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{{Short description|American R&B singer and sex offender (born 1967)}}
{{Inligtingskas Akteur
{{For|the album| R. Kelly (album){{!}}''R. Kelly'' (album)}}
| Naam = Robert Kelly
{{pp-vandalism|small=yes}}
| Beeld = Robert Kelly by Gage Skidmore.jpg
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2020}}
| Beeldbeskrywing = <!-- Vir oormuis-info/ vir siggestremdes; sonder wiki-sintaks -->
{{Use American English|date=August 2023}}
| Beeldonderskrif =
{{Infobox person
| name = R. Kelly
| Geboortenaam =
| image = R. Kelly mug shot.jpg
| Alias =
| caption = Kelly in 2003
| Geboortedatum = {{Geboortedatum en ouderdom|1970|10|8}}
| birth_name = Robert Sylvester Kelly
| Geboorteplek =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1967|1|8}}
| Nasionaliteit = [[Verenigde State|Amerikaans]]
| birth_place = [[Chicago, Illinois]], U.S.
| Sterfdatum =
| other_names = {{hlist|Pied Piper|Kellz}}
| Sterfplek =
| occupation = {{flatlist|
| Ouers =
| Lewensmaat =
*Singer
| Kinders =
*songwriter
| Skool =
*record producer
| Universiteit =
| Beroep = Akteur
| Aktiewe jare =
| Noemenswaardige rolprente =
| Webwerf =
| IMDb = 1448567
| Toekennings = <!-- slegs noemenswaardiges -->
}}
}}
| works = {{hlist|[[R. Kelly discography|Discography]]|[[R. Kelly production discography|production]]|[[R. Kelly videography|videography]]}}
| years_active = 1989–2019
| spouse = {{Unbulleted list|{{marriage|[[Aaliyah]]|August 31, 1994|February 1995|reason={{abbr|ann.|annulled}}}}|{{marriage|[[Andrea Kelly|Andrea Lee]]|1996|2009|reason=divorced}}}}
| children = 3
| awards = [[List of awards and nominations received by R. Kelly|Full list]]
| website = {{URL|r-kelly.com}}
| module = '''Criminal information'''{{infobox criminal
| child = yes
| criminal_penalty = 31 years imprisonment (release via [[Good conduct time|good conduct time]] possible after 25 years)<ref>{{cite web|title=R. Kelly, already serving 30 years for sex trafficking, sentenced to 20 years in federal child porn case|website=[[CNN]] |date=February 23, 2023 |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/02/23/entertainment/rkelly-chicago-child-porn-sentence/index.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=U.S. prosecutors ask for 25 more years in prison for R. Kelly |url=https://www.npr.org/2023/02/17/1157789300/u-s-prosecutors-ask-for-25-more-years-in-prison-for-r-kelly#:~:text=Based%20on%20that%20sentence%20alone,the%20government's%20Thursday%20filing%20said. |website=[[NPR]] |access-date=30 July 2023}}</ref>
| criminal status = [[Imprisonment|Incarcerated]] at [[Federal Correctional Complex, Butner|FCI Butner Medium I]]
| apprehended = February 22, 2019
| conviction = {{hlist|class=inline|[[Racketeering]]|[[Child sexual abuse|sexual exploitation of a child]]|[[bribery]]|[[sex trafficking]]|violation of the [[Mann Act]]<ref>{{cite web|title=R. Kelly convicted of racketeering and sex trafficking by a federal jury in New York|website=[[CNN]]|date=September 27, 2021 |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/09/27/us/r-kelly-verdict/index.html| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/https://www.cnn.com/2021/09/27/us/r-kelly-verdict/index.html| archive-date=2021-09-28}}{{cbignore}}</ref> (2021)||[[Child grooming|enticing a child]]|producing [[child pornography]] (2022)}}
}}
| module2 = {{Infobox musical artist|embed=yes
| genre = {{flatlist|
*[[Contemporary R&B|R&B]]
*[[Soul music|soul]]
*[[Gospel music|gospel]]
*[[Hip hop music|hip hop]]
}}
| label = {{flatlist|
*[[Rockland Records|Rockland]]
*[[Jive Records|Jive]]
*[[RCA Records|RCA]]
}}
}}
}}
'''Robert Sylvester Kelly''' (born January 8, 1967) <!-- DO NOT add a line restating his "stage name is "R. Kelly," it is extremely unnecessary. --> is an American convicted [[child sex offender]] and former singer, songwriter, and record producer. He has been credited with prolific success in both [[contemporary R&B|R&B]] and [[hip hop music|hip hop]], earning nicknames such as "the [[Honorific nicknames in popular music|King of R&B]]", "the King of Pop-Soul",<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9sMDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA56|title=Jet|via=Google Books|date=28 December 1998 – 4 January 1999 |page=56 |publisher=Johnson Publishing Company |access-date=October 27, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/12/17/arts/pop-briefs-020826.html?ref=rkelly|title=Pop Briefs|last=Holden|first=Stephen|date=December 17, 1995|access-date=December 11, 2015|website=The New York Times}}</ref> and the "Pied Piper of R&B".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.oxygen.com/crime-time/r-kelly-why-does-he-call-himself-the-pied-piper|title=Who Is The Pied Piper? The Mysterious Fairytale That Inspired R. Kelly|date=January 11, 2019|website=Oxygen Official Site|access-date=June 23, 2019}}</ref>


