A Deeper Listen to R. Kelly's Double Up and T-Pain's Epiphany
by Elle Castro
R. Kelly is back with his new album, Double Up, and this release may not be a typical Kelly project. While the disc includes traditional songs that Kelly is known for, it is his most hip-hop-influenced release to date. The set features collaborations with the likes of T.I., Ludacris, Nelly, Huey, Usher, Kid Rock, Chamillionaire, Keyshia Cole, Polow Da Don, Snoop Dogg, Swizz Beatz and T-Pain.
Although the album is heavily saturated with hip-hop grooves, there are a few signature tracks to keep fans satisfied, such as "The Zoo,” "Sweet Tooth” and "Leave Your Name.” However, a new side of the singer also shines through on the project with "Same Girl,” featuring Usher, and "I'm a Flirt.” Also included is "Rise Up,” a track dedicated to the victims of the recent killings at Virginia Technological College, recorded to give hope to the victims' families.
Double Up may disappoint some R. Kelly fans, with its new hip-hop blends, but all in all the set delivers traditional songs with various new sounds to explore. This album will continue his success route and continue to uphold the legacy of the one and only R. Kelly. However, he sticks to the same sexual content and club-heat atmosphere that many of his previous records included. At first glance it may seem that he offers nothing really new, but in reality this album carries a good share of novelty.
Rising R&B favorite T-Pain is continuing to make his presence known in the genre as one of the most sought-after crooners. Known for his distinct sound for using the vocoder voice enhancer, T-Pain's lead single from Epiphany, "Buy U A Drank,” featuring Yung Joc, built enough buzz to earn a chart-debuting No. 1, besting the likes of Rihanna's "Good Girl Gone Bad.”
On this project, T-Pain takes on various fictitious roles, displaying his multi-talents of singing and rapping. He's known as T-Pain, but on Epiphany he becomes Teddy Pain, Teddy Penderauzdoun and Teddy Verseti. Once again, Pain took the Mr. Do It All approach with this project, writing and producing all of the content. Aside from his multiple personalities, the set features spots from Akon, Yung Joc, Shawnna, Cham and Kardinall Offishall. Epiphany offers a more mature T-Pain.
He opens the album with a couple of neatly pronounced explanations: "Epiphany, definition one: the manifestation of a supernatural being," and "definition two: a sudden moment of insight or revelation." Judging to all appearances, the idea of the album's title was inspired by the second definition. Calling himself a supernatural being, even in a musical sense, would be too much for this stylish and consistent singing seducer.
The content on the album is edgy but fun, covering subjects ranging from partying to sex and of course the strip club. However, he also includes more serious matters such as HIV and AIDS. The up-tempo "Bartender,” the album's second single, featuring Konvict's staple singer, Akon, continues the fun, club-driven theme that the crooner has become known to deliver.
A couple of tracks need special mention. "I Got It” and "Suicide” are tied together with a common subject matter, which is pretty serious and uncharacteristic for R&B songs. "I Got It” delivers a staging of a dialogue between T-Pain and his girlfriend, who tells him that she's got HIV. "Suicide” continues this topic. The song is based on someone discovering that they've contracted the deadly virus and looking at the experience as suicide.
Epiphany may not be what fans were expecting from the human voice box, but it will continue to be a favorite pick for the fun-themed club-goers.
