Customer Reviews

Born Into the 90's

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

...that means many people loved it when it was out and, when R. puts out a greatest hits CD, you will see a return to this (ie more sales) because THE PEOPLE loved it. (I dug it, too, in fact: especially the "Hey Love" remake and "Slow Dance".) Anybody can have a contrary opinion, too, and I can respect that. But I think, like all good things, and knowing how we all somewhat glorify our past experiences, time is gonna favor R.'s first music and we'll be savioring him in the future like we do Marvin Gaye or Earth Wind and Fire nowadays...

I really do love all of R.Kelly's music and no matter if he is singing alone or with someone else he knows how to make that song come alive. I like to listen to "Dedicated and Slow Dance."

I love this album. I know most people don't think much of R. Kelly's first album but I think it's great. My favorite songs are She's Loving Me, She's got the Vibe, Slow Dance, Dedicated, and Honey Love. You won't hear this type of music ever again and as an R. Kelly fan, I can appreciate this type of album.

What will R&B be like without the R. This man has done it all. This CD sounds so good. Even though this CD came out in 91 or 92, it still sound vibrant as ever!!!

I have been following R. Kelly from the get-go. Here is a very talented individual who can do just about anything he sets his mind to. We are lucky to have him in our cassette decks and compact disk players. The lyrics are tastefully done and the production is of a high quality. 'Born Into The 90s' is mainly produced by R. Kelly, co-produced by Mr. Lee and Wayne Williams, and R. Kelly is assisted in the mixing and engineering department by Chris Trevett, Tom Vercillo, Cirland Noel, Stephen George, Pete Christensen, Gerard Julien, Rick Cruz, Tim Nitz, Doug Michael, Steve Levy, Timmy Allen, Jose Fernandez and a few others. This album is very early in R. Kelly's career and is fresh and invigorating. 'She's Loving Me' is a funky track which is delicately layered with R. Kelly's versatile voice. 'Definition Of A Hotti' is another funky and uptempo track with R. Kelly kicking it in a new jack swing. One must listen closely to R. Kelly, once you do this you will understand exactly what he is saying in this track. E.g: 'R' says on this track: "Some honeys dont carry a purse, yeah it gets worse, check the second verse". This simply means that some girls are so attractive to men that they dont need money; the men will still foot the bill. Track #7: "Slow Dance' is exactly what it says. This track is a smooth slow jam made specifically for the slow jam sessions on the dance floor. 'R' is precisely in-tune with what makes a good dance song: whether it be a slow jam, more uptempo rhythm & bass, or uptempo new jack swing. 'R', as I like to affectionately refer to him, is one of my main influences in music as a whole. Its hard to think what r&b would be like without R. Kelly. The track entitled 'Dedicated' is a ballad which will be played at Weddings and Anniversaries of relationships for many decades to come, and is my personal favorite on this album. All the tracks are additive and are worth listening to over and over again. Dont pass up on this album. Buy it, play it for your girl, and she will know that she is special. Rest In Peace to Aaliyah, Peace to R. Kelly.

Before he became a huge force in r&b, r. kelly and his backing band, public announcement, released their only album together at the tailend of new jack swing. It was clear that kelly was going to be a major star, as he sung, wrote, and produced every track except "hey love". For all of his efforts, he was pleasantly rewarded, reeling off an unprecedented FIVE hit singles including the new jack staples ("she's got that vibe", "hey love"), and the flawless ballads ("slow dance", "honey love", "dedicated").

The rest of the album is pleasant new jack, with "born into the '90s" being the best track, but the story of this set is the ballads. All of them were huge hits, as "honey love" and "slow dance" topped the r&b charts, while "dedicated" peaked at #9. They were quite impressive, and signaled kelly's true calling is to be an explicit balladeer (actually, his new jack persona wasn't as convincing). To the delight of his fans, he expanded on this sound in great fashion on his pioneering sophomore release, 12 play, and hasn't changed his formula since.

