R. Kelly

Windy City ladies man R. Kelly comes into his own on his second full-length, one of the best R&B albums of the 1990s. Written, arranged, and produced by The R, 12 Play still stands strong as a true classic. Includes many hit singles and crowd favorites, such as "Homie Lover Friend," "Bump N' Grind," and "Your Body's Callin'."

In a year when the big rappers have either repeated tired outrages or outgrown them, Kelly's crude, chartwise new jack swing is black pop's most depressing development. An effective singer in the post-Stevie new-soul mode whose way with a beat is confirmed by an impressive catalogue of bestselling productions, he aims his common denominator straight at the solar plexus. He has no apparent interest in tune--the Spinners' "Sadie" sounds positively angelic after "Summer Bunnies" and "I Like the Crotch on You." And despite a few moments of class consciousness, he displays far less human decency in his quest for booty than such unaltruistic competitors as Jodeci and Boyz II Men. But lest anyone suspect he lacks moral acuity, he offers this Inspirational Liner Note: "To all those women out there when I step off in a club--don't treat me like I'm just anybody because you end up treating me like I'm nobody and that's wrong." (Grade - C+)