Chocolate Factory

1	Chocolate Factory 3:50
2	Step in the Name of Love 5:42
3	Heart of a Woman 4:31
4	I'll Never Leave 3:45
5	Been Around the World / Ja Rule 4:05
6	You Made Me Love You 4:34
7	Forever 4:06
8	Dream Girl 3:57
9	Ignition 3:16
10	Ignition Remix 3:06
11	Forever More 3:33
12	You Knock Me Out 4:10
13	Step in the Name of Love Remix 7:12
14	Imagine That 4:38
15	Showdown / Ronald Isley 7:54
16	Snake 4:51
17	Who's That 3:33

Barnes & Noble

With the relatively libido-light Chocolate Factory, the sex scandal–beleaguered R. Kelly is obviously trying to woo back his predominantly female fan base. Given that the disc debuted at No. 1, it appears that his sugar-and-spice ploy has worked. Although allegations that Kelly had sex with underage girls still loom over the gifted-yet-troubled singer's head, on Chocolate Factory, he certainly redeems himself as an artist. Unlike his previous discs -- most notably the booty call–driven 12 Play and its lascivious sequel, TP2.com --Chocolate Factory finds Kelly waxing poetic about the beauty, patience, and virtue of women. There's the earnest "Heart of a Woman," which he dedicates "to all of the ladies from all of the men, simply because y'all go through so much," and the melodic tribute to his wife, "Forever More." Vocally, Kelly has also matured. On the sparse, percussive groove "You Knock Me Out," the self-proclaimed "pied piper of R&B" sounds like a modern-day Marvin Gaye, and the bluesy "You Made Me Love You," is obviously Al Green inspired. What R. Kelly record, however, would be complete without some naughty to balance the nice? In the tradition of "You Remind Me of Something," on "Ignition" he once again likens the feminine anatomy to automotive parts, and Kelly and Ronald "Mr. Biggs" Isley continue their lyrical rivalry on the testosterone-fueled "Showdown." While Chocolate Factory is arguably the Chicago native's finest album to date, until Kelly reconciles his personal issues, the success is bittersweet. Tracy E. Hopkins

Rolling Stone

The singer has backed off some of his porn-fantasy corniness and eased into a confident, soulful groove that runs consistently through the album and its equally appealing six-song bonus CD, Loveland. Anthony DeCurtis

Vibe

Chocolate Factory -- which also features unreleased tracks from Kelly's widely bootlegged Loveland project -- is the singer's most mature work to date. Regardless of his extracurricular activities, no one would deny the man's stature as a first-rate singer, songwriter, and producer. Keith Murphy

Daily News

Unlike past discs, Kelly has traded his signature boom-boom lyrics for less suggestive, more romantic pledges of devotion. This album's lyric turn-around, exquisite production and old-school soul aesthetic are just what the spin doctors ordered to patch up Kelly's wounded reputation. Dan Aquilante