12 Play

12 Play
Studio album by
ReleasedNovember 9, 1993 (1993-11-09)
RecordedMarch–July 1993
Genre
Length63:10
LabelJive
Producer
  • R. Kelly
  • Timmy Allen
R. Kelly chronology
Born into the 90's
(1992)
12 Play
(1993)
R. Kelly
(1995)
Singles from 12 Play
  1. "Sex Me"
    Released: August 6, 1993
  2. "Bump N' Grind"
    Released: January 25, 1994
  3. "Your Body's Callin'"
    Released: April 1994
  4. "Summer Bunnies"
    Released: July 28, 1994
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic
Chicago Tribune
Encyclopedia of Popular Music
Entertainment WeeklyC−
Los Angeles Times
The Rolling Stone Album Guide
The Village VoiceC+

12 Play is the debut solo studio album by American R&B and soul singer-songwriter R. Kelly; it was released on November 9, 1993, by Jive Records. The album follows his tenure with R&B group Public Announcement, with whom he released one album, Born into the 90's (1992). It went on to top the R&B albums chart for nine weeks straight, while reaching the second position on the US Billboard 200 chart.

The album features four singles including the sexually themed singles "Bump n' Grind" (US, number 1), "Your Body's Callin'" (US, number 13), and the more overtly direct "Sex Me, Pts. 1 & 2" (US, number 20). The album serves as the first of a trilogy of albums Kelly released under the 12 Play moniker including TP-2.com (2000) and TP-3: Reloaded (2005). Since receiving an initially mixed response from critics, 12 Play has received more favorable retrospective criticism.