With the constant 'boom boom boom' of hip-hop and
Rap, one aspect of black music is how it used to sound
like when it was in its prime back in the 1970s.
R. Kelly, a native of Chicago, takes this sound and
updates it with the 1990s black style. 12 Play,
released in 1993, has today's common black sound, as
in the musical styles of such great black artists as
Whitney Houston, Toni Braxton and Boyz II Men. This
album has both soulful and rap songs.
Your Body's Callin' starts out the album, and it
has the 1990s soul and also has a solo Lionel Richie-taste.
Bump N' Grind, is another soulful song
that gave R. Kelly more recognition, as it reached #1,
even though 12 Play was his second release.
It Seems Like You're Ready is another slow
soulful tune like Bump 'N Grind.
In this era of rap, obviously, R. Kelly devotes his
time to this, as Homie Lover Friend mixes soul with
rap. Freak Dat Body, is definitely rap, no soul
about it. I Like The Crotch On You is more funk
than any other style, as it combines funk and rap.
At the end of I Like The Crotch On You, is a
non-titled track, an Intermission. It features piano,
vocals and guest vocals, as it looks like the participants
are just playing around singing and playing on the piano.
This Intermission doesn't even end, the music just fades
out, even though this group of people are still singing.
Summer Bunnies is another funky rap number,
in the style of the late Tupac Shakur (2Pac).
For You is a very peaceful sounding song, that
features great instrumentation. It has a somewhat slow
ballad Earth, Wind & Fire aura about it.
Check it out: With a title like Back To The Hood
Of Things, what kind of musical style would best describe
this tune? (The Jeopardy song is now playing...) The answer:
RAP!
Sadie, is another peaceful ballad in the style
of the solo Lionel Richie, or a Commodores ballad. It's
soulful and beautiful.
The 12-minute Sex Me (Parts I & II) starts
out just like Bump N' Grind, with just R. Kelly's
vocals, and once the music kicks in, it is another soulful
ballad as his #1 record. Considered Part II of this song,
has R. Kelly scrolling through his answering machine messages,
but when the music returns, it's just a continuation
of Part I.
The last composition on this album has a title that is
called ................ It is another slow soulful
ballad as Bump 'N Grind. In fact, the lyrics recite
a reference to R. Kelly's first (and only, as of this date
June, 1998) #1 song.
Most of the songs on 12 Play follow the musical
structure of Bump N' Grind. And these soulful tunes
stand out as the best on this album. Even though the rap
tunes breaks away from the soul flavors, (or is that flavas?)
12 Play is a very good album for those who enjoy 1990s
Soul. And 12 Play has a lot of sex appeal to it. The
soulful tunes can easily set the mood for any romantic situation.
One thing that stands out for these soulful tunes, is that
it compares to the 1970s soul music, yet it has the 1990s touch.
And quite frankly, 1970s soul music defines true black music.
The rap of today has its moments, but listening to the soul
numbers on 12 Play makes you want to listen to more of
this musical style. It also makes the listener branch back to
the 1970s era and discover or re-discover what made soul music
so great. Groups like The Commodores, Earth, Wind & Fire are just
two of so many groups that define true great soul music.
And we often think that there should be more music like
the soulful tunes found on 12 Play. Thanks to one
group, Boyz II Men, and R. Kelly himself, we can enjoy cool,
soul music, as they put their 1990s touches it.
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