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By the way, I'm new on here but I've been a lurker on this site for some time now. There's always interesting discussions going on in here. I finally picked up the courage to sign up just a week ago. But what struck me to join was this thread. Ironically, me and my friend got into a HUGE debate about this very question it was actually around the time this was posted. We were all just drinking and watching TV. I was flicking through the channels and "Trapped in the Closet" was playing on the IFC channel Me and a bunch of other people just sat there watching this crazy ass movie. Few minutes into the movie my friend blurts out "Dude, this man is a musical genius! He's the Marvin Gaye of our time!" I literally choked on my drink and went to a seizure lol! My dad was a big Marvin Gaye fan and he passed just a year ago. So I cherish the music Marvin made because my dad really loved him. And to hear my friend say that R.Kelly (Mr. Bump n Grind) is today's Marvin Gaye really hurt my soul lol. Basically, I lashed out at my friend but at the same time was shocked because he's not even into R n' B. He's the rocker type of dude. To keep a long story short - My friend gave me all of R.Kelly's CD's (demos and etc.) and told me to listen to them. It was so weird to have my friend of 15 years hand me R.Kelly albums! We usually exchange rock albums! I gave them a listen and came to a conclusion- the man is indeed is a musical genius. I would go as far to say he may be better than Marvin Gaye. He arranges, produces and writes all of his albums and he also wrote many hits for other artists. I learned If you want to have a hot debate just bring up this question But I would like to thank the OP of this thread  You pretty much expanded my musical horizons with this thread and I learned that my friend was into this dude. It was kind of like are own "Trapped in the Closet" series To answer the question. I would say Marvin is Marvin. He had something many artists of his time didn't possess. He was smooth yet soulful. I can defiantly see where R.Kelly compares. I was actually listening to the Chocolate Factory album and there's this track called "You Knock Me Out". I had to take a double take at the credits because R. sounded so much like Marvin Gaye! I've done quite a bit of research on R.Kelly and learned that Marvin's mom gave him Marvin Gaye's drivers license! That's deep! To have one of the greatest male singers mom hand you a personal item that's her son's. You would think she would keep it as a memoir. I've also learned that Smokey Robinson- one of Motown's finest! said R.Kelly is a musical genius. Ron Isley said he places R. with Marvin, Sam Cooke and Jackie Wilson! This is coming from an R&B legend! And I was very shocked to learn that one of my favorite artist- Beck, loved the 12 play album! and even played parts of his songs at his shows!! I'll get off my soap box now!Sorry for the essay! I'm just tripping out from all these things about R.Kelly that I didn't know about.  | |
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Nice post!!
That makes two of us! They shall see the light of R 'God' Kelly and his genius ways. | |
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R. Kelly is one of my top ten favorite artists ever. However, he's such a mixed bag. Half of his rap tracks suck. Some of them (Rock Star, Playa's Only, a few others) are catchy enough. But overall, I really prefer the R&B stuff he did. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the 90's stuff he did, as well as Chocolate Factory, Happy People/U Saved Me and some of his production for other artists.
R. Kelly needs to go back to doing what he does best, and for crikes' sake, sing LIVE, Robert. I bought his live DVD and was really dissapointed. Why do some of the artists with the best voices (R. Kelly, Michael Jackson) refuse to put on a good live show? | |
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I think these three songs show R.Kelly's extraordinary vocal talent:
I Believe I Can Fly (Remix)- This song shows the richness in his head register. It's so crisp and soulful! He switches into singing Opera in this one. Somethings Never Change- R.Kelly giving his best impersonation of Stevie Wonder. A Soldier's Heart- One of his best performances ever! The last minute proves him as a soulman.  | |
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I've never heard these songs before 
What album is the first two songs from?? and the last video is incredible! He's the best! | |
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The Loveland album.
It was slated for release due to heavy bootlegging of the album. You should def. check out! One of his best efforts to date! He didn't hold back on this one. | |
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Marvin is so smooth and effortless with his voice. R Kelly has a good voice, but I hope he checked his pants after that Soldier's Heart because I swear he looked like he was straining so hard he damn sharted. | |
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Yup! Timmy just told me
I wish he would cut the bullshit and go back to doing songs like these  I don't get him! He's so talented yet he resorts to T-pain and Snoop Dogg nowadays! WAKE UP, ROBERT!
