Just A Friend 2002
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

"Just a Friend 2002" is a song by American singer
Mario Mario (; ) is a Character (arts), character created by the Japanese game designer Shigeru Miyamoto. He is the star of the ''Mario (franchise), Mario'' franchise, a recurring character in the ''Donkey Kong'' franchise, and the mascot of the Ja ...
. It was written by
Warryn Campbell Warryn Stafford Campbell, Jr. (born August 21, 1975) is an American record producer. He has worked with a number of contemporary gospel, gospel, hip hop and Contemporary R&B, R&B artists. Campbell originally got his start as a session musician a ...
, Harold Lilly, and John "Jubu" Smith and recorded for Mario's self-titled debut album (2002). Produced by Campbell, the song is a loose cover of
Biz Markie Marcel Theo Hall (April 8, 1964 – July 16, 2021), known professionally as Biz Markie, was an American rapper, singer, songwriter, DJ, and record producer who gained prominence during hip hop's golden age. He was particularly recognized for ...
's hit single " Just a Friend" (1989). Due to the interpolation Markie is also credited as a songwriter on "Just a Friend 2002." Mario's version is different, as the story is changed from a man who discovers his girlfriend has been cheating on him to a story about unrequited love.
J Records J Records was an American record label owned and operated by Bertelsmann Music Group until it was transferred to Sony Music Entertainment when they acquired all of BMG's record labels in late 2008 at the end of their merger. It was distribut ...
released the song in April 2002 as the first single from ''Mario''. "Just a Friend 2002" peaked at number four on the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart in August 2002. It also reached number three on the US
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks The Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart ranks the most popular R&B and hip hop songs in the United States and is published weekly by '' Billboard''. Rankings are based on a measure of radio airplay, sales data, and streaming activity. The chart had 100 ...
chart, number five on the UK Hip Hop/R&B Chart, and number eight on the
Canadian Singles Chart The Canadian music charts are a collection of record charts reflecting the music consumption of people in Canada. '' RPM'' and '' Billboard'' are the biggest publications to have published Canada's official charts for decades. However, the first ...
. In promotion of the song, J Records released a music video which had been filmed by director
Diane Martel Diane Martel (also known as Bucky Chrome and Diamond Martel) is an American music video director and choreographer. As a music video director, she has worked with Beyonce, Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera, Sting and Jennifer Lopez. One of her ...
in Mario's hometown of
Baltimore, Maryland Baltimore is the List of municipalities in Maryland, most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland. With a population of 585,708 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census and estimated at 568,271 in 2024, it is the List of United States ...
.


Background

"Just a Friend 2002" was written by Warryn "Baby Dubb" Campbell, Harold Lilly, and John "Jubu" Smith and initially recorded by R&B singer Usher during the production of his unreleased third studio album ''All About U''. Though he was due to film a music video for the song, the album was eventually shelved and Usher passed on the song. It was instead given to Mario after Campbell convinced J Records head
Clive Davis Clive Jay Davis (born April 4, 1932) is an American record producer, A&R executive, record executive, and lawyer. He has won five Grammy Awards and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, as a non-performer, in 2000. From 1967 to 1 ...
that "Just a Friend" would fit the singer's debut album, though Davis requested Campbell to "add another part, like a breakdown" to the song. The chorus of "Just a Friend 2002" contains
interpolation In the mathematics, mathematical field of numerical analysis, interpolation is a type of estimation, a method of constructing (finding) new data points based on the range of a discrete set of known data points. In engineering and science, one ...
s from rapper
Biz Markie Marcel Theo Hall (April 8, 1964 – July 16, 2021), known professionally as Biz Markie, was an American rapper, singer, songwriter, DJ, and record producer who gained prominence during hip hop's golden age. He was particularly recognized for ...
's 1989 song " Just a Friend." The song also contains an instrumental sample from American hip hop group Run–D.M.C.'s " Sucker M.C.'s" (1983).


Critical reception

''
Billboard A billboard (also called a hoarding in the UK and many other parts of the world) is a large outdoor advertising structure (a billing board), typically found in high-traffic areas such as alongside busy roads. Billboards present large advertis ...
'' remarked that Mario's "smooth, confident vocals mesh well with the sparse breakbeat provided by Warryn "Baby Dubb" Campbell." The magazine felt that "the combination of old-school nostalgia and new-school flavor makes the single click." In his review of parent album ''Mario'', Dan LeRoy from
AllMusic AllMusic (previously known as All-Music Guide and AMG) is an American online database, online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on Musical artist, musicians and Mus ...
stated that "while it misses out on the humor of the original, the cover of Biz Markie's "Just a Friend" proves a shrewd update of the unwillingly platonic classic, and serves as a gateway to better originals." LeRoy ranked the song among his favorites on the album. In a retrospective review, Tom Breihan from ''
Stereogum ''Stereogum'' is a daily Internet publication that focuses on music news, reviews, interviews, and commentary. The site was created in January 2002 by Scott Lapatine. ''Stereogum'' was one of the first MP3 blogs and has received several awar ...
'', alluding to the Markie original, wrote: "The whole idea of a smoothly, sweetly sung version of "Just a Friend” seems utterly absurd. Like: why? But that hook still worked even in Mario’s hands." ''
Rolling Stone ''Rolling Stone'' is an American monthly magazine that focuses on music, politics, and popular culture. It was founded in San Francisco, California, in 1967 by Jann Wenner and the music critic Ralph J. Gleason. The magazine was first known fo ...
'' listed it as the 61st best R&B song of the 21st century.


