1996 Rewind: 702, No Doubt

1996 is one of the most beloved years in hip-hop and R&B, so we’re going to spend all month celebrating its greatness! All 2026, we’re turning the clock back 30 years to review, revisit and relive the most pivotal moments of Black music in that era. And, of course, I’ll be joined by a host of music homies as we debate the best of the best.

Thirty years ago today, the ladies from Las Vegas left no doubts about their talents. 702 gave us a handful of memorable tracks in 1996, and it all came to a head with their underrated debut album. This project means a lot to me, and I’m glad to have my boy Darius Keeton riding shotgun as we share memories of No Doubt.

Let’s get it! Share your memories of when you first heard No Doubt.

Darius: So back in middle school when YouTube was ad-free and still fairly new, I was going through a 90s R&B phase and decided to listen to this album since the album originally came out when I was like 4. It’s pretty possible that I did hear this album before because I remember seeing this CD cover in my cousin’s room all the time back in the day. But this album from front to back is sooooooo good. Ten solid tracks that I had a hard time ranking because this album has no skips for me. Remember when albums were standardly 10-12 tracks and 16-17 the most instead of today’s 25-35+ tracks? Quality over quantity any day.

Edd: This album means a lot to your boy, on three specific fronts.

First, this album gave us Steelo, AKA the song that made me a fan of my future All-Time Fave, Missy Elliott. Now, this wasn’t the first time I had heard Missy – she had floated around on features for a year or two prior, and was really coming into her own in 1996. Before “Steelo,” I wasn’t a fan of her off-kilter flow and random adlibs. She was just too … wacky. My brain couldn’t compute her style. But something about her verse on “Steelo” just clicked for me – she rode the beat effortlessly, it had tinges of R&B, I was insanely catchy – she added so much to that track. It was the moment I became a Missy stan and, by proxy, a big fan of the ladies from Las Vegas.

Secondly, No Doubt is one of the first albums I remember playing heavily when I got my driver’s license. Keep in mind that Dary was FOUR when this thing dropped, and I’m pushing the whip around town. I am so old. Anyway, those songs represented the early days of my freedom and adulthood. And oh yeah, the album itself is just a TON of fun. It’s rooted in R&B and effortlessly poppy with just a tinge of hip-hop to give it an edge. Every song is a good time.

Oh, and thirdly … Irish was one of my first music crushes. RIP to her.

What’s the best song on the project? And why?

Darius: “Steelo”

Even though it’s their debut leading single, something about this song just makes you feel good and to me, I feel like it has a timeless groove and you can never go wrong with a Missy feature/Missy penned track. It’s definitely a defining 90s R&B party track. I will take this over “This Is How We Do It” and “Return Of The Mack,” no shade.

Edd: “Get It Together”

Choosing between “Steelo” and “Get It Together” is TOUGH but more often than not, I keep coming back to Donell Jones’ depiction of teenage sorrow. It really comes down to the performances – the ladies sound like they’re going THROUGH IT, and that melancholy mood adds to the heavy lyrics penned by Donell. This might be their best song, period.

What was the best video on this project?

Darius: “No Doubt”

This video is so goofy but I really like the cinematography of this video. R.I.P Irish because I love her little “We gonna get in trouble” part in the beginning. Who knew a museum could mystically turn into a house party?

Edd: “No Doubt”

LOL the video for “No Doubt” is pure teen comedy. It feels straight out of a Disney movie. The choreography is pretty fun too (don’t tell anyone, but I knew this whole routine).

Which song should have been a single?

Darius: “Word Iz Bond”

Speaking of “No Doubt,” it would have been dope if they did like double-A side single with “Word Iz Bond” with a video. Closing the era with both an uptempo and a slow jam for the radio as a double-A side probably would have kept the momentum going since we wouldn’t get another single from then until 1999.

Edd: “Word Iz Bond”

EASILY “Word Iz Bond.” I get why the girls went with “All I Want” and “No Doubt” – the seemed like the most likely candidates for MTV crossover appeal. But the laidback groove of “Word Iz Bond” – plush Shyheim’s super smooth verse – seemed tailor-made for a summer 1998 video.

What’s the most underrated song on this project?

Darius: “Not Gonna”

Now this was originally one of my top faves on the album despite my ranking, like I said it was really hard ranking these bangers, but this has a real smooth groove, the harmonies are tight, kinda sound like something SWV would’ve done on their second or third album (Meelah always reminded me of a mini Coko vocal wise) and it even has backgrounds from Irish’s twin sister, Orish. Don’t you miss checking liner notes?

Edd: “Get Down Like Dat”

Respect to “Not Gonna” but “Get Down Like Dat” is the OTHER Missy song that could have made a splash. The lyrics are so problematic – the girls are gleefully bragging about stealing some poor girl’s boyfriend – but, like nearly everything on this album, it’s so fun you forget that they’re living foul. This is another one I randomly quote endlessly. “It’s too late and you know it cuz I got you in a daze I GET DOWNNNNNNNNN!”

Do you think we should have gotten that Meelah solo run? How would it have worked out?

Darius: In an alternate universe, after their second album cycle comes to an end, they would take a three year break à la Destiny’s Child while Meelah and the sisters do solo work or other ventures. I feel like 2000 would have been a great year for Meelah’s debut solo single and album also precedent working with the Neptunes, continuing with Missy on board and maybe getting in the booth with Darkchild too then after her run, all 3 come back together for the Star album.

Edd: Like Beyonce and Coko, it seemed like a Meelah solo project was all but a certainty – especially by the early ’00s when 702 was beginning to decay and she was working with Faith Evans. With the group going defunct by the mid-00s, that was the perfect time for her to branch out on her own. There was definitely room for her in the game and with mentorship from old friends like Missy, the Neptunes and Faith, I had no doubt (see what I did there) that she’d give us something solid. Imagine Meelah having the run that Keyshia Cole enjoyed circa 2007. I think we all missed out on something special.

702 had a relatively short shelf life. If they continued deep into the 2000s and beyond, how would they have fared?

Darius: I honestly think if they could have at least released one more album around late 2004, they probably would’ve kept a little momentum. But like most of their contemporaries, they probably would’ve gotten tossed to the side, especially since R&B girl groups were already starting to fade around 2005 after Destiny’s Child gracefully bowed out and Danity Kane having a huge MTV backing but their shelf life was much shorter than 702’s.

Edd: Dary’s right – even as early as the mid 2000s, most of the established R&B groups were quickly vanishing. The Danity Kanes and Cherishes were holding down the dance/pop spaces so a strictly R&B focused 702 would have made their lane more distinct. But with the changing landscape of the R&B, especially by the end of the decade, I think they would have encountered the same problems other acts faced – shrinking budgets, fickle fanbases and a heavy shift toward hip-hop. I certainly would have liked more from them but the timing may not have been the best.

Is No Doubt 702’s best album?

Darius: Not gonna lie, their self-titled sophomore album is the album I revisit the most. It’s very ballad and midtempo heavy compared to their debut but both albums rank neck and neck with me. I will let Edd decide which is their best.

Edd: Dary is right, this is a VERY tight race, but personal biases aside, I’ll go with their sophomore album as their best. They just feel more seasoned on that project – better and more varied production, stronger themes that go beyond hanging with my girls/hating on my man, and a renewed sense of confidence. But I’ll NEVER hate on No Doubt – it’s my personal favorite and it’s been in rotation for three decades. I basically grew up with those ladies!

Who got it right, Darius or Edd? Share your memories of 702 in the comments below!