HomeR. Kelly returns to the 'Closet'
Few products of popular culture have sparked as much fascination,
confusion, and uproarious laughter as R. Kelly's Trapped In the Closet series. Since the 12-chapter DVD's 2005 release, there've been a
lot of rumors and speculation about Kelly's plans to release more chapters,
mostly due to the cliffhanger ending ("I'm
sorry, girl, but that [Don Imus' favorite word] was me…") and to the R's general reputation for pushing the envelope.
But the real question was not really if he would make more chapters, but rather how many. 10? 20? 100? There was really no telling what the man was capable of. In a recent BBC interview with Ronnie Herel, Kelz revealed that he has about 38 chapters in the bag, but he suggested that he often works "through the night" writing more and more. He also explained how he has to use charts to keep track of the crazy characters and whirlwind plot — "There's a whole Trapped In the Closet small corporation going on!" Does the SEC know about this?
Now, Billboard has confirmed that Jive will release ten new installments of the saga on August 21. Cable's Independent Film Channel will also broadcast the first 12 chapters before the release and stream all 22 installments on its website. According to the report, we can expect some bizarre characters and plot twists:
The new round of "Trapped" videos finds Kelly portraying an old man named Randolph, complete with a pot belly and a fake white beard that nearly falls off mid-scene, as well as a preacher in a gray Jheri-curl wig and garish orange suit. In one of the final chapters, Kelly's Sylvester character talks business with a Sopranos-esque mobster who is eating a giant plate of spaghetti.
Will the old man have a heart attack when he sees the midget? Will Rufus snag a string of spaghetti and find himself in a liplock a la Lady and the Tramp? I'll be honest, PopWatchers: I've been feeling sort of left out of all of the Pottermania that's dominated the past few weeks, but now I have something to get excited about — Trapped In the Closet is my Deathly Hallows. All the wizardry of Rowling, but with less predictable endings. (What can I say? "Real Talk," just like Kelz taught me...) I've always been impressed by Kelly's musical range and ability to shape-shift from Bacchanalian sex god to repentant prophet over the course of a few songs, but its his ability to weave the plight of modern man into larger-than-life characters and absurdist plots that points to a deeper, more literary genius. As Monteverdi is to opera, R. Kelly is to hip-hopera. I don't think anyone would deny that.
Bonus Material If you can't wait to see Chapters 13-22, you can bide your time by checking out "Same Girl," another evolving R. Kelly production that has been turning into a saga of its own. On the original track, Kelz and Usher find out that they've both been seeing the same girl. Good concept, but pretty pedestrian by both of their standards. In the subsequent music video (below), we discover a shocking twist: the "girl" is really girls — twins! (Following the lyrics logically, this means that the girls not only look alike but also have the same house, job, and underwear, which is both unlikely and unhygienic. But the R never let logic get in the way of a good yarn.) Most recently, T-Pain has entered the fray on the "Same Girl (Remix)" with another mind-boggling revelation — the girl is his wife! (Apparently the twins idea was scrapped.) I have a feeling this one is not over. In fact, my cubicle-mate Bethonie Butler just revealed to me that she is the girl!? Like the R has said, no one's closet is safe…
In closing, I leave you with one question, PopWatchers: Is R. Kelly the modern-day Homer, or is he the modern-day Shakespeare? Let the debate begin.
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