Chocolate Factory [LIMITED EDITION]

R. Kelly

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 18, 2003)
• Number of Discs: 2
• Format: Limited Edition
• Label: Jive
• ASIN: B00007LV9H
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (140 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #151,557 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Perhaps R. Kelly's brushes with the law have caused him to turn down his love light, since his seventh album Chocolate Factory takes scrupulous pains to show an idealized high-minded face of love, eschewing his usual steamy cocktail of raunchy lust and replacing it with a sweet, winsome romanticism. "I'll Never Leave," is a wistful valentine, while "The Heart of a Woman," is embarrassingly empathetic to the plight of the feminine kind and is hardly the kind of fare that one expects from Marvin Gaye's heir apparent. Despite his real life racy escapades, Kelly is at his best musically when he's an unrepentant bad boy but he doesn't even show any grit until "Been Around the World," his confessional duet with a rasping Ja Rule, the fretful bluesy "You Made Me Love You," and "Ignition," a paean to parking. Despite "Ignition"’s first line, "Girl, please let me stick my key in your ignition, babe" it's rather tame by the standards Kelly has set on his earlier discs. "Chocolate Factory" also includes 6 bonus tracks from Loveland the album that was slated for a 2002 release, but was ostensibly shelved after it was rampantly bootlegged on the Internet. Despite the disc's soft focus, Kelly is at the height of his vocal powers, and once he weans himself from the gooey sentimentality and returns to his persona of a smooth seductive operator he'll once again be an artist to be reckoned with. --Jaan Uhelszki

Product Description
Includes a bonus cd with 6 tracks from the bootleg "Loveland".

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rrah's Best Ever!, February 24, 2003

By	Adrian G (Dallas, Tx) - See all my reviews

R. KELLY- CHOCOLATE FACTORY
Ok let's get this out the way. I have an R. Kelly bias. Dude is the best R&B talent we've experienced since Babyface. Unchallenged in the biz. That being said I never compare his projects to others out right now. It's not fair because his talents surpass them immensely. So I compare it to his previous works. Once again that being said "Chocolate Factory" is his best CD ever. That's right I said it. Better than 12 Play. While 12 Play is his all time classic this CD shows his talents more than any other ever has. The limited edition double CD is also one of the best original(not greatest hits) double CD's in the last 15 years. He mixed in some cuts from his previous unreleased CD "LoveLand" and came out with a remarkable product. This CD has so many soul music influences it's not even funny. A review will not do this project justice but I'll make a definite attempt. I have a comment about all 23 cuts..

Track 1- Chocolate Factory- Nice typical Rrah track. Nice midtempo beat and lyrically comparing his woman to "candy"

Track 2- Step In The Name of Love- This song is one from the "Loveland" project. Nice mellow beat that plays on the Chicago "Step" craze. Great 70's song. He shows some serious versatility here. I love the dance "instructions" at the end.

Track 3- Heart Of A Woman- Greatness! A dedication to women and their long suffering. These songs are R Kelly at his best. Great lyrics. This is the first of several good slow jams on this CD. W O M A N!

Track 4- I'll Never Leave- Three words women love to hear. Another good slow jam. The breakdown is great on this song.

Track 5- Been Around The World- This song features Ja Rule and actually is pretty good. Kinda like a part 2 to "I Wish". Ja is not much of a factor to the track, which is a good thing. The Rrah lyrical arrangement is great though.

Track 6- You Made Me Love You- Straight Blues cut! Not depressing blues but the Lattimore, BB King, Little Milton electric guitar blues! I can see my grandmother rockin her head to this cut right now. Unbelievable versatility.

Track 7- Forever- Another "LoveLand" highlight. He changed it up a lil bit but it's still greatness. This is the wedding song of the year. I guarantee you'll hear this cut at some "ghetto fab" weddings. Once again great lyrical arrangement.

Track 8- Dream Girl- Nice lil track..Very soft..Has a Michael Jackson "Off Da Wall" music feel.

Track 9- Ignition- First single. We all know this cut and how hard it goes. Rrah always gets back to his "You Remind Me" roots.

Track 10- Ignition Remix- Typical R. Kelly where the remix is better than the original. Goes hard in da club!

Track 11- Forever More- Man! Greatness..Beautiful Slow jam cut! Lyrically I was really diggin this. Pretty much talkin about his wife's effect on his life. Classic.

Track 12- You Knock Me Out- If you didn't know better you'd think this Marvin Gaye. Great song that reminds you of an upbeat "Dance With Me" from Marvin Gaye. The piano riff is greatness.

Track 13- Step In The Name Of Love Remix- See Track 2. This is the extended version for the steppers in the Club. Nice twist also.

Track 14- Imagine That- Hmmm..Imagine R.Kelly meets Prince. ON FIRE! Unbelievable slow jam. The guitar solo is amazing and this song closes on some "Scandalous" type schiznit. It goes from a produced track to a "live" feel. Greatness..

