Title: Chocolate Factory Artist: R. Kelly Release Date: 2/18/2003 Label: BMG/Jive, Jive Album Type(s): Explicit lyrics sticker UPCs: 012414181220, 4988017633113, 4544180101462, 4988017655306, 828765363129, 828765377027 Genre: Rhythm & Blues Styles: Urban, Contemporary R&B, Neo-Soul Moods: Confident, Sexual, Stylish, Wistful, Elegant, Romantic, Sensual, Sexy, Boisterous, Brash, Reflective, Thuggish, Laid-Back/Mellow, Sentimental, Carefree, Melancholy, Party/Celebratory, Literate, Street-Smart Total Copies: 9 Number of Discs/SwapaCD Credits: 1

1. Chocolate Factory
2. Step in the Name of Love
3. Heart of a Woman
4. I'll Never Leave
5. Been Around the World
6. You Made Me Love You
7. Forever
8. Dream Girl
9. Ignition
10. Ignition [Remix]
11. Forever More
12. You Knock Me Out
13. Step in the Name of Love [Remix]
14. Imagine That
15. Showdown
16. Snake
17. Who's That

Year Type Label Catalog # 2007 CD Jive 35191 2005 CD Jive 21048 2003 CD BMG/Jive 10146 2003 CD Jive 4812

Chocolate Factory [Australia Bonus CD] Chocolate Factory [US Bonus CD] Chocolate Factory [Clean] Chocolate Factory [Bonus Track]

R. Kelly was hardly a stranger to controversy in the early 2000s. In addition to being hit with 21 counts of child pornography in Chicago and 12 more in Polk County, FL, the beleaguered singer/producer faced various sex-related civil suits. All those scandals have, at times, overshadowed his music, which is regrettable because Chocolate Factory has a lot going for it. Emphasizing romantic slow jams, and not as ambitious or risk-taking as 1998's R. -- which is arguably Kelly's best, most essential release despite its own imperfections -- Chocolate Factory, like 2000s TP-2.Com, tends to play it safe. But that doesn't mean Chocolate Factory is without merit; what it lacks in ambition, it makes up for in terms of quality and craftsmanship. Many of the influences that have served Kelly well on previous efforts continue to serve him well on this 2003 release; influences that range from the Isley Brothers, Marvin Gaye, Al Green, Michael Jackson, and Stevie Wonder to Prince, Babyface, and hip-hop. All of those influences were noticeable on Kelly's '90s albums, and they are still noticeable on Chocolate Factory. Nonetheless, Kelly has always been his own man; that is especially obvious when he features Ronald Isley on "Showdown" (not to be confused with the Isley Brothers' 1978 recording). Hearing Kelly and Isley side by side, listeners can easily see how Kelly is able to draw on Isley's influence while projecting a firm, recognizable identity of his own. One hopes that in the future, Kelly will come out with some more albums that are as challenging as R.; even so, Chocolate Factory will go down in history as a solid and pleasing, if somewhat predictable, addition to the Chicagoan's catalog. ~ Alex Henderson, All Music Guide

Name Credits Abel Garibaldi Programming, Mixing, Engineer Andy Gallas Programming, Assistant, Engineer Brandon Hull Assistant Carl Robinson String Engineer, Engineer, Horn Engineer Dave Hyman Assistant David Feldman Assistant Deatta Staples Vocals (Background) Donnie Lyle Guitar, Mando, Bass, Keyboards Glen Brown Assistant Greg Calvert Assistant Gregg Landfair Guitar Hart Hollman & The Motown Romance Orchestra Orchestra Henry Love Conga Herb Powers Mastering Ian Mereness Programming, Mixing, Engineer Jackie Murphy Art Direction, Design James Lee Assistant Jason Mlodzinski Assistant Jeff Vereb Assistant Jeffrey Morrow Choir, Chorus Joan Collaso Choir, Chorus Joe Donatello Engineer, Programming Johnny Rutledge Choir, Chorus Juan Ortiz Assistant Kara Buhl Photo Production, Producer Kendall D. Nesbitt Keyboards Kim Johnson Vocals (Background) Kyle White Assistant Nathan Wheeler Assistant Engineer Nick Monson Assistant Pamela Watson Stylist Paul Mabin Choir, Chorus Paul Riser String Arrangements, String Conductor, Conductor, Horn Arrangements, Horn Conductor, Orchestration Percy Bady Keyboards Peter Mokran Mixing R. Kelly Producer, Arranger, Mixing Reisig Photography Rodney East Keyboards Serban Ghenea Mixing Simbryt Whititngton Choir, Chorus Steve Bearsley Assistant Stevie Robinson Choir, Chorus The Soul Children ? Tim Roberts Assistant Tony Flores Assistant Tony Maserati Mixing Walt Whitman & the Soul Children ? Yvonne Gage Choir, Chorus