12 Play

Last updated

12 Play
12 Play - R. Kelly.jpg
Studio album by
R. Kelly
ReleasedNovember 9, 1993 (1993-11-09)
Genre
Length63:10
Label Jive
Producer
R. Kelly chronology
Born into the 90's
(1992)		12 Play
(1993)		 R. Kelly
(1995)
Singles from 12 Play
  1. "Sex Me"
    Released: August 6, 1993
  2. "Bump N' Grind"
    Released: January 25, 1994
  3. "Your Body's Callin'"
    Released: March 11, 1994
  4. "Summer Bunnies"
    Released: July 28, 1994
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [5]
Chicago Tribune Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [1]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [6]
Entertainment Weekly C− [3]
Los Angeles Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [7]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [8]
The Village Voice C+ [4]
Gnome-mime-sound-openclipart.svg
"Bump n' Grind"
R. Kelly's "Bump n' Grind" from 12 Play
Problems playing this file? See media help.

12 Play is the debut solo studio album by American R&B and soul singer-songwriter R. Kelly; it was released on November 9, 1993, by Jive Records. The album follows his tenure with R&B group Public Announcement, with whom he released one album, Born into the 90's (1992). It went on to top the R&B albums chart for nine weeks straight, while reaching the second position on the US Billboard 200 chart.

Contents

The album features four singles including the sexually-themed singles "Bump n' Grind" (US, number 1), "Your Body's Callin'" (US, number 13), and the more overtly direct "Sex Me, Pts. 1 & 2" (US, number 20). The album serves as the first of a trilogy of albums Kelly released under the "12 Play" moniker including TP-2.com (2000) and TP-3: Reloaded (2005). Since receiving an initially mixed response from critics, 12 Play has received more favorable retrospective criticism.

Background

Following the success of Born into the 90's , as the member of the R&B group Public Announcement, Kelly began touring as an opening act for Gerald Levert and Glenn Jones. During the tour, Kelly said that he became frustrated with the poor lighting and empty seats during his set. To generate more attention during his set, Kelly began thinking of what would be his gimmick to take his show to the next level, something that would make people remember him. [9] Kelly stated: "I thought about it for a couple of days, and I finally came up with a little skit, me just talking to the audience. At the point in the show where I would break down "Honey Love," I would start talking to the audience."

Can I tell you all something? Can I keep it real? Can I tell you about a dream I had last night? Well, I actually had a dream where I made love to Mary J. Blige. Hey, it was only a dream, but it was so vivid, it felt real; but in this dream, it was more than foreplay – it was 12 Play. Can I sing it for y'all? Tell y'all how it went?

The audience yelled "YES!" and Kelly's piano player accompanied him with chords. Kelly then began the countdown, "One. We'll go to my room of fun." The "12 Play" gimmick became so big that when Kelly went to radio stations to promote Born into the 90's , the DJ's wanted to hear "12 Play." The demand for "12 Play" was so big that R. Kelly decided to create an album titled 12 Play. [9] Kelly later said:

"I didn't really know if the album would be as successful as it has been, but I hoped that it would. I was really taking a chance with the concept of this album." – Kelly on the concept of the 12 Play album, 1994. [10]

Track listing

All tracks are written by R. Kelly, except "Sadie" by Joseph B. Jefferson, Bruce Hawes, and Charles Simmons

No.TitleProducer(s)Length
1."Your Body's Callin'"R. Kelly5:40
2."Bump n' Grind"R. Kelly4:17
3."Homie Lover Friend"
  • R. Kelly
  • Allen
4:23
4."It Seems Like You're Ready"
  • R. Kelly
  • Timmy Allen
4:39
5."Freak Dat Body"R. Kelly3:45
6."I Like the Crotch on You" (includes "Intermission" beginning at 4:06)R. Kelly6:38
7."Summer Bunnies"R. Kelly4:15
8."For You"R. Kelly5:02
9."Back to the Hood of Things"R. Kelly3:53
10."Sadie"R. Kelly4:31
11."Sex Me (Part 1) / Sex Me (Part 2)" ("Part 2" begins at 4:57)R. Kelly11:28
12."12 Play" (printed as "..............." in the liner notes)
  • R. Kelly
  • Allen
5:56

