I push the seek button on my radio: “I Invented Sex” by Trey Songz. I push it again, and Young Money’s “Bedrock” is on. This cycle continues until I settle on “Try Sleeping With A Broken Heart.” Alicia Keys is always the safe bet, and in this case, she may have just saved my 20 minute drive.
The teenagers I work with, self-proclaimed R&B fanatics, love Trey Songz. Specifically, they adore the song “I Invented Sex.” The lustful lyrics, the take charge mentality has both genders fantasizing. Trey sings, “Know we ’bout to sin, but your body is a blessing, Father forgive me,” 15 year old girls eat up, and 15 year old boys believe it like scripture. And as a society, we wonder where the romance has gone? We question whether or not the younger generation respects women enough. That generation knows the bedroom, and all the metaphors that describe it, but their game is twisted.
Man or woman, we all had or have a close-by CD or tape for life’s intimate encounters. I’ve seen it called the “Get The Drawers Mix.” In my teens, my older brother schooled me never to name it anything incriminating just in case the lady friend would ask for a copy. I stuck with the safe “So Soulful Mix.” Although there were several incarnations of “So Soulful,” the good ones typically started out with classics like Al Green’s “Simply Beautiful,” where intentions weren’t overt, as the mix progressed to The Isley Brothers’ “Between The Sheets” and usually climaxed with the Marvin Gaye classic “Let’s Get It On” – cliche for a reason. The process of making the tape was as artful as the desired effect. Maintaining the groove was essential, as also the song order was of the utmost importance. The risk and reward of suggestive songs could make or break an evening. The music allowed for interpretation, suggestion and if nothing else, simply just felt like almost-innocent good music to have on.
Take a look at Power 99’s – Philadelphia’s number 1 Hip Hop and R&B station, Top Jams and figure out the trend. The female artists seem to make music about break-ups and the regrets (See Alicia’s “Try Sleeping with a Broken Heart” and even Melonie Fionia’s “It Kills Me”) the men, well, the song titles include, “I Invented Sex,” “Say Aah,” “Bedrock” and “Sex Therapy” should tell you enough. Yes, the ever-dope and classy Maxwell is on the list twice, but the numbers don’t lie. Seemingly, the formula that R. Kelly claimed to have perfected is now followed to a tee. Artists have their club songs, mandatory deep song, fill the rest with sex songs, usually led by one that actually has hit potential. Truly, it’s paint-by-numbers. Maybe it catches the eye but there really isn’t any truth to the piece. Follow the script – read your lines – unfortunately they haven’t even grasped that even the average actors improvise. Their game is twisted.
When Marvin Gaye wailed “Oh baby” in the classic “Let’s Get it On,” he wasn’t pouring his heart out about a one night stand. The song was rumored to cement the divorce from his first marriage and be very suggestive of Gaye’s intentions for his second. There is way too much emotion in that song to be talking about a simple fling, and regardless of context, you can hear it in the timeless classic. Ron Isley and company spent way to much time crafting the beautiful to act as a cheap pick up line or braggadocios moment. Paul Mooney and Richard Prior could hook you up with the one liners and even then the stories that went with them were more complex than half of what we hear in R&B lyrics today. If Soul music is dying, it’s not radio, the deejay or the ringtone that is killing it. If the music is dying, the artist is killing it.
The Al Greens, Marvin Gayes, and Isley Brothers have been staples in the late night mixtape for nearly 50 years. The same music that I diligently played on my turntable, with a blank Maxell on dub, somebody today is making a playlist on his iPod. It’s timeless music, from the melodic bassline in “Between the Sheets” to the desperation in Marvin’s voice. Occasionally, we’ll add a new song to the rotation. Maxwell’s “Whenever Wherever However” is one, D’Angelo’s “Untitled” is another, and Quincy Jones’s “Secret Garden” earns a spot on my list. It’s a dying art, unfortunately. There are no more illusions; every sex metaphor known to man has been used. From The Flintstones to the zoo – artists have forgotten the romance, the wooing, even the crooning sounds ridiculous when the lyrics are all about penetration.
Make no mistake though, it’s not just the new generation that has done this. Leon Haywood’s “I Wanna Do Something Freaky To You,” was released in 1973, which reappeared 19 years later as thee Dr. Dre sample. Even the aforementioned “In Between The Sheets” is provocative in its own right. The ’80s were filled with its share of records where sex wasn’t an innuendo but rather the blunt emphasis of the record. Jodeci toed the line, at times brilliantly, in the ’90s, and R. Kelly’s “Bump N’ Grind” left little on the table. “Aint’ nothing wrong…” he sang, and we accepted it. Never did we guess that revolution would follow.