'''Robert Kelly''' (gebore 8 Oktober 1970) is 'n [[Verenigde State|Amerikaanse]] akteur.
Kelly has released [[R. Kelly discography|18 studio albums]] and is known for hit singles such as "[[I Believe I Can Fly]]", "[[Bump n' Grind (R. Kelly song)|Bump N' Grind]]", "[[Your Body's Callin']]{{-"}}, "[[Gotham City (song)|Gotham City]]", "[[Ignition (Remix)]]", "[[If I Could Turn Back the Hands of Time]]", "[[The World's Greatest (R. Kelly song)|The World's Greatest]]", "[[I'm a Flirt|I'm a Flirt (Remix)]]", and the [[Rap opera|hip hopera]] ''[[Trapped in the Closet]]''. In 1998, he won three [[Grammy Award]]s for "I Believe I Can Fly".<ref name="grammys-r-kelly">{{cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/r-kelly| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/r-kelly| archive-date=2021-09-28|title=R. Kelly|date=March 17, 2014|publisher=National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences|access-date=January 7, 2019}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Although Kelly is primarily a singer and songwriter, he has written, produced, and remixed songs, singles, and albums for other artists. In 1996, he received a Grammy Award nomination for writing and producing [[Michael Jackson]]'s single "[[You Are Not Alone]]", which also won a ''[[Guinness World Records|Guinness World Record]]'' as the first song in history to debut at number one on the [[Billboard Hot 100|''Billboard'' Hot 100]].<ref name="grammys-r-kelly"/>

Kelly has sold over 75 million albums and singles worldwide, making him the most successful R&B male artist of the 1990s and one of the [[List of best-selling music artists|best-selling music artists of all time]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.apdnews.com/e-lifestyle/841004.html |title=Spotify joins the growing chorus to #MuteRKelly |work=[[Asia Pacific Daily]] |date=May 11, 2018 |accessdate=May 14, 2018 |archive-date=May 15, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180515043534/https://www.apdnews.com/e-lifestyle/841004.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Billboard Magazine">{{cite news|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9w0EAAAAMBAJ&q=R.+Kelly+top+90%27s&pg=PA66|title=Top 90's R&B/Hip-Hop Artists|date=25 December 1999 – 1 January 2000 |accessdate=January 25, 2012}}</ref> The [[Recording Industry Association of America]] (RIAA) has recognized Kelly as one of the best-selling music artists in the United States with 40 million albums sold, as well as only the fifth black artist to crack the top 50 of the same list.<ref name="RIAA best">{{cite web|url=https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinum.php?content_selector=top-selling-artists |title=Top Selling Artists - September 10, 2012 |publisher=RIAA |accessdate=September 10, 2012}}</ref> In March 2011, Kelly was named the most successful R&B artist of the last 25 years by ''[[Billboard Magazine|Billboard]]''.<ref name="Date: 11/18/2010 9:19:22 PM">{{cite web|author=Date: November 18, 2010 9:19:22 PM|url=http://www.singersroom.com/news/6496/Billboard-Names-R-Kelly-The-1-RB-Artist-Of-Past-25-Years|title=Billboard Names R. Kelly The #1 R&B Artist Of Past 25 Years|publisher=Singersroom.com|date=November 18, 2010|accessdate=February 20, 2011}}</ref><ref name="Up for Discussion Jump to Forums">{{cite web|url=http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/the-juice/950658/the-juice-presents-top-50-rbhip-hop-artists-of-the-past-25-years|title=The Juice Presents Top 50 R&B/Hip-Hop Artists of the Past 25 Years&nbsp;— The Juice|publisher=Billboard.com|accessdate=February 20, 2011}}</ref><ref name="Friday, November 19, 2010, 8:04am EDT">{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.com/music/news/a288774/r-kelly-named-best-selling-rb-artist.html|title=Music&nbsp;— News&nbsp;— R Kelly named best-selling R&B artist|publisher=Digital Spy|date=November 19, 2010|accessdate=February 20, 2011}}</ref> Throughout his career, Kelly has been awarded [[Grammy Award]]s, [[BET Awards]], [[Soul Train Music Awards]], [[Billboard Music Awards|''Billboard'' Music Awards]], [[NAACP Image Awards]], and [[American Music Award]]s.

