When R Kelly was king part 5
Nuisance | Miami | 02/13/2009
(4 out of 5 stars)
"In the midst of personal troubles in his life(pending statutory rape charges), R Kelly did what any R&B singer would do in his position: make a damn good album. Chocolate Factory is the last of the great R Kelly we knew and even as the last album of quality he made, it blows any of these albums made by these new jacks in the game out of the water.
Step In The Name Of Love as well as the remix are sure to get people in to the Stepping mood. Ignition and its remix were certified party starters. Heart Of A Woman, I'll Never Leave, Forever More, You Made Me Love You are vintage R Kelly slow jams. His duet with Ja Rule(Been Around The World) is pretty good as R Kelly sounds off to all his detractors. Big Tigger drops a decent verse on the hot club record Snake.
There are a few songs I could do without. Imagine That is kind of boring and Showdown is more of the R Kelly/Mr. Biggs saga that has been clubbed to death the last couple of albums. Other than that this album is great.
Chocolate Factory is the last of the R Kelly we knew before he lost his mind and decided to cater to the teenagers like that is all his fanbase consists of. There are many of good tracks to be found on here and Chocolate Factory is also more rotational than his last three albums. If you have his first five then call it quits after Chocolate Factory. Because it all goes downhill after this album. *Sigh*
Standouts: STEP IN THE NAME OF LOVE(original and remix), HEART OF A WOMAN, I'LL NEVER LEAVE, FOREVER, IGNITION(original and remix), FOREVER MORE and SNAKE."