R. Kelly

At 57 years old, R. Kelly has this physical status:

Robert Sylvester Kelly (born January 8, 1967) is an American singer, guitarist, record producer, and former basketball player.

He is credited with helping redefine R&B and hip hop, as well as earning the nicknames "King of R&B" and "King of Pop-Soul."

Kelly, a native of Chicago, began street performance in the late 1980s and debuted with the group Public Announcement in 1992.

Kelly went solo on the album 12 Play in 1993. "I Believe I Can Fly," "Your Body's Callin," "Moments for Life"), "I'm a Flirt," "Your Body's Callin")," "Remix)," "I'm a Flirt," "I Can See the Hands of Time," "I Can Fly," "Ignite," "Ignition")," "I'm a Flirt," "I'm a Fli

Kelly received three Grammy Awards for her song "I Believe You Can Fly" in 1998.

Although Kelly is mainly a singer-songwriter, he has written, produced, and remixed songs, singles, and albums for a variety of musicians.

In 1996, he was nominated for a Grammy Award for writing Michael Jackson's "You Are Not Alone."

Kelly released collaboration albums with rapper Jay-Z in 2002 and 2004, as well as being a featured vocalist for other hip hop artists, including Nas, Sean Combs, and The Notorious B.I.G. Kelly has released over 75 million albums worldwide, making him the most successful R&B male artist of the 1990s and one of the world's best-selling musicians.

With over 32 million album sales, he is the country's best-selling musician.

Kelly was voted the most influential R&B/Hip Hop Artist in 1985-2010 by Billboard as the best R&B/Hip Hop Artist in history.

He has received numerous accolades, including Grammy Awards, American Music Awards, BET Awards, Billboard Music Award's, NAACP Image Awards, and Soul Train Music Awards. Kelly has been accused of numerous reports of sexual assault and assault, many involving underage girls, which he denies.

He was arrested on 13 counts of child pornography in 2002 but was cleared of all charges in 2008.

Multiple women have reported sexual assault by multiple individuals in January 2019, which Kelly denies.

RCA Records dropped Kelly after facing public pressure using the Mute R. Kelly hashtag.

Kelly was charged on ten counts of aggravated criminal sexual assault on February 22, 2019.

Kelly was arrested on federal charges on July 11, 2019, charging with sex crimes and unlawful conduct.

As of July 12, 2019, Kelly has a total of 18 federal charges, including child pornography, kidnapping, and forcible labour.

Early life

Robert Sylvester Kelly was born on the South Side of Chicago, Illinois, on January 8, 1967 at Chicago Lying-In Hospital (now University of Chicago Medical Center) in the city's Hyde Park neighborhood. He has five siblings (three of whom are half), two older sisters and brother, as well as a younger brother and sister. Joanne, his mother, was a schoolteacher and devout Baptist. She was born in Arkansas. It was not known who was missing from Kelly's life and later raised two children. His family grew up in the Ida B. Wells Homes' public housing project in Chicago's Black Metropolis–Bronzeville District is also on the city's south side, as shown by the photo. Kelly's mother married Lucious, a former airline employee, around the time he was five years old. At the age of eight, Kelly began singing in the church choir.

In his autobiography, Kelly mentioned having a girlfriend, Lulu, at the age of eight. After struggling with older children over a creek's play area, she was pulled into the sea, swept downstream by a fast-moving current, and drowned, she said. Lulu was Kelly's first musical inspiration.

If his mother and grandparents were not home, Kelly said members of his household would act differently. He was sexually assaulted by an older female family friend from age 8 to 14. Carey, Kelly's younger brother, said he suffered from years of sexual assault at the hands of his older sister, Theresa, who was charged with babysitting her siblings. Although Bruce's older brother was given permission to play outside, Carey said that both he and Kelly were punished by Theresa at separate times indoors, who refused to admit to the abuse when confronted years later.

Kelly explained why he never told anyone, including Kelly in his 2012 autobiography Soulacoaster: The Diary of Me, that he was "too afraid and too ashamed." Kelly was also sexually assaulted by an older man who was a family friend of the family about age 10. Kelly's autobiography told of being shot in the shoulder by boys who were attempting to steal his bike at age 11, although a family friend later said Kelly had shot himself when attempting suicide.

