Throwback Thursday: R. Kelly’s “Bump N’ Grind” (Video) Posted by Nathan S. on 09/10/10 | Filed under Videos, R. Kelly, Throwback Thursday

When you watch footage of a young Michael Jackson there's no way you could have predicted how crazy he would one day become. As for R. Kelly, nothing he did after his breakthrough video "Bump N' Grind" should surprise you. He might have become balls crazier, but he was pretty balls crazy to start out. God I love this fucking video.



The Refined Take:

1) For the record, there is nothing wrong with a little bump and grind...unless said bumpin n grindin is with a 14-year-old girl. Then it's not only wrong but illegal. Just in case there was any confusion.

2) Can someone explain to me what the hell is going on when he first gets on stage? So here's wearing a vest with seat belts? And then he flexes his abs and the seat belts pop off? Or does some unseen person unbuckle them? Did I mention I fucking love this video?

3) If anyone else can come up with an example of hot back-up dancers wearing miners' helmets with flashlights, I'm all ears.

4) My favorite moment? When the chick he's fighting with in the beginning rips off his shirt (3:45) and he gives the camera his best male model "smoldering" face. I can just picture them filming that and the director saying, "Nice take Kells, but can we do it again? And this time really try to look like a complete d-bag."

5) I don't think my usual "whatever happened to" segment at the end of Throwback Thursdays is even necessary here. After this video he went on to become the biggest r&b star of the decade (alongside Usher), peed on some people, completely lost touch with reality, contributed to a Disney soundtrack, shot a monkey, etc. etc. etc.