♫ R. Kelly – Number One Hit
As the year 2010 comes to a close, R&B crooner R. Kelly is officially making his return to the music scene with his 10th studio album, Love Letter. Following his refreshing performance on the Soul Train Awards last month, the music veteran has made it clear that his forthcoming album will be nothing like your typical, modern-day “R&B” album, filled with heavily synthesized pop and hip-hop sound influences. As a matter of fact, this album slightly shows influence from either music genre.
Before hitting play, one can’t help but be curious about what the album has in store. The cover alone foreshadows some kind of old-school project, as Kelly from the times of singer Ray Charles. Nonetheless, the album kicks off with a very candid, yet soothing prelude to his single “Love Letter”, as he briefly addresses and dedicates his album to his devoted supporters as well as his nay-saying haters.
♫ R. Kelly – Just Can’t Get Enough
A few tracks later, Kelly slows it down a bit with his track, “Number One Hit”, a soulful, genuine mid-tempo track, carried by soothing strings weaving through each verse and chorus, jazzy piano keys, guitar licks, top off with a bit of flirting from the flute and horn section. One can’t help but think of one’s number one or significant other, as he lyrically describes and compares his leading lady to a chart-topping hit song. The album continues to touch on the realities of love and the inevitable ups and downs of a relationship. Kelly definitely brings us all back down to the reality of love with slow-tempos like “Not Feelin’ The Love” and “How Do I Tell Her”.
♫ R. Kelly – Taxi Cab
As the album progresses, one can tell which songs were inspired by monumental artists of music’s past. R. Kelly brings it with a Marvin Gaye influenced track entitled “Just Can’t Get Enough”. This slow song makes you want to grab your lover and just two-step through the night. On the other hand, Kelly gives us a bit of Michael Jackson “Dirty Diana” in his track, “Taxi Cab”, a song about a random, one-night stand with a woman he barely knows, but can’t get off his mind.
♫ R. Kelly – Love Is (feat K. Michelle)
Over all, this album is pretty solid. As a matter of fact this album reminded me very much of one of his previous albums, Chocolate Factory. Nonetheless, Love Letter definitely proves that R&B is still ailve and well and can truly stand on it’s own without the need to have a redevouz with hip-hop and pop. Despite R. Kelly’s personal trials and tribulations over the years, one cannot deny the talent and creativity of this man. If you grew up listening to the likes of Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson, Tammi Terrell, Ray Charles or any artists, beginning from the 60s, then go on out and grab this album. If you want timeless, feel good, love music, then this album is for you.
hands down, the best R&B album of 2010!!! im definately gonna buy it as soon as it comes out!
and omg im first for the first time since 1902!! =)
LOL
R. Kelly is a master @ his talent despite his shortcomings.
I have been waiting for R to get back to the real R&B….this album is truly a hit!
KING OF R&B!!
FOREVER & ALWAYS!
The best eva…called the cd shop to kip one safe for me…
OMG! This album is FIRE!! You can also listen to a few tracks on his Facebook page.
Everyone purchase this classic album on iTunes: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/love-letter/id405040643
Pedophilia is a shortcoming? Who the f**k approved that shit?
Yeah I would like to know too…..SMH
Get over it, he was tried in court and was found innocent. Listen to his music or stfu.
Money can buy you freedom love. Do not be fooled. No one can deny his talent but let’s not be naive and think he isn’t a paedo.
This album is GREAt & should remind us what we have been missing on the music scene. With the expection of Maxwell, Erykah & Sade ((a couple others))
WE WILL REMIND US
Sorry I still feel a kind of way about R. Kelly. Yes he is talented, SO WHAT…. He was talented on that tape too. He was never man enough to admit what he did and apologize for it. He is a pehodile who got away way with it. I have a daughter, it still makes me sick to my stomach.
Despite what the street says the jury found him not guilty. And how do you know he didn’t ask for forgiveness?
BLAH…BLAH…BLAH..GET OVER IT!!! HE’S NOT WORRIED ABOUT WHAT YOU THINK ANYWAY…
Just because you’re a celebrity does not make you any different from the paedos on the street. The jury found OJ Simpson not guilty and we all know that dude was as guilty as anything.
LOL at some pathetic buffoons coming in here to express their detest for the man. GTFOH! This is strictly music and he’s clearly shitting on every artist out there.
What’s pathetic is piece of shit people like you who call people like me buffoons for not supporting assholes like R. Kelly. If he fucked your daughter or your son or your younger sister/brother, would you say it’s “strictly music” then? Fuck no. FUCK YOU. FUCK PEOPLE LIKE YOU! You make me fucking sick. How you have the audacity to talk shit when you’re the paying this nigga’s car note after he fucked little girls and recorded it. YOU ARE THE FUCKING BUFFOON! Also just because he was proven “guilty” (ONLY after the girl opted not to testify and not on proof) doesn’t erase the tape OR his history with Aaliyah who was A MINOR. Once again, FUCK YOU.