Kelly began attending Kenwood Academy in the city's Hyde Park-Kenwood district in September 1980, where he met music teacher Lena McLin, who encouraged Kelly to perform the Stevie Wonder classic "Ribbon in the Sky" in the high school talent competition. A shy Kelly wore sunglasses was welcomed onto the stage, performed the song, and received the first prize. Kelly was encouraged by McLin to drop the high school basketball team and concentrate on music. She said he was furious at first, but after his appearance in the talent show, he changed his mind. Kelly was diagnosed with dyslexia, which left him unable to read or write. Kelly dropped out of high school after attending Kenwood Academy for one year. He started performing in the Chicago subway under the Chicago "L" lines. He used to busk at the "L" stop on the Red Line's Jackson station in the Loop.

Kelly sprangled basketball with Illinois state champion basketball player Ben Wilson in his youth, and later sang "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday" at Wilson's funeral.

Personal life

Joanne Kelly's mother, Joanne, died of cancer in 1993. He has given conflicting accounts of where he was during his mother's death. JoAnn, the singer's mother, was named after the singer's mother, but Buku Abi is also known as Buku Abi.

Kelly married Andrea Kelly (née Lee), his former backup dancer and mother of his three children, as well as Jaah (b). (b. 2000), Robert, Jr. (b. 2002 (British) Andrea obtained a restraining order against Kelly in September 2005 after a physical deterioration, resulting in a divorce in 2006. After 13 years of marriage, their divorce was approved in January 2009. Andrea Kelly, who appeared in Surviving R. Kelly (2019), has accused Kelly of physical, verbal, and mental assault.

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Career

MGM (Musically Gifted Men) was established in 1989 by Robert Kelly, Marc McWilliams, Vincent Walker, and Shawn Brooks. MGM was offered a deal with Tavdash Records, a British company. "Why You Want A Play Me" was recorded and released one song shortly after; the group disbanded shortly after.

Kelly gained national attention in 1989 when MGM appeared on the talent TV show Big Break, hosted by Natalie Cole. The group went on to win the $100,000 grand prize after MGM's "All My Love" became a demonstration for Kelly's "She's Got The Vibe."

Kelly joined Jive Records in 1991. Born into the 90's, Kelly's debut album, Born in the 1990s, was released in early 1992 (credited as R. Kelly and Public Announcement). The album, which was released in the early 1990s, yielded the R&B hits "She's Got That Vibe," "Dedicated," and "Slow Dance (Hey Mr. DJ)" with Kelly singing lead vocals. After the zip code of their Chicago neighborhood, Kelly and Public Announcement embarked on a "60653" tour in late 1992. This will be the only album to be co-credited with Public Announcement. Kelly joined the company in January 1993.

"Bump N' Grind" was Kelly's first solo album on November 9, 1993, and it led to the singer's first number one hit, "Bump N' Grind," which spent a record-breaking 12 weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot R&B Singles chart. "Your Body's Callin" is the subpoena on subsequent hit singles (U.S.). The Hot 100 is the most popular in the United States, with "Sex Me" and the "Sex Me" series. Hot 100: #20 (R&B: #8). Both singles have sold 500,000 copies in the United States and were designated Gold by the RIAA. The RIAA awarded 12 Play Gold in 1994, the first time in history, eventually going six times platinum.

Kelly received his first Grammy Award in 1995; two for writing, producing, and composing Michael Jackson's last number one hit, "You Are Not Alone," was awarded in 1995.

Kelly's success continued on the November 14, 1995, the introduction of R. Kelly's eponymous second studio album. Critics lauded him for his change from salacious bedroom songs to brave vulnerability. Kelly, a New York Times contributor, characterized Kelly as "the reigning king of pop-soul sex talks a lot tougher than Barry White, the father of such fluffed pillow talks, and Marvin Gaye and Donny Hathaway, [both] major influences for Kelly." Professor Michael Eric Dyson also criticized Kelly's self-titled album "R. Kelly" for VIBE in December 1995. Kelly's development from the 12 Play album: "Kelly reshapes his personal turmoil to artistic benefit," Dyson said on Kelly's album, "reborn before our very own ears."

