Podcast Delivered

Here is the first bit of the podcast I promised on "Trapped in the Closet." At the moment it is set to be expanded with at least one more person speaking who is well equipped when it comes to the hip-hopera. Make sure to take some time and browse around the site. I've been very impressed with what you can incorporate into an English class.

Trapped in the Podcast

"It has all the trappings of a Shakespearean Comedy"

I was interviewed yesterday for a podcast produced by Erin Stoneking. The podcast was supposed to be about the literary qualities of a piece of music. So what did she want me to answer questions about?

R. Kelly's "Trapped in the Closet."

It isn't often that being an English major, Music and Poetry Writing double-minor, and having a love for both high-brow concepts and low-brow culture intertwine. This was one of them.

I promise to link to the podcast site when it goes up.

"Really, it's doggerel, but I love it still."

You Can Do It Pimp Lucious!

I took this from the New York Times.


Because seriously, you can't have too many character maps for Trapped In The Closet.

A Pimp Hit her and Ever Since She's Got a Nervous Condition

Today, R. Kelly steps it up a bit with chapter 16. This one is more like the short chapters from 1-12, and it is much more entertaining that way. R should leave eight minute epics to other people. Even though there is a "see you, wouldn't want to be you" type of line in this one, I liked it. Good job R. Good job to Twan's 'Shrek lookin' ass' too.

Twan Starts Smoking Trees and Acting Like a Fool

Looks like by chapter 15, R. Kelly decided actual rhymes and melodies in the vocals weren't all that important. Not even a reference to "I'm Rick James Bitch!" makes this one that great. Really, RK, really, you gotta do better than this.

Crazier Than A Fish With Titties

Yes, just like a sausage-ass-head policeman, R. Kelly has made good on his promise of more chapters in Trapped in the Closet. The title of this post? From chapter 13, which can be found, along with chapter 12.5 - a recap, and an interactive character map on, get this, IFC's website.

After watching chapter 13 today, I'm a little worried - it didn't have that same classic feel as the first twelve, and kinda felt like an episode of MAD TV, but R delivers some lines that make up for it. Make sure to watch 12.5 as well, if just to hear him harmonize the word 'shit' many times.

Almost made a tear fall up out my eye.

Shit! Think! Shit! Think! Shit! Quick put me in the closet!

Pretty much the best news I could have gotten this week: R. Kelly is planning on releasing another 10 chapters of Trapped in the Closet. Hopefully we can learn more about all the characters of Kelly's hip-hopera. I have audio of all twelve previous chapters ripped to my iPod. I spent one night in the library last semester on the evening of an exam watching TitC instead of studying.

I can't wait for more lines like the title of this post, and another personal favorite, "A tear fell up out my eye." Hopefully there can be more of the midget as well.