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
ReleasedMarch 25, 2003
Genre
Length64:06
LabelMotown
Producer
702 chronology
702
(1999)
Star
(2003)
Singles from Star
  1. "Star"
    Released: October 21, 2002[2]
  2. "I Still Love You"
    Released: February 24, 2003[3]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic     [5]
Slant Magazine     [6]
Vibe     [7]

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 SupremesDestiny’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

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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.[9][10] The album sold 21,000 copies in its first week.[10]

Track listing

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No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Let Your Hair Down"
She'kspere2:46
2."Star" (featuring Clipse)The Neptunes4:04
3."Trouble"
Jack Knight
Winans3:29
4."Feelings"
  • Briggs
  • L. Grinstead
  • I. Grinstead
  • Stewart
  • K. Williams
She'kspere3:41
5."Come & Knock on My Door"
She'kspere4:04
6."I Still Love You"
The Neptunes4:47
7."Reality"
Winans2:29
8."Certified"
  • Warren Jones
  • Isaac Lewis
  • Levi Stephens
  • Lysette Titi
Kollective4:33
9."Places"
  • Jones
  • Lewis
  • Stephens
  • Titi
Kollective7:34
10."Stringing Me Along"Michael FlowersMike City3:57
11."No Way"
  • Briggs
  • L. Grinstead
  • I. Grinstead
  • Stewart
  • K. Williams
She'kspere3:27
12."Blah Blah Blah Blah"
  • Kimberley Jackson-Jones
  • Jawan Jackson
  • LaVerne Jackson
  • Priscilla Latorrie Jackson
  • Dwight "Lil Skrapp" Reynolds
Reynolds3:15
13."Betcha She"Bishop3:32
14."Better Day (Ghetto Girl)"
3:59
15."Jealousy"FlowersCity4:12
16."I'm Wit It"
Farrar4:17

Notes

  • ^[a] denotes co-producer

Personnel

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Information 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

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Chart (2003) Peak
position
US Billboard 200 (Billboard)[12] 45
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[13] 22

References

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  1. ^ "702 Are Wishing On A Star With Neptunes, Clipse". mtv.com. Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  2. ^ "Going For Adds: CHR/Rhythmic, Urban" (PDF). Radio & Records. October 18, 2002. p. 26. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  3. ^ "Going For Adds: CHR/Rhythmic, Urban" (PDF). Radio & Records. February 21, 2003. p. 30. Retrieved September 9, 2023.
  4. ^ "Billboard". 16 November 2002.
  5. ^ a b Kellman, Andy. "allmusic ((( Star > Review )))". Allmusic. Retrieved 2011-02-24.
  6. ^ a b c d Cinquemani, Sal (March 12, 2003). "Review: 702, Star". Slant Magazine. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
  7. ^ a b Seymour, Craig (June 27, 2003). "702 – Star (Motown)". Vibe. Archived from the original on April 4, 2005. Retrieved September 24, 2024.
  8. ^ a b "702: Star". PopMatters. October 15, 2003. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
  9. ^ "allmusic ((( Star > Charts & Awards > Billboard Albums )))". Allmusic. Retrieved 2011-02-24.
  10. ^ a b Linkin Park’s ‘Meteora’ Crashes Chart At No. 1. Billboard. Retrieved on April 7, 2024
  11. ^ "allmusic ((( Star > Credits )))". Allmusic. Retrieved 2011-02-24.
  12. ^ "702 Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 17, 2021. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
  13. ^ "702 Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 17, 2021. Retrieved April 16, 2023.
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