The I Believe I Can Fly (Remix) is amazing! | |
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BklynBabe said: Marvin is so smooth and effortless with his voice. R Kelly has a good voice, but I hope he checked his pants after that Soldier's Heart because I swear he looked like he was straining so hard he damn sharted. It's called soul He was getting his Marvin Gaye on! | |
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midiscover said: Yup! Timmy just told me
I wish he would cut the bullshit and go back to doing songs like these I don't get him! He's so talented yet he resorts to T-pain and Snoop Dogg nowadays! WAKE UP, ROBERT!
The I Believe I Can Fly (Remix) is amazing! I couldn't help but  a little when he said "Quickly! you helpless fool get away from here!"
I think it would be cool if he made an Opera album. | |
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Superstition said: R. Kelly is one of my top ten favorite artists ever. However, he's such a mixed bag. Half of his rap tracks suck. Some of them (Rock Star, Playa's Only, a few others) are catchy enough. But overall, I really prefer the R&B stuff he did. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the 90's stuff he did, as well as Chocolate Factory, Happy People/U Saved Me and some of his production for other artists.
R. Kelly needs to go back to doing what he does best, and for crikes' sake, sing LIVE, Robert. I bought his live DVD and was really dissapointed. Why do some of the artists with the best voices (R. Kelly, Michael Jackson) refuse to put on a good live show? I agree! He's one of my fav. male artists but he's moving slowly down my list! BTW- I didn't know he wrote Fortunate by Maxwell! Why doesn't he keep songs like that for himself!?!? | |
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midiscover said: !
BTW- I didn't know he wrote Fortunate by Maxwell! Why doesn't he keep songs like that for himself!?!?because even R know he doesn't sound as good singing certain songs as other artists with better voices do. | |
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BklynBabe said: midiscover said: !
BTW- I didn't know he wrote Fortunate by Maxwell! Why doesn't he keep songs like that for himself!?!?because even R know he doesn't sound as good singing certain songs as other artists with better voices do. Um no! His Your Not Alone > MJ's verison. and I'm dying to hear his version of Fortuante probably way better than Maxwell's. | |
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He wrote, produced and arranged about 90% of the Life soundtrack
 | |
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trueiopian said: midiscover said: Yup! Timmy just told me
I wish he would cut the bullshit and go back to doing songs like these I don't get him! He's so talented yet he resorts to T-pain and Snoop Dogg nowadays! WAKE UP, ROBERT!
The I Believe I Can Fly (Remix) is amazing! I couldn't help but a little when he said "Quickly! you helpless fool get away from here!"
I think it would be cool if he made an Opera album. I would flatline if he did! LMAO! Do you know he mumbles "suck my dick" towards the end on the orginal?! | |
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BklynBabe said: midiscover said: !
BTW- I didn't know he wrote Fortunate by Maxwell! Why doesn't he keep songs like that for himself!?!?because even R know he doesn't sound as good singing certain songs as other artists with better voices do. Actually, that's not the case. Besides R. is the far better vocalist btwn the two. He just knows what songs to compose for the right artist. He knows Maxwell couldn't sing a song like "Bump and Grind" or "I Believe I Can Fly" | |
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trueiopian said: He wrote, produced and arranged about 90% of the Life soundtrack
What!! I love that song I didn't know that!
