From the Vault...

11/11/2018
#1646

info
R. Kelly
"R."


© Jive Records

Year of Release: 1998
Rating:

track listing
  • Home Again
  • Spendin' Money
  • If I'm With You
  • Half On A Baby
  • When A Woman's Fed Up
  • Get Up On A Room
  • One Man
  • We Ride
  • The Opera
  • The Interview
  • Only The Loot Can
    Make Me Happy
  • Don't Put Me Out
  • Suicide
  • Etcetera
  • If I Could Turn Back
    The Hands Of Time
  • What I Feel/Issues
    Disc Two
  • The Chase
  • V.I.P.
  • Did You Ever Think
  • Dollar Bill
  • Reality
  • 2nd Kelly
  • Ghetto Queen
  • Down Low Double Life
  • Looking For Love
  • Dancing With
    A Rich Man
  • I'm Your Angel
  • Money Makes The
    World Go Round
  • I Believe I Can Fly

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    R. Kelly related sites:
    R. Kelly Website
    Wikipedia
    Previous Review: #1645
    Barbara Mandrell--Ultimate Collection
    Next Review: #1647
    Rush--Moving Pictures
    R. Kelly
    "R."



    SEE THIS MAN
    KNOW THIS MAN
    TOUCH THIS MAN
    EMBRACE THIS MAN
    PAY THIS MAN
    BELIEVE THIS MAN
    TRUST THIS MAN
    BELONG TO THIS MAN
    BELONG TO THIS MAN
    TAKE CARE OF THIS MAN
    LOVE THIS MAN
    PRAY FOR THIS MAN



    When you open up the album R. CD by R. Kelly, this is what you see before you take this 2-CD set out of their sleeves. Beginning in 2002, R. Kelly was charged and tried on videos and photos claiming allegations of child pornography and abuse. Arrested in 2003, the charges were dropped a year later. In 2017, 3 young girls accused him of being in an "abusive (sex) cult." In 2018, he was accused of "intentionally" infecting a young woman with a sexually transmitted disease. Of course, Kelly denied it.


    As I read those sentences in the R. CD, I (like many others) just cringe, at the thoughts of all of these sexual allegations. And you have to admit, they have to be true. His marraige to R&B singer Aaliyah in 1994 was short lived, and illegal. Her age was listed as 18, yet she was really 15. (Actually, R. Kelly first met her, when she was 12). The sexual allegations against R. Kelly were from young girls who were in their teens, and R. Kelly would be much older. (He was 27 when he "married" Aaliyah, when she was really 15.) His music was (obviously) boycotted and removed from radio stations and playlists.


    R. Kelly's most memorable hits (if you want to call them that), were "Bump And Grind" (#1, 1994; little did we know about that particular song title, it's meaning, and what R. Kelly was doing back then). The other one was "I Believe I Can Fly," which is a far better song than "Bump And Grind." Another song to mention, was his duet with Celine Dion -- "I'm Your Angel" -- a #1 hit, from 1998. [Both "I Believe I Can Fly" and "I'm Your Angel" were on the R. album.


    As the two ("I Believe I Can Fly" and "I'm Your Angel" were both R&B soft ballads, these songs work better for the R. album, (and for most rappers, soft R&B songs does better, in general). As much as I try to stomach listening to R. Kelly's music now, you have to realize, that from 1994 to 2007, his music was "popular" -- He achieved six #1 albums, two #1 hits, and one #1 on Adult Contemporary (with Celine Dion). It's hard to believe that "I Believe I Can Fly" didn't reach #1 on both the Billboard Hot 100 and Adult Contemporary. And for how great "I Believe I Can Fly" was, it's hard to believe that it was recorded by R. Kelly.


    Disc One begins with a song that sounds like a fast-paced "No Diggity" by Blackstreet. But Disc One has many good, soft R&B tracks -- "When A Woman's Fed Up" (with a title like that, there were many of them fed up with his private behaviors). "One Man" -- one man, R. Kelly, who has done so much damage in his private behaviors, it's ironic that his music was still "popular"; that is, to have #1 achievements. "Don't Put Me Out" -- (cringe!) I can't start to this about THAT particular title... "Etcetera," and a title that has R. Kelly thinking about -- "If I Could Turn Back The Hands Of Time," and even another title -- "What I Feel/Issues." Oh, the thoughts R. Kelly could have... but would they be worth it?


    Disc Two begins with "The Chase," as it sounds more like something from a movie. The remaining disc is more of the common (upbeat) R&B/Rap/Hip Hop (crap). Yet it has soft R&B sounding ballads. "Reality" has potential. So does "2nd Kelly" and "Ghetto Queen," yet "Reality" is better. "Down Low Double Life" is just as good. (Yet these songs are sounding just as the common R&B.) "Looking For Love" almost sounds like Mariah Carey's "My All," which is a great song, by her. Probably the "best" upbeat song, would be "Money Makes The World Go Round." Why? It sounds more decent than any upbeat tracks from both discs.


    The actual best songs are "I'm Your Angel," and THE best song, "I Believe I Can Fly." Again, I just can't believe that R. Kelly would be the name of the singer of this song, and that it was from the Michael Jordan and Bugs Bunny (kids) movie, Space Jam.


    Today, R. Kelly is not well-liked as he was, when he achieved #1 status. After 2007, the allegations were in full force. And even as far back as 1994, is when it all started, with both his music career, and his sexual allegations. He has three children, from his second marriage, which lasted 13 years (1996-2009) [!!] Let's do the math here -- his children are now in their teens, the oldest being 20. R. Kelly having sex with young women as young as his kids? Think about that one. Even so, his age during the allegations were that him being older, and the young women much younger. The sexual abuse as accused is just as sick. Let's stop there.


    I can't see R. Kelly being as popular as we once was, if he were to record new music. His career is basically shot. Money and fame has bought himself out for being rightfully accused. Accused of sexual misconduct, abuse, and rape. He his all that, whether he admits it or not. Yet his music has been placed in the history books, so to speak. His "legacy and influence" has made him (quote), "one of the most successful R&B artists of the last 25 years." During the "peak" of his career, 30 million albums sold, writing songs for other artists, and being included in movie soundtracks. With his money, he has donated to charities, and has achieved many countless awards for his music. From 1994 to 2007, six #1 albums (8 albums total). But after 2007, his allegations were becoming more, and he did release a total of six more albums, and none of them reached popularity. He is now known for his allegations, and with any other future music to be release, if any, there is no chance that he would be popular as he did in the past.


    As bad as this is, his peak years in music will be remembered, if anyone wants to speak of it. I hardly doubt if we will hear "I Believe I Can Fly" on the air again. R. Kelly should be in jail for his crimes. But... Money talks, you know the rest..,.


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    Previous Review: #1645
    Barbara Mandrell--Ultimate Collection
    Next Review: #1647
    Rush--Moving Pictures