R.Kelly

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R. Kelly performs in the "Light It Up" tour at Radio City Music Hall on April 18, 2006

Background information
Birth name Robert Sylvester Kelly
Also known as Kellz, The Pied Piper of R&B
Born January 8, 1969 (1969-01-08) (age 38)
Origin Chicago, Illinois Flag of Illinois
Genre(s) R&B, new jack swing, hip hop, pop rap, pop
Occupation(s) Singer, songwriter, record producer
Years active 1989 – present
Label(s) Jive
Website www.r-kelly.com

R. Kelly (born Robert Sylvester Kelly on January 8, 1969 in Chicago, Illinois) is an American urban R&B singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer, and occasional rapper. He first appeared on the music scene as the founder and lead singer of Public Announcement whose smooth mixture of hip-hop beats, soul, and funk propelled the group's 1992 debut album Born Into the '90s to platinum status. Upon R. Kelly's departure from Public Announcement, he became one of the biggest-selling male artists of the 1990s. [citation needed]

Kelly's songs often include explicit sexual references, such as "Bump N' Grind", "Feelin' on Yo Booty", and "Ignition (Remix)." Kelly has also had hits such as "I Believe I Can Fly", "I'm Your Angel" (the Grammy-nominated duet with Céline Dion), "If I Could Turn Back The Hands Of Time", "I Wish", "Rise Up" & "Step in the Name of Love (Remix)". Kelly released rap soap opera mini-opera/film Trapped in the Closet. Kelly has released 12 LPs, sold 35 million albums in the U.S., 15 million singles, and over 50 million albums worldwide making him the most successful R&B male artist of the 1990s. R. Kelly released his eighth solo album "Double Up", on May 29, 2007.

On June 6, 2002, Kelly was indicted on 21 counts of having sexual intercourse with a minor. The charges, which were later reduced to soliciting a minor for child pornography, stemmed from a video tape allegedly showing Kelly having sex with a 14 year old girl. To date, Kelly still faces 14 of the original charges.