No, bitch fuck you and this what if argument. There’s no what if because -
1. I don’t have kids
2. If I ever do. Trust that she won’t be at some grown man’s house having sex. Let’s not be delayed. That girl knew exactly what she was doing and on top of all that she was doing it for money. TRASH.
3. She wouldn’t even know about sex.
4. Stop being a enraged coon and learn how to rear your own kids. Constantly nagging it about it won’t change a damn thing. The girl in the tape has moved on and so has everyone else but YOU because YOU’RE mad that you’re poor, ugly and worthless and you will that way.
Love Letter in stores today!
This is the BEST AlBUM of THE YEAR. Give Credit Where it is Due. It’s due here. R Kelly this album is what a lot of old head need to here That REal Shit. Now I’m waiting on Anthony Hamilton The two Best R+B Soul Singers Out All on Lyfe
From what I heard so far, the album sounds like a nice solid effort. Another Great One from R.Kelly
i picked up several copies of his album this morning. 1 for me and several other copies to give away for x-mas. this album is a classic.
I was a little disappointed in Kells last album, but it seems like Imma really like this.
And yall can’t get mad at ppl for bringin up Kells past. It comes with the territory. Look at how ppl do MJ, Beyonce, Chris Brown, etc….
But Kells is a talented man.
lets not mix busisness with personal, give credit where credit is due ,MUSICAL GENIOUS,who are we to judge, maybe he has already made peace with god , who knows? only god can judge him!
i wonder if u would feel the same if he was with your child
@Sugar sweet
You’re so dumb. Learn to raise your kids then maybe they wouldn’t go around f–king everything in sight.
This might be the first albumn I purchase since 8 years. That voice is lovely. It’s like butter without all the trans fats. Back to good music not that Trey songz sex obsession nonsense.
To all the morons who think that people don’t have a right to be critical of a man who seduced and had sex with a child, I hope you never have children. Would you listen to a devout racist’s album? Would you rush out to buy O.J. Simpson’s album? He was acquitted wasn’t he? Be serious and have some standards. A lot of these fools would have a problem buying his cd if he came out and said he was gay, but being a child rapist gets him a pass, which demonstrates how effed up our values as a society are. I saw so many comments ripping into CL contributor Brian for being “flamboyantly gay” when CL posted the photos of the contributors to the blog and very few people came to Brian’s defense, but people get called out for pointing out that a man is a child rapist? Black people need a clue and have a great deal of misplaced values and priorities. I will never purchase an R. Kelly album because I think the man has a problem and has demonstrated a very unfortunate pattern of behavior. Sue me. You can go ahead and purchase the music of a child rapist.
Tell em how you feel……you spoke da truth.
You are absolutely correct I agree with everything you said whole-heartedly.It’s a shame because the man does have talent,but this is certainly not the best R&B CD of the year.There have been quite a few true R&B Cd’s as of late that are way better than this CD,for instance Ron Isley,Charlie Wilson,Eric Benet,El Debarge just to name a few!
Concrete Loop is honoring the man. If you are not on here to do the same GTFOH!! Plan and simple. He was found NOT GULITY!! U hear that…NOT GUILTY!! It’s ur opinion ALONE and won’t matter to anyone else. If you look in the past at so many actors and artist that have been arrested on drugs, dui’s, abusive chargers, etc. It doesn’t change there craft. I will be buying @ least ten copies to pass along for Christmas. Only God himself can judge and I know it’s not all cookies and creme in ur closet either. So, stop judging others and get a life of ur own.
AMEN
Well said IGNORANCE IS BLISS. Very well said.
KESHA- Please go and get a clue. R. Kelly being found not guilty is as dumb as you believing that was his twin brother in that video SMH.
@Kesha…I can assure that having sex with underage children is not something that you will find in my proverbial closet. And hitting a woman once that we know of (Chris Brown), although highly unfortunate and problematic, or doing drugs is not the same as having sex with a child.
Thank finally somebody with sense and morals speak the truth.
“Thank You” Finally somebody with sense and morals speak the truth.
^^She wasn’t a child in my opinion. In most cultures outside of the west she was old enough to marry.
Did he break the law? Yes.
Was it disgusting that he pissed on her? Yes.
Aside from his fetishes I don’t see the problem with that man.
We don’t hound Woody Allen like this.
Props to Kellz, nice album and your live performance of late have also been an enjoyment to witness.
She wasn’t a child??? Umm she was 14 wasn’t she?? Probably an 8th grader. And that wasn’t the first time Kellz had been known to mess with underage girls.
Kellz is killa artist. And Imma Kellz fan, but I can’t defend someone who can have almost any woman he wants, and he keeps choosing to go after underage girls.
