R. KellyDouble Up
R. Kelly has never been a slouch when it comes to releasing new music. But releasing quality new music? Well, that's another story. Our favorite sexed-up oddball is over 40 and still barking "come-hithers" in a way that would make Mr. "Let's Get It On" himself, Marvin Gaye, flush with embarrassment.
The writer of hits like "Bump n' Grind," "I Believe I Can Fly," "Feelin' On Yo Booty" and "Trapped In The Closet" doesn't hold any punches, nor does he think twice about his colossal contradictions. Fairly criticized for his public image--this is a man who preaches the everlasting powers of God and promiscuous sex in the same breath--Kelly has outlasted his own image, now doomed to reinvent himself via influences like...well, himself. At this stage in his career (8 solo albums deep), it seems like he's recording for kicks; for the thrill of watching the younger generation of R&B stars actually rip-off his maniacal ideas.
One doesn't place a grossly-oversexed song like the "Sex Planet" next to an inspirational ballad like "Rise Up," a tribute for victims of the Virginia Tech shootings, without having either a great sense of irony--or a disturbing sense of humor. While I cannot condone his choice of track placement (amongst other things...), I will say that half of the "fun" of listening to an R. Kelly album is trying to predict what he's going to do next.
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