Level II (Blackstreet album)

Founding members Teddy Riley and Chauncey Hannibal patched things up to record Level II. A few years earlier, they were involved in a very public dispute that signaled the group's demise at the end of 1999.{{cite web|last1=Ivory|title=SoulBounce's Class Of 1994: Blackstreet 'Blackstreet'|url=http://www.soulbounce.com/soul/2015/01/soulbounces-class-of-1994-blackstreet-blackstreet/|website=soulbounce.com|publisher=Soul Bounce|accessdate=2015-07-19}}{{cite web|last1=Schumacher-Rasmussen|first1=Eric|title=Teddy Riley Ready To Make Solo Debut|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1444808/teddy-riley-ready-to-make-solo-debut/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150812124138/http://www.mtv.com/news/1444808/teddy-riley-ready-to-make-solo-debut/|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 12, 2015|website=mtv.com|publisher=Viacom International, Inc.|accessdate=2015-07-16}}{{cite web|last=DeCurtis|first=Anthony|title=Blackstreet's Chauncey "C-Black" Hannibal tells all about Teddy Riley|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1ScEAAAAMBAJ&q=blackstreet|work=Vibe Magazine- August 2000|date=August 2000|accessdate=2015-04-26|archive-date=2022-04-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220401114827/https://books.google.com/books?id=1ScEAAAAMBAJ&q=blackstreet|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|last1=Neal|first1=Mark Anthony|title=Blackstreet Level II (review)|url=http://www.popmatters.com/review/blackstreet-level2/|website=popmatters.com|date=10 April 2003|publisher=PopMatters Media, Inc|accessdate=2015-10-05}} After Blackstreet's eventual dissolution, Riley entered into a short-lived reunion with his previous group Guy.{{cite web|last=Gill|first=John|title=Teddy Riley Focuses On Guy Rather Than Blackstreet's Uncertain Future|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1426077/teddy-riley-focuses-on-guy-rather-than-blackstreets-uncertain-future.jhtml|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130629220752/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1426077/teddy-riley-focuses-on-guy-rather-than-blackstreets-uncertain-future.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 29, 2013|publisher=mtv.com|accessdate=2013-05-16}} Hannibal attempted a solo career, while Eric Williams returned to writing and producing for other artists such as Dave Hollister, Donell Jones and Jaheim.

Riley also attempted a solo career as well, with a deal with Virgin Records in 2000.{{cite web|title=R&B Visionary Teddy Riley Signs With Virgin Records America|url=http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/rb-visionary-teddy-riley-signs-with-virgin-records-america-72330562.html|website=prnewswire.com|publisher=PR Newswire Association, LLC|accessdate=2015-07-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150717113450/http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/rb-visionary-teddy-riley-signs-with-virgin-records-america-72330562.html|archive-date=2015-07-17|url-status=dead}} His solo recording Black Rock was shelved despite promotional copies of the album being issued.{{cite web|title=Special Feature: Teddy Riley|url=http://www.njs4ever.com/index.cfm/pageId/317|publisher=njs4ever.com|accessdate=2013-05-16|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110823085304/http://njs4ever.com/index.cfm/pageId/317|archivedate=2011-08-23}} Another project that he worked on was the Capitol Records singer Michael "Mike E." Etheridge, a former member of The Neptunes.{{cite web|last=Saidman|first=Sorelle|title=Teddy Riley Steers Mike E's "Master Plan|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1429830/teddy-riley-steers-mike-es-master-plan.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140102192038/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1429830/teddy-riley-steers-mike-es-master-plan.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 2, 2014|publisher=mtv.com|accessdate=2013-05-16}} His debut album Master Plan- which was executive produced by Riley- was also shelved, and as a result, several songs on the unreleased albums made their way on Level II. "Look In The Water" was originally recorded by Mike E. for his album,{{YouTube|g7D3LnJdfKw|Mike E. - Look In The Water (Prod by Teddy Riley) }} but Riley re-recorded the song with Blackstreet's vocals. Several songs from Riley's unreleased album Black Rock ("Friend Of Mine", "You Made Me", "Deep" and "Bygones") were also re-recorded for this album.{{cite web|title=Teddy Riley - Black Rock|url=http://www.discogs.com/Teddy-Riley-BlackRock/release/3029942|work=album credits|publisher=discogs.com|accessdate=2013-05-16}} The artwork for the edited version has the logo colored blue as opposed to the red color on the uncut version.

