Star is the third and final studio album from American R&B group 702. It was originally scheduled to be released on November 19, 2002 by Motown, 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".
Critical reception
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." 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". 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".
Sal Cinquemani from Slant Magazine was mixed in his review. Cinquemani praised the albums first half of material, while disapproving of the second half calling it "a bit less successful". 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". 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."
Chart performance The 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.Linkin Park’s ‘Meteora’ Crashes Chart At No. 1. Billboard. Retrieved on April 7, 2024 The album sold 21,000 copies in its first week.
Track listing
Notes denotes co-producer Sample credits "Trouble" contains excerpts from the compostition "Jungle Boogie" as performed by Kool & The Gang. "Come & Knock on My Door" contains an interpolation of "I Like I" as performed by DeBarge. "Reality" contains a sample of "Too Late" as performed by Talib Kweli and Hi-Tek. "Better Day (Ghetto Girl)" contains a sample from "Could It Be Magic" as performed by The Waters.
Personnel Information taken from Allmusic. 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 Chart (2003) PeakpositionUS Billboard 200 (Billboard)45US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)22
References
External links