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.