{{Album ratings

|MC = 59/100[http://www.metacritic.com/music/level-ii/blackstreet/critic-reviews Critic reviews from Metacritic]

|rev1 = Blender

|rev1score = {{Rating|2|5}}

|rev2 = Entertainment Weekly

|rev2score = C+{{cite web|url=https://ew.com/article/2003/04/04/level-ii/|title=Level II|last=Coates|first=Ta-Nehisi|website=Entertainment Weekly|date=April 4, 2003|accessdate=February 21, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220621142611/https://ew.com/article/2003/04/04/level-ii/|archive-date=June 21, 2022}}

|rev3 = Mojo

|rev3score = {{Rating|1|5}}

|rev4 = Rolling Stone

|rev4score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite magazine|first=James|last=Hunter|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/artists/blackstreet/albums/album/269697/rid/6209965/ |title=Rolling Stone review |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=February 20, 2003|accessdate=April 28, 2013 |url-status=bot: unknown |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20060512052316/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/blackstreet/albums/album/269697/rid/6209965/ |archivedate=May 12, 2006}}

|rev5 = The Situation

|rev5score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}[http://www.thesituation.co.uk/reviews/blackstreet_review.html The Situation review] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080820210936/http://www.thesituation.co.uk/reviews/blackstreet_review.html |date=2008-08-20 }}

|rev6 = Slant Magazine

|rev6score = {{Rating|2|5}}{{cite web|url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/music/blackstreet-level-ii/|title=Review: Blackstreet, Level II|last=Cinquemani|first=Sal |website=Slant Magazine|date=March 9, 2003|accessdate=February 21, 2025}}

|rev7 = Uncut

|rev7score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{cite journal|url=http://www.uncut.co.uk/blackstreet/blackstreet-level-2-review|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130505113524/http://www.uncut.co.uk/blackstreet/blackstreet-level-2-review|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 5, 2013|title=Blackstreet - Level 2|journal=Uncut|date=June 2003|page=92|accessdate=2013-04-28}}

|rev8 = Vibe

|rev8score = {{Rating|2.5|5}}

|rev9 = Yahoo! Music UK

|rev9score = {{Rating|8|10}}{{cite web|first=Angus|last=Batey|url=http://uk.launch.yahoo.com/l_reviews_a/28385.html |title=Blackstreet - Level II|website=Yahoo! Music UK |date=February 20, 2003 |accessdate=February 21, 2025|url-status=bot: unknown |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20040723084225/http://uk.launch.yahoo.com/l_reviews_a/28385.html |archivedate=July 23, 2004 }}

}}

The album received generally positive reviews. At Metacritic, which assigns a rated mean out of 100 from mainstream critics, the album received a score of 59, based on nine reviews.

Chicago Tribune editor Matt Lurie found that "on their latest sublime offering, Level II, the group delivers raunch, slickness and infinitely controlled melisma that can send chills up the spine of any fan of gospel singing."{{Cite web|first=Matt|last=Lurie|url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2003-06-03/features/0306030216_1_neptunes-level-ii-reality-programming|title=Blackstreet Level II (Dreamworks) – It's no...|website=Chicago Tribune|date=June 3, 2003|access-date=February 21, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304040410/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2003-06-03/features/0306030216_1_neptunes-level-ii-reality-programming|archive-date=March 4, 2016}} Rolling Stone critic James Hunter felt thath Level II "continues the Riley vision. Without fuss, the songs operate in R&B's timeless romantic-sexual universe of men [...] The music that contains all this back-and-forth is state-of-the-art R&B [...] Like most of Riley's music, it's full of gorgeous air, exposed emotions and rhythms that have a mathematical integrity."

AllMusic wrote that "Riley's status as the father of new jack swing means these 17 songs bristle with the kinds of grooves and beats that found his trademark sound serving as the bridge between the electro-funk of the '80s and hip-hop-driven R&B of the '90s. Peppered with plenty of scenarios of pursuit and seduction, some of Riley's more overt musical innuendoes include a moanin' remake of a Rose Royce track." People magazine felt that Teddy Riley's "jittery, popping street beats, which were so fresh back in 1996, sound somewhat dated on uptempo tracks like "Wizzy Wow" (featuring rapper Mystikal). BlackStreet is better off on melody-driven ballads such as the pretty, acoustic-guitar-laced "Bygones," which, for one soulful song, reunites the group with original member-gone-solo Dave Hollister."{{Cite web|first1=Chuck |last1=Arnold|first2=Ralph|last2= Nova|url=http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20139473,00.html|title=Picks and Pans Review: Level II|website=Chicago Tribune|date=March 10, 2003 |access-date=February 21, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150926145447/http://www.people.com/people/archive/article/0,,20139473,00.html|archive-date=September 26, 2015}}

Level II was released with little to no promotion, as DreamWorks Records was on the verge of being absorbed by their previous label Interscope Records.{{cite web|title=Universal Music to buy DreamWorks Records|url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/525037285/Universal-Music-to-buy-DreamWorks-Records.html?pg=all|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150721005011/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/525037285/Universal-Music-to-buy-DreamWorks-Records.html?pg=all|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 21, 2015|website=Deseret News|date = 12 November 2003|publisher=Deseret News|access-date=2015-04-28}}{{cite web|last1=Gallo|first1=Phil|title=D'Works diskery reborn at UMG|url=https://variety.com/2004/music/markets-festivals/d-works-diskery-reborn-at-umg-1117898066/|website=variety.com|date=9 January 2004|publisher=Variety Media, LLC|accessdate=2015-04-28}} Issued on March 11, 2003, the album debuted and peaked at number 14 on the US Billboard 200 and number four on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, selling 53,000 copies in its first week of release.{{cite web|last1=Oppelaar |first1=Justin|title=50 Cent, Jones remain atop charts|url=https://variety.com/2004/music/markets-festivals/d-works-diskery-reborn-at-umg-1117898066/|website=Variety|date=March 19, 2003|accessdate=February 21, 2025}}

