This came out in 2004 – or at least that’s when I got it. Here’s what I said about it back then (with some minor editing):
There are two ways to listen to R. Kelly’s eighth album Happy People / U Saved Me.
If you can ignore the reprehensible pedophilia and pornography accusations that dog him, it’s easy to appreciate the artistry and craftsmanship behind this slickly styled two-disc set of lightweight, Stevie Wonderish soul stirrers about the joy of positivity, the quest for salvation and the redemptive power of love.
If, however, you are unable to separate the music from the man, it’s hard not to cynically suspect that his newfound emphasis on innocent spirituality over explicit sexuality is a calculated ploy to whitewash his image for the jury pool.
Either way, it’s doubtful anything in these 21 tracks will truly alter your view of Kelly the artist — or Kelly the accused.