Investigations by law enforcement and journalists revealed that Kelly used his fame to seek out underage fans for sex.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Caro |first=Mark |title=The Chicago Journalist Who's Spent 17 Years Investigating R. Kelly |url=https://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-Magazine/November-2017/The-Lonely-Crusade-of-Jim-DeRogatis/ |access-date=2022-07-29 |website=Chicago Magazine |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":5">{{Cite web |last=Grady |first=Constance |date=2021-08-30 |title=20 years after Aaliyah's death, her story only feels more tragic |url=https://www.vox.com/culture/22621692/aaliyah-death-20-year-anniversary-r-kelly-trial |access-date=2022-06-10 |website=Vox |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{Cite news |last=Izadi |first=Elahe |date=January 3, 2020 |title='Aaliyah was the sacrificial lamb': Lifetime's new 'Surviving R. Kelly' series explores aftermath of illegal marriage |newspaper=The Washington Post |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2020/01/03/aaliyah-was-sacrificial-lamb-lifetimes-new-surviving-r-kelly-series-explores-aftermath-illegal-marriage/}}</ref><ref name="Savage-2021">{{Cite news |last=Savage |first=Mark |date=2021-09-28 |title=R. Kelly: The history of allegations against him |language=en-GB |work=[[BBC News]] |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-40635526 |access-date=2022-05-11 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220511182505/https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-40635526 |archive-date=2022-05-11}}</ref> Video recordings of these encounters led to his prosecution for [[child pornography]],<ref name=":7">{{cite news |last=W. Fountain |first=John |date=June 6, 2002 |title=R. Kelly, R & B Star, Is Indicted on Child Sex Charges |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/06/06/us/r-kelly-r-b-star-is-indicted-on-child-sex-charges.html |access-date=May 11, 2018 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/https://www.nytimes.com/2002/06/06/us/r-kelly-r-b-star-is-indicted-on-child-sex-charges.html |archive-date=2021-09-28 |quote=Under the indictment . . . by a Cook County grand jury, Mr. Kelly faces seven counts on each of the Class 1 felony charges of directing the videotaping, producing the video and enticing the teenager into engaging in illicit sex acts.}}{{cbignore}}</ref> but he was acquitted in 2008.<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |date=2008-05-20 |title=Sex tape played in R. Kelly trial |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/sex-tape-played-r-kelly-112198/ |access-date=2022-05-11 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |publisher=[[Associated Press]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":9">{{cite news |last=Streitfeld |first=David |date=June 14, 2008 |title=R. Kelly Is Acquitted in Child Pornography Case |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/14/arts/music/14kell.html |access-date=May 11, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220511190552/https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/14/arts/music/14kell.html |archive-date=2022-05-11}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The 2019 documentary television series ''[[Surviving R. Kelly]]'' reexamined Kelly's alleged sexual misconduct with minors, prompting [[RCA Records]] to terminate his contract.<ref name="Aswad Aswad 20192">{{cite web |last1=Aswad |first1=Jem |last2=Halperin |first2=Shirley |date=2019-01-18 |title=R. Kelly Dropped by Sony Music |url=https://variety.com/2019/biz/news/r-kelly-dropped-sony-music-1203106180/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190118195358/https://variety.com/2019/biz/news/r-kelly-dropped-sony-music-1203106180/ |archive-date=2019-01-18 |access-date=January 18, 2019 |website=[[Variety.com]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Kelly was arrested in July 2019 on new charges brought by multiple jurisdictions.<ref name=":12">{{Cite news |last1=Allyn |first1=Bobby |last2=Tsioulcas |first2=Anastasia |date=2019-07-12 |title=R. Kelly Arrested On Federal Charges, Including Child Pornography And Kidnapping |language=en |work=NPR |url=https://www.npr.org/2019/07/12/741008967/federal-prosecutors-arrest-and-charge-r-kelly-in-new-child-pornography-case |access-date=2022-07-15}}</ref><ref name=":13">{{Cite news |last1=Rojas |first1=Rick |last2=Zaveri |first2=Mihir |last3=Gold |first3=Michael |date=July 12, 2019 |title=U.S. Prosecutors File New Charges, Including Child Pornography, Against R. Kelly |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/12/nyregion/rkelly-arrested.html}}</ref><ref name=":14">{{Cite magazine |last1=Legaspi |first1=Althea |last2=Kreps |first2=Daniel |date=July 12, 2019 |title=R. Kelly Arrested on Federal Sex Trafficking Charges |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/r-kelly-arrested-federal-sex-trafficking-charges-858154/ |url-status=live |magazine=Rolling Stone |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190712064312/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/r-kelly-arrested-federal-sex-trafficking-charges-858154/ |archive-date=2019-07-12 |access-date=May 11, 2022}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref name=":15">{{Cite news |last=Higgins |first=Tucker |title=R. Kelly denied bail in sex crimes case |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/07/16/r-kelly-denied-bail-in-sex-crimes-case.html |access-date=September 19, 2022 |agency=CNBC |date=July 16, 2019 }}</ref> In 2021, he was convicted under the [[Mann Act]] and for [[racketeering]].<ref name="USA Today2">{{cite news |last1=Trepany |first1=Charlies |date=September 27, 2021 |title=R. Kelly's sex-trafficking trial: Everything that happened, up to the guilty verdict |newspaper=[[USA Today]] |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2021/09/07/r-kelly-sex-trafficking-trial-everything-happened-so-far/5708619001/ |access-date=September 28, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210928035925/https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2021/09/07/r-kelly-sex-trafficking-trial-everything-happened-so-far/5708619001/ |archive-date=28 September 2021}}</ref> In 2022, Kelly was convicted of three child pornography charges and three charges of enticing a minor.<ref name="BBC News">{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-62578666 | title=R. Kelly trial: Singer has dark side hidden from public - prosecutor | agency=BBC News | date=August 17, 2022 }}</ref><ref name=":16">{{Cite web |date=May 11, 2022 |title=R. Kelly's Chicago trial to start in August |url=https://wgntv.com/news/chicago-news/r-kellys-chicago-trial-to-start-in-august/ |agency=[[WGN-TV]]}}</ref><ref name=":17">{{Cite web |title=R. Kelly convicted on child pornography charges at federal trial in Chicago; acquitted of conspiring to obstruct justice |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/criminal-justice/ct-r-kelly-chicago-federal-trial-verdict-20220914-fkhxtut63vd43n4nnqmv7fqxju-story.html |access-date=September 14, 2022 |newspaper=Chicago Tribune|date=September 14, 2022 }}</ref> He was sentenced to serve 31 years imprisonment in a combination of concurrent and consecutive sentences.<ref name=":18">{{cite magazine |last1=Blistein |first1=Jon |last2=Kreps |first2=Daniel |last3=Bekiempis |first3=Victoria |date=June 29, 2022 |title=R. Kelly Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison on Racketeering, Sex Trafficking Charges |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/r-kelly-sentence-30-years-prison-brooklyn-trial-1375483/ |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]}}</ref><ref name=":19">{{Cite news |title=R. Kelly sentenced to one additional year in prison in Illinois sex abuse case |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/r-kelly-sentenced-one-additional-year-prison-illinois-sex-abuse-case-rcna71634 |access-date=February 23, 2023 |agency=NBC News |date=February 23, 2023 |language=en}}</ref> As of 2023, Kelly is incarcerated at [[Federal Correctional Complex, Butner|FCI Butner Medium I]]. He is scheduled for release on December 21, 2045.