It’s hard to even name drop R. Kelly when discussing this issue without wanting to pass the blame completely. Kelz’ last few albums have seen The R devote his entire self to this one topic. He’s a classic example of an artist who isn’t willing to age with his fans. While those who played “Bump N’ Grind” religiously when it dropped are now husbands and wives, R. Kelly is kicking it with OJ Da Juiceman singing “Superman High.” I personally have an uncle who acts the same way; he was real cool until we realized how pathetic his youthful plight was. The exaggerated daps and stories were all a way to hide his insecurities, sound familiar, Robert? Every album sees R. Kelly continually trying to revive topics that he helped make cliche. It’s getting sillier and sillier; Double Up – was comical at best with the awful “Zoo” while Untitled seemed to rightfully earn every poor review it got. I’d be on my way to a divorce if I played “Be My #2″ or “Banging The Headboard” in the presence of my wife. Worse yet, even as a 27 year-old, I think I’d be embarrassed for it to be exiting the speakers in my house.
The younger generation of artists has followed R. Kelly’s lead. At one time, he was considered the absolute truth. His first albums acted as a blueprint for entering the R&B game successfully. Now, sadly, he’s competing for the same audience of the artist he helped inspire. He was one of the first who fused Hip Hop and R&B successfully, but now each effort slowly diminishes his hard work. Truth be told, there isn’t much of a difference between R. Kelly and Trey Songz or any other sex-crazed male artist on radio. Maybe Kelz was the source, the originator; maybe he indeed is the corrupted R in R&B. He has altered radio like none other, he could have made his mark but instead of moving on and leaving his print, he’s stayed put sinking everything it once meant. When you stand knee-deep in sexual references, there is no possibility to win – let alone be the king.
Part of the problem may be that new artists have a genuine lack of mentors. The artists of the ’90s have slowly faded away with very few of them still making any impact of the charts. Some others like, Kelly, have competed to stay relevant. Others like Joe, and Brian McKnight, have pushed on musically, straying to Adult Contemporary instead of traditional R&B markets. Too many don’t know their history. Unaware of the foundation they have to build – the importance of live shows, musicianship and diversity in content. Instead, they’re determined to obtain fame be it by antics or raunchy brash lyrics. I’m not saying their shouldn’t be a place for it but Bobby Brown maxed out the idea, as did Kelz: if you put all your chips on one idea, even if you get rich, there’s little possibility of doing it again.
The game is twisted. Our focus shouldn’t be on the positive lyrics that some conservative critics suggest. The focus should be on groundbreaking, honest content, insightful, timeless lyrics with cinematic accompanying production. If we are to sacrifice one for another, we are stuck in this conundrum of today’s climate. We don’t need a straight line, just balance. Inevitably, someone is always going to rock the boat, but there are only so many people that can do that before it capsizes and it takes us all under.
I come from the age of R & B groups specifically the era of the Greatest group ever Boyz II Men and the gift and the curse of them was their versatility. Everyone in Boyz II Men could sing, in fact some of their best material is A cappella and they’re still together doing albums despite the minimal love they receive in the states. I love R&B, and I think there is some good material out there today with Marsha Ambroshias, Jill Scott, Erika Badu, Anthony Hamilton, Maxwell, and I think Ne-yo is on to something too. However there are no groups anymore, I think that’s a piece that was left out in R&B as well. I agree with the article, there is no mystery to it any more. It’s all about sex and heart break and trying to prove they’re just as thug as the rappers (R&B Thug). To the artist defense there is a hell of a lot of sex, heart break and Thugs out there! There is no respect for the opposite sex any more, and just as well it isn’t in high demand either! I understand the artist catering to their audience, hell it’s a recession but I feel the article, I think these young artists today have a lot of potential. Hopefully this is merely the storm before the calm and Songz, Thicke and the like will evolve into making love not just having sex. Again, I like our artists today, I miss groups, and I wish we could get back to a time when R&B and R&B soul weren’t different genre’s of music.
Groups such as Boyz II Men and Jodeci had CEO’s, Mike Bivens and Andre Harrell, that recognized talent and wanted to see them succeed. Nowadays you have so many RnB groups with talent stuck in bad label situations. Case and point, Day 26. They’re more than a Diddy reality TV project. They actually have great music. Not the stuff the radio plays but the good slow music on their cd’s.
Same ole gripe from some dude who thinks he knows what “REAL” RnB is. You fill your IPOD with a lil Marvin Gaye, Barry White, Isley Bros and the like and think you know what music should be. I listen to and love several of the legendary soul music artists, Sam Cooke being my favorite. I have a lot of music from that era and love many of those artists. But see, these types of articles ALWAYS fall flat. It’s obvious that the author’s personal feelings about R. Kelly have an influence on his writting. As do many of the articles that criticize Kelly’s recent musical decisions even sometimes mentioning his legal battles and using cheap jokes constantly while reviewing his albums.
