverde, Jeff Vereb, Artese Williams
- composing – R. Bell, G. Brown, J.J. Jackson, L. Jackson, P.J. Jackson, E. Jordan, S.K. Russell, Mario Winans
- creative direction – Sandy Brummels
- design – Chris Kornmann
- drums – Pharrell Williams
- engineering – Wayne Allison, Ted Bishop, Ben Briggs, Dru Castro, Andrew Coleman, Larry Ferguson, Eliud "Lou" Ortiz, Hernán Santiago, Mike Tocci, Darren Venbitti
- executive production – Kedar Massenburg, Shante Paige, Todd Russaw
- guitar – Greg Charley
- instrumentation – Charles Farrar
- keyboards – Ted Bishop, Dave Hunter, Tevin Thomas
- mastering – Chris Gehringer
- mixing – Ben Arrindell, Kevin "KD" Davis, Duro, Larry Ferguson, Rich Keller, Phil Tan
- photography – Albert Sanchez
- production – Ted Bishop, Mike City, Charles Farrar, Mario Winans
- programming – Ted Bishop, Charles Farrar, Pharrell Williams
- rapping – Clipse
- vocals – 702, Pharrell Williams
Charts
edit| Chart (2003) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200 (Billboard)[12] | 45 |
| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[13] | 22 |
References
edit- ^ "702 Are Wishing On A Star With Neptunes, Clipse". mtv.com. Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
- ^ "Going For Adds: CHR/Rhythmic, Urban" (PDF). Radio & Records. October 18, 2002. p. 26. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
- ^ "Going For Adds: CHR/Rhythmic, Urban" (PDF). Radio & Records. February 21, 2003. p. 30. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
- ^ "Billboard". 16 November 2002.
- ^ a b Kellman, Andy. "allmusic ((( Star > Review )))". Allmusic. Retrieved 2011-02-24.
- ^ a b c d Cinquemani, Sal (March 12, 2003). "Review: 702, Star". Slant Magazine. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
- ^ a b Seymour, Craig (June 27, 2003). "702 – Star (Motown)". Vibe. Archived from the original on April 4, 2005. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
- ^ a b "702: Star". PopMatters. October 15, 2003. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
- ^ "allmusic ((( Star > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums )))". Allmusic. Retrieved 2011-02-24.
- ^ a b Linkin Park’s ‘Meteora’ Crashes Chart At No. 1. Billboard. Retrieved on April 7, 2024
- ^ "allmusic ((( Star > Credits )))". Allmusic. Retrieved 2011-02-24.
- ^ "702 Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 17, 2021. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
- ^ "702 Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 17, 2021. Retrieved April 16, 2023.