The Weeknd is the new face of emo-R&B but he's learned from the greats before him. In his Complex cover story, the singer, a.k.a. Abel Tesfaye, said he was a huge fan of R. Kelly, calling him "a musical genius, and probably the most prolific artist of the generation before mine." The grasshopper has become the teacher, as The Weeknd's debut Kiss Land (in stores tomorrow) features several nods to the Chicago crooner's raunchy but tender style. Here are The 10 Most R. Kelly Moments On The Weeknd's Kiss Land. Wax on. Wax off.
Written by Sowmya Krishnamurthy (@SowmyaK)
RELATED: The Weeknd: Kiss And Tell (2013 Cover Story)
RELATED: The Best R&B Songs by White Singers in the 2000s
The Weeknd is the new face of emo-R&B but he's learned from the greats before him. In his Complex cover story, the singer, a.k.a. Abel Tesfaye, said he was a huge fan of R. Kelly, calling him "a musical genius, and probably the most prolific artist of the generation before mine." The grasshopper has become the teacher, as The Weeknd's debut Kiss Land (in stores tomorrow) features several nods to the Chicago crooner's raunchy but tender style. Here are The 10 Most R. Kelly Moments On The Weeknd's Kiss Land. Wax on. Wax off.
Written by Sowmya Krishnamurthy (@SowmyaK)
RELATED: The Weeknd: Kiss And Tell (2013 Cover Story)
RELATED: The Best R&B Songs by White Singers in the 2000s
"Adapted to these models/Whose adapted to the bottle."
Song: "Adaptation"
R. Kelly Lyric: "You see I order one bottle, then I fuck with one model/Then I order more bottles, now I got more models." ("Make It Rain (Remix)")
Both singers know the inversely proportional formula of bottles to models. You got more bottles? You get more models. It's simple math people.
"Getting rich to the drums of your favorite song."
Song: "Professional"
R. Kelly Lyric: "Don't front you know, about the rodeo show." ("Bump N' Grind (Remix)")
Neither The Weeknd nor R. Kelly can resist the lure of a good stripper. On "Professional," The Weeknd sings about the emotional dark sides of pole dancing while "Bump N' Grind" is pure sex and fun.
"Put that pussy in control/I got it in control."
Song: "Love In the Sky"
R. Kelly Lyric: "Gonna make it cry...ooooh/Baby girl/Gonna make it cry...ooohhhoooo."("P.U.S.S.Y. Cry")
The Weeknd and R. Kelly both flex their sexual power over women. The Weeknd takes Kellz's not-so-subtle instructions on "P.U.S.S.Y. Cry" and works it into "Love In the Sky." Don't let the cutesy title fool you, Abel wants to control your lady's parts too.
"I haven't been around my town in a long while/I apologize."
Song: "The Town"
R. Kelly Lyric: "Rolling through the hood/Just stopped by to say what's up/And let you know that your baby boy ain't doing so tough." ("I Wish")
There's nothing like going back home. The Weeknd sings about his native Toronto while R. Kelly's "I Wish" invokes going back to the Chi. Like Dorothy said, there's no place like home.
"Been gone for so long I might have just found God."
Song: "Kiss Land"
R. Kelly Lyric: "Feeling like a change of heart/And all I really need is a sign or a word from God." ("Heaven I Need a Hug")
The Weeknd and R. Kelly both ask for salvation to absolve their R&B sins. The Weeknd isn't so sure about changing his ways—it's only his first album after all—but by the time "Heaven I Need a Hug" dropped, R. Kelly really needed Jesus to take the wheel.
"I just wanna hear your body talk."
Song: "Kiss Land"
R. Kelly Lyric: "It's unbelieveable how your body's calling for me." ("Your Body's Callin")
The Weeknd's line about body talk is a direct nod to the sensei Kellz and his classic "Your Body's Callin'." When she's calling, you better answer.
"Don't show the world how alone you've become."
Song: "Tears In the Rain"
R. Kelly Lyric: "I did you wrong, I admit I did/But now I'm facing the rest of my life alone, whoa." ("If I Could Turn Back the Hands of Time")
Lamenting over a love he let slip away, The Weeknd gets emo on "Tears In the Rain," just as Kellz did on "If I Could Turn Back the Hands of Time." Sensitive thugs need hugs indeed.
"Kissing bitches in the club/They wanna threesome, then some."
Song: "Live For" f/ Drake
R. Kelly Lyric: "You and your girlfriend on the dance floor/I'm thinkin' a ménage à trois/Won't you jump up off in my car?" ("Exit")
Why have one when you can have two? The Weeknd and R. Kelly can't leave the club without being offered multiple women at the same damn time.
"This the shit that I live for/This the shit that I live for/This the shit that I live for, with the people I'd die for."
Song: "Live For" f/ Drake
R. Kelly Lyric: "Cuz it's about to go down tonight/I'ma be drinkin till the early lizzight/Nigga high like a muthafucking kizzite." ("Fiesta" (Remix)" f/ Jay-Z)
The Weeknd and Drake are in many ways like 2013's answer to R. Kelly and Jay-Z's Best of Both Worlds. The feel good, couch surfing-ready "Live For" is just the Great White North's version of "Fiesta."
"As long as you know when I land you're mine."
Song: "Pretty"
R. Kelly Lyric: "I'm thinking about my ex-girlfriend/Thinking about my ex-girl/Baby I don't want no sex, I'm thinking about my ex-girlfriend." ("Ex-Girlfriend")
His ex-girl may have moved onto the next man, but The Weeknd lets her know that when he touches down, it's on. R. Kelly cries his pretty little heart out to his former flame on "Ex-Girlfriend" but unlike Abel, he's (shockingly) not looking for just sex.