The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 chart, becoming Kelly's first top ten albums on the chart, and debuting at number one on the R&B chart; his second. "You Remind Me of Nothing" (U.S.) is the R. Kelly album that resulted in three platinum hit singles: "You Remind Me of Anything." "I Can't Sleep Baby (If I Can)" (U.S. Hot 100: #4, U.S. R&B's #1), "I Can't Sleep Baby (If I Can)" is the top of the Hot 100). "Nobody Has To Know" (U.S.) and "Highest 100: #5, R&B: #1) and "Down Low (Nobody Has To Know)" are among the Hot 100's favorite topics. R&B's most popular 100: Ronald Isley duet. The RIAA gave Kelly's self-titled album four million copies, with four million receiving four-star status. With LL Cool J, Xscape, and Solo, he promoted the album in a 50-city "Down Low Top Secret Tour."

Kelly's "I Believe You Can Fly" (1996), an uplifting song that was first released on the film Space Jam's soundtrack. At No. 1, "I Believe I Can Fly" reached No. 1. Billboard Hot 100 No. 2 and No. 1 are on the Billboard Hot 100, and No. 2 is No. 2. In 1998, the number one on the UK charts had been on the charts for three weeks and had three Grammy Awards. He appeared on "Freak Tonight" for the Athin Line Between Love and Hate soundtrack in the same year.

Kelly signed a 1997 deal with the Alpha City Seagulls of the United States to play professional basketball. In honor of his album 12 Play, he wore the number 12 in honor of his album 12 Play. "I love basketball enough to not completely abandon my music," Kelly said, "I've got to the point of meeting some of my childhood hopes for a long time." Kelly's USBL deal contained a provision that would allow him to fulfill a music obligation if necessary. "If Whitney Houston needs a song written," said Ken Gross, the Seagulls' owner, who signed Kelly, "he'll be able to leave the team to do it and come back." Gross continued, "he's not a gimmick," Gross continued, "he's a ball player." "He's a natural performer," the narrator says.

In 1998, he formed Rockland Records, a distribution agreement with Jimmy Iovine's Interscope Records. Artist Sparkle, Boo & Gotti, Talent, Vegas Cats, Lady, Frankie, Secret Weapon, Rebecca F. That May, Rockland's first signed artist, and Rebecca F. That May, Sparkle, rockland's first signed artist, unveiled her eponymous debut album. Kelly contributed to the hit duet "Be Careful" in addition to writing and delivering the book, which later became a significant factor in why the album was rated platinum in December 2000.

Kelly's fourth studio and first double album, R., was released on November 17, 1998. From pop (Celine Dion), street rap (Nas and Jay-Z) to Blues ("Suicide"). The Los Angeles Times' Dave Hoekstra referred to the album as "easily the most ambitious undertaking of his career." He wrote and produced a majority of the soundtrack to Martin Lawrence and Eddie Murphy's film, Life, which includes tracks from K-Ci & JoJo, Maxwell, Ma, and Destiny's Child, among other things. On the Rockland imprint, the soundtrack was also released.

Kelly received several awards in early 2000 recognizing his place as a well-known R&B celebrity. He was named Best Female R&B Vocal Performance ("When a Woman's Fed Up"), Best R&B Album (R.), and Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group ("Satisfy You") with P. Diddy in January 2000, and again in February for Best Male Soul/R&B Artist at the American Music Awards (R.).

He released his fifth studio album, TP-2.com, on November 7, 2000, a venture that was in syncation with his breakthrough album, 12 Play. Unlike R., all songs on TP-2.com were written, arranged, and performed by Kelly. Jason Birchmeier of AllMusic said: "Kelly knows how to take tested formulas and funnel them into his own stylistic style, slowing down the pace, playing on lush choruses and background vocals, taming down the lyrics for radio, and primarily catering to wistful women."