You see anything below musical perfection from R. Kelly to these types of people provides more ammo for those who would like to see him out of the music industry because of their own personal feelings about him. So when someone like The-Dream who’s production and writing style mimic R. Kelly almost to the point of copyright infringement and a young Trey Songz who tries his hardest to sound like R. Kelly enter the public, these same detractors give exaggerated and even undue credit and are eager to crown a new king. They want the sound but not the man. You know good and well R. Kelly is not just some dude who sings about sex. If that’s all he was he would not be here 20 years later. What makes R. Kelly who he is is his incredible diversity, creativity and well, craziness.
True, much of rnb of today sucks, but don’t blame R. Kelly for people who try to imitate him and fail. One part of the genius of R. Kelly is that he is able to make songs like “You Remind Me of My Jeep” and “Feelin’ On Your Booty” into certified classics. This has not so much to do with the subject matter itself(which is what today’s RnB artists fail to understand) but in the incredible talent of R. Kelly to make songs like that work. Direct R. Kelly knock off fluff like “Invented Sex” is a prime example of where artists of today who imitate him go wrong. It succeeds in the ears of those who enjoy it primarily because of the direct influence of R. Kelly and because of the way Trey is promoted to the teenage girl audience especially since Chris Brown’s image has been tarnished.
Now concerning much of R. Kelly’s current day music. He’s made some bad decisions, autotune being chief among them. But when Double Up and Untitled are discussed to who’s standard do we compare these albums? R. Kelly’s and R. Kelly’s only. Even the greatest artists have made a few bad albums.
Look Smoov, i dig what you’re saying about this writer failing to present an article with an objective tone. I also hear you about this being another cat griping about the crap we hear on the radio. The problem is that he is correct. Case in point, my 5 year old son can already decipher and understand what he can and cannot repeat off the radio. The shit is just weak right now. Trey songs can blow, but his shit is all the same. Dream can’t sing worht a shit. Period. My 5 year old son does however love John Legend’s second album, and he found that out all on his own. The thing is, the writer made a great point about the music in that, we don’t need the artist to write and sing the super concious lyrics however, wheres the creativity? the shit all sounds the same. You’d be lying to yourself to argue it doesn’t. I can’t tell half these bums apart. But if you throw on a playlist strictly with 70’s music, it would go on from sun-up to sun-up. Just test this on yourself – name all the groups from that era that you can, and i bet you can also name at least a handful of songs by them. Now try that on the last 10-15 years, and if you’re over 26, i bet you start to slow do after about 97!!!!
nah 4get all that the 1st commentor mention, smoovcool u hit it on the nail to, RKELLY doing what he been doing and haters hate him personally try to dissect the man to broken compounds, im still rootin 4 my dude UNTITLED is fire!
I’m 20 years old and to be completely honest…. I agree 100% with this editorial. I do love R. Kelly but thats as far as i’ll take it (prior to Double Up album). I feel R. Kelly is the father of raw and just hot sex music. But thats it “sex music” now if you wanna make love to your wife, the mother of your child, your future wife, or your girl that you just fell in love with. Then I agree R. Kelly, Trey, etc… isnt what should be coming through the speakers. Rather any song from Joe keeps a good balance. Artist’s such as Trey Songz, Wayne, Drake, R. Kelly trying to turn the clock back are killing what R&B is or should i say was. I as i said earlier what they are making are not is not R&B but rather “sex music”…… PS all the “sex music” that is being bashed is only played on the radio and if your getting it on with the radio then you need a pointer or two on starting the mood…
I completely agree with everything in this article. I never thought of it this way before but truth be told this is the exact reason the substance of todays music has completely dropped off. We won’t be listening to gucci mane, jamie foxx, drake, lil wayne, trey songz, birdman, etc in 20 years and that’s the difference between artists of the 50s, 60s, 70s, and 80s compared to today’s artists.
The article and the comments are on point..I concur with the writer in that R.Kelly is to great of an artist to resort to things in the past that led to him being in the state where he is now.It’s like that athlete that was great when he was in his prime and he still thinks he can compete at that same level as when he came into the league. Only musicians and artists can be “timeless” if they so choose to.
Listen to Musiq soulchilds love songs. Listen to Maxwell’s love songs.They of are a different age and time and they rate up there with the classics. Thats why an Isley Brothers ,Gap Band,Donny Hathaway “The greatest in my opinion” or Marvin Gaye song can be played today and still have the same emotion. They can also be in my regular everyday ipod rotation, along with the Lauryn Hills,and the Maxwell’s or Neyo’s…..Anyone can say that they invented sex, but only a few can say that they invented LOVE.
In case we havent forgotten remember sex is momentary and fleeting, Love is forever!
you need to listen to say it by ne-yo
Very true but Drakes Rnb is pretty honest Trey and R Kelly are jus tryin to smash through the whole cd
I thought Drake was a jewish Rapper??
http://www.reverbnation.com/artist/artist_videos/659615?sel_song_id=3407393&autoplay=1
Dead on DX..I was talkin about this the other day with people. I gotta agree with writer about R. Kelly too, he never bashes dudes old stuff, but name a timeless Kelz track in the last 5 maybe 10 years? Is anybody going to be singing Ignition Remix? Great read though, i appreciate it.
