Customer Reviews

Double Up (Clean)

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(23)
3 star:		(7)
2 star:		(15)
1 star:		(21)

 

 

Let's be honest, R. Kelly is the best R&B singer in this generation. He is 15 years deep in the game and is a legend along other R&B giants of the past. Who else can still inspire millions of people to buy his work after all his personal problems became public? His music is too good to be ignored, except this record. Some of the songs on here are so ridiculous; it's hard to take him serious anymore.

With this album, all R. Kelly glorifies is sex, money, and the club scene. I expected more maturity from Mr. Kelly because he is now 40 years-old. However, he is still trying to pass himself off as a 25 year-old thug. It's not working. I wanted to hear more things about real love, life, growing up, God, problems of the world and spiritual sex (not the physical type Kelly sings about). Songs like `Double Up' is about having sex with two women, `Tryin' to Get a Number' is about taking a girl home after the club, `Get Dirty' talks about watching strippers slide down the pole, `Leave Your Name' talks about getting too drunk to holla at a woman, so he wants her to leave her name, `The Zoo' is too funny for words and it goes on and on. `Real Talk' is a bit different because he is yelling at his girl for listening to her friends about him cheating. `Real Talk' may be different, but it's still annoying with all the cussing and stupidity. The only songs I like are `Havin A Baby', `Best Friend', and `I Like Love' and `Ooh Baby' (the latter two are available on the bonus version).

Double Up (explicit version) was released a week in advance, due to the album leaking on the Internet. Three songs are already in heavy rotation on radio, they are: I'm a Flirt (Remix), Same Girl, and The Zoo. My advice to Mr. Kelly is this: understand you are getting older and your fan base is getting older, too. Most of your fans are not interested in clubbing (they did that back in the 90s). Stop trying to appeal to the high schools kids and grow up!

For the last 15 years I have been a die hard R. Kelly fan...I got a little shaky when the charges came up, But nevertheless I still rocked with him. NOW...I dont know. Its like I'm 24 and even I'm tired of the club songs. I want the R. Kelly that recorded Born in the 90's, 12play, R. Kelly, TP2, R. (2disc) and Chocolate Factory. TP3 and this double up, I can do without. As funny as "real talk" is, its nothing you can sing with...nothing you want to sing 10 years from now like you would "Slow Dance." This is disposable music thats he's putting out right now! COme on now, 40 yr olds in Doo rags in the club poppin bottles is wack!!! Kells its time to let it go and grow into the legend that you are destined to be...dont mess it up trying to conform to what everyone else is doing, you are much better than that. Tisk, Tisk...this is what Mid life crisis is about...

Double Up is right up there with TP.3 as far as being R. Kelly's worst album. Every artist is allowed a foul-up. Kells' foul-up was TP.3, but he's done it again with Double Up. It doesn't appeal to those who came up with him during the time of Born into the 90's, 12 Play, R. Kelly and R. Like many reviewers have stated, R. is 40 now. It's time to make music to reflect it. Double Up has some of the weakest lyrics I've ever heard from an R & B album. You're not 25 anymore, and neither are the majority of your fans. Don't just say you're the "king of R & B". Prove it to us.

R. Kelly is a musical genius; he's also a flawed man. With allegations of underage sexual encounters and an alledged sex-tape as well, Kelly never convinces us he is the "Christian" man who sang such inspirational songs as "I Believe I Can Fly" or "U Saved Me" and "Prayer Changes" from his HAPPY PEOPLE/U SAVED ME double disc. What makes the inspirational side of Kelly hard to accept might be because he will praise God out of one side of his mouth ("Rise Up" isn't an outright 'gospel' number but it is inspirational) and then curse like a sailor (the extremely explicit, controversial "Real Talk") or sexualize any and everything (on DOUBLE UP, it's the "Zoo" that gets the sexualization). But, as a listener, it isn't my job to criticize Kelly as a man or whatever his status as a church-going man is; it is my job only to critique his latest outfit,

DOUBLE UP, which is a hip-hop album for the most part as opposed to sensual sounding R&B. DOUBLE UP is much harder than any other R. Kelly album, in more ways than one. It is easily the most explicit album that Kells has ever made, saturated with the 'f-bomb' throughout. Also, there have never been so many guest spots from rappers on any of Kell's other affairs. Personally, I thought DOUBLE UP might be another misstep for Kelly, following the forgettable TP.3, which should've been phenomenal following the hype of "Trapped in the Closet". However, DOUBLE UP is actually Kelly's best album for awhile, even though it sadly sheds Kelly's sensual, R&B facade. Sure, there are a couple of straight, R&B tracks, but mostly, the album serves to celebrate Kelly's rekindled success, which has been in the area of hip-hop where his presence has helped to propel singles "That's That S***" (Snoop Dogg) and the more popular "Go Getta" (Young Jeezy). If you think about DOUBLE UP in that regard, it isn't so far-fetched, though part of you knowing Kelly is closer to 40 than 20 does make you think, why is he doing this? But that question need not be asked since DOUBLE UP works nearly perfectly except for a few ridiculous misses.

