TP-2.com

by R. Kelly

Overview

R. Kelly is one of contemporary R&B and pop music's most visionary songwriters, producers, and vocalists, but like Marvin Gaye and Prince in their heyday, Kelly's most sustaining characteristic is his ability to cross-pollinate themes of sex, religion, romance, and materialism. And never has that skillful mix been more evident than on Kelly's latest sacred bump-'n'-grind odyssey, TP-2.Com (which stands for 12 Play 2000). As on his solo debut 12 Play, the game is seduction and Kelly writes the rule book. Of the 18 songs, more than half are slow winding, self-explanatory odes to lust such as "The Greatest Sex," "Strip for You," and "Feelin' on Your Booty." But such swagger doesn't come without rich and often maddening conflict. On the introspective "I Decided," Kelly vows: "I'm turning in my player's card/ I'm retiring from the secret life I chose." Delving further into his tormented psyche, the crooner debates with God on "I Mean (I Don't Mean It)" and communes with his late mother and dead homies on the lead single "I Wish." From "TP-2" 's carnal quiver to the gospel-tinged euphoria of "The Storm Is Over Now," TP-2.Com is a cathartic excursion through the stormy soul of this generation's urban musical mastermind. Neo Brentacious

Product Details

Release Date:	11/07/2000
Label:	Jive
UPC:	0012414170521
catalogNumber:	41705
Rank:	27589

Tracks

1. TP-2
2. Strip for You
3. R&B Thing
4. The Greatest Sex
5. I Don't Mean It
6. Just Like That
7. Like a Real Freak
8. Fiesta
9. Don't You Say No
10. The Real R. Kelly
11. One Me
12. I Wish
13. A Woman's Threat
14. I Decided
15. I Mean (I Don't Mean It)
16. I Wish (To The Homies That We Lost)
17. All I Really Want
18. Feelin' on Yo Booty
19. The Storm Is over Now

Album Credits

Performance Credits

R. Kelly   Primary Artist,Vocals
Yvonne Gage   Choir, Chorus
Boo   Rap
Donnie Lyle   Bass,Guitar
Jeffrey Morrow   Choir, Chorus
Rachel Robinson   Children's Chorus
Cheryl Wilson   Choir, Chorus
Joan Collaso   Choir, Chorus
General   Rap
Matthew Robinson   Children's Chorus
Kendall D. Nesbitt   Keyboards
Greg Landfair   Guitar
Gotti   Rap
Jessica Janis   Children's Chorus
Paul Mabin   Choir, Chorus
Amber Morrow   Children's Chorus
Joseph Morrow   Children's Chorus
Leah Robinson   Children's Chorus

Technical Credits

Glen Brown   Engineer
R. Kelly   Arranger,Producer
Joe Donatello   Programming,Engineer
James Lee   Programming,Engineer
Paul Riser   String Arrangements
Jeff Lane   Engineer
Tone   Producer
Stan Wood   Programming,Engineer
Poke   Producer
Carl Robinson   Engineer
Cheek   Engineer
Abel Garibaldi   Programming,Engineer
Jeff Vereb   Engineer
Bill W.   Programming
Tone   Producer
Andy Gallas   Programming,Engineer
Ian Mereness   Programming,Engineer
Dave Conner   Programming
Nick Monson   Engineer
Precision   Producer

Editorial Reviews

R. Kelly tames his ambitions a bit on TP-2.Com, assembling a simple sequel to his classic 12 Play album from 1993 rather than another epic venture like his double-disc, all-bases-covered R. album from 1998. The straightforwardness is somewhat of a welcome endeavor. As breathtaking as had been R. -- an album that straddled the huge gap between the sort of radio pop associated with Celine Dion as well as the street rap of Jay-Z and Nas -- it also seemed too overblown at times, as if Kelly had something to prove during an era of double-disc epic rap albums. So to see him return to the simple singles approach of 12 Play is refreshing, particularly since he has plenty of singles to work with here, just as he had with TP-1. Kelly furthermore unleashes his singles -- "I Wish," a mass-appeal vocal pop number with an urban edge; "Fiesta," a Latin Invasion cash-in that aims for the dancefloor; and "Feelin' on Yo Booty," a whispery come-on for all the weak-kneed ladies and some of the mindful ones too -- with tailor-made remixes to ensure himself broad airplay. Only one of those remixes is here though, the "I Wish" one, so take heed. There's no Jay-Z-featuring remix of "Fiesta" and no up-tempo one of "Feelin' on Yo Booty," yet TP-2.Com is a strong album nonetheless, three steps ahead of practically every other non-rap urban album from 2000. It does seem like Kelly is coasting a bit here at times, though, particularly when you hold TP-2.Com up against its massive predecessor, but even when R's lounging, he's generally ahead of the pack.

All Music Guide - Jason Birchmeier