The self-entitled second solo album from R. Kelly was released in 1995, and has him come with more souful R&B for a more mature listener. It has him move away from the earlier New Jack Swing albums which brought him up in the game, and has him focus on something like "Bump N Grind" off his ... Read review
A double disc may seem indulgent after barely a decade in the biz, but after meandering ... more
through the commercial minefields of innocent fun (1992'sBorn into the '90s), pure raunch (1993's12 Play), and pop crossover (1995'sR. Kelly), Kelly has come close ...
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A double disc may seem indulgent after barely a decade in the biz, but after meandering ... more
through the commercial minefields of innocent fun (1992's Born into the '90s), pure raunch (1993's 12 Play), and pop crossover (1995's R. Kelly), Kelly has come clo...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Whatever you think of the soppy albeit inspirational 1997 hit , "I Wish I Could Fly", ... more
there is no doubt that R Kelly is the best smutty R&B (as well as the biggest selling) singer/composer of the 90s. Like an angel indulging in phone sex, Kelly has crafted a career as soulful sex machine with a voice to match. Author of Michael Jackson's "You Are Not Alone" as well as a string of hits for Celine Dion, Aaliyah and Puff Daddy, Kelly transcended his humble beginnings as a Bobby Brown clone with his overtly sexual second album 12 Play, released in 1993. Although TP-2.com marks a slight departure from his previous offerings, the material still concentrates on his usual themes: love, sex and the loss of his beloved mother. Although some of his contemporaries have been praised for working with innovative and stark hip-hop arrangements, Kelly's cross-generational appeal is reflected in his ability to sing histrionic, overblown spiritual ballads and explicitly sexual material without contradiction. So on TP.2.com he delivers a few irreverent bump & hustle anthems as well as swooning declarations to both his lovers and late mother, and it doesn't break the flow. Armed with fantastic ballads like "I Wish" and weepy string-laden tearjerkers like "The Storm Is Over Now" (complete with a delightful children's choir), TP-2.com is Kelly in A-list singing heaven. There are many highlights on this 19-track album: "Strip For You" does exactly that, as Kelly gives his girl a strip-tease over stark beats; "Fiesta", a sensual and lyrically fascinating track, takes social and sexual athletics to new heights; while the (for Kelly) atypical "Like a Real Freak", with its fusion of Spanish guitar, urban percussion and dirty talk, works favourably. TP-2.com is Kelly at his most confident and mature. It's not groundbreaking like D'Angelo, but so what? Kelly is a singer-composer who can move effortlessly and soulfully with the times. --Na'solo So Fahed
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Whatever you think of the soppy albeit inspirational 1997 hit , "I Wish I Could Fly", ... more
there is no doubt that R Kelly is the best smutty R&B (as well as the biggest selling) singer/composer of the 90s. Like an angel indulging in phone sex, Kelly has crafted a career as soulful sex machine with a voice to match. Author of Michael Jackson's "You Are Not Alone" as well as a string of hits for Celine Dion, Aaliyah and Puff Daddy, Kelly transcended his humble beginnings as a Bobby Brown clone with his overtly sexual second album 12 Play, released in 1993. Although TP-2.com marks a slight departure from his previous offerings, the material still concentrates on his usual themes: love, sex and the loss of his beloved mother. Although some of his contemporaries have been praised for working with innovative and stark hip-hop arrangements, Kelly's cross-generational appeal is reflected in his ability to sing histrionic, overblown spiritual ballads and explicitly sexual material without contradiction. So on TP.2.com he delivers a few irreverent bump & hustle anthems as well as swooning declarations to both his lovers and late mother, and it doesn't break the flow. Armed with fantastic ballads like "I Wish" and weepy string-laden tearjerkers like "The Storm Is Over Now" (complete with a delightful children's choir), TP-2.com is Kelly in A-list singing heaven. There are many highlights on this 19-track album: "Strip For You" does exactly that, as Kelly gives his girl a strip-tease over stark beats; "Fiesta", a sensual and lyrically fascinating track, takes social and sexual athletics to new heights; while the (for Kelly) atypical "Like a Real Freak", with its fusion of Spanish guitar, urban percussion and dirty talk, works favourably. TP-2.com is Kelly at his most confident and mature. It's not groundbreaking like D'Angelo, but so what? Kelly is a singer-composer who can move effortlessly and soulfully with the times. --Na'solo So Fahed
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Advantages: A couple of nice R&B tracks Disadvantages: No big club tracks
...self-entitled second solo album from R. Kelly was released in 1995, and has him come with more souful R&B for a more mature listener. It has him move away from the earlier New Jack Swing albums which brought him up in the game, and has him focus on something like "Bump N Grind" off his debut solo album, where he does sensual love songs for the ladies.
1. "The Sermon" (Intro)
2. "Hump Bounce" ...of this album, you have R. Kelly going for a typical track, in which he talks us through his Saturday night plans which begin with him going to the club, and inevitably having the bouncing from the daicng transfer into his bedroom.
