Trey Songz Vs R.Kelly
Posted on 29. Nov, 2009 by Ashley Marc in Entertainment, Music
To coincide with the release of R. Kelly’s highly anticipated 9th studio album, which shall remain “Untitled”, we here at Pbleepd wanted to find out if his title as “the King of R&B” was under threat. In particular by heartthrob Trey Songz, the self proclaimed “prince of R&B”.
This is of course in no way saying that Trey Songz has surpassed R. Kelly in terms of music catalogue, achievements or influence in the genre, as he still has a long way to go in that sense due to Kells’ impressive record of awards and classic albums.
It is simply a comparison of their respective current body of work (basically whose latest album is better). The general consensus seems to be that R. Kelly is meandering toward the end of his career, about ready to be taken out to pasture, while Trey Songz is hitting his peak.
Is it time for the torch to be passed?
READY
Trey Songz released his critically acclaimed third solo album “Ready“, at the beginning of this month to a huge collective female swoon, as he posed bare chested on the cover with his 2 week gym membership seeming to have paid off.
He set the tone of the album with the steamy intro, aptly titled “Panty Droppin“ and anybody who had listened to his previous albums knew their ears were about to be gently accosted by a selection of “baby makin’” slow jams accompanied with a scattering of credible hip-hop infused R&B.
Trey Songz emphatically delivered on this promise with some of the most fun, creative and sultry R&B that has been heard in a while with “Neighbours Know My Name“, “Jupiter Love”, “Successful“ and “Yo Side of the Bed“ my picks on a very strong overall album.
Trey Songz - Neighbours Know My Name
The only complaint I have on this album goes by the name of “LOL :-)”…I’m not sure if it would be unfair to say that I HATE this song. Easily winning the titles of most annoying song of the year and most likely to be a ring tone hit, this song is VERY catchy while being a hollow, lame, “Kiss You Through the Phone” rip off exploiting the success of that song to push an album when it didn’t need it. “Say Ahh” was a bit weak, sounding more Jeremih then Trey but I didn’t hate it.
UNTITLED
Now onto the King of R&B’s “Untitled” album. I received a copy of the album a good week before release and can honestly say that I LOVE it.
The old faithful fans are given a sense of nostalgia with some vintage R. Kelly, as he returns to his best with songs like “Whole Lotta Kisses”, ” Go Low” and even “Religious”, which wouldn’t be out of place next to some of his classic material on fans favourite albums like TP2.com.
Like Trey, the “baby makin” slow jams are compulsory too but he brought the album into 2009 with some contemporary R&B and new age slow jams, in the same vein as The-Dream but with the scintillating vocals that have set him apart from the “rest” over the last 2 decades. Apart from the aforementioned songs, my favourite tracks are “Exit”, “Echo”, “Like I Do”, “Text Me” and “Pregnant”.
R.Kelly Feat Tyrese, Robin Thicke & The Dream - Pregnant
The annoying thing is that the collaborations on “Untitled” are more hit and miss than Cheryl Cole’s wardrobe on X-Factor. As, on the one hand Kells teams up with Tyrese, Robin Thicke & The-Dream on the slightly perverse but gloriously compelling “Pregnant” and with Keri Hilson on the sure fire hit “Number One”, which both perfectly compliment the album.
Then on the other hand he hops in the “boo”th with OJ Da Juiceman (if you’re going to pick a down south rapper to get on a track with, at least choose Gucci Mane) to create an appalling excuse for an R. Kelly club track in “Supaman High” (think “
Ignition” sung by John and Edward). Then again on the equally woeful intro track “Crazy Night” alongside bashment artist Rock City where Kells decides that auto-tune was necessary (it never is!).
My final complaint is the whole club theme. To be honest if I saw R. Kelly in a club (apart from being in awe at the genius I’m sharing the room with), I’d be A) pissed off because he’s probably looking for and getting the girls my age who I would want to be conversing with (who am I kidding, the girls my age/ much younger) or B) confused at why this “old” guy is in a club with 20 somethings trying to look cool, but looking more like a chaperone/uncle.
Therefore I’m sure I’m not the only one who is tired of hearing him sing about being “up in a club” somewhere and taking home some nondescript female for some extra-curricular activities.
WHO IS BETTER?
As much as it pains me, I have to say that based on the current music from both artists and they’re current stature in the game, I am inclined to say that it is time for Kells to pass the torch to the younger, more creative artist who is entering into the peak of an already glittering career.
Trey Songz has a bright future ahead of him and if he can follow up this latest impressive effort with a another classic R&B album, he will be well on his way to Chi-Town to collect the crown.
This is only my personal opinion. Feel free to comment on what you think. Is Trey really better? Has R. Kelly fallen off? What do you think of both artists?
R. Kelly likes to urinate on underage girls. Doesn’t anybody find that a bit strange?
Time to pass the torch to my hubby lol
Very good article. Kells hasn’t done anything great since Chocolate Factory so Im not surprised Songz won this.
i have 2 say Trey Songz, coz i like his ‘invented sex’ tune & i’m guilty of liking LOL 2:-/ Plus R Kelly makes me sick nw! pre-peein on underaged gals, i prolly wud hav sed R Kelly, but dat pregnant tune is really not dat 1…
Nah, never can a musician/entertainer of ‘R’ pass the torch until he himslef deems it absolutly necessary. Dont get me wrong, I feel Trey Dongz in terms of music but Kell’s will always be tha best until he says ‘time is up’!!! Please and Thank u…
I think everyones forgetting r.kellys a legend, however he can’t top his old shit
What he should really do is retire and keep that title because he going downhill…
As for trey song his new album is amazing a lot better thank kells but he’ll never top
R.kelly and could be the r.kelly of his time though
Forgetting that R.Kelly is a pervert whom likes to pee on girls (YUKKKK), just like the above person stated, R. Kelly is a legend. However music evolves so i don’t believe that a musician can ever top their ‘old shit’, they can only develop/change, which makes him the legend that he is. Trey Songz is for the moment, a heart throb (of course), however i think he actually needs a hit to really be in the game.
