The album received a positive reception from critics who considered it an improvement over his debut album Southside (2004). Street Love debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200, selling 144,672 copies sold in its first week. The album was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and reached Platinum status in 2024. "You" featuring Lil Wayne was released as the album's lead single, while "Get It Shawty" and its remix featuring Yung Joc served as the album's second single.
Promotion
"You," the album's lead single was released on October 23, 2006. It became Lloyd's highest-charting single yet, peaking at number nine of the US Billboard Hot 100 and number one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The song was eventually certified 4× Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and also reached Gold status in the United Kingdom.[2][3] "Get It Shawty" was issued as the album's second single on March 13, 2007. It became at top 20 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 and peaked at number four one on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, reaching 2× Platinum status in the United States.[2] "Player's Prayer" was released as the album's third and final single on July 17, 2007 but was significantly less successful, reaching number 74 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.
Street Love garnered a generally positive reception from music critics who found it an improvement over Southside (2004). AllMusic's David Jeffries praised the album for shedding Lloyd's thug image and replacing it with slow jams that come across as more convincing and sexy, saying that "Lloyd is more comfortable, committed, and believable on Street Love, and if taken in small doses, you can add satisfying to the list."[5] Mark Edward Nero of About.com also complimented the album for providing songs that will catch the public's attention but also said that its lacking in artistic quality, substance and vocal delivery, concluding with "That said, the album isn't bad. Lloyd plays his role well and manages to come across as sensitive yet strong, and not as a sappy sucker."[4]New York Times critic Jon Caramanica called the album "a small triumph of contemporary R&B."[8]
Adam Pearthree of Okayplayer said that despite faltering towards the end he praised the track variety throughout the record for having formulaic but attention-grabbing lyrical work, concluding that "Those looking for the next great step forward in R&B will be sorely disappointed, but if you need to fill the gap in your life while waiting for a new Usher album, Street Love will not let you down."[1] Andy Greenwald of Entertainment Weekly said that the album had potential but concluded with, "Unfortunately, in between, Lloyd's talents are adrift on an ocean of samey slow jams."[6] Gentry Boeckel of PopMatters criticized the record for having an overabundance of slow-paced ballads, saying that "Lloyd seems more interested in making staid, tried-and-true, music-that-will-get-me-laid music, rather than taking the style to new enclaves."[7]
Commercial performance
Street Love debuted and peaked at number two on both the US Billboard 200 and the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, selling 144,672 copies sold in its first week.[9] It marked hist first top ten entry on the former chart as well as Llody's best sales week by then.[9] By December 2007, Street Love had sold 523,000 copies domestically, according to Nielsen SoundScan.[10] The album was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on April 18, 2007 and reached Platinum status on October 16, 2024, based on sales and streaming figures in the United States.[2]
"Lloyd (Intro)" contains a sample of "Public Enemy #1 Part 1", written by James Brown, Charles Bobbit, and William Stallings; and performed by James Brown.
Management [For Sho'Nuff / Blueprint, Inc.] – Henry "Noonie" Lee*
Marketing – Donald "D-Day" Albright
Marketing [Marketing For The Inc.] – Dan "DanTan" Cooper*
Marketing [Marketing For Universal Motown] – Tatia Fox
Mastered By – Glenn Schick (tracks: 2, 5), Tom Coyne (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 6 to 15)
Mixed By – Carlton Lynn (tracks: 4, 9, 10, 12, 13), John Frye (tracks: 1, 5, 8, 11), Leslie Brathwaite (tracks: 3, 6), Manny Marroquin (tracks: 2), Milwaukee Buck (tracks: 14), Sam Thomas (2) (tracks: 7)
Mixed By [Assistant] – Gary Fly (tracks: 11), Jared Robbins (tracks: 2), Kori Anders (tracks: 3, 6), Mac (39) (tracks: 12, 13)
Photography By – Christian Lantry
Recorded By – Big Reese (tracks: 2), Carlton Lynn (tracks: 2, 9, 12, 15), Howard White (tracks: 3, 10, 12), Mike Mora (tracks: 15), Miles Walker (tracks: 5, 8), Nico Solis (tracks: 4, 6, 13, 14), Sam "Goody" Thomas (tracks: 1), Steve Fisher (tracks: 11)
Recorded By [Assistant] – Adrienne Dickey (tracks: 6), Alan Mason (tracks: 1), Denny Ogle* (tracks: 3, 6, 10, 13), Justin Trawick (tracks: 11), Mike Miller (9) (tracks: 14), Muzzy Solis (tracks: 12), Vincent Alexander (tracks: 4)
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