Kelly received the Outstanding Achievement Award at the Music of Black Origin or MOBO Awards in 2001, and Billboard magazine ranked TP-2.com at number 94 on the magazine's Top 200 Albums of the Decade in 2001. Kelly's album "The World's Greatest," from the soundtrack to Ali's 2001 autobiographical film, was a hit.

The Best of Both Worlds, celebrities such as Johnnie Cochran, Russell Simmons, Luther Vandross, and Sean Combs all applauded the album, with Jay-Z expressing his displeasure with the unity of black people on a whole. "And if Jay and Kelly can stick their heads down and promote their album, well, then their names—Def Jam and Jive, respectively—will help find a way to team up and make cheddar together," MTV's Shaheem Reid wrote.

Kelly appeared at the 2002 Winter Olympics closing ceremony while a news story emerged of a sex tape that appeared to show Kelly with an underage teen.

When the joint album debuted on February 22, 2002, it caused Jay-Z and Damon Dash's brand, Def Jam-distributed Roc-A-Fella, and Jive to postpone the album's release date in March. To MTV News, Jay-Z expressed skepticism over the album leak: "It's the gift and the curse." Everyone wants your music fast, but on the other hand, it's another thing if the music stops playing before you [want it to]. Because that's your art. You get attached to it. You're in a certain way, and you want people to go out and support it. It's like a piece of your life if you take time out of your day. You take portions of your life and put it on these charts, but then it will be sold and moved around [is frustrating]. The Best of Both Worlds was released on March 19, 2002, and the first week on the Billboard 200 was at number two. It was a critical and commercial disappointment.

Loveland, Kelly's first studio album, leaked in May 2002, and was delayed for release in November. Kelly restructured the album, which was later sold as a deluxe edition bonus disc of the now-renamed Chocolate Factory. Kelly retitled "Ignition" on its single in October this year. On the Billboard Hot 100, it ranked at number two.

Kelly's Chocolate Factory on February 18, 2003, was released on the album. It debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, putting an end to rapper 50 Cent's Get Rich or Die Tryin's first two weeks. In its first week, it sold 532,000 copies. "Snake" and "Step in the Name of Love" were also included in the album, the latter of which reached number nine on the Hot 100. The R. in R&B Collection, Vol. 1, Kelly's first greatest hits album, came later this year in September. "Thoia Thoing" and two other previously unreleased songs were among the first songs to be released.

Kelly started working on a double CD album between mid-2003 and early 2004, one with "good" songs and another with "inspirational" tracks. On August 24, 2004, the double album, Happy People/U Saved Me, was released. It debuted on the Billboard 200 for the first week, with sales of 264,000 copies per week. Both of the album's titled songs fell short of expectations; "Happy People" debuted at number nine on the Adult R&B chart, while "U Save Me" debuted at number fifty-two on the Billboard Hot 100.

Kelly and Jay-Z reunited to record Unfinished Business, their second joint album. Despite debuting at number one on the Billboard 200, the album was criticized and, as with the pair's previous collaboration, it was also a commercial failure. Both the stars' promotions and their Best of Both Worlds tour were plagued by tension, with Kelly appearing late or not at all to gigs. Kelly claimed that the touring lights were not pointed at him and that the tour's lighting man had been assaulted.

After a member of Jay-Z's entourage pepper sprayed Kelly on October 29, 2004, Jay-Z eventually dismissed Kelly halfway through the tour. Tyran "Ty Ty" Smith was charged with assault but was convicted of disorderly conduct but it was released as a result of his disorderly behaviour. Kelly returned to work after appearing on Ja Rule's single, "Wonderful" alongside Ashanti. The song debuted at number five on the Billboard Hot 100, topped the UK Singles Chart, and went platinum in the summer of 2005.

Kelly's 2005 release of TP.3 Reloaded after finishing Happy People/U Saved Me and Unfinished Business. It was Kelly's fifth straight number one album in his career. Trapped in the Closet, Kelly's musical serial, had a major cross-promoted TP.3 Reloaded.