Track 15- Hmm.. Imagine R. Kelly meets Quentin Tarrentino..I ain't lyin..This is a well produced installment of the Mr. Bigg series. The best Mr. Bigg song of them all and the most shocking song on the CD. It's like a short movie. Unbelievable. The video for this one is gonna be a classic.

Track 16- Snake- R Kelly meets Sean Paul and Beanie Man. Great reggae dance cut! Infectious!

Track 17- Apologies Of A Thug- Feature Fat Joe..Typical Rrah "Fiesta" cut......

This CD is greatness. But as Guy says "Over? Party Not over!" In comes the 2nd CD. It has 6 cuts.

Track 1-LoveLand- This song wasn't on the "original" Loveland bootleg. That's unfortunate. This is some old 80's Maze, Billy Ocean type cut. Very smoooooooooooth! Man I'm bumpin this one alot. Man I can see my parents playin cards to this cut!

Track 2- What Do I Do- Man it they just keep coming! Nice mellow cut. This song requires A nice glass of wine and a candle! Talkin about this chick he sees that he falls in love with instantly but he already has woman. Great song. It took me several listens to vibe what he was tryin to say here.

Track 3- Heaven I Need A Hug- Don't know if this song got nationwide play but essentially it's his reply to his legal problems. Very insightful song. They say all of the greats have sever emotional issues. This dude is no exception. He definitely has issues

Track 4- The Worlds Greatest. From the Ali soundtrack in the mold of "I Believe I Can Fly"..

Track 5- Far More- Here we go again..This is like some 60's Chi Lites, do wop jam! Break out the powder blue tuxedos with the shiny lapels. He went wayyyyyyy back with this one..From the original LoveLand disc. Great track

Track 6- Raindrops- Soft baby makin cut. Brian Mcknight ish. Great cut. Great rain sound effect.

It doesn't get better than this. I like every cut on this CD. Well I could do without "The World's Greatest" but it serves it's purpose. No one else could do this CD. His best ever.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars He does it again ...., March 2, 2003

By	Tony_Tone "Anthony Jamal Smith" (Washington, D.C., District of Columbia United States) - See all my reviews

When i heard this CD was going to be release i already had in my mind i was going to get this CD despite all the legal trouble that Mr. Kelly is having as of lately. A huge fan of his music since his debut Born In The 90's. Mr. Kelly returns with his most personal and his most complete album of his career. Despite his problems of late he went in to the studio and created an album that his fans will simply love.

Chocolate Factory concentrates more on romance rather than the explicit sexual overtones that his previous albums even though Chocolate Factory has it share of Mr. Kelly returning to his 12 Play , TP-2 form on such tracks as the hit single " Ignition " and " Ignition remix, " Imagine That".. Chocolate Factory also show his other musicial influences on such tracks as Step In The Name Of Love , You Knock Me Out both tracks have heavy Marvin Gaye influences. One of my favorite tracks on the CD You Made Me Love Ya which borrows the guitar riff of Al Green's Classic Love and Happiness the song certainly have an old school soul feel to it.

Love Land Bonus CD after one listen to this 6 track CD it makes you want to hear more of what was suppose to have been his follow up to TP-2. Some of his most sincere soulful work can be found on this disc . That is no more evident than on the track " Heaven I Need A Hug" finds Mr. Kelly trying to find peace with himself as well addressing the media , family, friends, fans about his fans concerning his recent troubles. The song is very sincere.

Tony's Top 5 Favorite Songs

1 " Heart Of A Woman"
2 " I"ll Never Leave"
3. " You Made Me Love You"
4. " Ignition (remix)"
5. " The Showdown"

Loveland Bonus Disc Top 3 Favorite Songs

1. LoveLand

2. Heaven I Need A Hug

3. Raindrops

So if you looking for a CD that has a feel good vibe, very romantic, soulful i highly recommend " Chocolate Factory" you will simply love it. Robert, keep your head up i will keep you in my prayers.

35 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars R.Kelly "Chocolate Factory" truly AMAZING!!, February 18, 2003

By A Customer

R.Kelly's new album "Chocolate Factory" is an extraordinary piece of work. I have been a huge fan of his music since through his early projects in the 90's. Even though, he is going through alot of trials and tribulations, he maintains to keep his head up and bless us with good music. Songs that truly stand out on this album are "HEART OF A WOMAN","DREAM GIRL", STEP IN THE NAME OF LOVE(REMIX AS WELL AS THE REGULAR VERSION), IGNITION(REMIX AS WELL AS THE REGULAR VERSION),SHOWDOWN w/ MR.Biggs, I'LL NEVER LEAVE. Lets just say the ENTIRE ALBUM stands out. This album is great and If you are a fan of R.KELLY's music, this is a collector's item!! R.Kelly, keep blessing us with good music like in the CHOCOLATE FACTORY, the type of music that makes us feel good. You are in my prayers. KEEP YOUR HEAD UP. May GOD continue to bless you!