Level II

Released in 2003 on DreamWorks Records, Level II serves as a spiritual and literal sequel to Blackstreet's 1996 peak, 'Another Level'. The album's creation was marked by the reconciliation of Teddy Riley and Chauncey Hannibal following a highly public fallout. Sonically, the project is a fascinating hybrid; much of the material originated from Riley's shelved solo project 'Black Rock' and his work with Michael 'Mike E.' Etheridge. This 'salvaged' nature gives the album a diverse but surprisingly cohesive feel, ranging from the hard-hitting 'Wizzy Wow' to the sublime gospel-soul of 'Look in the Water'. Despite minimal promotion due to the DreamWorks/Interscope merger, the album was a critical success, with reviewers praising Riley's 'state-of-the-art' production and the group's 'infinitely controlled melisma'. It remains a significant late-career entry that reaffirmed Blackstreet's position as the premier architects of hip-hop-leaning vocal R&B.