Thread: What are your thoughts on the self titled album?

While it seems like TP2 is a fan favorite, I rarely hear people talk about the self titled album.

What are your thoughts about it?

Do u think its overrated? Underrated?

I have met a few people who swear by the self titled album, more than 12 play, or R.

That's a classic album in between two huge classic albums. I think commercially thats his best album with the most successful singles. It's his first mature album and played a big part in expanding his artistry. Most definately underrated people remember the singles but they don't talk about the actually album tracks other than Down Low, I Can't Sleep, & You Remind Me Of Something but like you said most say TP2 is they favorite but people a lil older than those fans that likes TP2 the best favorite albums are either R. Kelly or R. Personally I play this album as much as I play any other R. Kelly album. He was very strong vocally on it which is why its probably my top 5 R. Kelly album. Departure from New Jack Swing sound into a more mature R&B sound wasnt a bad move. He had good transitioning into his own self. Instead of trying to go sound like anyone else. Music was as smooth as his bald head was on the cover lol.

^^lol! Yea I agree...I would say Besides HP/USM album, self titled album is one of his most underrated album...folks remember the songs, but very few talk about how that album was a straight up classic..
Some of his older fans think self titled is his best work, while ppl around my age( I'm in my mid twenties) think TP2 is his best..I think self title is just as good as TP2 but I tend to play TP2 more lol..

alot of ppl site 12 Play as their fav or his best, but I have always put his self titled album ahead of 12 Play. yall said it best. definitely an underrated classic.

Yeah I prefer it to 12 Play, too. Pretty much every song on it was good enough to be released as a single

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Originally Posted by Exit
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Yeah I prefer it to 12 Play, too. Pretty much every song on it was good enough to be released as a single

Same here. '12 Play' has some classics I love, but as an album give me the self titled one any day. The sound is mature, deep, sensual... it's the album that made me an R. Kelly fan.

my dime on it

IMO gotta be in his top 5 best albums ever and probably to me in the 1-3 class.

songwriting was top notch

production was versatile and strong

vocally he sounded strong and covered a wide base.

the remixes off the songs on that album are classic.

12 play had bigger hit songs, but self title album IMO is easily the better album IMO.

i mean downlow and bringing back the Isley Brothers and the Mr Big character alone is timeless that whole spin and take is incredible

u remind me arguably his most controversial song to this day or surely one of his top 3 easily and it had folks talking and taking sides then and now. song still is great,but that song had folks talking.


i can't sleep, like the remix better and he flipped breath again and the babyface thang and made it his own.

thank god its friday the original was steppin classic and the remix is the best Neo Soul jam that never got played near enough IMO. love both versions.

trade in my life and one of the very few songs of Kellz studio wise to have live drums is a must have and hear always. he sang that song.

religous love is one of my favorite R.kelly songs.

truth is the self title album is a break up album and you can decide for your ownself who it is about.

in fact the self title album and Love Letter are two of his most honest albums from start to finish with a storyline and alot of feeling and things he was going through.

self title is a classic however it went more mature and i've noticed that when Kellz does that, it isn't always given its fair due as to the obvious rawness style.

great topic

Probably controversial, but I prefer it to 12 Play. As an album, I mean. 12 Play definitely has a couple of cuts better than anything on the self-titled album, but listening to the "R. Kelly" album from start to finish is a great experience without any dull points. There are a couple of points on 12 Play that I don't feel.

Basically, Mistermaxxx summed up a lot of my feelings, except I don't like the remix of I Can't Sleep more than the original. Everything else was spot on though.

Even after the huge success of 12 Play album, I'm grateful he didn't go for the same direction on the self-titled album.
That, right there, lets people know he is the real-deal artist & songwriter.
I get the impression that he could finally catch his breath and go deeper inside of himself to get inspiration to create.
With the first two albums, he might have struggled to break into the industry and get settled artistically and otherwise.

The outcome of all that, BAM! HERE IT IS, A CLASSIC ALBUM.

this is still my personal favorite. production nice, i was wondering what he was gonna do after 12 play. This album is when his videos became more to me. the things going on in my life at the time is relived when i spin this.. i cant even listen to 'i can't sleep without thinkin about losing her. Or writing the lyrics to religious love on the back of a picture i gave her when she moved....damn......closing with trade in my life......wow...