The album opens with the Swizz Beatz featured intro "The Champ" in which Kelly brags about how he's the King of R&B. Sure, it copies what all the rappers do on the intro of their albums, but you do have to think, is Kelly the King of R&B? Perhaps. "Double Up" is one of my personal favorites, in which Kelly and "Uncle Snoop" talk about going to the club and having two girls (not just one but TWO) on their arm. It uses a stunning classic soul sample and is one of the best title-tracks of any album of 2007. King? Two tracks in yes. Continuing the hip-hop flair, which is a bit surprising at first, "Trying To Get A Number" is excellent as well, once again featuring updated production under Kelly and an excellent collaboration with St. Louis rap standout Nelly. Despite being another success, you do become a bit inquisitive about if R. Kelly really is trying to get a number - especially with wife and kids? Anyways... "Get Dirty" is just as strong as "Double Up" or "Trying To Get A Number" where Kelly proudly proclaims "Hey, Hey/ I'm HollyHOOD..." Chamillionaire joins the singer (or pop-rapper in this case!) with an excellent verse. Maybe Kelly is the king of hip-hop as opposed to R&B. Oh well, it works either way.

A couple of luke-warm tracks poke their ugly head up at this point. Shockingingly, they are all Kelly solo tracks, making you wonder if hip-hop is truly where Kelly should reside. "Leave Your Name" hearkens the worst of TP3 RELOADED while "Freaky In the Club" is only slightly better than the ill-conceived "Slow Wind" from the 2005 album. Only the incredibly over-the-top "Zoo", which features animals sounds mind you (elephants, monkeys!) is truly Kelly back in his old form - well for the most part. "I'm A Flirt (Remix)" feat. T.I. & T-Pain brings the King back after a brief hiatus. This was definitly one of the Summer's biggest hits; I kind of like the version absent here that features Bow-Wow and Kelly, but this one is solid as well. "Same Girl" features the other big R&B superstar, Usher for a brilliant duet in which it seems that the theme of "doubling up" reappears (genius Kelly, genius!) The most talked about track from DOUBLING UP (besides "Zoo")has to be the controversial "Real Talk". True to its name, the singer refers to women as "b*tches" and saturates "motherf**ker" like it's nothing. It is a well concieved track, similar to his recitative style that popularized "Trapped in the Closet", but it maybe a bit too controversial for the R.Kelly fan-base. He does similar later with the more accessible, "Best Friend" featuring Keyshia Cole and rap-producer Polow Da Don, which has it's share of the explicit itself. Again, is Kelly the King? Probably.

"Hook It Up" is a standout featuring Huey ("Pop, Lock, Drop It") while "Rock Star" is one of the best collaborative ventures of 2007 (features Ludacris and Kid Rock). After "Best Friend", Kells pulls off his excellent solo hip-hop influence track "Rollin'", which is easily one of the best of DOUBLE UP. "Sweet Tooth" isn't bad, though not as great as "Havin' A Baby", an unexpected inspirational track absent of sex. It is very appropriate as the penultimate track to Kell's beautiful, chilling "Rise Up", in tribute and memory of the Virginia Tech victims. The bonus track "Ringtone" is forgettable, but by the time you've reached midway through this album, you know that the talented, though oversexed-freaky Kelly is back, moreso than the tepid TP3 RELOADED, which was only good for a couple of hits ("In the Kitchen", "Trapped in the Closet", "Remote Control", "T-Shirt" among a couple of others). 4 Stars in my eyes.

Let me start by saying I'm a huge R. Kelly fan. He's probably my favorite R&B artist and undoubtedly the best R&B artist of this generation. But this album was a joke. He's changing in a bad way with the rap industry. As rap gets more commercial and less meaningful Kellz has also. It seems to me he's trying to become a rapper, which isn't a good look.

1) The Champ...terrible a 2 minute song about how everybody is jealous of him and against him. It was nothing more than bragging about being on top and "singing" about how he's on top and everyone hates him due to it. If this was hip-hop, that'd be okay. But it's not, it's r&b.

2) Double Up...He needs to grow up! A song about getting girls "dizzy" in the club and bringing them and their friend home with you. This is a completely meaningless song. Plan and simple. Again, if this was hip-hop you could brag about stealing another mans women or "doubling up" but it's not hip-hop it's r&b.

