R. Kelly - Happy People/U Saved Me

R. Kelly's music is sometimes hard to separate from his borderline-absurd real-life misadventures, since his alleged misdeeds inevitably inform his recordings. While most artists are influenced by life unfolding around them, few people's private worlds bleed into their creative work in such a public and chaotic way. Heart-on-sleeve emotion has been a hallmark of Kelly's music, and as scandal has surrounded him, so have heartfelt pleas of forgiveness and repentance.

His ambitious 2004 double record, Happy People/U Saved Me, can be seen as a reaction to/against all this drama. The titles reflect the music within to perfection, the former containing infectious celebrations of life and love, the latter every inch a traditional gospel/soul record. When freeing himself to party on Happy People, Kelly lets loose a torrent of catchy, groove-laden love songs, most notably the clever "Love Signals." On U Saved Me, he gains gravity with a solemn grace that transcends his troubles, making a credible artistic conversion.

more pop music:
Madonna - Licorise
Alicia Keys - As I Am
Erasure - Storm Chaser