Trapped in the Closet (Chapter 1)

"Trapped in the Closet (Chapter 1 of 5)" is an R&B song written and produced by American singer R. Kelly for his seventh studio album TP.3 Reloaded. It was released in early 2005 as the album's lead single together with "In the Kitchen". The song is also featured on the soundtrack of the film inspired by the song "Trapped in the Closet Chapters 1-12". VH1 ranked it #41 on its list of the "100 Greatest Songs of the '00s".^[1]

"Trapped in the Closet, Chapter 1"
Single by R. Kelly
from the album TP.3 Reloaded and Trapped in the Closet 1-12
B-side	"In the Kitchen"
Released	April 5, 2005
Recorded	2004
Genre	R&B rap opera
Length	3:30
Label	Jive
Songwriter(s)	Robert Kelly
Producer(s)	R. Kelly
R. Kelly singles chronology
"In the Kitchen" (2005) "Trapped in the Closet, Chapter 1" (2005) "Playa's Only" (2005)

Content and music video

The first chapter of "Trapped in the Closet" begins with the narrator, Sylvester (portrayed by Kelly), waking up and realizing that he is not in his own bed. He recalls leaving a nightclub with a strange woman the previous night, and that he was in her bed. As Sylvester is scolding himself for what he has done as a married man, the woman comes back into the bedroom from the bathroom. Sylvester tells her that he has to leave quickly. She tells him he can't leave out the door because she hears her husband coming up the stairs. Sylvester says he'll jump out the window, but she reminds him that they are on the fifth floor. Sylvester thinks frantically, and then decides to hide in the closet. A few seconds later, the husband walks in, and the couple ends up fooling around on the bed. Sylvester reflects that the woman deserves an Oscar for her skillful acting. Suddenly, Sylvester's cell phone rings and he hurries to put it on vibrate. The husband hears the ring and suspects something is wrong. He searches the house for another person. He looks behind the shower curtain, under the bed, in the dresser, and then walks towards the closet. The first part ends with Sylvester reaching for his Beretta and the husband opening the closet.

Ending "cliffhanger" line: "Now he's at the closet, now he's opening the closet....."

Charts

Chart performance for "Trapped in the Closet (Chapter 1)"

Chart (2005)	Peak position
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Flanders)[2]	2
Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)[3]	2
France (SNEP)[4]	51
Germany (GfK)[5]	35
Ireland (IRMA)[6]	31
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[7]	48
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[8]	22
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[9]	28
UK Singles (OCC)[10]	33
US Billboard Hot 100[11]	22
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[12]	5
US Hot R&B Streaming Songs[13]	14
US Billboard Pop 100	38

References

1. Anderson, Kyle (September 29, 2011). "U2, Rihanna, Amy Winehouse, Foo Fighters fill out VH1's '100 Greatest Songs of the '00s'". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc. Retrieved June 23, 2012.
2. "R. Kelly feat. The Game – Playa's Only" (in Dutch). Ultratip. Retrieved April 5, 2014.
3. "R. Kelly feat. The Game – Playa's Only" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved April 5, 2014.
4. "R. Kelly feat. The Game – Playa's Only" (in French). Les classement single. Retrieved April 5, 2014.
5. "R. Kelly feat. The Game – Playa's Only" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved April 5, 2014.
6. "Irish-charts.com – Discography R. Kelly". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
7. "R. Kelly feat. The Game – Playa's Only" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved April 5, 2014.
8. "R. Kelly feat. The Game – Playa's Only". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved April 5, 2014.
9. "R. Kelly feat. The Game – Playa's Only". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved April 5, 2014.
10. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 5, 2014.
11. "R Kelly Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
12. "R Kelly Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 24, 2024.
13. "R. Kelly - Chart history | Billboard". www.billboard.com. Archived from the original on 2015-10-12.