Personnel

Credits adapted from AllMusic. [11]

Chart positions

Certifications and sales

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada) [21] Gold50,000^
South Africa—34,000 [22]
United Kingdom (BPI) [23] Gold130,000 [22]
United States (RIAA) [24] 6× Platinum6,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Release history

YearLabelFormat
1993JiveCD [25]
Jive Cassette
JiveCD (with bonus track)
2003JiveCD
2004JiveCD (with bonus track)
2005JiveCD (with bonus track)
2007JiveCD

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">R. Kelly</span> American R&B singer (born 1967)

Robert Sylvester Kelly is an American former singer, songwriter, and record producer. He is credited with prolific commercial success in R&B, hip hop, and pop music recordings, earning nicknames such as "the King of R&B", "the King of Pop-Soul", and "the Pied Piper of R&B". Kelly's career ended in 2019 following his arrest and subsequent convictions on federal racketeering and sex trafficking charges involving sexual abuse of minors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nivea (singer)</span> American R&B singer (born 1982)

Nivea B. Hamilton, known mononymously as Nivea, is an American R&B singer. She has released three studio albums: her self-titled debut (2001), followed up by Complicated (2005), Animalistic (2006), and an independently released extended play Nivea: Undercover (2011). In 2019, she released her album Mirrors.

<i>And Then...</i> 2003 studio album by Joe

And Then... is the fifth studio album by American recording artist Joe. It was released through Jive Records on December 2, 2003, in the United States. A breakaway from his previous album Better Days (2001), the album saw Joe consulting a wider range of collaborators, including labelmate R. Kelly as well as Frank Romano, Roy "Royalty" Hamilton, L.E.S., Kevin "Shekspere" Briggs, Dre & Vidal, Carvin & Ivan and The Underdogs. Rap group G-Unit and rapper Freeway appear as guest vocalists on the album.

<i>Age Aint Nothing but a Number</i> 1994 studio album by Aaliyah

Age Ain't Nothing but a Number is the debut studio album by American singer Aaliyah. It was released on May 24, 1994, by Blackground Records and Jive Records. After being signed by her uncle Barry Hankerson, Aaliyah was introduced to recording artist and producer R. Kelly. He became her mentor, as well as the lead songwriter and producer of the album. The duo recorded the album at the Chicago Recording Company in Chicago periodically from January 1993 until early 1994.

<i>Chocolate Factory</i> 2003 studio album by R. Kelly

Chocolate Factory is the fifth studio album by American recording artist R. Kelly, released on February 18, 2003, by Jive Records. Recording sessions took place mainly at Rockland Studios and Chicago Recording Company in Chicago, Illinois, and the album was primarily written, arranged, and produced by R. Kelly. Originally titled Loveland, Chocolate Factory was conceived by Kelly amid controversy over his sex scandal at the time.

<i>Main Course</i> 1975 studio album by the Bee Gees

Main Course is the thirteenth studio album by the Bee Gees, released in 1975 by RSO Records. It was the group's last album to be released by Atlantic Records in the US under its distribution deal with Robert Stigwood. This album marked a great change for the Bee Gees as it was their first album to include mostly R&B, soul and funk-influenced songs, and created the model for their output through the rest of the 1970s. It rejuvenated the group's career and public image, particularly in the US, after the commercial disappointment of their preceding albums. Main Course was the first album to feature keyboardist Blue Weaver who had just left the Strawbs and toured with Mott the Hoople. The album cover with the band's new logo designed by US artist Drew Struzan made its first appearance here.

<i>Return of the Boom Bap</i> 1993 studio album by KRS-One

Return of the Boom Bap is the debut solo studio album by American rapper KRS-One, released on September 28, 1993, by Jive Records. The recording sessions took place at D&D Studios and at Battery Studios, in New York. The album was produced by DJ Premier, Kid Capri, Norty Cotto, Showbiz, and KRS-One. It features guest appearances from Ill Will and Kid Capri. The album peaked at number 37 on the Billboard 200 and number 5 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums in the United States.