==Early life==
Robert Sylvester Kelly was born on the [[South Side, Chicago|South Side]] of [[Chicago]], Illinois,<ref name="Cook Cty-2016">{{cite news|url=http://www.cookcountyclerk.com/sweethomecookcounty/pages/rkelly.aspx|title=R. Kelly|access-date=March 31, 2016|work=Cook County Clerk|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160414092511/http://www.cookcountyclerk.com/sweethomecookcounty/pages/rkelly.aspx|archive-date=April 14, 2016}}</ref> on January 8, 1967,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.biography.com/people/r-kelly-507697| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/https://www.biography.com/people/r-kelly-507697| archive-date=2021-09-28|title=R. Kelly: Singer, Songwriter (1967–)|website= [[Biography.com]]|publisher=[[A&E Networks]]|date=January 4, 2019|access-date=January 19, 2019}}{{cbignore}}</ref> at Chicago Lying-In Hospital (now [[University of Chicago Medical Center]]) in the city's [[Hyde Park, Chicago|Hyde Park]] neighborhood. He has five siblings (three of which are half),<ref name="thecase"/> two older sisters<ref name="Yahoo-2022">{{Cite news |title=R Kelly's sisters from his father's side believe he was treated unfairly in sexual abuse trial |url=https://uk.style.yahoo.com/r-kelly-sisters-father-side-163500002.html |access-date=2022-07-06 |website=uk.style.yahoo.com |language=en-GB}}</ref> and brother, along with a younger brother and sister.<ref name="AP Timeline">{{cite news|url=https://apnews.com/d10e3e336e4e42bd9a3ad8be08185f90|title=Timeline of R. Kelly's life and career|date=July 11, 2019|publisher=[[Associated Press]]|access-date=March 15, 2020|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200316004801/https://apnews.com/d10e3e336e4e42bd9a3ad8be08185f90|archive-date=March 16, 2020|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-08-25 |title='It's hard, it's hurtful': R. Kelly's sisters speak out amid sex-trafficking trial |url=https://pix11.com/news/local-news/its-hard-its-hurtful-r-kellys-sisters-speak-out-amid-sex-trafficking-trial/ |access-date=2022-07-06 |website=PIX11 |language=en-US}}</ref> His mother, Joanne, was a schoolteacher and devout [[Baptist]].<ref name="WBEZ Timeline"/> She was born in [[Arkansas]].<ref name="thecase"/> The identity of his father, who was absent from Kelly's life and later raised two children,<ref name="Yahoo-2022" /> is not known.<ref name="WBEZ Timeline">{{cite web|last=DeRogatis|first=Jim|url=https://www.wbez.org/shows/jim-derogatis/timeline-the-life-and-career-of-r-kelly/f6aed43d-d7a4-418c-b707-385640a43dfb|title=Timeline: The Life And Career Of R. Kelly|publisher=WBEZ|access-date=March 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130728085945/http://www.wbez.org/blogs/jim-derogatis/2013-07/timeline-life-and-career-r-kelly-107973|archive-date=July 28, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> His family lived in the [[Ida B. Wells Homes]] [[Public housing|public housing project]] in the [[Black Metropolis–Bronzeville District]] of Chicago's [[Douglas, Chicago#Bronzeville|Douglas]] neighborhood, also on the city's south side.<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Layne|first=Anni|date=April 9, 1998|title=R. Kelly Arrested In Chicago {{pipe}} Music News|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/r-kelly-arrested-in-chicago-19980409|url-status=live|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/r-kelly-arrested-in-chicago-19980409|archive-date=2021-09-28|access-date=December 10, 2013|magazine=Rolling Stone}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Around the time he was five years old, Kelly's mother married his stepfather, Lucious, who reportedly worked for an airline.<ref name="thecase"/> Kelly began singing in the church choir at age eight.<ref name="AP Timeline"/>

=== Trauma and abuse ===
Kelly described having a girlfriend, Lulu, at age eight, in his autobiography. He stated that their last play date turned tragic when, after fighting with older children over a play area by a creek, she was pushed into the water, swept downstream by a fast-moving current, and drowned. Kelly called Lulu his first musical inspiration.<ref name="revealed2012" />

Kelly said members of his household would act differently when his mother and grandparents were not home.<ref name="Kelly-2012" /><ref name="WBEZ Timeline" /> This included women walking around half-naked. Additionally, Kelly stated that when he was at the age of eight, a female in the household asked him to watch and photograph her having sex with a male partner.<ref>{{Cite web |title=10 Things Revealed in R. Kelly's Memoir |url=http://www.theroot.com/articles/culture/2012/06/r_kelly_childhood_abuse_new_book_soulacoaster_reveals_all.html |access-date=December 5, 2017 |archive-date=February 24, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150224190159/http://www.theroot.com/articles/culture/2012/06/r_kelly_childhood_abuse_new_book_soulacoaster_reveals_all.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

From age 8 to 14, he was sexually abused by an older female family member.<ref name="thecase">{{cite book|last=DeRogatis|first=Jim|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jBeHDwAAQBAJ|title=Soulless: The Case Against R. Kelly|date=June 4, 2019|publisher=Abrams|isbn=9781683357629|location=New York|pages=}}</ref><ref name="Heath-2016a">{{Cite web|last=Heath|first=Chris|date=2016-01-20|title=The Confessions Of R. Kelly|url=https://www.gq.com/story/r-kelly-confessions|access-date=2021-10-24|website=GQ|language=en-US}}</ref> Kelly's younger brother, Carey, stated that he suffered from years of sexual abuse at the hands of his older sister, Theresa, who was entrusted with babysitting her siblings.<ref name="Ebony-2019">{{Cite web|date=2019-01-09|title=R. Kelly's Brother Says He and Singer Were Molested by Older Sister|url=https://www.ebony.com/news/r-kellys-brother-he-singer-molested-older-sister/|access-date=2021-10-24|website=EBONY|language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="Biswas-2020">{{Cite web|last=Biswas|first=Shuvrajit Das|date=2020-01-03|title=Who Is Theresa Kelly? Where Is She Now?|url=https://thecinemaholic.com/where-is-theresa-kelly-now/|access-date=2021-10-24|website=The Cinemaholic|language=en-US}}</ref> Carey stated that although their older brother, Bruce, was spared and allowed to play outside, both him and Kelly were punished at separate times indoors by Theresa, who refused to acknowledge the abuse when confronted years later.<ref name="Ebony-2019" /><ref name="Biswas-2020" />

