R Kelly :
Chocolate Factory Jive Records

Release Date: 17 February 2003

Reviewed by Melisa Tang

1. Chocolate Factory

2. Step In The Name Of Love

3. Heart of A Woman

4. I'll Never Leave

5. Been Around The World (featuring Ja Rule)

6. You Made Me Love You

7. Forever

8. Dream Girl

9. Ignition

10. Ignition (Remix)

11. Forever More

12. You Knock Me Out

13. Step in The Name Of Love (Remix)

14. Imagine That

15. Showown (featuring Ron Isley)

16. Snake (featuring Big Tigger)

17. Who's That (featuring Fat Joe)

R Kelly - Chocolate Factory

With all the drama and controversy that has surrounded R. Kelly over the last several months, it is surprising to think that the 33-year-old would have found the time to write, record and produce each and every one of the songs on this seventeen-track album. Yet, Kelly has managed to put together a first-class LP, which, if you are able to mentally erase all of the negative press about him, is worthy of a Grammy.

R. Kelly has always been about the raunchy rare grooves, the party songs and the sexy ballads, and 'Chocolate Factory' is no different. The album kicks off with the title track, a '70s-sounding, up-tempo declaration of love, on which Kelly thanks his woman for standing by him through these tough times, and "praying for me when I had no reason to live". This theme of love and redemption is continued throughout the majority of the LP, and as it is Kelly's trademark style, works perfectly for his sixth solo album.

'Step In The Name Of Love' is a beautiful creation, with a laid-back guitar-driven melody, accompanied by syncopated backing vocals and Kelly's smooth lyrics. The mid-tempo 'Heart Of A Woman' is another sweet ballad, which Kelly dedicates to every woman, speaking on behalf of the whole male population, praising the female species for putting up with "our bullsh*t, our ego, our pride." However, after singing about his love of women on this track, he opens 'I'll Never Leave' with the words "Shut up, I don't ever wanna hear you say that again", conjuring up thoughts of domestic violence or similar circumstances, spoiling an otherwise soulful tune.

Slushy ballads don't usually appeal to me, but Kelly's musical genius makes 'Dream Girl' and 'Forever' songs to die for, with the former bearing a slight resemblance to Michael Jackson's 'Butterflies', an ideal Valentines or anniversary tune. Likewise, 'Forever' could be the perfect wedding song for the summer, with Kelly tenderly asking his lover to be his bride, the underlying theme being trust, forgiveness and loyalty.
One of the best cuts on the LP has to be the first single, 'Ignition', and the remixed video version, which is probably the most explicit track on 'Chocolate Factory'. The 'Ignition - Remix' follows on smoothly from the original, and although it is essentially the same song, the amendments to the lyrics to flow with the faster melody make it a worthy addition to the album, just like the 'Step In The Name of Love - Remix'.

Other hot cuts include the catchy 'Snake' featuring Big Tigger, and the collaborations with Fat Joe on 'Who's That', and Ja Rule on 'Been Around The World', on which Kelly informs all the "playa-haters" and "fake friends" that "God will judge me the same as he judges you".
Fans of the Chi-town native will also receive a special bonus disc with exclusive tracks from the never-to-be-released album, 'Loveland'. The seven songs on this CD are only average though, and 'Heaven I Need A Hug' was a bit melodramatic for my liking.

Nevertheless, Kelly has produced another great album, but will it get the support it needs to make this a successful comeback? Only time will tell.

Rating: 4 out of 5

Favourite tracks:
2. Step In The Name Of Love
3. Heart Of A Woman
10. Ignition - Remix

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