Chart performance

"Just a Friend 2002" debuted at number 88 on the US ''Billboard'' Hot 100 in the week of May 25, 2002. It eventually peaked at number four in the week ending August 24, 2002, spending 21 weeks on the chart. ''Billboard'' ranked it 34th on the chart's 2002 year-end ranking. "Just a Friend 2002" also reached number three on the US
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks The Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart ranks the most popular R&B and hip hop songs in the United States and is published weekly by '' Billboard''. Rankings are based on a measure of radio airplay, sales data, and streaming activity. The chart had 100 ...
chart and number eight on the
Rhythmic Top 40 The Rhythmic chart (also called Rhythmic Airplay, and previously named Rhythmic Songs, Rhythmic Top 40 and CHR/Rhythmic) is an airplay chart published weekly by ''Billboard'' magazine. The chart tracks and measures the airplay of songs played on ...
chart. Elsewhere, the song entered the top 10 in Canada, peaking at number eight on the
Canadian Singles Chart The Canadian music charts are a collection of record charts reflecting the music consumption of people in Canada. '' RPM'' and '' Billboard'' are the biggest publications to have published Canada's official charts for decades. However, the first ...
, while also reaching number 15 on the
New Zealand Singles Chart The Official Aotearoa Music Charts, formerly the Official New Zealand Music Chart (), is the weekly New Zealand top 40 singles and albums charts, issued weekly by Recorded Music NZ (formerly Recording Industry Association of New Zealand). The M ...
and number 18 on the UK Singles Chart. "Just a Friend 2002" also became a top five hit on the UK Hip Hop/R&B Chart.


Music video

A music video for "Just a Friend 2002" was directed by
Diane Martel Diane Martel (also known as Bucky Chrome and Diamond Martel) is an American music video director and choreographer. As a music video director, she has worked with Beyonce, Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera, Sting and Jennifer Lopez. One of her ...
. It was shot on April 7–8, 2002 in Mario's hometown of
Baltimore, Maryland Baltimore is the List of municipalities in Maryland, most populous city in the U.S. state of Maryland. With a population of 585,708 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census and estimated at 568,271 in 2024, it is the List of United States ...
. The visuals feature Mario, wearing a
Baltimore Ravens The Baltimore Ravens are a professional American football team based in Baltimore. The Ravens compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the American Football Conference (AFC) AFC North, North division. The team plays its home g ...
jersey, visiting a girl while his friends want to see her as well. While following her down the street, they lead to a movie theater where she is found, and Mario excites her with dance.
Biz Markie Marcel Theo Hall (April 8, 1964 – July 16, 2021), known professionally as Biz Markie, was an American rapper, singer, songwriter, DJ, and record producer who gained prominence during hip hop's golden age. He was particularly recognized for ...
can be heard in the beginning of the video and is seen in parts of the theater sequeneces, which were filmed at the
Senator Theatre The Senator Theatre is a historic Art Deco movie theater on York Road in the Govans section of Baltimore, Maryland. It is the oldest operating movie theater in central Maryland and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a ...
, a historic
Art Deco Art Deco, short for the French (), is a style of visual arts, architecture, and product design that first Art Deco in Paris, appeared in Paris in the 1910s just before World War I and flourished in the United States and Europe during the 1920 ...
movie theater on York Road in the Govans section of Baltimore. American singer-dancer
Cassie Ventura Casandra Elizabeth Ventura (born August 26, 1986), known mononymously as Cassie, is an American singer, dancer, actress, and model. Born in New London, Connecticut, she began her musical career after meeting producer Ryan Leslie in late 2004, ...
is also featured briefly in this video.


Track listings

US CD single # "Just a Friend 2002" (radio edit) # "Just a Friend 2002" (Old School mix featuring Biz Markie) # "Just a Friend 2002" (album version) US 7-inch single :A. "Just a Friend 2002" (radio edit) – 3:34 :B. "Just a Friend 2002" (Biz Markie version) – 4:36 UK CD and 12-inch single # "Just a Friend 2002" (radio edit) – 3:35 # "Just a Friend 2002" (5AM mix) – 3:39 # " Braid My Hair" – 4:06 European CD single # "Just a Friend 2002" (radio edit) – 3:35 # "Just a Friend 2002" (Old School mix featuring Biz Markie) – 4:36


Personnel

Personnel are lifted from the liner notes of ''Mario''. * Mario Barrett – vocals *Sandra Campbell – project coordinator *
Warryn Campbell Warryn Stafford Campbell, Jr. (born August 21, 1975) is an American record producer. He has worked with a number of contemporary gospel, gospel, hip hop and Contemporary R&B, R&B artists. Campbell originally got his start as a session musician a ...
– producer, writer *Jan Fairchild – recording engineer * Harold Lilly – writer *
Biz Markie Marcel Theo Hall (April 8, 1964 – July 16, 2021), known professionally as Biz Markie, was an American rapper, singer, songwriter, DJ, and record producer who gained prominence during hip hop's golden age. He was particularly recognized for ...
– writer (sample) *
Manny Marroquin Manny Marroquin (born September 21, 1971) is a Guatemalan-American record mixing engineer. He has been credited on albums for high-profile pop, R&B, hip hop and rock acts. He has worked with artists including Rihanna, Kanye West, Katy Perry ...
– mixing engineer *John "Jubu" Smith – guitar, writer


Charts


Weekly charts


Year-end charts


Release history


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Just A Friend 2002 Mario (singer) songs 2001 songs 2002 debut singles J Records singles Song recordings produced by Warryn Campbell Songs written by Biz Markie Songs written by Harold Lilly (songwriter) Songs written by Warryn Campbell