Firstly, a huge big-up to Frank on the PlayStation boot up sample. Every time I hear that I get a bit of enjoyment and think of all the good times that it brought. Anyway, after a few spins of this, I can't say that enough of it blows me away, and there are a few tracks that I don't feel much at all, particularly in the middle of the album with songs such as 'Pilot Jones'. I like my R&B to build up (see the best of R. Kelly), and I don't think many of these songs do that. They end as they begin. There are much stronger vocalists in the R&B world as well. Best Tracks: Thinkin About You, Sweet Life, Pyramids, Lost

The rapping here sounds like lots of other artists. There aren't really distinctive voices among the MCs and it's a pretty standard underground hip hop feel there. The beats by Pete Rock aren't his best over the 16 songs, but there are some great ones such as 'Step Up'. A solid album, but there aren't enough real high moments to rate it any higher. Best Tracks: Step Up, Life I Live, Fakin Jax, What You Say

I enjoy this album more than Twista's last album, 'Adrenaline Rush 2007', but that's not saying a huge amount. While I don't necessarily like everything on F5 I can listen to it all the way through. Some choruses though really let down some of the tracks including 'Talk to Me', 'Walking on Ice', and particularly 'Birthday'. In saying that, they wouldn't be great tracks with a great chorus, but any fire Twista spits is ruined by them. Overall, about half of the songs I enjoy to some degree and half I could live without hearing again. Worth a listen for any Twista fans as it contains the same sort of stuff as he has done on his last few albums. But again, like Twista's past material, it's let down by some weak choruses, too many tracks with lacklustre production and too much filler. Best Tracks: Misunderstood, American Gangsta, Hustla, Talk to Me, Yellow Light, On Top, Wanna See 'Em Buss

"My mind is telling me no / But my body, my body's telling me yes / Baby, I don't want to hurt nobody / But there is something that I must confess to you" The vocals on that song! Despite this album being over 15 years old, with aspects coming from a genre that some would say haven't aged well, it is still great to listen to today. As well as the new jack swing/early '90s hip hop influence on songs like 'Back to the Hood of Things' and 'Homie Lover Friend' that bump, the slow jams on it are fantastic thanks to Kelly's rich vocal performance. It's pretty much a flawless '90s R&B/new jack swing album. Beats: ★★★★☆ Vocals: ★★★★★ Hooks: ★★★★★ Best Tracks: Your Body's Callin', It Seems Like You're Ready, Bump N' Grind, Sex Me, Back to the Hood of Things, 12 Play

R. Kelly is great at making particularly slow tempo R&B tracks. He has in the past few years played more with hip hop, You could have hop/pop-rap as a secondary genre for his most recent album 'Double Up' as about half of it is in my opinion. Anyway, some has worked, some haven't. Most of this 'official' mixtape doesn't quite work to R. Kelly's mostly high standards from his eight albums but it's not too bad... After the first listen I would have given it a lower rating but on the second I'm enjoying it a touch more. It's worth a listen for a fan who needs everything done by an artist but otherwise wait for the proper album. Best Tracks: Kelly's 12 Play (Remix), Love Lock Down (Remix), Tip the Waiter, Makin' Me Wanna, Disrespect My Shorty.