**Three Stars**
3. "Not Gonna Hold On"
The type of production which you tend to expect from the Pied Piper is introduced into this one, and it has him get loose with ... more
The self-entitled second solo album from R. Kelly was released in 1995, and has him come with more souful R&B for a more mature listener. It has him move away from the earlier New Jack Swing albums which brought him up in the game, and has him focus on something like "Bump N Grind" off his debut solo album, where he does sensual love songs for the ladies.
1. "The Sermon" (Intro)
2. "Hump Bounce"
To get you straight into the feel of this album, you have R. Kelly going for a typical track, in which he talks us through his Saturday night plans which begin with him going to the club, and inevitably having the bouncing from the daicng transfer into his bedroom.
**Three Stars**
3. "Not Gonna Hold On"
The type of production which you tend to expect from the Pied Piper is introduced into this one, and it has him get loose with a smooth track based around his work on the Roland 808s, where he is able to describe his desires to be with a girl who he has been watching out for in recent times.
**Three Stars**
4. "You Remind Me Of Something"
As one of the top tracks off the album, this one has the artist getting deep whilst singing towards a girl who he is with. He likens here to several different objects which he is able to actively use in a way which bring out sexual inuendoes. Here is a a great throwback track, and one you are bound to enjoy.
**Four Stars**
5. "Step In My Room"
After getting a big cut from the artist, I felt disappointed when I heard this one as he seems to drop the quality a bit with this one as it is a rather obvious one from him, and it has him just takign over the situation when his girl comes back from work and they make it do what it do.
**Two Stars**
6. "Baby, Baby, Baby, Baby, Baby"
Here you get a very soft offerniogn from the artists, and ity has him singing in a very reserved way as he half-whispers the lines to the song when getting sentimental with his girl as he tlaks about all that they have gone through. The way it is sung prevents his voice from reaching its full potential, however the overall tune is a strong one.
**Three Stars**
7. "Happy"
I'm suprised that this one never got released as a single as it is a big one, and has Kellz collaborate with Big Poppa, The Notorious B.I.G., and they come out with a very funky joint, which fits in with what both acts are known to work with. It is a banger you can't overlook.
**Four Stars**
8. "Down Low"
You have R. kelly singin a song about the troublesome sitatuin he is in whislt sleeping with a girl who already has a man. His convincing way of sinignseduces the lsitner to go along with his plans whilst trying to keep the girl he is in a relationship with.
**Three Stars**
9. "I Can't Sleep Baby"
The singers' emotions all pour out in this track as he expresses the heartache he is subject to whilst attempting to restore the realtionship whih he had, and spoilt with a pointless argument. It is nice for the lyrics, but overall I didn't think much to it.
**Two Stars**
10. "Thank God It's Friday"
As one of the singles from the album, this one stood out to me as a big track. On it, you get Kellz singin in a smooth way as he expresses his joy at at being a Friday, and finally beign given the cahnce to let all all lose with a little 2-stepping party.
**Four Stars**
11. "Love Is On The Way"
This one has him improve on the fact that this one was lackign when it came to tempo, and so he brings it up whilst singing directly to a specific girl when he describes what he can offer to them as a potential lover. This cahnge in pace is neede, but not that effective in this instance.
**Three Stars**
12. "Heaven if You Hear Me" (Lude)
13. "Religious Love"
Obviously taking away from the momemtum which was built up over the last couple of tracks, everything is shttered with an interlude and a track which has him change the direction of his songs to give it a religious undercurrent to it.
**Two Stars**
14. "Tempo Slow"
Whilst maintaining this reurn to a slower track from the R&B vet, you get him going for a very slow and gentle track where he describes what occurs when he has fun with girls at his place. Although I found it effective at first, the repititive monotony of it all put me off after a while.
**Two Stars**
15. "As I Look Into My Life" (Lude)
16. "Trade In My Life"
To end things off you have a track which has him coming with familiar production, where he is works best, and he is able to tlak in a submissive way when referring to what he is willing to give up to be with a special girl
**Two Stars**
To be honest, really recommend this album to other than real fans of the artist as it doens't really have too much to offer when it comes to quality R&B. Kelly wasw still maturing as an artist when recording this piece, ad apart from a couple of big trakcs, due to the fact that he prodcues it all himslf, it all sounds very similar.
Advantages: Voice Disadvantages: Too many weak links
of her career and all good artists should strive to do in order to maximise their success.
...Nivea Album...
This was her debut album and was released in 2002 and features a number of well known producers. They are the following Brian Michael Cox, R.Kelly, Ted Bishop, The Neptunes, Leslie Brathwaite, Organized Noise, Swift C & Poli Paul.
The album also includes some collaborations with well known performers. These are RKelly, Brian and Brandon Casey, Mystikal, Nick Cannon, Lil Wayne and finally Pusha T of The Clipse.
1.) Still In Love
This track opens the album, it opens with a keyboard and then develops with a shuffling beat, although it sounds ok it doesnt have a spark that takes it from above average to outstanding. A nice catchy song though.