Not sure how anybody can disagree with the Kelz comments in the article..the last two albums he made were awful, terrible, obnixous, and so on.
Good read
Great read. Listening to Rose Royce all day.
Everyone should read this article…………twice!!
Dx has’nt had a post worth reading in months, good job Luke. Everyone’s already made good pionts so I will just add that the problem is the fast food mentality of the entertainment industry. Labels don’t have time to let an artist be themselves, so they put them in the Usher, R. Kelly mold. Teach em how to dance, take em to the gym, oil em up so he can take off his shirt and sell records to 16 year olds. I took my wife to a Musiq concert a few weeks ago, and I was really impressed. The ages there ranged from 18 to 50 and everyone was jamming. You know why, because he has real songs that stick with you. Nobody over 30 is going to a Trey concert. Speaking of Trey, although this was his most successful year, I’m really disappionted. His first album was very soulful( just gotta make it), but it didnt sell much, so they had to turn him into R Kelly jr. The women hold it down for R&B by far.
This article was well written, interesting, it’s extremely relevant and is a catalyst for thought. There’s only one thing i disagree on, and it may not have been so potently suggested in the article but certainly in some comments, and that’s on Trey songz being labeled alongside Kels while they’re a generation apart and their careers couldn’t be so distant from each others.
Trey’s still young, he’s actually quite close to the age where Kels released his debut album, so it’s unfair to pair him in with Kels right now, it’s too soon to judge his career when he hasn’t been let to progress with time. I hope Trey succeeds where Kels failed, in what this article highlighted as refusing to let his music age with his fans and himself to be honest.
I always say how much greater of an artist Trey Songz could be if he just wrote less radio driven songs and did some actual R&B, because there is room for it; Maxwell is filling some of that void, but not much else, Raheem too but that’s just about it right now.
No doubt man, Trey showed signs of it on his first album, then he tried to “grow” as an artist. I was pretty upset with that cause his first album was damn near a classic to me! I guess that’s the way it goes when you’re trying to sell records though.
This article is speaking the truth. It kind of reminds me of an article I read about if chivalry was dead in R&B
http://www.examiner.com/x-10519-RB-Music-Examiner~y2010m2d26-Is-chivalry-dead-in-RB
To be honest, I think that this type of music is selling because these kids like living in a fantasy. Their hormones are jumping and the sex talk is what they want to hear and that is what these R&B singers are delivering. These songs won’t be remembered in the next decade and that’s the reason why they aren’t loved by everyone.
Never heard the Leon Haywood song.but anyways i thought it was a good read. It was a well written article where opinions were backed up.
Great article . . . shouts to dude who’s son found John Legend’s 2nd cd all on his own. . . ur man is well on his way
good article. but don’t cut the women any slack. all they do is sob these days. alicia keys has been sobbing for three straight albums. and she’s way too fine for that.
i got several mix cd’s that survive this madness. wanna get romantic r&b/hip: “can i talk to you” by talib kweli featuring bilal, production by james poyser… begin your mix at that joint and thrive onwards.
kells needs to come back and revive what he killt, but i will say that untitled is better than his last two efforts and just as corny as 12play. and remember, kells peaked after that album and became the genius he once was.
john legend’s second album suffices, despite his screw-up to try to cross over further with that evolver madness. rafael saddiq’s last one is romantic if not sexy. i’ve been bumpin d’angelo’s voodoo and gregory isaacs’ greatest love songs lately. as for contemporary young cats, they stay in the pass(t) like my rearview.
true that my brother. true that. i just played some sam cooke as my girl went to sleep. i can’t play “bedrock” or “i wanna fuck every girl in the world.” its embarrassing as a dude to even play that.
I can’t say that I disliked Double Up. Personally I liked Double Up a fuck load more than I did TP3 Reloaded (what the fuck kind of title is that even thought TP2.com is a worse title). Anyway the point is, Double Up, while not a classic R. Kelly album as we’ve been used to hearing from the self proclaimed “King of R&B”, it really wasn’t all bad.
But I digress, my real point in all this is that I do for the most part agree with what was said in this article. It is for these reasons why I haven’t listened to the radio in about 5-6 years. Everything out there sounds the same; terrible. Well not everything, but I’m hard pressed to hear good music. Maxwell was out of the game for a good fuckin minute, and I can still “bang the headboards” to Til the Cops Come Knockin. And I’m only 21, statistically speaking I shouldnt know of any of this old stuff that’s being said here (thank JESUS for my mother’s extensive no-nonsense musical library).
All that being said, I have to agree Mr. Kelly is on a definite decline. I find it funny that the younger he was, the older his soul seemed to be, but now that he’s about 42, he’s got the mentality of a 17 year old. It kind of hurts that after releasing classic album after classic fuckin album (i mean tell me are you really gonna press the skip button on I Wish?) that the last 3 of his records were just bleh. I mean Trapped in the Closet was entertaining but still, not so much. I wish that he would just sit down and marathon all his records, and really look at the man in the mirror and realize what he’s doin to the industry he revolutionized. I just want one more classic from the man, because honestly he’s a genious. His first 5 albums are the reason why I didn’t want him to go to jail.