Explaining why he never told anyone, Kelly wrote in his 2012 autobiography, ''[[Soulacoaster|Soulacoaster: The Diary of Me]]'', that he was "too afraid and too ashamed".<ref name="revealed2012"/> Around age 10, Kelly was also sexually abused by an older male who was a friend of the family.<ref name="thecase"/> In his autobiography, Kelly described being shot in the shoulder, at age 11, by boys who were attempting to steal his bike,<ref name="revealed2012">{{cite web|title=10 Things Revealed in R. Kelly's Memoir|first=Akoto|last=Ofori-Atta|date=June 28, 2012|url=http://www.theroot.com/articles/culture/2012/06/r_kelly_childhood_abuse_new_book_soulacoaster_reveals_all.html|website=theroot.com|access-date=March 5, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150224190159/http://www.theroot.com/articles/culture/2012/06/r_kelly_childhood_abuse_new_book_soulacoaster_reveals_all.html|archive-date=February 24, 2015}}</ref> although a family friend later stated that Kelly had shot himself while attempting suicide.<ref name="thecase"/>

=== Turn toward music ===
[[File:Busker at Roosevelt Red Line Stop.jpg|thumb|As a teenager, Kelly began busking at [[Chicago "L"]] stations on the [[Red Line (CTA)]]]]
In September 1980, Kelly entered [[Kenwood Academy]] in the city's [[Hyde Park–Kenwood Historic District|Hyde Park-Kenwood]] district, 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 show.<ref name="Levin-2008">{{cite magazine|last=Levin |first=Josh |date=June 13, 2008 |title=Long Live the Little Man Defense! |url=http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/culturebox/2008/06/long_live_the_little_man_defense.html |journal=[[Slate (website)|Slate]] |location=San Francisco |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/culturebox/2008/06/long_live_the_little_man_defense.html |archive-date=2021-09-28 |access-date=January 9, 2019}}{{cbignore}}</ref> A shy Kelly put on sunglasses, was escorted onto the stage, sang the song and won first prize.<ref name="WBEZ Timeline"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.enotes.com/contemporary-musicians/kelly-r-biography| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/http://www.enotes.com/contemporary-musicians/kelly-r-biography| archive-date=2021-09-28|title=Kelly, R.|publisher=eNotes.com|access-date=September 10, 2012}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://articles.latimes.com/1998/nov/29/entertainment/ca-48624/2|work=Los Angeles Times|first=Dave|last=Hoekstra|title=The Righteous Brother: R. Kelly's ambitious album of genre- spanning songs finds him updating the spiritually grounded R&B of such greats as Al Green and Donny Hathaway|date=November 29, 1998|access-date=April 18, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121014164357/http://articles.latimes.com/1998/nov/29/entertainment/ca-48624/2|archive-date=October 14, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> McLin encouraged Kelly to leave the high school basketball team and concentrate on music. She said he was furious at first, but after his performance in the talent show, he changed his mind.<ref name="Chicago's Blues for R. Kelly">{{cite web|last=Boucher|first=Geoff|date=June 15, 2002|title=Chicago's Blues for R. Kelly|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-jun-15-na-rkelly15-story.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200316003625/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-jun-15-na-rkelly15-story.html|archive-date=March 16, 2020|access-date=March 15, 2020|work=Los Angeles Times}}</ref> Kelly was diagnosed with [[dyslexia]],<ref>{{Cite web|last=McKinney|first=Jessica|date=2018-07-23|title=R. Kelly Opens Up About Sex Cult, Illiteracy And More On 19-Minute Track|url=https://www.vibe.com/music/music-news/r-kelly-addresses-sex-cult-girlfriends-listen-597565/|access-date=2021-10-24|website=Vibe Magazine|language=en-US}}</ref> which left him unable to read or write.<ref name="Marchese 2016">{{cite web|last=Marchese|first=David|date=January 7, 2016|title=The R. Kelly Problem|url=https://nymag.com/is-it-okay-to-listen-to-r-kelly/|url-status=dead|work=New York|quote=He grew up poor and functionally illiterate — owing to dyslexia — on Chicago's South Side, raised mostly by his mother|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160818215729/https://nymag.com/is-it-okay-to-listen-to-r-kelly/|archive-date=August 18, 2016|access-date=September 27, 2021}}</ref><ref name="Heath-2016a"/> Kelly dropped out of high school after attending Kenwood Academy for one year.<ref name="DeRogatis-2019">{{Cite magazine |last=DeRogatis |first=Jim |date=2019-06-03 |title=R. Kelly and the Damage Done |url=https://www.newyorker.com/culture/personal-history/r-kelly-and-the-damage-done |magazine=The New Yorker |language=en-US |access-date=2021-10-24}}</ref> He began performing in the subway under the [[Chicago "L"]] tracks.<ref name="DeRogatis-2019"/> He regularly [[Street performance|busked]] at the "L" stop on the Red Line's [[Jackson station (CTA Red Line)|Jackson station]] in the [[The Loop (CTA)|Loop]].<ref name="thecase"/>

In his youth, Kelly played basketball with Illinois state champion basketball player [[Ben Wilson (basketball)|Ben Wilson]]<ref name="thecase"/> and later sang "[[It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday]]" at Wilson's funeral.<ref>{{cite web|title=30 for 30: Benji - Summary|url=https://www.paleycenter.org/collection/item/?q=see&p=96&item=114765|publisher=Paley Center|access-date=September 27, 2021}}</ref>

