Down Low (Nobody Has to Know)

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"Down Low (Nobody Has to Know)"
Down Low (Nobody Has to Know) (R. Kelly) album cover.jpg
Single by R. Kelly featuring The Isley Brothers
from the album R. Kelly
ReleasedDecember 11, 1995
Recorded1995
GenreR&B
Length4:49
LabelJive
Songwriter(s)Robert Kelly
Producer(s)R. Kelly
R. Kelly singles chronology
"You Remind Me of Something"
(1995)
"Down Low (Nobody Has to Know)"
(1995)
"I Can't Sleep Baby (If I)"
(1996)
The Isley Brothers singles chronology
"I'm So Proud"
(1994)
"Down Low (Nobody Has to Know)"
(1995)
"Let's Lay Together"
(1996)

"Down Low (Nobody Has to Know)" is an R&B song about infidelity by R. Kelly, featuring The Isley Brothers, released on Kelly's self-titled album in 1995, and as a single. The song was a hit, peaking at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 and reaching number one on the R&B Singles Chart for seven weeks, making it Kelly's fifth single to do so on the latter.

The music video was directed by Hype Williams and R. Kelly.[1] The lyrics are from the perspective of a man who has an affair with another man's woman and tells her to keep their relationship a closely guarded secret.

Music video[]

Mr. Biggs (Ronald Isley) is a mob boss who sends for his employee Kelly (R. Kelly), telling him he is going on a business trip and wants Kelly to take care of his wife Lila (Garcelle Beauvais), but warns him never to touch her. The two are then seen having an affair. When the two are together in Kelly's bed, Mr. Biggs enters the apartment with his bodyguards who beat up Kelly and drive him out to the desert, where he is abandoned. The next scene shows Kelly wheelchair-bound in the hospital, where he finds Lila on life support. He tearfully declares his love for her and she dies from her wounds.

Reception and Legacy[]

The song went to number-four pop and number-one R&B, giving the Isley Brothers their first Top 40 pop record since 1980's "Don't Say Goodnight (It's Time For Love)". It was Kelly's third top 5 pop record.

Ronald Isley would continue to use "Mr. Biggs" as his moniker, e.g. in 1998 on Kelly Price's song "Friend of Mine", and in 2001 on his group's song "Contagious", which serves as a sequel to this song.[2]

R&B singer The Weeknd called the song the reason he's in the business of making music[3] and covered it in 2017.[4] Chris Brown and Trey Songz both sampled this song on "Songs on 12 Play" from Brown's sixth album X.

Pop culture references[]

The song appeared in the eleventh episode of the first season of the sitcom Moesha and the 2003 film "Old School".

This video is loosely based on the 1946 noir classic Gilda and the Kevin Costner film Revenge.

The Isley Brothers and R. Kelly released a follow-up to "Down Low" in 2001 entitled "Contagious". In both the song and music video, Mr. Biggs returns home to find his new girlfriend (played by Chante Moore) having an affair with Kelly. Once again Mr. Biggs bodyguards come in the room to do some damage, but this time R. Kelly's bodyguards come in the room as well, and no harm is done.

Personnel[]

Charts[]

Certifications[]

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[12] Platinum 1,100,000[11]

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "R. Kelly: The R. In R&B - the Video Collection (Video 2003)".
  2. ^ "The Isley Brothers Featuring Ronald Isley aka Mr. Biggs: Eternal".
  3. ^ http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fvrAU97fI9A/TtmrHACs0aI/AAAAAAAAAO4/eVWIXNHU_VA/s1600/rkellyyy.png
  4. ^ "The Weekend Debuts New R. Kelly Remake on OVO Sound Radio".
  5. ^ "Charts.nz – R. Kelly feat. Isley Brothers – Down Low (Nobody Has to Know)". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  6. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  7. ^ "R. Kelly Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  8. ^ "R. Kelly Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  9. ^ "R. Kelly Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  10. ^ "1996 The Year in Music". Billboard. Vol. 108 no. 52. December 28, 1996. p. YE-40. Retrieved June 29, 2021.
  11. ^ "Best-Selling Records of 1996". Billboard. BPI Communications Inc. 109 (3): 61. January 18, 1997. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved May 7, 2015.
  12. ^ "American single certifications – Kelly, R. (feat. R. Isley) – Down Low (Nobody Has to Know)". Recording Industry Association of America.

External links[]

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