If u can CALL KELZ..A SELF PROCLAIMED KING OF R AND B AFTER 20 YRS IN THE GAME AND 100’S..COUNT’EM…OF HITS..U MY FRIEND R DELUSIONAL..THIS MAN WROTE AN ENTIRE ISLEY BROTHERS ALBUM..FUC OUTTA HERE….AND AT 27..IF U CANT PLAY BANGIN THE HEADBOARDS..A JAM I MIGHT ADD..OR BE MY NUMBER 2..A CHICAGO CLASSIC..THEN U JUST GOT OLD…IM 28 AND KELZ STILL DELIVERS..TRY TP4..AN UNRELEASED GEM FROM KELZ AND TELL ME KELZ DONT KILL HIS ENTIRE COMPETITION
I think I said I was 21 not 27.
He did proclaim himself as the king of r & b, no one else did. I didnt say I disagree, i just said that he proclaimed it.
DL DUB
Kellz was not the first to proclaim himself King Of RnB. Back in ’96 Vibe did an article on him calling him the King. But when “R” dropped in ’98(10 times platinum) people started to really understand
Jaheim still makes music from the heart
Boring read… if you dont like whats on the radio, change the station… Better yet invest in a ipod. Making mix cd’s with the hopes some naive girl will give you some twat?? It dont get to much lamer… And this shit not letting me sign in the forums!
Amen…great read. Radio is part of the problem, when one entity owns almost every station, the playlists are going to be similar. You can’t just turn the station and hope to get a new tune.
Anthony Hamilton….nuff said!
Anthony Hamilton!
I’d like to throw Raphael Saadiq as someone doing it right.
Also, let’s not forget that there are a lot of ladies doing this same thing. Lady Gaga comes to mind, but the worst offender is by far Rihanna. I have to change the station every time one of her songs comes on- they are straight up vulgar.
Here’s an article that discusses it a little bit more.
http://www.blumpkinreadingmaterial.com/2010/03/reverse-sexyism.html
Also, I think it’s kind of funny that Dr. Dre went back to that Leon Haywood sample and took the second part for “The Wash.”
The good doctor should know that lightning never strikes twice in the same spot.
WOW..THE REWRITING OF KELZ HISTORY IS IN FULL EFFECT…AS A DIE HARD CHICAGOAN KELZ FAN..TRUST ME ITS A DIFFERENCE…THIS ARTICLE WHILE AN INTERESTING READ IS FULL OF MISTAKES REGARDIN THE LEGACY WHICH KELZ HAS BUILT..NOT TRIED..NOT “SELF-PROCLAIMED” BUT DID…WHAT TOO MANY ARTISTS IN THE GAME LACK…THE ART OF MAKIN HITS…U CANT VILLIFY AN ARTIST FOR DOIN WHAT THEY HAVE ALWAYS DONE AND U CAME TO LIKE THEM FOR…KELZ MAKES GOOD ‘FUCKIN’ MUSIC..ALWAYS HAVE..ALWAYS WILL..AND INBETWEEN THAT SOME SERIOUS “RELATIONSHIP” SONGS..WHEN A WOMANS FED UP..YOU MADE ME LOVE YOU..THE ENTIRE “CHOCOLATE FACTORY CD”…U MIGHT HAVE NOT LIKED TP3..IT WASNT MY FAVORITE EITHER..BUT WHAT U FAILED TO MISS IS THE SHAWTYS LOVE THAT ALBUM..WHY..BECAUSE THEY MISSED THE COMIN UP OF KELZ..U AND I DIDNT..WE HAD TP2..KELZ GOT 2 DIFFERENT GENERATIONS WHO FUC WIT HIM FOR DIFFERENT REASONS…HE NOT STUCK AT 17…U STUCK ON THE 90’S..IN THIS DECADE ALONE…HE DROPPED 2 CLASSICS AND SOME HONORABLE MENTIONS..HAPPY PEOPLE..A CONCEPT ALBUM OF STEPPERS CUTS…NOT TO MENTION HE HAS NOT ONE MALE PEER FROM THE 90’S…NOT ONE NIGGA OUTSIDE OF HIM ON THE R AND B SIDE HAS A CAREER TO SPEAK OF…THIS IS NOT A STATEMENT..ITS A FACT…U SPOKE ON HIS GROWTH..IN THE MID 2000’S..HE NOT ONLY DID A GOSPEL ALBUM…HE PRODUCED AN ENTIRE ISLEYS RECORD AMONGST OTHER ENTIRE ALBUMS HE PRODUCED…HE DROPPED A MATURE CLASSIC..CHOCOLATE FACTORY..AND STILL SOMEHOW MANAGE TO PUT OUT TWO BOOTLEG CLASSICS..TP4..WHICH WASNT MENTIONED AND LOVELAND…AS WELL AS A DUET ALBUMWIT HIS MALE RAP COUNTERPART..JAY…FUC OUTTA HERE WIT THAT KELZ GROWTH SHIT…SURVEY SAYS THATS A LIE..HE WAS ON SOME FUTURISTIC SHIT 10 RS AGO WIT THE TP2 SHIT…THE PROBLEM IS