Search - R. Kelly :: 12 Play

When R Kelly was king part 1

Nuisance | Miami | 02/12/2009

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Born Into The 90s by Public Announcement introduced R Kelly to the world. R Kelly later felt he needed to branch out and do his own solo thing. Smart move because he has been on the rise afterwards. Say what you will about R Kelly but he contributed immensely to R&B and we have to give credit where it is due. A lot of these groups now are inspired by him(as much as some of them wont admit it).



Your Body's Callin and Bump 'N Grind(yeah I said it, the hell with corny a** VH1 and Blender ragazine), Its Seems Like Your Ready, For You, Sex Me(parts 1&2) and the title track are what R Kelly excels at: the slow jams. He does fairly well on fast grooves like Summer Bunnies and Homie Lover Friend. Sadie is the best farewell song to a mother that I've ever heard(his mother had passed on). As much as I like this album I cant give it five stars. I Like The Crotch On You is laughably cheesy. Freak Dat Body has a slammin beat and nothing else and Back To The Hood Of Things should have never been attempted as R Kelly busts cornball verses like /"For real yo, you making me nervous/ and Im about to knock you in your teefes/(!!????!!!!).



Regardless of these missteps 12 Play is still a great album by a guy who didnt start making questionable releases until the 2000. R Kelly is one of the artists that defined 90s R&B so you would do well to have this album.



Standouts: YOUR BODY'S CALLIN, BUMP 'N GRIND, IT SEEMS LIKE YOU'RE READY, SUMMER BUNNIES, FOR YOU, SADIE, SEX ME(part 1&2) AND 12 PLAY."