3) Tryin' to get a number...a pure disgrace. He tried to go pop-ish. Nelly is featured and Kellz does his best to sound like Nelly but realistically it sounds like it's Nelly's song and not Kellz! It's insanely commercial and focuses mostly on "steppin outta Hummer". What happened to songs like Greatest Sex and Strip for You?

4) Get Dirty...a song which features Chamillionair and a horrible effort by both. Again, commercial and meaningless.

Rather than going through the bad songs, the only good song I found were "Sweet Tooth", "Sex Planet", and "The Zoo". Everything else is subpar to average. I hope he bounces back strong. Regardless I will probably buy his next album just because of his legacy. All artists have bad albums, this is on of them.

4

I'll give you 11 adjectives to describe this, and then I will leave:

Disgusting
Disgraceful
Disrepectful
Mindless
Soulless
Talentless
Embarrassing
Rap
Sorry
Trashy
I.Q. Killer

1 star

The completely unnecessary use of profanities makes this unsuitable listening to genuine music lovers. Come on Mr Kelly, there are young people out there who look up to you, and expect better. There are a few good tracks but I did not finish listening to this and doubt I will play it again.

R. Kelly doesn't need any further introduction, he's one of the finest and most successful R&b Artists from the last 15 years and he's given us so many hits that we've become spoiled and he's even written songs for others like Michael Jackson's "Cry" and "You Are Not Alone". As versatile as he is his music often differ from time to time. We got the love songs (Down Low, If I Could Turn Back The Hands Of Time) we got the film themes (Gotham City, I Believe I Can Fly) both Spiritual and uptempo Gospel song from his Happy People/U Saved Me and then we got the songs for the club and the songs about sex. Which this album is entirely about. To be honest, these are the two R. Kelly type of songs I like least. R. Kelly always did songs about sex from time to time and sometimes they were fine sometimes not, but club songs was something quite new when he released the remix to Ignition a few years back and the song became a smash. R. Kelly had been making club songs in the past, often on other artists albums and even 2 disastrous collaboration albums with Jay-Z called (Best of Both Worlds, and Unfinnished Business). But recording an entire album in his own name with mostly Hip Hop influenced club songs full of guests is something new.

As aforementioned, "Double Up" got 2 themes that comes back on this album. Sex and Clubbing. R. Kelly got alot of help from guest artists like like Usher, Nelly and Chamillionaire etc. that I will introduce later on. At 40 I was really expecting something else from the Pied Piper then clubbing and more sex, but with this lineup I still had high hopes for this release. It would be fascinating to see what these guests could do with him, considering there are hardly these many guests on R. Kelly albums. Alright, let's take a look at the 18 songs on this album. First out is Swizz Beatz produced intro called "The Champ" where R. Kelly introduce himself as a legend that has been around for long and archieved almost everything and claimes he was the first to make music for "the hood", and based on this intro and the album cover you know what to expect and to what audience this album is dedicated to. Title track "Double Up" is next and feauture Snoop Dogg. It's basically a song about clubbing, as good story teller as he is this song lacks everything else. Annoying beats, no melody or hook and Snoop sounds like he always does. Next song "Tryin' to Get a Number" with Nelly sounds exacly the same as the previous with manufacted and annoying beats and the same theme about clubbing. "Get Dirty" with Chammilionaire (who promised he wouldn't say certain words on his new album). This song according to R. Kelly is dedicated to N*ggas, B*tches, Playas, Pimps and is just as bad as the previous two songs and sounds almost the same too. After a few club songs, a sex ballad to the honeys comes in "Leave Your Name"... After the beep, R. Kelly promise to call back cause he may be sleeping or making a baby. The song itself isn't that bad, but it's nothing new. "Freaky in the Club", is silly but catchy at the same time, It's about strippers or stripping I think, how original. On "The Zoo" R. Kelly makes metaphores to diffrent animals from the jungle when he's having sex. On the hook he uses a monkey sound, infact this song is so comical that it almost feels embarrasing. A remix of the Lil Bow Wow hit "I'm a Flirt" with T.I and T-Pain if you haven't got fed up with the original version aleady, infact both of them were released as singles and spent time simoultaneously on the chart.