You learn something new everyday on here | |
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Okay I've been digging R since the days of Public Announcement and count 12 Play among one of my fave albums EVER, but I'm not going to lie on the man's voice, he has a tendency to strain, while for others like Marvin and Maxwell it is pure smoothness. I have many R songs that I love to listen to and he is a hugely talented artist. No doubt about it. But vocally he's not even in the top 20 male vocalists. You should listen to some Teddy Pendergrass, some Luther Vandross, some Eddie and Gerald Levert, some K Ci Hailey, some Jeffery Osborne, some Freddie Jackson, some Johnny Gill to hear the difference. R Kelly's voice is more on a par of Keith Sweat, Bobby Brown, James Brown types. He does not have a smooth voice, his voice is very gritty. I think you have compared apples to oranges, my friend. And the hell I would want to hear Maxwell singing some Bump and Grind shit You will get laid to Til The Cops Come Knocking. You will NOT get laid to no "you remind me of my jeep, I wanna wax it" nonsense LOL. Maxwell would not even drop no shit like that BECAUSE he is smooth and his voice is smooth. | |
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Did you not listen to "A Soldier's Heart"  R. Kelly is one of the best male singer of our time! Maxwell ... not so much. Lets see Maxwell try to sing songs like this -
Can Maxwell sing outside of a falsetto? Can he sing Opera? Can he sing Gospel? Dancehall? Soul? [Edited 9/8/09 18:52pm] [Edited 9/8/09 18:59pm] [Edited 9/8/09 19:09pm] | |
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midiscover said: Can Maxwell sing outside of a falsetto? Can he sing Opera? Can he sing Gospel? Dancehall? Soul? [Edited 9/8/09 18:52pm] [Edited 9/8/09 18:59pm] [Edited 9/8/09 19:09pm] You are obviously not hip to Maxwell if you think he only sings falsetto.... can he sing opera...hmmm he sang This Woman's Work, shouldn't be a problem can he sing gospel...."Lifetime" is close enough can he sing dancehall..."Get To Know Ya" has got much rhythm can he sing soul....honey that's what he sings best, why do you think people were feenin' after 7 years for the brother to come back? As for best male R&B voice....hell Tyrese, Mario, Usher, NeYo, and even Jamie Foxx have better voices....
and if you're gonna jock R Kelly you will have to put Avant right up there because Avant sounds JUST like him.
and I went to BOTH of R's concerts....with Jay Z and without...I know how he sounds live. (and I've been to Maxwell too) | |
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BklynBabe said: You are obviously not hip to Maxwell if you think he only sings falsetto... Maxwell is a lot like Prince as a vocalist. Both sing in falsetto over 50% of the time because they sound better in that register and far more comfortable in that register as well. R.Kelly is a very versatile singer and stronger. . BklynBabe said: can he sing opera...hmmm he sang This Woman's Work, shouldn't be a problem
Are you serious???? Listen to the I Believe I Can Fly (Remix) and The Opera from the R. album - That's Opera! BklynBabe said: can he sing gospel...."Lifetime" is close enough
That's not Gospel!! This is - BklynBabe said: can he sing dancehall..."Get To Know Ya" has got much rhythm
Please stop!! 
This is dancehall- BklynBabe said: can he sing soul....honey that's what he sings best, why do you think people were feenin' after 7 years for the brother to come back?
We're mostly waiting for D'Angelo! 
BklynBabe said: As for best male R&B voice....hell Tyrese, Mario, Usher, NeYo, and even Jamie Foxx have better voices....
Um No!! All those guys have acknowledged R.Kelly as their idols! and that's just crazy to say the have better voices than R.! You obviously aren't well rounded on R.Kelly's music. BklynBabe said: and if you're gonna jock R Kelly you will have to put Avant right up there because Avant sounds JUST like him.
There's a reason why he only as 4 top 40 hits. And look what I found Avant acknowledges high comparison and cites the R&B icon as his biggest influence and aspiration. (Taken from his Wikipedia) BklynBabe said: and I went to BOTH of R's concerts....with Jay Z and without...I know how he sounds live. (and I've been to Maxwell too)
See I don't think comparing most of R.'s live performances to Maxwell is fair because he hardly stands and actually belt. His concerts are usually like Hip-Hop concerts. But he sounds amazing live (Award show performances)! Until Maxwell gets praise from R&B legends like Ron Isley, Smokey Robinson, Charlie Wilson, Michael Jackson and many more! Than you can argue who's better! Besides R.Kelly composed Maxwell's biggest hit to date so ....
R. is a legend and his songs are influential and inspirational. Maxwell doesn't even compare. What would R&B without the R??? [Edited 9/8/09 20:27pm] | |
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Maxwell really is crap compared to R.Kelly | |
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Well i will have to stay his 90's stuff was very good i liked his R&B Work very good music(:
But starting 1999-NOW He was literaly partying like it was 1999 lol cause just about every song from the past ten years has been about Partying Sex Booty Feeling On Yowr Booty Sex In Weird Places Peeing
and um... that's it The last good song he came out with was The World's Greatest in like 02 And his Trapped In The Closet series is cheesey as hell Pistols sounded like "Fuck off," wheras The Clash sounded like "Fuck Off, but here's why.."- Thedigitialgardener
All music is shit music and no music is real- gunsnhalen Datdonkeydick- Asherfierce Gary Hunts Album Isn't That Good- Soulalive | |
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