{{tracklist

| headline = Level II track listing

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| total_length = 62:26

| title1 = Ticket To Ride (Intro)

| note1 =

| writer1 = T. Riley, T. Lucas, R. Stanard, C. Scarborough, M. White

| extra1 = Teddy Riley, Shareefa Cooper, Sean Washington, Kenny Frazier, Kenny Quiller

| length1 = 3:17

| title2 = Don't Touch (featuring Mr. Cheeks)

| note2 =

| writer2 = T. Riley, R. Stanard, T. Kelly, E. Williams, M. Middleton, L. Richie, M. Williams, W. Orange, T. McClary, R. LaPread, W. King

| extra2 = Leroy Burgess

| length2 = 3:30

| title3 = She's Hot

| note3 =

| writer3 = T. Riley, C. Black, B. Turner

| extra3 = Teddy Riley

| length3 = 3:24

| title4 = Deep

| note4 =

| writer4 = T. Riley, R. Stanard

| extra4 = Teddy Riley

| length4 = 4:22

| title5 = Ooh Girl

| note5 =

| writer5 = T. Riley, C. Black, R. Stanard, N. Whitfield

| extra5 = Teddy Riley

| length5 = 3:27

| title6 = Friend Of Mine

| note6 =

| writer6 = T. Riley, J. Clawson, R. Stanard

| extra6 = Leroy Burgess, Superb

| length6 = 3:49

| title7 = Interlude: What's The Fuss?

| note7 =

| extra7 =

| length7 = 0:40

| title8 = You Made Me

| note8 =

| writer8 = T. Riley, R. Stanard

| extra8 = Leroy Burgess

| length8 = 4:33

| title9 = It's So Hard To Say Goodbye

| note9 =

| writer9 = T. Riley, C. Black, D. Marshall, C. Cofield, W. Butler, C. Davis, O. Leavi

| extra9 = Daryl "DL" Marshall, Chauncey Black, Teddy Riley

| length9 = 4:15

| title10 = Why, Why

| note10 =

| writer10 = T. Riley, M. Woolard, A. Williams, J. Williams, N. Hills, J. Bettis, S. Porcaro

| extra10 = Teddy Riley, Nate Hills, Natural Blend

| length10 = 3:34

| title11 = Look In The Water

| note11 =

| writer11 = T. Riley, M. Etheridge, P. Williams, M. Hucknall, N. Moss

| extra11 = Teddy Riley

| length11 = 4:48

| title12 = Baby You're All I Want

| note12 =

| writer12 = T. Riley, E. Williams, Jahid, W. Hodges

| extra12 = Eric Williams, Wesley Hodges

| length12 = 3:55

| title13 = How We Do

| note13 =

| writer13 = T. Riley, E. Peoples, P. Williams, D. King II

| extra13 = Eugene Peoples, Teddy Riley, Prathan "Spanky" Williams

| length13 = 3:48

| title14 = Bygones

| note14 =

| writer14 = T. Riley, A. Heard, S. Barnes

| extra14 = Teddy Riley, Andreao "Fanatic" Heard, Sherrod Barnes

| length14 = 4:20

| title15 = Interlude: Still Feelin' You

| note15 =

| extra15 =

| length15 = 2:05

| title16 = Brown Eyes

| note16 =

| writer16 = T. Riley, B. Reeves, P. Lees

| extra16 = Teddy Riley, Philosophy

| length16 = 3:34

| title17 = Wizzy Wow (featuring Mystikal)

| note17 =

| writer17 = T. Riley, R. Stanard, M. Tyler, C. Black, E. Williams, M. Middleton, M. Watts

| extra17 = Teddy Riley

| length17 = 3:22

}}

Sample credits

• "Ticket To Ride" contains a sample of "Earth, Wind & Fire", as performed by Earth, Wind & Fire
• "Don't Touch" contains a sample of "Brick House", as performed by Commodores
• "She's Hot" contains an interpolation of "Warning", as performed by The Notorious B.I.G.
• "Ooh Girl" contains an interpolation of "Ooh Boy", as performed by Rose Royce
• "It's So Hard To Say Goodbye" contains a sample of "My Love", as performed by Gene Chandler
• "Why, Why" contains an interpolation of "Human Nature", as performed by Michael Jackson
• "Look In The Water" contains a sample of "Holding Back the Years", as performed by Simply Red

• Teddy Riley, Jean-Marie Horvat – recording engineers, mixing
• Brian Turner, Jim Quarles – assistant engineers
• David Campbell – string arrangements & conducting
• Tony Dawsey – mastering
• Joseph Cultice – photography
• D.L. Warfield – art direction, design

{{Reflist}}

• {{Metacritic album|title=Level II}}

{{Blackstreet}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Blackstreet albums

Category:2003 albums

Category:DreamWorks Records albums