A-IM GONNA HAVE TO PURCHASE BOTH ALBUMS TO MAKE A VALID DECISSION
BUT B-
NAHHH-LETS NOT EVER GET IT TWISTED!!
YOUNG-CREATIVE-”PEAK”…All that means is imitating whats been laid out…
He’s a baby Kellz…Widout Kellz, Mr T songz would be on some moist ish…wouldnt be doin wot he duz!! nah nah-compare them all u like but Kellz hits hard n duz HIS ting!!
If u can talk to me bout Trey in 10 20 years time, and tell me his still makin music- den we’ll have a debate for the G.O.A.T belt…but until then, Try still riding his tricycle!
Make way for Trey! R.Kelly has had his time, we thank him for his 9 albums and some real good music!
I was getting ready to leave a long comment disagreeing with your choice of R.Kelly but WoW Ashley I am actually surprised you went with Trey Songz over your musical hero R.Kelly.
If you judge it on current material/current album then yes Trey Songz is definitely better in 2009 but to answer the question Is Trey really better no he’s not. He can’t stand next to R.Kelly on an album to album level, awards level or on creativity (Kellz brought us the trapped in the closet saga don’t forget!).
R. Kelly hasn’t fallen off like Carts said “music evolves…they can only develop/change, which makes him the legend that he is”. Trey has all the credentials to live up to the hype. His first album was great in my opinion, the Anticipation mixtape was so good it could have released & been a solid album and ‘Ready’ should win a Grammy award in January.
As much as R Kelly will remain in our memory as 1 of the greatest, its time to move over, take the backseat and allow someone younger and fresh like Trey Songz to take the driving seat!!! TREY SONGZ ALL DAY!!!
I agree R.kelly needs to just retire now and let Trey my husband do his thing xx
Enjoyed the article. And agreed with pretty much all you said. You have finally succumbed to the blindingly obvious. Trey’s album is in my eyes easily the best RnB album of 2009 although I still think that he is under-rated and do not expect him to pick up many awards for this excellent effort. Kel’s has been on a downhill slide and as you mentioned does not appear to have anything to say. The voice will forever remain, but one can only listen to so much of the same repetition. His biggest challenge is to figure out how he can still remain relevant. Jay Z has managed to do this, and has therefore further cemented his place as a legend, however Kel’s decline continues and threatens to tarnish a brilliant career and legacy!
Dear Author http://www.pbleepd.com !
To be more modest it is necessary
why we having this talk…..nobody will ever be better then the man that writes for most of the r & b industry….i dont think michael jackson would ask trey songz to write hits for him….lol….trey songz will come and go…..nobody was paying mind to him till he went and did a song with drake …and he took some of drakes buzz…you cant compare albums …cause remember the actual r .kelly album 12 play 4th quaterwas supose to be the album out…butcause of the leak …r.kelly had to rework the whole album…and put together untitled real quick …to fill his contractual obligation…untitled is his last album on jive …12play 4th quater was supose to be..now kellz (like jay-z said)dropped the lablel
and everybody forgot of 12 play 4th quater???….screamer is better then trey songz whole album…then u had skin…freaky sensation….playaz get lonely..at the same time…lets get for real people…trey songz..are u serious…neyo gives u better shit and all u can come up with is trey songz…lol..the track he did going at kellz was garbage trey songz is garbage…
12th PLay 4th Quarter sounded like it could’ve been a classic which is why he kept Go Low & Whole Lotta Kisses from there. Great album (minus “Two Seater” lol). He also added Supaman High & Bangin The Headboard from his mixtape, which meant there were 11 original tracks on Untitled.
Nobody said that Trey Songz is better than Kells because clearly he isnt but Trey Songz did VERY well with his latest album and R. Kelly’s one wasnt as good (even though as a fan i LOVE it).
R. Kelly does NOT need to pass the torch especially not to a silly little boy that has been imatating him, since he came in the game & then tried to turn around and insult the very man that made him!!!!
There is no comparison kells is 20 years strong and isn’t trying to prove himself, his place in the game is solid, he is the best musician alive, and is the KING of R&B, Trey still has to prove himself, which is why to some it may seem as if he went harder, but he really didnt.
If we were doing a real compaison, we should go back and listen to Kells first 3 albums and then Treys, and then look at the album credits, R. kelly takes part of every aspect of his music, EVERY aspect, trey isn’t even close to him in anything, ANYTHING!!
Even in both thse latest albums, Kells vocal ability, song writing and production cn’t be touched. All these little R&B fellas are imitating him, even some of the rappers.
Basically R. Kelly is the Pied Piper and King of R&B
R.Kelly is the best R&B singer and I Love him alot. He is a good man all the time and God bless him always
I want to quote your post in my blog. It can?
And you et an account on Twitter?
Thats fine! twitter.com/pbleepd ..the writer’s account is twitter.com/ashleybmarc