Step in the Name of Love

Not to be confused with Stop! In the Name of Love.

"Step in the Name of Love (Remix)" is a song by R&B singer R. Kelly. Taken from the 2003 album Chocolate Factory, the song became the tenth single from Kelly (and the final one to date) to reach #1 on the R&B chart, particularly on the strength of the song's remix. It also peaked at number nine on the pop charts on December 2, 2003. The original "Step in the Name of Love", which is on the unreleased 2002 album "Loveland" as well as the Chocolate Factory album, described a dance style initially created in Chicago called "stepping". That dance, and the music associated with it, was heavily featured on disc one of his 2004 double album, "Happy People/U Saved Me". The song became an impromptu "anthem" for steppers and the dance. In the UK, the song was a double A-side with "Thoia Thoing".

"Step in the Name of Love (Remix)"
Single by R. Kelly
from the album Chocolate Factory
B-side	"Thoia Thong"
Released	October 16, 2003 (2003-10-16)
Recorded	2002
Genre	R&B soul
Length	5:42 (album version) 7:12 (remix) 4:29 (radio edit) 5:09 (remix edit)
Label	Jive
Songwriter(s)	Robert Kelly
Producer(s)	R. Kelly
R. Kelly singles chronology
"Clubbin'" (2003) "Step in the Name of Love (Remix)" (2003) "Gigolo" (2003)

Critical reception

The Village Voice critic Robert Christgau found the remix of "Step in the Name of Love" to be "hugely engaging". However, he believed it was "cavalier" or "stupid" for Kelly, amid his child pornography charges, to declare himself "the pied piper of R&B" given the moniker's "pedophilic implications".^[1]

Music video

The music video is directed by Little X.^[2]

Legacy

"Step in the Name of Love (Remix)" took 43 weeks to reach number one on the R&B/Hip Hop chart, making it the longest trip to number one in the chart's history.^{[citation needed]} The song has spent 70 weeks on the same chart and is one of the songs that has spent the most weeks on that chart.^{[citation needed]}

Track listing

UK CD single

1. "Step in the Name of Love" (Remix) (Radio Edit)
2. "Thoia Thong" (Album Version)
3. "Thoia Thong" (Silk & Peoples Choice Remix)
4. "Step in the Name of Love" (Remix) (Enhanced Video)

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (2003) Peak position Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[3] 4 Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)[4] 7 Germany (GfK)[5] 69 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[6] 2 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[7] 48 Scotland (OCC)[8] 34 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[9] 83 UK Singles (OCC)[10] 14 UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[11] 6 US Billboard Hot 100[12] 9 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[13] 1 US Rhythmic (Billboard)[14] 21

Year-end charts Chart (2003) Position US Billboard Hot 100[15] 94 US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs[16] 25 Chart (2004) Position US Billboard Hot 100[17] 78 US Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs[18] 22

References

1. Christgau, Robert (January 27, 2004). "Good Morning Little School Girl". The Village Voice. Retrieved June 6, 2021 – via robertchristgau.com.
2. "Little X | Videography".
3. "R. Kelly – Step in the Name Of Love" (in Dutch). Ultratip.
4. "R. Kelly – Step in the Name Of Love" (in French). Ultratip.
5. "R. Kelly – Step in the Name Of Love" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts.
6. "Tipparade-lijst van week 51, 2003" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
7. "R. Kelly – Step in the Name Of Love" (in Dutch). Single Top 100.
8. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
9. "R. Kelly – Step in the Name Of Love". Swiss Singles Chart.
10. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
11. "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
12. "R Kelly Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard.
13. "R Kelly Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard.
14. "R Kelly Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard.
15. "2003 Year End Charts – The Billboard Hot 100 Singles & Tracks". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved January 3, 2012.
16. "R&B Rap Hip-Hop Year-End Charts - 2003 - Soul System".
17. "2004 Year End Charts – The Billboard Hot 100 Singles & Tracks". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved January 3, 2012.
18. "R&B Rap Hip-Hop Year-End Charts - 2004 - Soul System".