Maps of Music

The Buffet (2015)

Where the lyrics of The Buffet take you, and where it was really made.

R. Kelly reportedly wrote over 462 songs for this album, yet it debuted at number 16 on the Billboard 200.

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The Buffet: thirteenth studio album by American R&B singer-songwriter R. Kelly
Released December 11, 2015 by RCA Records
Guest artists: Lil Wayne, Jhene Aiko, Ty Dolla Sign, Jeremih, Juicy J, Wizkid, Tinashe
Marks the debut of Kelly's daughter Joann Kelly, who records as Ariirayé

Follow-up to its predecessor Black Panties (2013)
Originally planned as White Panties; Kelly announced the title change to The Buffet in May 2015
The title reflects a variety of things, and the record mixes different genres of music
Kelly reportedly wrote over 462 songs during development, then made the final album selection
First single "Backyard Party" released August 21, 2015; peaked at number 6 on the US Adult R&B Airplay chart
Second single "Switch Up" released November 6, 2015, with Lil Wayne and Jeremih as guests
"Switch Up" written and produced by R. Kelly with J-Holt and Cem T
"Marching Band" (with Juicy J) and "Wake Up Everybody" released as promotional singles alongside the iTunes pre-order

Born Robert Sylvester Kelly on January 8, 1967, on Chicago's South Side, Illinois.
Began performing in the subway under Chicago "L" tracks, busking at the Jackson station on the Red Line.
Joined the group MGM (Musically Gifted Men) formed in 1989, which won a $100,000 prize on the TV show Big Break in 1991 before disbanding.

Signed with Jive Records in 1991; debut Born into the 90's (1992, with Public Announcement) yielded hits including "She's Got That Vibe".
Solo album 12 Play (1993) produced the number-one hit "Bump N' Grind", which spent a record 12 weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart.
"I Believe I Can Fly" (1996) won three Grammy Awards in 1998.
Wrote and produced "You Are Not Alone" for Michael Jackson, which debuted atop the Billboard Hot 100.
Sold over 75 million records worldwide; Billboard ranked him the 9th greatest R&B artist of all time.
Convicted in 2021 and 2022 on child sex offences and sentenced to a combined 31 years; his career ended after these convictions.

Metacritic: mixed or average reviews, average score 60 out of 100 from nine reviews
AllMusic (Andy Kellman): three stars out of five; says the album has more dimensions than Black Panties, while Kelly still pushes a metaphorical theme to a comedic extreme
The Independent (Andy Gill): three stars out of five; calls the album far from Kelly's best work but an overall OK effort
Spin (Dan Weiss): seven out of ten; says the record is better than just another R. Kelly album but hard to enjoy objectively

US Billboard 200: debuted at number 16 with first-week sales of 39,000 equivalent copies (36,000 pure album sales)
Eleventh best-selling album of that week
Thirteenth solo album by Kelly to debut at number one on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart
Second week: 26,000 equivalent copies (25,000 pure album sales)
Later sold over 500,000 copies in the United States

Kelly acknowledged weak sales and asked Facebook fans for support; in a HuffPost Live interview he refused to answer a question linking the sales to allegations of sexual assault involving minors, then walked out.
A song titled Planet was promoted before release but did not make the final track listing.
The album's working title was White Panties before Kelly changed it to The Buffet in May 2015.
The album marks the recording debut of Kelly's daughter, who records as Ariirayé.
Kelly reportedly wrote more than 462 songs during development before choosing the final album selection.