Chocolate Factory [US Bonus CD]

Personnel includes: R. Kelly (vocals); Donnie Lyle (guitar, bass); Rodney East (keyboards); Henry Love (congas); Christina DeLeon (background vocals); Ja Rule, Ronald Isley, Big Tigger, Fat Joe.
Recorded at Rockland Studios, Chicago, Illinois.
CHOCOLATE FACTORY was nominated for the 2004 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary R&B Album. "Step In The Name Of Love" was nominated for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance.
This Limited edition includes a bonus CD.
Personnel: Donnie Lyle (guitar, keyboards); Greg Landfair (guitar); Percy Bady, Rodney East, Kendall D. Nesbitt (keyboards); Joe Donatello, Abel Garibaldi, Andy Gallas, Ian Mereness (programming).
Audio Mixers: Peter Mokran; R. Kelly; Serban Ghenea; Tony Maserati ; Ian Mereness.
Recording information: Record Plant, Los Angeles, CA; Rock Land Studios, Chicago, IL; Soup Can Music, Harper Woods, MI; Vanguard Studios, Oak Park, MI.
Unknown Contributor Roles: The Soul Children; Walt Whitman & the Soul Children of Chicago .
Arranger: R. Kelly.
In an effort to distract himself from the myriad post-millennial legal woes dogging him, R. Kelly retreated to the studio where in true fashion, he wrote, sang, produced, and arranged his sixth album CHOCOLATE FACTORY. In trying to escape from his personal problems, Kelly succeeded in coming up with a lengthy outing infused with the kind of slow soul that brings to mind great names like Al Green and Marvin Gaye. The laid-back harmonies and testimonial fervor of "Forever" scream Gamble & Huff-produced Stylistics, light funk beats propel "You Knock Me Out," and the remix of "Step In the Name of Love" finds the Chicago native lifting Gaye's phrasing from the "What's Goin' On" era and pumping it into this mid-tempo jam.
Breaking up this solo slow-jam fest are guest shots by Ja Rule (an embattled "Been Around the World"), Ronald Isley (the skit-song "Showdown"), and Fat Joe (the Latin-pop-flavored "Who's That".) Although CHOCOLATE FACTORY could stand a bit of trimming, its musical essence reflects a rich talent whose personal travails could never negate anything he might be able to bring to the creative table.