After guest-appearing on Bow Wow's "I'm a Flirt," Kelly maintained momentum for his eighth solo studio album, Double Up. Kelly's remix of "I'm a Flirt" was announced three months ago, but instead of Bow Wow, it features T.I. T-Pain and the T-Pain. The album was released on May 29, 2007. It was Kelly's sixth and final album in his career that debuted at number one on the Billboard 200. "Same Girl" Kelly's other singles from Double Up, was a duet of Kelly and Usher, while "Rise Up" was a salute to the victims of the Virginia Tech shooting, which took place earlier this year, a month before the album was released. On May 15, 2007, the album was first released as a digital download. The Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund was established to assist family members of the victims of the shootings.

Kelly began his Double Up Tour with Ne-Yo, Keyshia Cole, and J. He is starting the holiday season. Promoter Leonard Rowe had Ne-Yo pulled from the tour after two shows due to a labour dispute. However, Ne-Yo claims that the reason for the cancellation was because Ne-Yo believes he got a better response from critics and followers, even though he appeared at only two shows. Rowe Entertainment has been sued by Ne-Yo. Kelly was not named in the lawsuit. Kelly did not appear in court again in December 2007 due to a tour bus delay in Utah. The judge threatened to revoke Kelly's marriage, but ultimately refused to do so. Kelly dropped "I'm a Beast" in 2008, a rap album in which he casually mocked his detractors while neglecting the subject matter.

Billboard announced in 2008 that Kelly had planned to release his new album titled 12 Play: Fourth Quarter in the summer of that year, but the project was postponed. Kelly was selected by Billboard as one of the top artists on the 50th Anniversary List. The promotional single "Hair Braider," which debuted in the spring, reached No. 1 on the charts. Billboard's R&B chart ranks 56 on Billboard's R&B chart. The entire album leaked online on July 28, causing the title to be scrapped.

Kelly revealed in February 2009 that he was working on Untitled, a new album with a target release date of September 29, but it had been postponed to December. He unveiled his first mixtape, The "Demo" Tape, in June 2009, which was presented by DJ Skee and DJ Drama.

On June 20, 2009, Kelly headlined the Arise African Fashion Awards in Johannesburg, South Africa. In July, he appeared in Cape Town and Nigeria followed Nigeria as part of the annual ThisDay music and fashion festival in Cape Town. Keri Hilson, a singer-songwriter, was featured in "Number One" in the same month. Kelly's untitled ninth solo album was announced on December 1. It debuted at number four on the Billboard 200, at number four. "Echo," "Supaman High" and "Be My #2" are two more singles off the album's catalog. Kelly appeared in Kampala, Uganda, in January 2010. "I'm really excited about my first trip to Africa; I've been wishing about this for a long time, and it's finally here," Kelly said in a tweet. "It will be one of the highlights of not only my work but also my personal life." I can't wait to perform in Africa in front of my African followers, who have been some of the best in the world."

Kelly appeared at the 2010 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony on June 11, 2010. Kelly said he was working on three new albums (Epic, Love Letter, and Zodiac), which he described as "remixing himself" in an interview with XXL magazine in September 2010. Epic, a collection of powerful ballads including "The World's Greatest" and "Sign of a Victory," only saw a European release on September 21, 2010. However, it is also available worldwide.

Kelly formed One8 in November 2010 after collaborating with many African musicians, which resulted in the formation of a supergroup. The group featured 2Face from Nigeria, Ali Kiba from Tanzania, Congolese musician Fally Ipupa, 4X4 from Ghana, hip-hop musician Movaizhaleine from Gabon, Zambia's Movaizhaeine, Kenya's Beani, and Kenya's Amani, the only female in the group. Hands Across the World," Kelly's first book, was released.

Kelly's tenth album Love Letter, which was released on December 14, 2010, included 15 songs, one of which was Kelly's writing "You Are Not Alone," a track Kelly originally wrote for Michael Jackson. At the 53rd Annual Grammy Awards, the first single "When a Woman Loves" was nominated for Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance.

Kelly performed a medley of hits at the 2011 Pre-Grammy Gala in Los Angeles, and in March 2011, Kelly was named the No. Among the Top of the Best Of Hits. Billboard has a one of the best R&B artists of the last 25 years.