<i>Funkdafied</i> 1994 studio album by Da Brat

Funkdafied is the debut album by American rapper Da Brat. It was released on June 28, 1994, and sold over one million copies, making her the first solo female rapper to go Platinum. Funkdafied debuted and peaked at number 11 on the Billboard 200, and topped the Rap Charts and Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The album was preceded by the first single, "Funkdafied", released on May 13, 1994. The single went Platinum in August and then the album went Platinum in January 1995.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bump n' Grind (R. Kelly song)</span> 1994 single by R. Kelly

"Bump n' Grind" is a song written, produced, and performed by American singer-songwriter R. Kelly. It was released on January 28, 1994 by Jive Records, as the second single from his debut solo studio album, 12 Play (1993). The track became a number one single on the US Billboard Hot 100, and it also spent twelve weeks at number one on the US Hot R&B Songs chart as Kelly's third number-one R&B hit, becoming the longest-running number-one of 1994 in the US, and the longest-running R&B single at that time. The song also reached number eight on the UK Singles Chart, following the massive success of his previous single, "She's Got That Vibe".

"(At Your Best) You Are Love" is a song by R&B group the Isley Brothers. It was originally released on their album Harvest for the World. The song was dedicated to their mother, Sally. Although not a single, the song was a radio hit in 1976, and later became a hit for R&B singer Aaliyah in 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Back & Forth (Aaliyah song)</span> 1994 single by Aaliyah

"Back & Forth" is the debut single performed by American singer Aaliyah for her debut studio album, Age Ain't Nothing but a Number (1994). The song was written and produced by R&B singer R. Kelly, and lyrically the song is about a teenager's excitement for partying on the weekend with friends. "Back and Forth" has been described as being a dance/pop/R&B and new jack swing song. Aaliyah sings in a "laid back" style. Blackground and Jive released the song as the album's lead single on April 8, 1994, to generally positive reviews with many critics praising the song's lyrical content and Aaliyah's vocal delivery on the record.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Honey Love (R. Kelly and Public Announcement song)</span> 1992 single by R. Kelly and Public Announcement

"Honey Love" is a song by American R&B singer R. Kelly and his group Public Announcement from Kelly's debut studio album Born into the 90's (1992). It was released as the album's second single on Jive Records in April 1992.

<i>My Name Is Joe</i> (album) 2000 album by Joe

My Name Is Joe is the third studio album by American R&B singer Joe, released on April 18, 2000, on Jive Records. Production was handled by Joe and several other record producers including Allen "Allstar" Gordon, Teddy Riley and Tim & Bob. Beforehand, Joe released All That I Am (1997), which was his most successful album prior to the release of My Name Is Joe. Upon its release, My Name Is Joe received favorable reviews from critics, with most appreciating the love feel of the album.

<i>Big Money Heavyweight</i> 2003 studio album by Big Tymers

Big Money Heavyweight is the fifth and final studio album by hip hop duo Big Tymers. It was released on December 9, 2003, through Cash Money Records and was mainly produced by Mannie Fresh, with other production handled by R. Kelly, Jazze Pha and Leslie Brathwaite. The album debuted at number 21 on the Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 116,000 copies in the US and was certified Gold by the RIAA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sex Me</span> 1993 single by R. Kelly

"Sex Me" is the first solo single by American R&B singer and songwriter R. Kelly, released in August 6, 1993 by Jive Records as the first single from his solo debut album, 12 Play (1993). The song became Kelly's first solo success, reaching number two on the US Billboard R&B chart and numbers twenty and nineteen on the Billboard Hot 100 and Cash Box Top 100. It was also certified Gold in the US.

<i>Bad as I Wanna B</i> 1996 studio album by MC Lyte

Bad as I Wanna B is the fifth album released by American rapper MC Lyte. It was released on August 27, 1996, for EastWest Records and was produced by Jermaine Dupri, Rashad Smith, Carl-So-Lowe, R. Kelly, Goldenboy (K-Cut), MC Lyte and Nat Robinson.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Your Body's Callin'</span> 1994 single by R. Kelly

"Your Body's Callin'" is a song by American singer and songwriter R. Kelly, released in March 1994 by Jive as the third single from his debut album, 12 Play (1993). The song, both written and produced by Kelly, peaked at number 13 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and reached the top 40 in New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Kelly also released a remix as a B-side to the single featuring Aaliyah called the "Your Body's Calling His N Hers Mix". Millicent Shelton directed the song's music video.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Snake (song)</span> 2003 single by R. Kelly featuring Big Tigger