HIS UNDERLINGS CANT PERFORM FOR SHIT AND THEY DO SECOND RATE SHIT…THE VERY FACT THAT U COMPARIN TREY SONGZ..A DUDE WHO IS VERY DECENT BUT IS NOWHERE IN HIS CAREER BY HIS THIRD ALBUM WHERE KELZ WAS…KELZ HAD SNATCHED THE ENTIRE GAME BY THEN AND HAD IT IN A STRONGHOLD….DOUBLE UP HAD “REAL TALK” ON IT…WHICH IS A VERY BLUNT RECORD BUT THATS HOW U TALK IF U FROM THE SOUTHSIDE OF CHICAGO.. U JUST MIGHT NOT GET IT…AND UNTITLED IS AN ENJOYABLE ALBUM..U JUST MIGHT E MISSIN THE HEAT…WITH THAT SAID KELZ IS THE UNDISPUTED KING OF R AND B…CHECK ALL YO FAVORIT SINGERS CREDITS OVER THE YRS…REAL TALK..”HATIN NIGZ HAVE YALL HEARD..I HATE YALL TOO AND THATS MY WORD….KELZ”HATIN NIGGAZ”..UNRELEASED GEM..AMONGST THE OTHER THOUSAND KELZ CUTS
People who type in all caps really do not want their shit read.
Regardless of ya caps, u hit it on the head bro. the person who wrote this definetly skipped over shit kels has done and the untitleed album is fire. Kels is just doing what he been doing but this new generation sucks to me, Trey is cool but i hate when peepo put him over Kels, like peepo put Kanye over JAY Z. NIGGAZ LAID FOUNDATION AND THEY STILL HERE AND STILL STRONG.
For the record Rkelly is still da man, feeek dem other dudes!
appreciate the peice and miss those days. I’mma be playing marvin for days!
This is a great article, the last paragraph pretty much said everything. Just like in Hip-Hop today, there is also no balance in R&B. I like the trey songz and the dreams but all that sexual shit gets played out after a while. Im only 21 years old and when i have females over i strictly play Maxwell, D’Angelo, and even pull out some Marvin or Al. All the over-sexed music is cool at times but the radio needs to start recognizing the classic R&B sounds of today which would include your Maxwell, Raheem DeVaughn, Lyfe Jennings, Jaheim, Novel, The Foreign Exchange, & Anthony Hamilton. When I look at Trey Songz track record his best song to this day is Just Gotta Make It which is one of his least sexual songz. Save the Invented Sex and Wonder Woman’s for your one night stands but always have a classic R&B album to pull out when its more that a one night stand.
Great read. Few things i may expand on, the woman aren’t holding it down all together – i believe that the expansion of the neo soul movement is the only group of artists making timeless music. I have a hard time believing that outside of a box of artists that in 30 years we’ll be playing Trey or Kelz or anybody else that is really relevant on the radio
THEY ARE STILL PLAYIN KELZ 20 YRS LATER…SO UR POINT IS INVALID
I completely agree with this. Although, I think they will be playing Trey Songz and R.Kelly 30 years from now… but nobody’s gonna call it soul music. I’m not a fan of R.Kelly, but I recognize how he’s shifted the direction of R&B music. I’ve listened to tracks by Songz that aren’t singles, and I have to say, the kid has some good ones that mimic that classic soul we all know and love. Problem is, those will NEVER be remembered over “I Invented Sex” because they’re not singles – they’re not the focus, they’re not what the label wants him to be seen as (or maybe he doesn’t want to be seen as). None of his singles are ones that mimic classic soul.
I think if we search, we can find that sound we’re all looking for, that take us back to days of real romanticism in music – before all the cliches, one-liners and “yeah I heard that shit before” type of songs came along. It will take some elbow grease, but I think if we have to, we should give these artists a chance to take their music elsewhere. Then again, sex sells. true story.
