Meet the Girl Next Door is the second album of American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 R&B singer Lil' Mo

Lil' Mo

Cynthia Loving , also known by her stage name Lil' Mo, is an American R&B singer, Washington, D.C. radio personality, songwriter & record producer. She is best known for collaborating with artists such as Ja Rule, Angie Martinez, Sacario, Missy Elliott, Ol' Dirty Bastard and Fabolous, and for her...

. The album was her last recording under Elektra Records

Elektra Records

Elektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group. In 2004, it was consolidated into WMG's Atlantic Records Group. After five years of dormancy, the label was revived by Atlantic in 2009....

, as well as the last to feature a collaboration with close friend, Missy Elliott

Missy Elliott

Melissa Arnette "Missy" Elliott , is an American rapper, singer-songwriter, record producer, and actressA five-time Grammy Award winner, Elliott, with record sales of over seven million in the United States, is the only female rapper to have five albums certified platinum by the RIAA, including one...

. The album is known to have been recorded during Mo's eighth-month preagnancy, as well as featuring guest appearances by Fabolous

Fabolous

John David Jackson , better known by his stage name Fabolous, is an American rapper of African American and Dominican descent. He grew up in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. Part of his early popularity arose from his hit single "Can't Deny It" in 2001, from his debut...

, Lil' Kim

Lil' Kim

Kimberly Denise Jones , better known by her stage name Lil' Kim, is an American rapper and actress who was a member of the group Junior M.A.F.I.A.....

, Missy Elliott

Missy Elliott

Melissa Arnette "Missy" Elliott , is an American rapper, singer-songwriter, record producer, and actressA five-time Grammy Award winner, Elliott, with record sales of over seven million in the United States, is the only female rapper to have five albums certified platinum by the RIAA, including one...

, Harold Lily, Chucky Thompson

Chucky Thompson

Carl E. "Chucky" Thompson is a hip hop/R&B record producer. Thompson was a member of Bad Boy Entertainment's "Hitmen" team of in-house producers during the 1990s, and worked with Bad Boy mogul Sean Combs on material for artists such as The Notorious B.I.G. and Mase. He was responsible for album...

, Heavy D, & Free

Free (rapper)

Antoinette Marie Wright, better known by her stage name, "Free" , is an American media personality, television producer and philanthropist. She rose to fame as the first host of BET's 106 & Park...

 (who contributed to the album's buzz single, but was never included on the final cut of the album).

Background

Less than a year after Mo's debut was certified Gold by the RIAA, Mo began recording a follow up to the album. She decided to work with new producers on the majority of the album, rather than her former label, Elektra Records-affiliated artists.

"21 Answers" (a known response to 50 Cent

50 Cent

Curtis James Jackson III , better known by his stage name 50 Cent, is an American rapper, entrepreneur, investor, record producer, and actor. He rose to fame with the release of his albums Get Rich or Die Tryin and The Massacre . Get Rich or Die Tryin has been certified eight times platinum by...

's "21 Questions

21 Questions

"21 Questions" is a song performed by American rapper 50 Cent and Nate Dogg. The song was written by 50 Cent, K. Risto, J. Cameron, and V. Cameron for 50 Cent's commercial debut album Get Rich or Die Tryin . Released in 2003 as the album's second single, it became his second number one song in the...

") was sent to radio in early 2003, as a buzz single. Because of its lack of charting performance, the song was never included on the album, thus it was dropped from being the lead single.

In February 2003, "4Ever", featuring Fabolous

Fabolous

John David Jackson , better known by his stage name Fabolous, is an American rapper of African American and Dominican descent. He grew up in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. Part of his early popularity arose from his hit single "Can't Deny It" in 2001, from his debut...

, was released as a lead single for the album, and received somewhat lukewarm reviews by most critics. The song peaked at number 37 on Billboard Hot 100 and at number 13 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs

Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs

Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...

. Weeks after the single's peak, "Ten Commandments", featuring Lil' Kim

Lil' Kim

Kimberly Denise Jones , better known by her stage name Lil' Kim, is an American rapper and actress who was a member of the group Junior M.A.F.I.A.....

, was released as the second single. However, due to limited promotion, and failed attempts for a video, the single was never properly released.

Release

Meet the Girl Next Door was released. It debuted on Billboard 200 at number 17 and peaked at number 4 on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, the highest charting-position by the singer.

The album sold an estimate of 110,000 copies within its first week, and went on to sell 250,000 more towards the end of the year (estimating around 360,000 total).

Because of lack of promotion for the album, as well as new singles to be released, Mo left Elektra Records

Elektra Records

Elektra Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group. In 2004, it was consolidated into WMG's Atlantic Records Group. After five years of dormancy, the label was revived by Atlantic in 2009....

 in 2004.

Reception

Reviews for the album were mostly positive. Unlike her debut

Based on a True Story (Lil' Mo album)

Based on a True Story is the debut album of American R&B singer Lil' Mo.-Background:Recording for the album began in 1999 when Mo first signed to The Goldmind Inc. She debuted with the single "5 Minutes" from the "Why Do Fools Fall In Love?" soundtrack. The album's original lead single, "If You...

, Meet the Girl Next Door was given 4/5 stars by Andy Kellman of AllMusic, who described Mo's voice more "rangy" and "versatile". He also stated that the album had terrific highlights, as well as more better lyrics than her debut. However, he described the album being, "four songs too long." He also stated that, "... it's apparent that Lil' Mo really ought to devote the bulk of her working time — if not all of it — to making music."

Track listing

1. "Intro"
2. "Why Do We Fall In Love"
3. "Doing Me Wrong"
4. "4Ever" (featuring Fabolous
   Fabolous
   John David Jackson , better known by his stage name Fabolous, is an American rapper of African American and Dominican descent. He grew up in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. Part of his early popularity arose from his hit single "Can't Deny It" in 2001, from his debut...
   
   )
5. "Ten Commandments" (featuring Lil' Kim
   Lil' Kim
   Kimberly Denise Jones , better known by her stage name Lil' Kim, is an American rapper and actress who was a member of the group Junior M.A.F.I.A.....
   
   )
6. "Ain't No Reason"
7. "Heaven (Interlude)"
8. "Brand Nu"
9. "1st Time"
10. "So Lost Without You"
11. "Shoulda Known"
12. "Disturbing Phone Call" (Interlude)
13. "Get Over It"
14. "It's Your World"
15. "Letter From My #1 Fan" (Interlude)
16. "Letter From My #1 Fan"