The new single with Usher called "Same Girl" is the standout song on this album, it deals with a girl they both have been messing with without even knowing it. It's a good song and a duet with Usher can't go wrong. More of this thanks. "Real Talk" could have been "Trapped in the Closet" Version 10. It's a 3 minute long conversation song where he suppostely argues with his girlfriend who saw him in the club and is mad, I wonder what happended after these 3 minutes?. "Hook It Up" with new rapper Huey got better beats then alot of songs here but it also lacks interesting theme and is extremely repetitive. "Rock Star" sounds like nothing else on this album, a rocker with a really nice guitar riff. Ludacris and Kid Rock apepars, unfortunately the sexist and very explicit lyrics ruins it for me. It's basically about the lifestyle of a "Rock Star" having sex with groupies on demand. Haven't we heard this already?. One more pretty good song called "Best Friend" with talented Keyshia Cole, she's actually the only female that appears on this album, Polow Da Don himself also sings a few rhymes. This seems to be a triangle drama song about his girlfriend doing his bestfriend, and YES it sound alot like Trapped in The Closet aswell. "Rollin" is probably the worst song of this album, too repetitive and one-sided. Wonder how long it took to produce it, 5 or 10 minutes. Put your bet. "Sweet Tooth" is not too surprisingly a ballad about sex where he makes metaphors to food. It's alright without being over-the-top. "Having A Baby" a romantic song about how much he looks forward to become a father. Good song, but feels very missplaced on this album. "Sex Planet" probably takes the price for being the most explicit song even if it's a sweet ballad on the purpose. like "I Promise this will be painless, we take a trip to the planet Uranus" He also talks about "taste your milky way" and "enter into your black hole", If you don't know R Kelly, this is him in a nutshell and I actually think this song is quite funny and one of the better songs of this album. The closer that is also missplaced is called "Rise Up" and is a tribute to the victims of the Virginia Tech massacre.

Overall, As much of a fan of R. Kelly that I am (one of my all time favorite artists) this album can't be considered anything but a dissapointment. On R. Kelly releases you have sky high expectations and after the dissapointing TP3 I thought this album would be better. You know what this man is capable at his peak but at the same time you know what he is capable of at his lows. There are simpy too much club songs here and too many guest artists and feels like they don't add much new either. If the songs atleast had some good beats or hook like Ignition?. For the most part this album feels uninspired and repetitive. Like already mentioned The few more serious songs just feel missplaced and while some songs are quite alright here it isn't enough when others are just lame. At 40 R. Kelly only deals with clubbing and sex?. I'm truly dissapointed and I wouldn't recommend this album unless these 2 issues are what you like about his music. Sorry Kellz but You can do better.

When R. Kelly first came out in the early `90s, he successfully extended the new jack swing movement for a short time. And from his second album on, he started making more mature music with impressive results. But then somewhere around, say, 1998, he started making songs that seemed better tailored for men half his age, and then when he tried to go back, he would try too hard and end up with songs that were corny and overtly sexual at the same time. Such is the case with his latest offering, Double Up.

Kells' last album, TP.3 Reloaded, was garbage, and frankly, this album isn't much better. Now, Double Up IS a suitable title for the album because it's exactly 80 minutes long, which means that some songs could have been left behind -- actually, a LOT of songs (hence the two-star rating). In fact, all the other two-star reviews are pretty accurate (especially K.J. Bryant's review). First you have the filler tracks ("Freaky in the Club", "Tryin' to Get a Number", "Ringtone"); then you have the stories: "Same Girl" is okay, but "Best Friend" (with Keyshia Cole and Polow da Don) is skippable.

There's also the "I'm a Flirt" remix, which is the same story as the "Ignition" remix: you like the song but you have no idea why. And "Havin' a Baby" is pretty self-explanatory, but toward the end when Kells starts talking through the delivery process, it gets a little hard to get into. The necessary we-are-the-world song "Rise Up" is also good, but it feels out of place when compared to the rest of the album (more on that in a minute).

As usual, there are a lot of bad sexual metaphors, like "Sweet Tooth", "Sex Planet" and especially "The Zoo", which is complete with orangutan (and eventually elephant) sound effects. But there are other songs with problems as well. "Real Talk" has Kells goin' off on his girl for suggesting that he's sleeping around, and he's swearing just for the sake of swearing (and why does he keep saying Milton?). The title track boringly details threesomes; and "Rock Star" (with Ludacris and Kid Rock -- although Rock is only playing, so that really shouldn't count as a guest spot) proves that R. Kelly and rock music are like oil and water.

I guess I should be used to Kells aiming at the younger crowd nowadays, but he just isn't as good at it as he used to be; and the sex songs are still way too corny. Yeah, he can still sing, but he should keep his best songs for himself like he did earlier in his career. In short, Double Up is about as good as The Best of Both Worlds, so leave it in the store.

Anthony Rupert

I appreciate R. Kelly as an artist but I didn't not like some the songs on this cd. I liked about half. I was a little diasappointed.