Great read. Few things i may expand on, the woman aren’t holding it down all together – i believe that the expansion of the neo soul movement is the only group of artists making timeless music. I have a hard time believing that outside of a box of artists that in 30 years we’ll be playing Trey or Kelz or anybody else that is really relevant on the radio
I totally feel this article. One of my main reasons for making music is to become timeless. I never want to be a ‘hot’ topic…I need my music to be around for generations. I was inspired by artists who were good enough to talk of real subjects, but use enough talents to leave something to the imagination. And, in turn, I want to inspire. But, these cats aren’t even trying anymore. Yeah…I said it. Check out my music, please!!! This is what R&B should be. http://www.LaLa.com search ‘J.Vocal’, http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/jvocal, http://www.iTunes.com. I’m writing over here!!! (smile)
I totally feel this article. One of my main reasons for making music is to become timeless. I never want to be a ‘hot’ topic…I need my music to be around for generations. I was inspired by artists who were good enough to talk of real subjects, but use enough talents to leave something to the imagination. And, in turn, I want to inspire. But, these cats aren’t even trying anymore. Yeah…I said it. Check out my music, please!!! This is what R&B should be. http://www.LaLa.com search ‘J.Vocal’, http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/jvocal, http://www.iTunes.com. I’m writing over here!!! (smile)
RKELLY IS DA MAN AND THATS ALL I GOT TO SAY. The rest just sounds like slight hate from peepo.
GO COP UNTITLED!
R. Kelly was the man and can still be hold that title down if he wasn’t trying to sound like The Dream and everyone else in the game. By the way Untitled was trash and im not even a hater… Kellz is one of my favorite R&B artists of all time. I got every album up untill Double Up.
@reply 1…U THINKIN KELZ SOUND LIKE THE DREAM IS FUNNY CONSIDERIN THE DREAM IS USING KELZ STYLE COMPLETELY ON HIS SECOND ALBUM..U NEED A RELISTEN AND “EXIT” ON UNTITLED IS BETTER THAN 98% OF WHAT WAS PUT OUT LAST YR..FALL OFF..I DONT THINK SO
the truth was just written(or typed). im only 23 yrs old but i hate the R&b music of today. take me back 7 years ago when we had great Neo Soul like Jill Scott, Bilal Musiq Soulchild. i can proudly listen to those songs in the car with my parents and not be ashamed of the crap im hearing. give me Lauryn Hill, old D’Angleo, Dru Hill, Mint Condition.
The writer is dead on. The subtlety in R&B has been completely removed. When it comes to women, the good ones that I know, they prefer to take things slow and leave something to the imagination. The sluts I know want the dick in their face on the first acquaintance. Now I’m not said that their aren’t any good girl freaks, or prude sluts, but that’s never usually the case.
There is absolutely no balance in music period, and there’s only two genres that have remained consistent and true to their roots and those genres are Jazz and Classical. Nothing is done in a slick way anymore, it’s all in front of your face and done so cheaply. There’s no class in music anymore, 99% of it is disposable bullshit that doesn’t even need to be made.
When it comes to R&B and Hip-Hop, those genres are played on almost every radio station. It’s not adults that call the radio stations, it’s impressionable young teen boys and girls. I sat in my room one Saturday listening to little girls sit outside on the stoop that can’t be no older than 12 years old singing “I Invented Sex” like it was a comedy record recorded live and put on repeat.
I’m confuse though when I read comments where people say “I’m from Chicago and R.Kelly isn’t the issue” or have other sentiments on that. Just because your from the same state as someone doesn’t make that person innocent of what their being accused of, and it doesn’t make you the authority on that person or subject. I was born in Cali, I think OJ is guilty. I live in New York now and I think that the US Gov’t was behind 9/11. People, no matter what color or nationality MUST be careful what people they champion has their heroes.
i have been saying this for along time and i will say it again that there are no acts following in the footsteps of the greats and legends who paved the way for classic music to be made.As a hip hop artist myself i try to do the complete opposite of what’s hot because hot does not stay hot for that long before it gets cold and nobody wants it.there is definitely no class left in r&b or hip hop there isnt even any groups that are breaking out the box it’s the same old cats making the same old tracks and the same old rats eating the same old cheese. i have been making music for 10 yrs now and i will never compromise who i am when it comes to that . what people don’t realize is u can make music that people can dance to and enjoy without looking or sounding like an act of off the disney channel,the men and women who group up when r&b and hip hop was real left it for the kids with no supervision and what the result is is what is being put on display COMPLETE BUUUUULLLLLLLL SHHHHHIIIIIIITTTTTTTT . I’M OUT MYSPACE.COM/DAUNKNOWNPOET
Best article on the topic in a long time. We need a cultural movement to save Soul Music.
Exactly – we need balance!
Some really interesting comments made here made on the topic that is “Has Romance” gone out of Rn’b music?? Or even Soul music?
I will say this there are still “Artists or groups” that are trying to fly the flag for more romantic themes to be kept in the music’s of Soul and Rn’b music than many people may think.
What about Eric Benet, Mary J Bilge, Music soul Child, Adriana Evans, Cheryl “Pepsi” Riley,Teedra Moses, Donnell Jones, Ryan Leslie, Mariah Carey, Raheem Devaughn, Raphael Saddiq, Neyo. Maysa Leek just for starters – and from my own Country (England) – Sade, Don-e, Richard Alexander Davis …..the list goes on.
