The album was initially met with mixed reviews from critics, but later earned retrospective acclaim from musicians, singers, and producers, primarily for Brandy's vocal work.

Boosted by the success of its number-one lead single "The Boy Is Mine", a duet with singer Monica, it facilitated Norwood in becoming a viable recording artist with cross-media appeal.

[3] In total, the album sold sixteen million copies worldwide and spawned seven singles, including Norwood's second number-one song, the Diane Warren-penned "Have You Ever?".

[6] In November 1999 Norwood was hospitalized for hydration, it was later revealed that her condition was actually caused from a nervous breakdown that resulted from her then-hectic unhealthy lifestyle and a relationship in which she had experienced emotional abuse.

[8] While Rodney Jerkins, the main producer of her previous album Never Say Never, and his Darkchild crew, including Fred Jerkins III and LaShawn Daniels, had been working on several new songs for the singer's upcoming project in hopes of recreating the winning chemistry of Never Say Never,[13] Norwood wanted to make sure she was gaining more creative control over the project and thus, arranged meetings with all her writers and musicians to discuss the lyrical topics and sounds she wanted for the album.

"[8] While Jerkins maintained his status as the album's executive producer, contributing most to its track listing with his team that also consisted of regular songwriters Nora Payne and Kenisha Pratt, Norwood also worked with frequent collaborators Mike City and Keith Crouch, as well as Warryn "Baby Dubb" Campbell, Stuart Brawley, Jason Derlatka, and Jerkins' cousin Robert "Big Bert" Smith, with whom she became romantically involved during the project.

[14] Rapper Ja Rule, singer Babyface and production duo Soulshock & Karlin were reportedly also involved into the project but none of their songs eventually made the album's final track listing.

"[18] Norwood decided to name the album after its title track and in reference to the previous three years of her life, stating: "I have done a complete circle and I feel whole.

A piano-dominated up-tempo song with a "lulling drumbeat and heavy bass,"[22] Norwood characterized it as urban contemporary, explaining that "Full Moon" is "pop and R&B at the same time [but] has a lot of elements to it.

[25] Singer-producer Teddy Riley with whom Jerkins worked on Michael Jackson's Invincible (2001) during the creation of Full Moon appears on the talk box segment of the song.

[22] On "All in Me", a "futuristically funked-out" song built on keyboards and a sped up breakdown,[22] the singer pleads with her lover to have faith in her, promising him she will provide whatever he needs.

[19] Jerkins produced a 2-step groove section for the middle of the song, following a gig in London months before where he was inspired by artists like Craig David and Artful Dodger.

[21] "Can We" is a lightweight hip-hop track coated in a batter of futuristic elements on which Brandy requests her partner to clarify their problems, while committing to working through them.

is an offbeat, aggressive high-tech uptempo song, seemingly "set amid a steel factory's sonic churns, whirs and crunches.

[31] "Love Wouldn't Count Me Out" is a "sweeping" hymn that has the singer seeking understanding in the midst of romantic trial,[1] while album closer "Wow" is an upbeat ballad that has Brandy singing about the joy of finally finding the perfect lover over a "sun kissed groove.

"[27][32] International editions of Full Moon contain the cover versions "Another Day in Paradise" and "Die Without You", both being duets with her younger brother Ray J, as well as the beat-heavy, hand-clapping song "I Wanna Fall in Love.

"[35] Although the sound of the album was described as "futuristic", Norwood stated that the concept of futurism happened by chance and was not taken into account throughout the composition of the music and writing of the lyrics.

It features Norwood up to just beyond the shoulders, sporting long, "lustrous" straight hair, in addition to "heavy" makeup credited to Rea Ann Silva.

[42] Afterwards, the album's release party was held on March 4 in New York City and was attended by celebrities such as Jay-Z, Ananda Lewis, Al Sharpton, Zab Judah, Kid Capri and Bill Duke.

[56][57][58] Internationally, the song reached the top ten in Australia, Denmark, New Zealand, Scotland, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, while peaking atop the UK R&B Chart.

[59][60][61][62] The song's highly animated, futuristic accompanying music video, directed by Dave Meyers, introduced a sexier image of Brandy, portraying her as a male-ruling character in an alternate universe.

[61][68] The song's accompanying music video, directed by Chris Robinson, features nearly-six-months-pregnant Norwood telescoping at night and attending a house party where she meets a man with whom she is eventually riding off through Los Angeles, watching the rising full moon.

[71] In his review for Entertainment Weekly, journalist Craig Seymour gave Full Moon an A− rating, saying that "where [Rodney] Jerkins' herky-jerky stylings come off cold on Jacko's latest, they embolden 23-year-old Brandy as she learns the difference between teen heartbreak and grown-up betrayal, [suggesting] maturity and the high price that often comes with it.

"[1] J. Victoria Sanders from PopMatters considered Full Moon "an achievement" and added: "As she proclaims her womanhood with throaty whispers and assertive wails, [...] this grown-up Brandy [...] has one thing in common with the cherubic girl she used to be: she still sings with relaxing humility and style – qualities the music world is in dire need of right about now.

"[22] Washington Post writer Britt Robson called the album a "refreshingly sexy" record "of honest growth and modest virtues" as well as "of slight refinements and logical maturation".

"[80] Rolling Stone dismissed the album as "frantic, faceless, fake-sexy R&B,"[76] while Piers Martin from NME declared it a "velvet-lined bucket of slush.

[97][98] Since its release, Full Moon has garnered retrospective recognition from musicians, vocalists and music producers, particularly within the R&B and urban contemporary gospel genres.

returned in 2002 with long, sleek straight hair and heavy makeup, adding warm, sultry mannerisms to her music on songs like "Like This" and "Come a Little Closer".

[121] German pop singer Rüdiger Skoczowsky, who cites Brandy as one of his main vocal inspirations,[122] included a cover of "Love Wouldn't Count Me Out" on some of his live shows.

[123] On February 12, 2025, British singer Jorja Smith and rapper AJ Tracey released the single "Crush", which heavily samples "Love Wouldn't Count Me Out".