2.) Ya Ya Ya Feat Lil Wayne
This track has a hip hop feel to it, Nivea ...
jcneil 02.06.2008
· Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Nivea - Nivea
Advantages: Some great tracks Disadvantages: Lack of consistency
" - Coolio
This is a funky Hip Hop joint from the West Coast MC Coolio,, famed for "Gangsta's Paradise" the year before this soundtrack came out. This acts as a form of motivation as the beat is uplifting and the lyrics are all about succeeding in this world, the combination makes you want to strive for better things.
**Four Stars**
3. "Space Jam" - Quad City DJ's
Here is a typical dance Hip hop track from the mid-nineties, full of energy and very exciting. This one comes from a little known Miami duo, Quad City DJ's, who didn't really get too much exposure, but blow up big with this single.The track is all about the fast-paced sport of basketball, and all the girls, money and dunk associated with it.
**Five Stars**
4. "I Believe I Can Fly" - R. Kelly
Everyone knows this inspirational song which stood out as the best song ...
Advantages: All big tunes Disadvantages: Nothing specific
?Age Ain?t Nothing But A Number? came out in 1994, and was the debut album from the R&B singer, Aaliyah who tragically died at the age of 22 in a plane accident. Her she was just 15, and is joined by R. Kelly, who produces the whole thing.
1. ?Intro?
2. ?Throw Your Hands Up?
To kick the album in just the way which you expect, you have her excite you with the way that she is dropped straight into some funky Hip Hop swinging beats to begin things, and it really makes you take notice, and gives lots of potential for the rest of the thing. She blazes through on this one, and if you hear this, you will want to here what else she comes with on this record.
**Five Stars**
3. ?Back & Forth?
This song is the one which she debuted with , and it is a killer tune, so it deserved all the attention it received as it shows exactly how strong ...
Personnel: R. Kelly (vocals, various instruments); Ronald Isley (vocals); The Notorious B.I.G. (rap vocals); Ray Bady (various instruments, background vocals); Mr. Lee, Mario Winans (various instruments, programming); Jim Slattery (various instruments); Ernie Isley (guitar); Lafayette Carthon (keyboards, background vocals); Peter Mokran, Stephen George (programming); Strings, Alfonzo Walker, Charlotte Horton, Eleanor "Tinkey" Hampton, Kimmie MacFarland, Ronda V., Pepe Epting (background vocals); Kirk Franklin. Engineers: Peter Mokran, Stephen George. R. was nominated for the 2000 Grammy Award for Best R&B Album. "When A Woman's Fed Up" was nominated for the 2000 Grammy Award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance. R. Kelly starts this disc off with a straight-up gospel sermon, and his vocal style is well-suited to it. He learned his craft in church, and he gives praise to God on the disc's liner notes. Of course, the second song is called "Hump Bounce," so that also tells you where this popular, strong-voiced soul singer is coming from. Kelly sings about different aspects of love, sex, and relationships, with a style that owes much to those who came before him--Marvin Gaye, Smokey Robinson, and a host of others who refined and perfected the art of expression through vocalization. His formula is simple: take a slow or mid-tempo modern R&B structure, add a healthy dose of gospel-inflected vocal runs, up and and down the scale, and Presto!--another hit. Kelly's material is almost all of the slow-groove style. This is music to make out to, plain and simple, and Kelly is good at what he does. On "Not Gonna Hold On," Kelly and producer Barry Hankerson create a truly hypnotic jam, one that gives the singer room to flex his impressive vocal chops. The arrangement is spare, with just a steady drum tap, and a synthesized keyboard flowing like rainwater behind the background vocal track. Kelly knows how to create a mood, and he does it over and over again.
Album Reviews
Rolling Stone (5/13/99, p.74) - Included in Rolling Stone's "Essential Recordings of the 90's." Vibe (12/95-1/96, pp.137-138) - "...reshapes his personal turmoil to artistic benefit. He opens and closes the album with dramatic testimonials....if the spark of testimony is confession, Kelly shows that testimony can be genius when it is defiant....the heart of Kelly's vision...beats in the love he has found in religious faith..." Rolling Stone (1/25/96, p.72) - 3 Stars - Good - "...Kelly's third Jive effort indicates that he has the range of an R&B great. It's also the album on which R. and Robert merge offering a look at the man behind the libido..." Q (2/96, p.96) - 4 Stars - Excellent - "...frank yet seductive cooing about humpin' and boucnin'..." Entertainment Weekly (11/24/95, p.104) - "...There are times when Kelly confuses sincerity with dolorousness, but for the most part, he's pulled it off: an album that moves him into a new realm of pop ambitiousness." - Rating: A-
Titles on disc 1
1.
Intro (The sermon)
2.
Hump Bounce
3.
Not Gonna Hold On
4.
You Remind Me Of Something
5.
Step In My Room
6.
Baby Baby Baby Baby Baby
7.
Be Happy To You Be - Kelly, R. & Notorious BIG
8.
Down Low (Nobody Has To Know) - Kelly, R. & Ronald Isley
9.
I Can't Sleep Baby (If I)
10.
Thank God It's Friday
11.
Love Is On The Way
12.
Heaven If You Hear Me
13.
Religious Love
14.
Tempo Slow
15.
As I Look Into My Life
16.
Trade In My Life
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18/06/2005
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