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TP-2. Com
11/15/2000 3:00 PM, Yahoo! Music
Billy Johnson Jr
R. Kelly's fifth album, TP-2.com, is--in some senses--a sequel to his 1993 solo debut 12 Play. 12 Play's sexual romps "Bump N'Grind," "Your Body's Callin' Me," and "Freak Dat Body" are reincarnated--conceptually, at least--on the "The Greatest Sex," "Like A Real Freak," "Feel On Yo Booty" and a number of equally racy tracks.
But what's most interesting about Mr. Kelly's return is that many of his new songs exude a bit more remorse about relationships gone bad than he's dealt with in the past ("When A Woman's Fed Up" from R., his last album, was a loner until now). Hear him apologize on "I Don't Mean It," have a change of heart on "I Decided," and work to keep the relationship together on "All I Really Want." He even closes the album with the country-influenced "The Storm Is Over Now."
The album's consistent warm vibe finds the Chicago native singing over the soft, syrupy R&B that initially won him fans; music beds that revisit smooth '70s stylings; and some pretty cool hip-hop Latin rhythms that aren't over the top. Though R. Kelly's bad-boy demeanor has probably limited his fan base, his musicianship speaks for itself.
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