"Snake" is a song by the American recording artist R. Kelly, featuring Big Tigger, from his fifth studio album, Chocolate Factory. The remix features Cam'ron. It was released on February 25, 2003, by Jive Records as the second single from the album. The R&B song with Latin music inspiration was written and produced by R. Kelly, and co-written by Darian Morgan, as a tribute to Stevie Wonder's musical experimentation. The song also inspired the dancehall reggae riddim called Baghdad.

Christian R&B is a subgenre of rhythm and blues music consisting of tracks with Christian-based lyrics or by musicians typically known for writing such songs. Music in this genre intends to uplift, entertain, or to give a Christian perspective on a topic. Christian R&B could be considered a subgenre of gospel music, or a cross-genre under both gospel and R&B.

<i>12 Nights of Christmas</i> 2016 studio album by R. Kelly

12 Nights of Christmas is the fourteenth and final studio album by American R&B singer R. Kelly and Kelly's only Christmas album, released on October 21, 2016. It is his final album with RCA Records before the label dropped him in January 2019 following numerous sexual assault allegations. Kelly would subsequently be convicted and sentenced to 31 years in prison for numerous sex crimes.

References

  1. 1 2 Kot, Greg (January 20, 1994). "Suave Chicagoan". Chicago Tribune . Retrieved June 27, 2020.
  2. 1 2 3 Easlea, Daryl (2010). "R. Kelly 12 Play Review". BBC Music . Retrieved July 8, 2010.
  3. 1 2 3 Aaron, Charles (December 10, 1993). "12 Play". Entertainment Weekly . Archived from the original on January 15, 2018. Retrieved June 27, 2020.
  4. 1 2 Christgau, Robert (November 29, 1994). "Turkey Shoot". The Village Voice . Retrieved June 27, 2020.
  5. ↑ Birchmeier, Jason. "12 Play – R. Kelly". AllMusic . Retrieved June 27, 2020.
  6. ↑ Larkin, Colin (2002). "Kelly, R.". The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (4th concise ed.). Omnibus Press. ISBN   1-85227-923-0.
  7. ↑ Cromelin, Richard (December 12, 1993). "R. Kelly, '12 Play,' Jive". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved June 27, 2020.
  8. ↑ Harris, Keith (2004). "R. Kelly". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). Simon & Schuster. p.  448. ISBN   0-7432-0169-8 . Retrieved October 11, 2009.
  9. 1 2 Kelly, R. (2012). Soulacoaster: The Diary of Me. SmileyBooks. pp. 177–179. ISBN   9781401931773 . Retrieved September 18, 2014– via Google Books.
  10. ↑ Reynolds, J. R. (December 10, 1994). "Career Milestones Keep Coming For Jive's Kelly". Billboard . Vol. 106, no. 50. p. 43. Retrieved January 24, 2012.
  11. ↑ R. Kelly - 12 Play Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic , retrieved November 23, 2023
  12. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – R. Kelly – 12 Play" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
  13. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 27, 2020.
  14. ↑ "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  15. ↑ "R. Kelly Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
  16. ↑ "R. Kelly Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 2, 2016.
  17. ↑ "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1994". Billboard. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  18. ↑ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1994". Billboard. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  19. ↑ "End of Year Album Chart Top 100 – 1995". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 27, 2020.
  20. ↑ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1995". Billboard. Retrieved October 17, 2020.
  21. ↑ "Canadian album certifications – R. Kelly – 12 Play". Music Canada . Retrieved February 24, 2024.
  22. 1 2 Duffy, Thom (December 24, 1994). "Young U.S. Acts Turn Abroad To Drive Their Careers Home". Billboard. p. 53. Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  23. ↑ "British album certifications – R. Kelly – 12 Play". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved February 23, 2024.
  24. ↑ "American album certifications – R. Kelly – 12 Play". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved February 24, 2024.
  25. ↑ "12 Play release history". AllMusic . Retrieved February 13, 2016.

Further reading

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.