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R. Kelly - Double Up

As far as R&B goes, R.Kelly remains the king and master of this globally popular genre. Whether it is collaborating with Snoop ("That's That") or trading verses with Ciara ("Promise Remix"), this Chicago soul man has displayed a consistent brilliance throughout his fifteen-year career. Aplty titled Double Up, Kelly's new disc features a wide ranch of songs that pushes the sonic envelope while staying true to his game.

"I'm A Flirt (Remix)" is the self-explanatory title of the first single. With an exquisite video shot by famed photographer Timothy Saccenti, the scorching single has already become a popular request on YouTube as well as in heavy rotation on BET and MTV. On Double Up Kelly proves himself as a versatile performer who can vocally hang with anyone on the mic.

From the big beat blast of "Rock Star" with six-time Grammy Award winner Ludacris to the bombastic appearance of Rick Ross on the thunderous "Put Some Money On It" Kelly's voice and outstanding production is pure fire. Snoop makes an appearance on "Double Up" while Huey turns up on the amazing "Hook It Up". One of the standouts is "Rise Up" about healing in the aftermath of the April 16 shootings at Virginia Tech - with proceeds from the digital sales of the song in America going to a fund for those affected by the tragic event.

Kelly wrote the inspirational ballad after watching the events unfold on television while he was on route to a performance and it is the artist's most moving song. While the album is strong in hip-hop, there are planty of ballads "for the ladies". "To me, rap and R&B are like two hands holding one another," the artist explains adding that "Double Up is about 70 percent hip-hop, but that being said, I'm always going to make songs for the ladies".

On Double Up, R.Kelly gives his fans not only what they want, he gives them twice as much. As he himself says, "Everything I did in the past, I'm about to Double Up on it," he explained in a statement, referring to the album's rap production feel and collabbos. "Having worked with so many hip-hop artists over the last few years, I decided to throw some of that magic on my own record."