==Musical career==
During his [[R. Kelly discography|recording career]], Kelly sold over 75 million records worldwide, making him the most commercially successful male [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]] artist of the 1990s and one of the [[List of best-selling music artists|world's best-selling music artists]].<ref name="Billboard Magazine2">{{cite news |date=25 December 1999 – 1 January 2000 |title=Top 90's R&B/Hip-Hop Artists |magazine=Billboard |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9w0EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA66 |access-date=January 25, 2012}}</ref><ref name="Billboard-2021">{{Cite magazine |title=R. Kelly |url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/r-kelly/ |url-status=live |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211117044530/https://www.billboard.com/artist/r-kelly/ |archive-date=2021-11-17 |access-date=2022-05-11}}</ref> He won three [[Grammy Awards|Grammys]] for his song "[[I Believe I Can Fly]]", and was also nominated for his song "[[You Are Not Alone]]" recorded by [[Michael Jackson]].<ref name="grammys-r-kelly2">{{cite web |title=R. Kelly |url=https://www.grammy.com/artists/r-kelly/11659 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220327174106/https://www.grammy.com/artists/r-kelly/11659 |archive-date=2022-03-27 |access-date=2022-05-11 |website=[[Grammy.com]] |publisher=[[National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Critics dubbed him "the [[Honorific nicknames in popular music|King of R&B]]"<ref name="Jet-1999">{{cite magazine |date=28 December 1998 – 4 January 1999 |title=R. Kelly Reveals |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9sMDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA56 |magazine=Jet |page=56 |access-date=October 27, 2014 |via=Google Books}}</ref><ref name="BBC-2018">{{Cite web |date=2018 |title=BBC World News - R Kelly: Sex, Girls & Videotapes |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p060m6qx |access-date=2021-10-23 |website=BBC |language=en-GB |quote=Recognised as one of the most acclaimed RnB artists in the world, R Kelly has sold over 60 million albums globally and has been dubbed the "King of RnB". Despite his musical success there are multiple underlying rumours and accusations about the artist which paint a much darker picture.}}</ref><ref name="Ogunnaike-2002">{{Cite news |last=Ogunnaike |first=Lola |date=May 2002 |title=Caught in the Act |url=https://www.vibe.com/features/editorial/r-kelly-caught-in-the-act-vibe-cover-story-629075/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210509020207/https://www.vibe.com/features/editorial/r-kelly-caught-in-the-act-vibe-cover-story-629075/ |archive-date=2021-05-09 |access-date=October 23, 2021 |newspaper=Vibe.com |quote=. . . news broke of a self-made sex tape with a minor. Can the King of R&B withstand the heat?}}</ref> while he billed himself the "[[Pied Piper of Hamelin|Pied Piper]] of R&B".<ref name="Heath-2016b">{{Cite web |last=Heath |first=Chris |date=2016-02-03 |title=Why R. Kelly Calls Himself "the Pied Piper of R&B" |url=https://www.gq.com/story/why-r-kelly-calls-himself-pied-piper |access-date=2022-07-29 |website=GQ |language=en-US}}</ref>

===1989–1994: ''Born into the 90's and'' ''12 Play''===
{{Main|Public Announcement (group)|Born into the 90's|12 Play}}
MGM (Musically Gifted Men or Mentally Gifted Men)<ref name="thecase"/> was formed in 1989 with Robert Kelly, Marc McWilliams, Vincent Walker and Shawn Brooks. In 1990, MGM were offered a contract with an independent label, Tavdash Records.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Music Stars Who Started in Groups You Never Heard Of |url=https://www.bet.com/photo-gallery/uu71ac/music-stars-who-started-in-groups-you-never-heard-of/0u2iti |access-date=2022-07-06 |website=BET |language=en}}</ref> Shortly after, they recorded and released one single, "Why You Wanna Play Me."<ref name="Brown-2004" /> Kelly gained national recognition when MGM participated on the talent TV show ''[[Big Break (American TV series)|Big Break]]'', hosted by [[Natalie Cole]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Smith|first=Danyel|date=January 4, 2019|title=Revisit R. Kelly's Dec 1994/Jan 1995 Cover Story: SUPERFREAK|url=https://www.vibe.com/features/editorial/r-kellys-dec-1994-jan-1995-cover-story-superfreak-629059/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/https://www.vibe.com/features/editorial/r-kellys-dec-1994-jan-1995-cover-story-superfreak-629059/|archive-date=2021-09-28|website=Vibe Magazine}}{{cbignore}}</ref> MGM performed "All My Love", which would become a demo for Kelly's song "She's Got That Vibe."<ref>{{Cite web|last=Klages|first=Karen E.|date=April 10, 1991|title=THE $100,000 MEN|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1991-04-10-9102010969-story.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1991-04-10-9102010969-story.html|archive-date=2021-09-28|website=Chicago Tribune|language=en-US}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The group went on to win the $100,000 grand prize in 1991 before they disbanded.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=March 25, 1991 |title=Big Break Winners |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9LoDAAAAMBAJ&dq=Natalie+Cole+Big+Break&pg=PA35 |magazine=Jet |pages=35}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Smith|first=Danyel|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dywEAAAAMBAJ&q=aaron+hall+r+kelly&pg=PA53|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211009214650/https://books.google.com/books?id=dywEAAAAMBAJ&q=aaron+hall+r+kelly&pg=PA53|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 9, 2021|title=Superfreak|date=December 1994|publisher=Vibe Magazine|volume=2|pages=52–56|language=en|issue=10}}</ref>

