Mar 22 2002
Jay-Z - R. Kelly - Best of Both Worlds

Best of What?

The Best of Both Worlds was released on Tuesday, but there is a store in midtown Manhattan that always gets new CDs the Friday before the official release date. This is all retail wrapped and stickered stuff, not bootlegs.. those can be copped on the street, weeks beforehand anyway. So I walked into this store last Friday looking for some new tunes and there it was, stacked high and in full view, the infamous Best of Both Worlds album.

I had heard a few songs off the album and wasn’t impressed until I heard Flex play this song where R. Kelly was kinda rapping.. and doing a damn good job at it. Me and my cousin were shaking our heads saying how he really fucked up with all the bullshit surrounding him. This was a hot joint that would blow the album up. So I’m looking at the CD in the store thinking if I should buy it just for that song, if anything.

I looked to the left of Best of Both Worlds and the CD that I came there for was on the rack.. Glenn Lewis. That was a definite. “Give me the Glenn Lewis.. and.. umm Best of Both Worlds.” Yup. I bought it.

When I got out of the store, there was this funny feeling of sleaze coming over me. I started to think about that stupid title song and playing it loudly in the truck.. “Best offfff both worllldddss.” That shit is horrible. But that other song I heard.. I wanted to hear that, and maybe something else was hot on the thing. But the sleaze feeling came back. I’m gonna be rocking a joint that really should have not been released in the first place.

With the trouble R Kelly is having, the album should have been put on hold. If he isn’t guilty of the charges then there’s no harm done. The album will be a blockbuster as people celebrate his innocence. There aren’t any plans for touring or promoting the album beyond print and TV commercials. There will be no videos, no tours. So the point of releasing it is based purely on the belief that people WANT the album that bad, regardless of what’s going on. They NEED to have it in their collection. Record execs will point to the massive bootlegging to confirm their belief. Right or wrong it seems to me that given the circumstances, the album should have been left on the shelf.

So there I was thinking this.. and still it’s in my bag. That’s not happening. I turned around and went back to the store to exchange it for something else. When I got to the counter and told the owner I wanted to exchange a CD she said.. “The Best of Both Worlds?” I didn’t even have to tell her, but she asked so I answered..“Yup.”

I guess I wasn’t the only one, maybe that’s why the CDs were stacked so high.

Everyone doesn’t think the same way though, I have friends - female and male - who are riding with the R to the end. And when next week’s sales numbers come out, they might show that sentiment extends across the country. R Kelly’s name was mentioned during the Soul Train Music Awards and a cascade of boos came down like Destiny’s Child were performing at the Philly All Star Game in Lakers gear.

My question is, do you plan on buying the album?


☼ What's Your Opinion? ☼

1 tracey Fri, Mar 22, 2002 - 4:08 pm

yes i will buy the album he is not guilty. know all the facts before you judge him.

2 Lhova Fri, Mar 22, 2002 - 4:57 pm

man, fluck that i got the bootleg and like you said it shouldnt have been released. absolute garbage from both artists.

3 wendy Fri, Mar 22, 2002 - 5:35 pm

hell no, i’m not buying that album. so far the only good song i’ve heard is the one you said. W/R. Kelley rapping. but if i do crack and decide to get it….only $5 for the bootleg.

4 Patty Fri, Mar 22, 2002 - 10:22 pm

hell no, i ain’t gon buy a CD from a dude that was pissing on a 14 yr. old’s body, that’s sick. And i won’t buy the CD for one hot joint, cuz then that CD ain’t worth your 15 bucks, why not just cop that joint on the computer? so f**k R.kelly and his chester self, and i don’t like Gay-z anyways, so nope. no way. i’m not gonna buy that shit. Holla Front!

5 AnTtDaHuStLa Sat, Mar 23, 2002 - 1:22 am

....of course not. Robert Kelly should be a damn shame of himself. I am still kinda upset wit Jay for bein a biitch ass nigga wit that SupaUgly. So between tha both of them plus lame ass tracks, I’m trying to told yall dont buy this trash. It’s “aight” but for this to be tha so called “greatest & best of both worlds” it could have been a helluva lot better.

6 DiamondDoll Sat, Mar 23, 2002 - 1:54 am

Hell no…I haven’t like R since 12 Play anyway.

7 Marcus Sat, Mar 23, 2002 - 2:02 am

my friend sent me the bootleg, and it’s decent, i will most likely be buying it. Whatever R.Kelly does in this PRIVATE life does not effect if i’ll buy his music or not.

8 tina Sat, Mar 23, 2002 - 6:13 am

does anyone know how many weeks in advance music videos are shoot? why they didn’t have any already made. people were saying the album was no good before it came out.
they are using this tape that was sent to the newspaper first not the police. think about that!so in a few weeks or months they will prove it is not him. the sex tape was on the streets in seconds after the story broke. everything is not adding up to me. i am buying the album today. i like r kelly\‘s music.

9 saugaking Sat, Mar 23, 2002 - 11:01 am

I like R. and Jigga, and they have some good songs together in the past, but trying to do a entire album of hits proved to be too difficult. “Best of Both Worlds” only has one or two good tracks. I won’t be buying it. I’ll wait for Jigga to drop his Blueprint II in November.

10 Chitown Sat, Mar 23, 2002 - 10:52 pm

Business world - R Kelly can write and produce and sing with the best of them. Personal life- He can eat a d*ck if the child thing is true and I am from the niggas hometown, chitown. But hey don’t front, yall know that song naked is hot. Oh yea I got it off the net and it could have been much better so I will pass on the purchase.

