R. Kelly

R. Kelly is the Bill Clinton of R&B -- a man who deals with scandal by tenaciously forging ahead. This two-CD package is enjoyably tuneful from a musical standpoint, but even better at remaking Kelly's image in the wake of child-porn charges. Far from spelling the end of his career,...

By Michael Roberts

October 14, 2004

Audio By Carbonatix

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R. Kelly is the Bill Clinton of R&B -- a man who deals with scandal by tenaciously forging ahead. This two-CD package is enjoyably tuneful from a musical standpoint, but even better at remaking Kelly's image in the wake of child-porn charges. Far from spelling the end of his career, the set suggests that even photos of him getting horizontal with Osama bin Laden wouldn't shame him into retirement.

The first disc, Happy People, transforms Kelly from sexual obsessive to classic loverman with impressive deftness. The changes in attitude are noticeable, but his soulful vocals and the hookariffic melodies of songs such as "Weatherman" make the shifts seem beside the point. As for U Saved Me, it plays the Christianity card à la Slick Willie, who huddled with ministers right after Monicagate broke. On the astonishingly grandiose "3-Way Phone Call," about a different sort of three-way than Kelly usually salutes, guest vocalist Kelly Price assures him that "God will forgive you for your sins."

Of course, hearing R. croon, "I want you so bad, my pretty baby" on "The Greatest Show on Earth" is still kinda creepy -- but you'd better get used to it. Even if he's sent to prison, Kelly isn't going anywhere.

Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

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