“My mind is telling me no… but my body’s telling me yes”
This week’s From The Vault comes courtesy of the King of R&B himself, R.Kelly and his 1994 classic ‘Bump ‘n’ Grind’.
Released as the second single from the crooner’s solo debut and R&B landmark ’12 Play’, it was produced, written and arranged by the musical genius that is Kelly himself. As it is the case with the great majority of its housing LP, ‘Grind’ deals with Robert’s favorite subject: sex!
The mother of all slow jams, this song is iconic for so many reasons – namely its acapella intro (album mix), unabashed lyrics as well as its suggestive choreography.
Released when R&B actually charted on major tally’s, the jam proved to be a hit for Kellz and claimed the ever-so-coveted #1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 as well as spending an impressive 12 weeks at the top of the Billboard Hip-Hop/R&B count. It was also a smash in the UK where it peaked inside the Top 10. It remains a staple of American urban radio with numerous stations still playing it in all its over-4-minutes glory.
The track’s live-performance themed visual, directed by Kim Watson, saw Robert (armed with two female dancers) showcase his best “bedroom moves” to an audience of screaming fans. (Side note: Where have the “live-performance” music videos in the vein of this one, TLC’s ‘Diggin On You’ or Janet’s ‘Black Cat’ gone?)
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R.Kelly is undeniably the master when it comes to sensual jams, yet what set him apart from his past rivals as well as the new crop of R&B crooners is his ability to tap into other themes and being excellent at it too. The Pied-Pipper is a man of many tricks.
With the next installment of his ‘Trapped In The Closet’ as well as his new LP ‘Black Panties’ set to drop this year, the year 2013 looks like a busy on for R., and we definitely “see nothing wrong” with that!
11 COMMENTS
yoyo
January 27, 2013 at 3:38 pm
Woo…My best friend has just announced her wedding with a handsome millionaire shortly after they met on~~~ http://meetlove.yolasite.com/ ~~~ 6 months ago. This is a site where you can meet rich successful men and classy gorgeous women such as CEOs, athletes, doctors, lawyers, models, celebrities, etc….Maybe you can take a try
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Nik
January 27, 2013 at 3:44 pm
12 Play has to be one of my favorite albums of all time. I love this song, the remix, “Your Body’s Callin”, “Sex Me”, “It Seems Like Your Ready” , and countless others. I personally think his first 3 albums are the best of his career.
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JUELZ
January 27, 2013 at 4:00 pm
LUTHER VANDROSS is the “King of R&B”. – HIS PEERS, including Whitney, Mariah, Stevie, Aretha, Patti and Lionel, have said this when he was alive ad when he died.
R.Kelly is more like the “King of Contemporary R&B”, “Duke of R&B” or the “King of Pop-Soul” etc… Getting my drift?
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ffff
January 27, 2013 at 11:19 pm
Why are you making shit up? R. Kelly is the one and only King of R&B. Get your facts straight. Luther ain’t the King of shit.
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Always313
January 27, 2013 at 4:12 pm
Take note Rihanna: this Is an example of TALENT.
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BeyFRAUD Armstrong (Beyonce's Weave)
January 27, 2013 at 6:00 pm
Wow, listening to this today has made me realize just how trashy music was even in the 90s. RnB has always been like this it seems, trashy back than, trashy today.
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Lourdes
January 27, 2013 at 6:01 pm
Robert Kelly will forever be the king of tasteful sex music. Pure musical genius. Trey Songz should take notes.
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grrreatt1
January 27, 2013 at 6:01 pm
This song is my jam! It makes me miss the 90′s.
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WhoNeedsADegreeWhenYourShadingLife
January 27, 2013 at 6:53 pm
The odds of me being made to this song…very high.
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dstrock
January 27, 2013 at 7:30 pm
“Side note: Where have the “live-performance” music videos in the vein of this one, TLC’s ‘Diggin On You’ or Janet’s ‘Black Cat’ gone?”
Didn’t Brandy do one of these for her “Wildest Dreams” video last year?
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Beyonce Husband
January 27, 2013 at 11:18 pm
The remix is better. The best song by Mr.RKelly is slow dance.
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