There are artists that do write or pen openly suggestive romantic lyrics as many of these artists above got their “Schooling” from artists such as Blue Magic, The Delfonics, Donny Hathaway, Chilites and the Stylistics and many other groups of similar taste that were around in the late 1960’s and early to middle 1970’s. So that will never leave them.
It’s the generation of people that were bought up on the Culture of Hip Hop that maybe were never influenced as such by these Soul artists that have been mentioned above already.
Some really interesting comments have already been made on this topic which I have to remind myself is “Has Romance” gone out of Rn’b?? Or even Soul music?
I will say this there are “Artists or groups” that are still trying to fly the flag for more romantic themes to be kept in the music’s of Soul and Rn’b music today. There really is.
What about Eric Benet, Mary J Bilge, Music Soul Child, Adriana Evans, Cheryl “Pepsi” Riley, Teedra Moses, Donnell Jones, Ryan Leslie, Mariah Carey, Raheem Devaughn, Raphael Saddiq, Neyo, Dwele and Maysa Leek just for starters – and from my own Country (England) – Sade, Don-e, Richard Alexander Davis. . The list goes on.
There are artists that do write and will also try openly to try and pen romantic lyrics as many of the artists above got their “Schooling” from artists such as Blue Magic, The Delfonics, Donny Hathaway, Chi lites and the Stylistics and many other similar artists that were around in the late 1960’s and early 1970s’s.
It’s the generation of people that were bought up on the Culture of Hip Hop or Funk that maybe were never influenced as such by the Soul artists that were mentioned above already.
****Sorry about the previous entry – for some reason it came out wrong – here is the corrected version *****
Some really interesting comments have already been made on this topic which I have to remind myself is “Has Romance” gone out of R&b?? Or even Soul music?
I will say this there are “Artists or groups” that are still trying to fly the flag for more romantic themes to be kept in the music’s of Soul and R&b music today. There really is.
What about Eric Benet, Mary J Bilge, Music Soul Child, Adriana Evans, Cheryl “Pepsi” Riley, Teedra Moses, Donnell Jones, Ryan Leslie, Mariah Carey, Raheem Devaughn, Raphael Saddiq, Neyo, Dwele and Maysa Leek just for starters – and from my own Country (England) – Sade, Don-e, Richard Alexander Davis. . The list goes on.
There are artists that do write and will also try openly to try and pen romantic lyrics as many of the artists above got their “Schooling” from artists such as Blue Magic, The Delfonics, Donny Hathaway, Chi lites and the Stylistics and many other similar artists that were around in the late 1960’s and early 1970s’s.
It’s the generation of people that were bought up on the Culture of Hip Hop or Funk that maybe were never influenced (*Or didn’t want to be) as such by the Soul artists that were mentioned above already.
I miss the days of where people went into a record store with a music track that they had in mind, but within 30 minutes left with 6 other tunes because they sounded fantastic. Back then music fans went with what sounded good, rather what looked or looks great on a music video.
To get back to the question of Romanticism within Soul music, I have to say that the evidence suggests that it is still around, but you’ll have look deeper for it in regards to today’s Soul music output. The Pinnacle years of Romanticism within Soul music has to be the 1970’s.
However for us Music buyers of today, its a case of not just looking at our established labels artists all the time in the hope they will change the trend and try and all sound like the Delfonics or Blue Magic once more. We need to pay more head for the independents or unestablished artists that are looking for a break within the industry that you will usually find them upholding the virtues of Romanticism within Soul music. Another pointer is the factor of looking good, or having a great image within the music industry is actually killing the music these days.
I wish sometimes that we did away with the Music video as well, as music fans all genders are buying music based on the fact that group/s, or individual/s looking great for them to sell their “Tunes†instead of buying the tune as matter of it sounding great.
I will say this once…Musiq Soulchild is the Best R&B artist
Anthony Hamiltion
I appreciate this article. As many have mentioned before their are some solid artists out today, it just so happens that many of them don’t get radio spins. With that said the younger generation needs to pick up there songwriting game. even The Dream has fallen into patterns of mediocrity at times which is ridiculous for a Grammy nominated artist.
I’M FROM THE CHI GDN 4 EVER SO I’M A LIL 1 SIDED N MY THINK’N WHEN IT COMES 2 KELS (NO HOMO) BUT 2 ME PERIOD HE THE BEST OF MY ERA SONGZ-MARIO-USHER-ETC. THEY COOL BUT NONE OF THEM IS R. KELLY
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j. holiday is extremely talented and when he wants to he puts out some soulful shit
Truthfully though Kels was just one of the people doing that. This trend really started in the 90s yes there was still some people doing romance but you had alot of freak action going on.. Remember Link (sex yo body) whole cd was about F’in.. You also had jodeci htown public announcement ( I know they were a product of kels) aaron hall etc etc.. I think the music only reflects the times.. How many people still romance they’re women. I do and I know what to put on to get his started.. You still have romance though there’s alot out Tank Maxwell just to name a few at the moment
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