Black Panties, as says Kelly, "is the new 12 Play (1993)", and that it is different from his previous albums Love Letter (2010) and Write Me Back (2012).
In October 2013, in an interview with Rolling Stone, R. Kelly spoke about why he wanted to make the album sound similar to his 1993 debut album, 12 Play, saying: "I love that I can play around with all types of music. I did Love Letter and Write Me Back and those were fun albums for me to do, because they took me back to music I love.
But, I wanted to change lanes with this new album and remind people of the TP-2.com and 12 Play style of music I can do — 'Kellz music!' I like that I can change lanes and do all different kinds of music. Fans can never accuse R. Kelly of doing the same thing, I keep mixing it up."
In December 2013, in an interview with Billboard, R. Kelly spoke about why he decided to name the album Black Panties, saying: "I’m on stage doing the Love Letter tour and I was singing “Seems Like You're Ready”. Every time I'm singing, panties start flying out of everywhere. Seriously. But this particular night, a pair of mediums came out of the sky and they were black and they landed on my wrist. Immediately I looked at that and looked up like “that’s a sign”.
Yeah, the idea hit me right away." Collaborator Jeremih revealed in an interview that he had not been in the studio together with Kelly for the recording process of "Switch Up", but described the working experience as "dope".
After Love Letter and Write Me Back, classy and relatively polite throwback albums, R. Kelly reverts to sexually exaggerated and wholly contemporary content for Black Panties. Kelly, joined by a deep roster of fellow songwriters and producers, dispenses with the strings, horns, and dashing charm, and dishes out sleaze by the bucket over modern backdrops that slink and whir.
All the material is slow and mostly pared down, made to maximize space for his still generous supply of hooks and outlandish lines.
However, it's sleepy more often than it is seductive -- ironically less youthful than his two previous albums. Even when Kelly brags about back breaking and promises to "beat that pussy 'til it's blue," there's not much evidence of fresh creativity or exertion.
That doesn't mean that Kelly never throws it into overdrive. Awestruck lines like "And if I'm ever in the mood for two pussies, then a pussy will bring another pussy to me" allow "Marry the Pu**y" to eclipse Jaheim's "P**** Appreciation Day" and the-Dream's "P*ssy" as 2013's most extreme ode to tubular tracts. The sinister boom-and-twinkle of "Cookie," mostly about servicing, would probably place fourth. It's not all filth.
"You Deserve Better," a winding and atmospheric ballad, is typically materialistic but sweet; this time, when he sings about cracking lobster, it's in reference to dining, not his woman's back. The low-slung "My Story" is a bit debauched but details his rise to fame.
"Right Back," among the deepest and most bittersweet songs in the man's catalog, expresses gratitude to close friends.
At one point in the album, Kelly even proclaims "We ain't even gotta touch," though that leads to "All I wanna do is throw this money on you," which leads to "We gon' fuck around and make a baby in this room." Occasional resemblances to Drake and the-Dream are as blatant as the Isley Brothers and Michael Jackson exercises of Write Me Back.
The similarities are so obvious that it's tough to discern if Kelly is acknowledging his younger followers, aiming to beat them at their game, or both. Perhaps he's just a little short on new ideas.
Track listing
1. "Legs Shakin'" (featuring Ludacris) - 4:26
2. "Cookie" - 3:45
3. "Throw This Money on You" - 3:40
4. "Prelude" - 3:11
5. "Marry the Pussy" - 4:14
6. "You Deserve Better" - 3:51
7. "Genius" - 3:59
8. "All the Way" (featuring Kelly Rowland) - 3:49
9. "My Story" (featuring 2 Chainz) - 4:26
10. "Right Back" - 3:26
11. "Spend That" (featuring Young Jeezy) - 3:42
12. "Crazy Sex" - 2:37
13. "Shut Up" - 4:03
Deluxe version (bonus tracks)
14. "Tear It Up" (featuring Future) - 3:41
15. "Show Ya Pussy" (featuring Migos & Juicy J) - 3:37
16. "Physical" - 4:16
17. "Every Position" - 3:26
Personnel
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Notes
Released: December 6, 2013
Recorded: 2011–13
Recording Location: Chalice Studios, Los Angeles, CA, Patchwerk Studios, Atlanta, GA. The Chocolate Factory, Chicago, IL, The Ludaplex, Atlanta, GA
Genre: R&B, hip hop
Length: 64:10
Label - RCA Records
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