Why do people always assume if YOU don’t bitch about something, others don’t either. Speak for yourself, please. Personally, I do bitch about Woody, Roman and anyone who signed the petition supporting Roman. Not to mention R. Kelly’s pedo ass. Shit like this is the reason I can’t see Black Swan in the movies lol. Damn you Natalie Portman for signing that thing! Now I have to wait for the bootleg but I’m okay with that because unlike most lazy pieces of shit on this earth, I don’t mind sticking to my convictions. People like the ones I mentioned don’t deserve anyone’s support or money. They don’t need anyone’s sympathy either. They knew what they did was wrong, didn’t give a fuck and kept doing it. Instead of giving back to the world they keep exploiting dumbass people like the ones on here. A bunch of Captain Save-A-Pedophile! I hope that nigga leaves your ass broke, you deserve it.
But DEAD at your name being “Kellz”. Bitch, GTFOH and kill yourself. If you don’t like him move the fuck on. Protesting in a topic about him won’t change a damn thing nor will it sway people into detesting him. CASE CLOSED. He’s sitting at #1 right now and sold-out at many stores across the country. Stay mad and poor!
Music at it’s best!!!
The best album of the new millenium no doubt!!! This is what I’m talking about, let the rapper stay on rap songs. Old school R&B is where it’s at.
As far as his personal life, he was acquitted, only God can judge him now.
i meant amen to ignorance is bliss
R. KELLY HAVING FLASHBACK TO THE 1920′S HE NEED TO STOP AND COME BACK, CIARA IN STORES TODAY AND THE ALBUM IS HOT!
The music is not a throwback to the ’20s. The 60s maybe. I still find it lame though. It’s actually kinda pretentious and cheezy. People still eat it up though. I don’t get it. How is he a genius for doing something that dozens of artists have already done within the last decade. Hasn’t raphael saadiq done that on his last album?
“Let he who is without sin cast the first stone…”
I hate that stupid phrase…sometimes stones need to be cast…sometimes people need to be taught a lesson. I shudder at the thought that there are men running around having sex with children and thinking that is not a big deal because we make light of it. What would have made it a problem? If she was 11? Oh, being 13 and in the 8th grade and having sex with a 30 plus year old man is acceptable? People kill me.
“Ignorance whatever” get a life. The chick u r so now protecting is the same grown ass woman now that says she wasn’t in the tape or had sex with Kelly. Get a life. If you don’t like him soo what. We r on here giving him props for his music. Go confess this shit in church!!! Amen to that one!!
I LIKEY WELCOME BACK KELLY!!!
Dude has an excellent voice but the album is a bore to me. Felt like i was reliving my parents years.
He “Just Can’t Get Enough” of underage girls. I wonder if R. Kelly wants them to at least start puberty.
What? The girl he messed with in that tape was very much in her puberty. Boobs and all. The court couldn’t even determine whether she was underage or not.
Everyone has a right to their opinions whether warranted or not. I just don’t get people clicking on a music view, read everything said about the music, and then leave a comment about their displeasures about the artist. And enough about “if that was your daughter.” the alleged victim’s parents said it wasn’t their daughter. The mom and dad. What else more do u need then that? If it was my daughter and she agreed I’d be more upset at her then the guy. I wouldn’t want her having sex with someone her age let alone older. Pray for your peace.
And to the person who asked why is he being called a genius for something dozens of people have done for a decade. It’s the fact he’s able to channel their sound and sing it how that artist would. This is him paying homage to those artists.
He is THE GREATEST R&B artist, overall, of all time. NO OTHER ARTIST can a) do as many things, b) as well as, c) RKelly. There may be better vocalists, maybe a couple better lyricists, arguably, maybe better musicians… But NO ONE has the total package that RKelly has.
This is a wonderfully complete piece of work. I especially love Radio Message, When A Woman Loves and its remix, Love Is, How Do I Tell Her, etc. This is his 11th, not 10th, studio album. I’m looking forward to the tour!
…And He sounds even better live. Buy the deluxe album vs. the regular album. The deluxe album has 4 additional songs. HAPPY PEOPLE BABY!
The album is a classic…my fav being NOT FEELIN THE LOVE- #1 HIT- MUSIC MUST BE A LADY- LOVELETTER -u kno what, the whole album and i got the deluxe version. He killed YOU R NOT ALONE, he helped MJ with that joint back n da day. RKELY SoulTrain performance was classic also, my 5yrold loves it.
Yeah R kelly is talented but im sorry, that whole ‘paedophile’ thing will defo stick for me
Remember that whole Aaliyah and him incident, in addition to the tape incident….i know its in the past now…im just saying :/
Its quite simple, we dont have a heaven or hell to put R in. We have all made mistakes, although some are worst than others, they are mistakes just the same. We are on the outside looking in. We have no idea if he saught forgiveness from the one that matters, GOD. If you are one of the few people that don’t like this CD, for this reason, then just dont buy it. Meanwhile I will be pumpin it in my ride.HOLLA
Pure Classic, as if I would expect anything less from R. Kelly
yall need to stop its over let it go the album is the best of the year period.
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