In 1991, Kelly signed with [[Jive Records]].<ref name="Brown-2004">{{Cite book|last=Brown|first=Jake|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=exx2IVCnlsQC&q=R+kelly+signed+with+Jive+Records+in+1991&pg=PA21|title=Your Body's Calling Me: Music, Love, Sex & Money : the Life & Times of "Robert" R. Kelly|date=2004|publisher=Amber Books Publishing|isbn=9780972751957|language=en}}</ref> Kelly's debut album, ''[[Born into the 90's]]'', was released in early 1992 (credited as R. Kelly and [[Public Announcement]]). The album, released during the [[new jack swing]] period of the early 1990s, yielded the R&B hits "She's Got That Vibe", "[[Honey Love (R. Kelly and Public Announcement song)|Honey Love]]", "Dedicated", and "Slow Dance (Hey Mr. DJ)", with Kelly singing lead vocals.<ref name="allmusic">{{cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/r-kelly-mn0000319347/biography| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/https://www.allmusic.com/artist/r-kelly-mn0000319347/biography| archive-date=2021-09-28|title=R. Kelly Biography|last=Erlewine|first=Stephen Thomas|website=AllMusic|access-date=September 27, 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref> During late 1992, Kelly and Public Announcement embarked on a tour entitled "60653" after the zip code of their Chicago neighborhood.<ref name="AP Timeline" /> This would be the only album co-credited with Public Announcement. Kelly separated from the group in 1993.<ref name="WBEZ Timeline" />

{{quote box
| width = 20em
| align = right
| quote = "When I create a song for myself or another artist, I see the entire thing— what the song should be like, how it should be produced, how the video should look, the image of the artist for the single— it's a package deal."
| source = — R. Kelly (1994)<ref name=BillboardMagazine>{{cite magazine|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZQgEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA43|title=Career Milestones Keep Coming For Jive's Kelly|date=December 10, 1994|access-date=January 24, 2012|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|last=Reynolds|first=J.R.}}</ref>
}}

Kelly's first solo album, ''[[12 Play]]'', was released on November 9, 1993, and yielded the singer's first number-one hit, "[[Bump n' Grind (R. Kelly song)|Bump N' Grind]]", which spent a record-breaking 12 weeks at number one on the Billboard [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|Hot R&B Singles]] chart. Subsequent hit singles: "[[Your Body's Callin']]" (U.S. Hot 100: #13, U.S. R&B: #2) and "[[Sex Me]]" (U.S. Hot 100: #20, U.S. R&B: #8). Both singles sold 500,000 copies in the United States and were certified Gold by the RIAA.<ref name="allmusic"/> In 1994, ''12 Play'' was certified Gold by the RIAA, eventually going six times platinum.<ref name="RIAA albums">{{cite web|url=http://riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=&artist=R.%20Kelly&format=ALBUM&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2009&sort=CertificationDate&perPage=50|title=RIAA&nbsp;–old & Platinum&nbsp;–. Kelly (album search results)|publisher=RIAA|access-date=July 12, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904060328/http://riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=&artist=R.%20Kelly&format=ALBUM&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2009&sort=CertificationDate&perPage=50|archive-date=September 4, 2015}}</ref>

In 1994, Kelly established himself as a leading producer by producing songs for various artists, including [[Aaliyah]], [[Janet Jackson]], and [[Changing Faces (group)|Changing Faces]].<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=June 11, 1994 |title=Terri Rossi's Rhythm Section |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=UAgEAAAAMBAJ&dq=billboard+r.+kelly+year+1994+june&pg=PA20 |magazine=Billboard |pages=20}}</ref> He co-headlined a tour with [[Salt-N-Pepa]] and headlined the Budweiser Superfest tour.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Macdonald |first=Patrick |date=September 30, 1994 |title=Hip-Hoppin' In The Dome -- R. Kelly Headlines A Star-Studded Card |url=https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=19940930&slug=1933298 |access-date=2023-02-11 |website=The Seattle Times}}</ref><ref name=BillboardMagazine/>

=== 1995–1996 ''R. Kelly'' and "I Believe I Can Fly" ===
{{Main|R. Kelly (album)|I Believe I Can Fly}}
In 1995, Kelly garnered his first [[Grammy Awards|Grammy]] nominations; two for writing, producing, and composing Michael Jackson's last number-one hit, "[[You Are Not Alone]]".<ref name="grammys-r-kelly2" /><ref>{{cite news|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2MMDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA54|title=R. Kelly: What's next for the Grammy Award-winning Superstar|date=June 8, 1998 |publisher=Johnson Publishing Company }}</ref>

Kelly's success continued with the November 14, 1995, release of ''[[R. Kelly (album)|R. Kelly]]'', his eponymous second studio album. Critics praised him for his departure from salacious bedroom songs to embracing vulnerability. ''[[The New York Times|New York Times]]'' contributor Stephen Holden described Kelly as "The reigning king of pop-soul sex talks a lot tougher than Barry White, the father of such fluffed-up pillow talks and along with Marvin Gaye and Donny Hathaway, [both] major influences for Kelly."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/12/17/arts/pop-briefs-020826.html?ref=rkelly|location=New York|work=The New York Times|title=Pop Briefs|date=December 17, 1995|first=Stephen|last=Holden}}</ref> In December 1995, Professor [[Michael Eric Dyson]] critiqued Kelly's self-titled album "R. Kelly" for ''[[Vibe (magazine)|VIBE]]''. Dyson described Kelly's growth from the ''12 Play'' album: "Kelly reshapes his personal turmoil to artistic benefit" and noted that Kelly is "reborn before our very own ears".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ySsEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA138|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200820033106/https://books.google.com/books?id=ySsEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA138|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 20, 2020|title=R. Kelly (album) Review|date=December 1995}}</ref>

The album reached number one on the ''Billboard'' 200 chart, becoming Kelly's first number one album on the chart, and reached number one on the R&B album charts; his second. The ''R. Kelly'' album spawned three platinum hit singles: "[[You Remind Me of Something]]" (U.S. Hot 100: #4, U.S. R&B: #1), "[[I Can't Sleep Baby (If I)]]" (U.S. Hot 100: #5, U.S. R&B: #1), and "[[Down Low (Nobody Has To Know)]]" (U.S. Hot 100: #4, U.S. R&B: #1); a duet with [[Ronald Isley]]. Kelly's self-titled album sold four million copies, receiving 4× platinum certification from the RIAA.<ref name="RIAA albums"/> He promoted the album with a 50-city "Down Low Top Secret Tour" with [[LL Cool J]], [[Xscape (band)|Xscape]], and Solo.<ref name="Pareles-1996">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/04/13/arts/music-review-invitations-to-passion-of-a-certain-kind.html?ref=rkelly|location=New York|work=The New York Times|title=MUSIC REVIEW;Invitations to Passion of a Certain Kind|date=April 13, 1996|first=Jon|last=Pareles}}</ref>