Overall, born into the '90s got r. kelly off to a great start in the very competitive urban market, and was the foundation for one of this generation's greatest artists. He definitely had a great appreciation for new jack, but he also looked ahead to what would become the dominate genre of r&b music: jeep soul. For all of its innovation and originality, born into the '90s is a must-have for new jack fans and essential for jeep soul followers.

This was R. Kelly's first album that came out towards the end of the New Jack Swing era ('88-'92). The first R. Kelly album I bought was his self titled album in '95 when he went solo. So I am sort of going backwards here. The only song I remembered was "She's got that vibe" from this album, but the rest of the songs sound very "Teddy Riley & Guy" sounding. By no means does this mean a bad thing-I am a huge fan of Guy too. It just means that R. Kelly's true talent & sound had not come into play yet. It's a good start to a performer that would really shine through the '90s and be a trend setter in the world of R&B music.

R.Kelly was at his best when he was still ridin' wit Public Announcement.

He's always out and on the radio kinda like Mariah Carey, so I think his talent and genius are sometimes taken for granted because of this.

I guess because this was R. Kelly's debut and New Jack Swing was on its way out, this album will always standout as his best to me ... well, 12-Play gives it a good run for its money.

But as far as I'm concerned, his LPs go down from this debut.

Buy this album, if for no other reason, just for the single "Honey Love"!!!!!!!! It's a 10-star song that'll get you "in the mood."

IF you haven't already heard this song from waaayyy back in the day, you've been deprived! This track is convincing proof they don't make music like they used to.

This track alone knocks any and everything by Usher, Babyface, Anthony Hamilton, Maxwell and John Legend out of the park.

Theoretically this is the debut of two seperate musical entities: the hip-hop/R&B vocal group Public Announcment and the multi talented R.Kelly. Moreover if your looking for this album you'll find it under R.Kelly. But what matters is what this album said about a particular type of music. When a vetran "legacy" act such as EWF,Aretha Franklin and...yes even the Godfather himself James Brown tried to go at the modern new jack swing hip-hop/R&B hybrid in the late 80's/early 90's the results were,at best uneven and at worst plain embarrassing. The speed,drive and enthusiasm inherant to this newer style was far better and very innovative in the ends of it's innovators. And among them were people such as Teddy Riley/Guy,New Edition,Keith Sweat and R.Kelly. These people were all singer/songwriter/musicians who baught all their talents in those areas to advancing this new hybrid genre. Most of them did so in the late 1980's. R.Kelly however started shaking his groove thing at the start of the new decade. So this album title was the truth,not hype.

Predominantly an album of uptempo music this album brings out all the funk in whatever it does. And on songs like "She's Loving me","She's Got The Vibe","Definition Of A Hotti","Keept It Street" and "Hangin Out" also showcase how R is already building the bridge from the high octane new jack swing sound to the slower,funkier hip-hop/soul sound that was about to explode. The title track is an amazing,funky groove set to a Patrice Rushen sample with a great programmed drum rhythm that actually sounds organic to a degree. It shows the beginning of R's interest in integrating purely retro sounds into his own style. The ballads "Slow Dance" and "Dedicated" say more to his future slow jam sound while a bonus track modernized version of Stevie Wonder's "Hey Love" is included,again placing emphasis on the "retro" aspect of his sound again. Musically the lyrics never go much deeper the idea of being honest with oneself and "keeping it real". But as with most youth oriented music of this era the music itself says all it needs to say. In that regard it sounds maverick,fresh,confident and full of enthusiasm. Also it presented R.Kelly's stance on producing well rounded albums covering everything from hip-hop to classic sophistifunk. Coming out of an era where certain musical styles were way overused what more could one want from an album like this?

I forgot about this cd. This was when New Jack Swing was the top form of music and everyone wanted to be Aaron Hall and R.Kelly was no different (which isn't a bad thing). This album is full of beats that make you get on your feet and dance around the room. She's Loving Me is my favorite. This cd is good and if you love New Jack Swing this is for you. Next to forgetting this cd I also forgot how nice looking R.Kelly used to be. Damn I'm old