Kelly was admitted to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago on July 19, 2011, to drain an absces on one of his tonsils, and was released on July 21, 2011. He had postponed his appearance at the Reggae Sumfest in Jamaica, which had been scheduled for the following Friday. "We are definitely going to miss his presence on the festival," Sumfest Productions executive director Johnny Gourzong said. Kelly had agreed to write original music for the Sparkle soundtrack on September 23, 2011, according to Variety.

Kelly co-authored Soulacoaster: The Diary of Me, an autobiography that was later published in the summer of 2012.

Kelly, Jive, Arista, and J Records had been scheduled to debut music under the RCA brand on October 7, 2011, shortly after Sony's RCA Music Group announced the merger of Jive, Arista, and J Records into RCA Records.

Kelly's "Shut Up" was released to generally positive feedback after his throat surgery: "Kelly taking aim at the haters who said, "he's washed up, he's lost it," the haters wrote. He hasn't. In prime R&B form, the voice of the dude is in prime time. Kelly appeared on The X Factor on December 21, 2011 for his first appearance after the surgery. Kelly admitted to Rolling Stone that he felt like he was "just starting out" and that the appearance was a "wake up call" for him.

Kelly also launched Write Me Back, a follow-up to the Love Letter album titled Write Me Back, which was released on June 26 with little buzz, as well as a third installment of Trapped in the Closet and The Single Ladies Tour starring R&B singer Tamia. Kelly performed "I Look to You," a song he wrote for Whitney Houston in February 2012, at Houston's homegoing.

Kelly's "The Single Ladies Tour" continued in 2013 during his travels. He appeared at music festivals around North America, including Bonnaroo, Pitchfork, and Macy's Music Festival. R. Kelly performed live at the BET Awards Show singing hits on June 30, 2013, as well as his latest track "My Story" starring Atlanta rapper 2 Chainz. The song was Kelly's lead single on his twelfth studio album Black Panties. On December 10, 2013, the first post on the website was published. Black Panties was "like a dare to the world," David Marchese wrote for a New York magazine: After all that R. Kelly had been accused of after avoiding conviction, can R. Kelly keep off making sex-obsessed music?

Kelly worked with several artists in 2013, including Celine Dion, Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, and Jennifer Hudson. In a November interview with Global Grind, he discussed Celine Dion's follow-up to their number one single "I'm Your Angel" from 1998. Kelly collaborated with singer Mariah Carey on her album "The Art of Letting Go" and she had a blast.

Kelly co-wrote and performed on Lady Gaga's album "Do What U Want" from her 2013 album Artpop, performing the duet with her on Saturday Night Live on November 16, 2013, and at the 2013 American Music Awards. Following sexual harassment charges against Kelly in early 2019, "Do What U Want" was since removed from streaming services and re-releases of Gaga's Artpop album. He also collaborated on "We Been On," a Cash Money Records compilation, Rich Gang, with Birdman and Lil Wayne. He also appeared on Twista's first single, "Dark Horse," from his debut on his latest album. Kelly and Justin Bieber unveiled a joint venture dubbed "PYD" on November 17, 2013.

Kelly appeared on the soundtrack album of the film The Best Man Holiday with his song "Christmas, I'll Be Steppin'."

Kelly announced that he planned to tour with R&B singer Mary J. Blige on "The King & Queen Tour" prior to the Black Pantries Tour, while continuing to create segments of the hiphopote in the Closet, although others are still on the lookout for.

Kelly revealed in July 2014 that he was working on a house music compilation.

Kelly released "Switch Up" in November 2015 starring fellow Chicagoans Jeremih and Lil Wayne, "Marching Band" and "Backyard Party" after the group's "Wake Up Everybody." The Buffett, an album containing those singles, was released in a month. With first-week sales of 39,000 album-equivalent copies, it did not do well on the Billboard 200 at number sixteen.

Kelly's first Christmas album, as well as his 14th and final studio album in his career, 12 Nights of Christmas, which was released on October 21, 2016.

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