11 cutemama Sun, Mar 24, 2002 - 6:35 pm

ok tracey? know all the facts… and you do huh? @@

12 no.1 R.Kelly fan Sun, Mar 24, 2002 - 7:46 pm

I bought the CD and I think the shit is off the hook!!! More artists should have the talent of venturing out with different things. I think R.‘s personal life has nothing to do with this, most of you probably done worst shit and just haven’t got caught yet. So haters continue to hate, while a blast that hot shit from my truck. Holla!

13 Mista Mon, Mar 25, 2002 - 11:39 am

I bought it’s ok, definitely not the best of both worlds though. We still have to find out the facts before we just right R off. I’m saying people ran out and spent money to buy the sex tape to see if it really was R with some young chick, how perverted is that?

14 {Red} Mon, Mar 25, 2002 - 12:15 pm

I plan on buying the album, but not to support what he has done. I’m getting it for the music and the music only.

15 .............XQUIZIT....... Mon, Mar 25, 2002 - 3:08 pm

YEAH I COPPED IT A MONTH BEFORE IT CAME OUT,
AND FELL ASLEEP HONESTLY!
COMING FROM A TRUE JAY-Z FAN….I AGREE WIT ANT THAT SUPER UGLY JOINT WAS KIND OF WACK (OR AT LEAST THE WAY THEY PUT THE BEAT TOGETHER).
AND THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS ON HIS BEHALF IS NOT THERE.
JAY NEED TO GO BACK TO REASONABLE DOUBT AND VOL.1
BECAUSE HE’S SLIDING DOWN TO WACKISM!
ALSO: shh…(but sacario is sneaking up behind him)TRYING TO GET TO THAT LEVEL!
R.KELLY ALMOST HAD THAT ALBUM TILL HE MESS WIT THOSE LIL GIRLS!(JAY IS RARELY ON IT)
SO OVERALL THEY SHOULD HAVE DONE MUCH BETTER!
ALL THAT MONEY AND TALENT GOING TO WASTE!
1HOLLA
4SHIZZLE MY NIZZLE!

16 Phatty Girl Mon, Mar 25, 2002 - 4:25 pm

Why Hell No! R.Kelly out there messin’ around with young ass girls. Now that’s a crying shame! Now that’s my word! Ya heard?!

17 goody slim Tue, Mar 26, 2002 - 5:13 pm

I bought the bootlegged version a couple of weeks ago. No lie, that song “get this money” can jump start a party. I know cause it was my party that it kick off. Let me just say this, I saw pictures of the girls (or women) that he was with. My honest opinion, they look a lot older than what people say. I’m not gonna assume he is guilty and start burning the man at the cross because I dont know. I feel sorry for him because of all the negative press he has been receiving. It’s obvious that peoples intentions are to crucify the man. Let the truth come out first and let God’s will work from there.

18 Daveed Tue, Mar 26, 2002 - 5:26 pm

Some of you marks, be straight hating. Superugly f**k Nas up and the best of both worlds is some good music. Y’all a muthaf**king trip, when a nigga doing good, y’all all on his d*ck, but once the dark clouds come around and it start raining y’all turn into lil bitches when you get wet. Straight bitches ass muthaf**kers.(written in slang on purpose)

19 kv Wed, Mar 27, 2002 - 11:52 am

Why buy the album when you can download it?!? I haven’t bought a CD since…the 90’s? Who knows if R. Kelly is guilty; who cares? Music is music and I’m coppin’ it from the computer…PEACE!

20 SaLLyCaKeSs Mon, Apr 01, 2002 - 12:29 am

Wudup Chris!! Aight I jus came to ya site to ask about the “Best of both worlds.” Is it that bad? I mean I’m bout to go out and cop it but I keep thinkin of you goin bak and exchangin it so I’m having second thoughts about it but I love Jay & I gotta support him. BUT I don’t wanna waste a good $18.00, see what I’m seeing so if ya could email me and tell me about the album, i would appreciate it.
Oh yea. I was talkin bout that R. Kelly thing and friends of mine saw the tape and said that he was shittin n pissin on them girls, then fukin em. If ya got the tape, holla @ me too shit. Let me know if thats true or not or if ya got it, we can sit down n have some popcorn n enjoy a good porn flik. lol Holla!

21 maroi Tue, May 14, 2002 - 7:40 pm

Marcus, ppl like you are pathetic. All evil needs to triumph is for good ppl to say and do nothing. If R Kelly molested girls and you support his financial empire YOU are agreeing with his deeds. We can find other artists who have better judgment than R Kelly to listen and support. No artist, however talented, is worth unconditional support when the issue of child molestation is concerned.

22 Butterfly Wed, Dec 25, 2002 - 5:11 am

The Best of Both Worlds was a bit alot over the top first of all Jigga is not the best rapper of them all
and he’s definitely not the best rapper in the world so thats a definite no no R’Kelly on the other hand you can give him his props for being the best R&B singer and writer I still love him for his skills I bought Kelly’s last solo album but I didn’t buy this one only because I don’t like Jigga I think he’s a bama any way if he comes out with another tight solo joint I’ll hit him up style

LOL eff the trial shit if he’s hot he’s hot at least he wasn’t accused of raping somebody and taping that! Damn even though he was accused of doing some nasty shit I’m not covering for that it’s really messed up about his personal life but that has nothing to do with his singing ability and talent for writing. He should make a comeback singing and rapping about nothing that had to do with this tragedy and collaborate with a better rap artist come out with a better title and just make a tight ass CD with every song sounding like something to listen to with out all the hype oh this is the best blah blah

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