THE R IN "R&B"
WARNING: If you're short on time or patience, please skip to the last 2 paragraphs.
WARNING #2: There are lots of links to iTunes below, so beware if you don't want new windows opening up all over the place. Again, if you're short on time or patience, skip to the last link.
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If you've spent more than 4 minutes in your car at any point in the past month, I'm betting that you've had the pleasure of hearing R. Kelly's "I'm A Flirt" on the radio. Beyond singing the verse of the "Ignition Remix" over Akon's "Don't Matter" (I guess it really DOESN'T matter, cause those two songs are exactly the same), very little in this world makes me happier.
R. Kelly is a machine. I mean, take a look at the man's track record. Fearless. Consistent. Fearlessly consistent. He's got a string of hits dating back to the early 90s, and that string is strung with album and song titles that are like a field trip to some world I didn't know existed but would do anything to be a part of. I thought "Trapped in the Closet" was going to be insurmountable, and it is, but "I'm A Flirt" is a gem - a gem with amazing cut, clarity, color, and ... whatever the other one is.
I mean - look at this:
"A dog on the prowl when I'm walkin' through the mallIf I could, man, I probably would flirt with all y'all"
I can only assume he's telling the truth and really WOULD flirt with all of y'all - the woman handing out free samples at Chick-Fil-A, the shirtless guys at Abercrombie and Fitch telling me how rad Spring Break is, and the entire staff at Claire's (one person). The man playing with the remote control helicopter at that kiosk in the middle of the mall that looks like a stagecoach? Yep. Cinnabon? You know it. Kells even gets his Hot Topic on and has been known to roll though Sears a time or two to rule some kids.
He brings it again in the second verse:
"She be callin' me 'daddy'and I be callin' her 'mommy'She be callin' you 'Kelly'When your name is 'Tommy'"
My friend Tommy is going through some serious issues in his relationship because of this right now. Ends up his girl WAS looking for a platinum type of guy.
And lastly:
"I don't know what y'all be thinking when you bring em round meLet me remind you that I am the king of R&BDo you know what that means?That means if you love your chick, don't bring her to the VIP, cause I might leave with your chick."
Ah, THAT's what it means. Cool. Cause for a minute there, I was really wondering what it meant. Cool, cool to know what it means.
Ok, now all joking aside, the Pied Piper has recorded a song, "Rise Up", as a tribute to the Virginia Tech community in the aftermath of the April 16 tragedy. All proceeds of the song will benefit the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund, which provides assistance to the families and friends of victims. Spend the 99 cents.
The picture below is from the session where Kells penned the song. It looks like he's wearing a shirt...with R. Kelly on it. Like I said, spend the 99 cents.
