I Wish

Album: TP-2.com (2000)
Charted: 12 14
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This is a song recorded by R&B singer-songwriter R. Kelly for his fourth studio album TP-2.com. It was released as the album's first single and spent three weeks at #1 on the US R&B chart and peaked at #14 on the US pop chart.
  • Kelly dedicated this song to his mother Sadie who died in 1993 as well as friends and loved ones that had passed away. However, the singer explained to XXL magazine that this song was originally intended for Tupac Shakur as part of a collaborative effort before the rapper was murdered in September 1996. Said Kelly: "'I Wish' was basically about Tupac at first. I met Tupac in L.A.- the [Hotel Nikko], and he was rolling by in his drop-top whatever hot car. I seen him, and I yelled out, 'Pac! Pac!' He was driving by, rolling by himself. I'm like, 'This nigga got a lot of balls to be rolling by his self!' So we kicked it for a minute, I said 'Dude, we need to do an album.' See, [2002 collaborative album with Jay-Z], The Best Of Both Worlds was for me and Pac at first. 'I Wish' was gonna be the first song we were gonna do."
  • This won the 2001 Soul Train Music Award for Best R&B/Soul Single, Male. Also the song's promo got the trophy for Outstanding Music Video at the NAACP Image Awards.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Justin Timberlake

Justin TimberlakeFact or Fiction

Was Justin the first to be Punk'd by Ashton Kutcher? Did Britney really blame him for her meltdown? Did his bandmates think he was gay?

80s Video Director Jay Dubin

80s Video Director Jay DubinSong Writing

Billy Joel and Hall & Oates hated making videos, so they chose a director with similar contempt for the medium. That was Jay Dubin, and he has a lot to say on the subject.

John Waite

John WaiteSongwriter Interviews

"Missing You" was a spontaneous outpouring of emotion triggered by a phone call. John tells that story and explains what MTV meant to his career.

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: Tarantino Edition

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: Tarantino EditionMusic Quiz

Whether he's splitting ears or burning Nazis, Quentin Tarantino uses memorable music in his films. See if you can match the song to the scene.

Don Brewer of Grand Funk

Don Brewer of Grand FunkSongwriter Interviews

The drummer and one of the primary songwriters in Grand Funk talks rock stardom and Todd Rundgren.

Ben Kowalewicz of Billy Talent

Ben Kowalewicz of Billy TalentSongwriter Interviews

The frontman for one of Canada's most well-known punk rock bands talks about his Eddie Vedder encounter, Billy Talent's new album, and the importance of rock and roll.