On November 26, 1996, Kelly released "[[I Believe I Can Fly]]", an inspirational song originally released on the soundtrack for the film ''[[Space Jam]]''. "I Believe I Can Fly" reached No. 2 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, and No. 1 on the UK charts for three weeks and won three [[40th Grammy Awards|Grammy Awards in 1998]].<ref name="grammys-r-kelly2"/><ref name="allmusic"/> In that same year, he contributed to "Freak Tonight" for the ''[[A Thin Line Between Love and Hate]]'' soundtrack.

===1997–2001: Basketball, ''R.'', ''TP-2.COM,'' and Rockland Records===
{{Main|Rockland Records|R. (R. Kelly album)|TP-2.com}}
In 1997, Kelly signed a contract to play professional basketball with the Atlantic City Seagulls of the [[USBL]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2000-05-19 |title=R. Kelly Signs Pro Basketball Deal |website=[[MTV]] |url=http://www.mtv.com/mtv/news/gallery/r/rkelly970425.html |access-date=2022-06-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000519033632/http://www.mtv.com/mtv/news/gallery/r/rkelly970425.html |archive-date=May 19, 2000 }}</ref> He wore the number 12 in honor of his album ''12 Play''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/b34429_kelly_play_pro_basketball.html|title=R. Kelly to Play Pro Basketball|publisher=E!|date=April 25, 1997|access-date=February 20, 2011}}</ref> Kelly said "I love basketball enough to not totally let go of my music, but just put it to the side for a minute and fulfill some dreams of mine that I've had for a long time."<ref name="shooting star">Demasio, Nunyo (May 30, 1997). [http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/sports/shooting-star-kelly-lights-usbl-seagulls-article-1.755519 "A Shooting Star: R. Kelly Lights Up USBL's Seagulls."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130723081051/http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/sports/shooting-star-kelly-lights-usbl-seagulls-article-1.755519 |date=July 23, 2013 }} ''[[Daily News (New York)|New York Daily News]]''. Retrieved October 29, 2013.</ref> Kelly's USBL contract contained a clause that would allow him to fulfill a music obligation when necessary. "If Whitney Houston needs a song written", said Ken Gross, the Seagulls owner who signed Kelly, "he would be able to leave the team to do that and come back". "It wasn't a gimmick", Gross continued, "he's a ballplayer. He can play."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://articles.latimes.com/1998/nov/29/entertainment/ca-48624/3|location=Chicago|work=Los Angeles Times|title=The Righteous Brother: R. Kelly's ambitious album of genre- spanning songs finds him updating the spiritually grounded R&B of such greats as Al Green and Donny Hathaway.|date=November 29, 1998|first=Dave|last=Hoekstra|access-date=January 25, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141221104743/http://articles.latimes.com/1998/nov/29/entertainment/ca-48624/3|archive-date=December 21, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In the same year, Kelly collaborated with American rapper [[The Notorious B.I.G.]] for the song "Fuck You Tonight" on the posthumous album [[Life After Death]].<ref>{{Citation |title=Life After Death - The Notorious B.I.G. {{!}} Credits {{!}} AllMusic |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/life-after-death-mw0000176659/credits |access-date=2023-03-16 |language=en}}</ref>

In 1998, he launched his own label, [[Rockland Records]], in a distribution deal with [[Jimmy Iovine]]'s [[Interscope Records]]. The label's roster included artists [[Sparkle (singer)|Sparkle]], [[Boo & Gotti]], Talent, Vegas Cats, Lady, Frankie, Secret Weapon, and Rebecca F.<ref>{{cite web |author=Saidman, Sorelle |title=R. Kelly's Secret Weapon Set To Debut |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1430761/r-kellys-secret-weapon-set-to-debut/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000511091553/http://mtv.com/news/headlines/000329/story9.html |archive-date=May 11, 2000 |access-date=October 27, 2014 |publisher=MTV News}}</ref><ref name="books.google.com">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GwoEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA41 |title=Billboard |date=September 19, 1998 |access-date=October 27, 2014}}</ref> That May, Sparkle, Rockland's first signed artist, released her [[Sparkle (Sparkle album)|eponymous debut album]]. In addition to producing and writing the project, Kelly made vocal contribution to the hit duet "[[Be Careful (Sparkle song)|Be Careful]]", which became a serious factor as to why the album was certified platinum in December 2000.<ref name="riaa.com">{{cite web |title=RIAA - Gold & Platinum Searchable Database - October 27, 2014 |url=https://www.riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?content_selector=gold-platinum-searchable-database |access-date=October 27, 2014 |website=Riaa.com}}</ref>

On November 17, 1998, Kelly released his fourth studio and first double album, ''[[R. (album)|R.]]'' Musically, the album spans different genres from pop ([[Celine Dion]]), street rap ([[Nas]] and [[Jay-Z]]) to [[Blues]] ("Suicide"). Dave Hoekstra of the ''[[Los Angeles Times]]'' described the album as "easily the most ambitious project of his career".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://articles.latimes.com/1998/nov/29/entertainment/ca-48624|location=Chicago|work=Los Angeles Times|title=The Righteous Brother: R. Kelly's ambitious album of genre-spanning songs finds him updating the spiritually grounded R&B of such greats as Al Green and Donny Hathaway.|date=November 29, 1998|first=Dave|last=Hoekstra}}</ref> In the summer of 1999, he wrote and produced a majority of the [[Life (soundtrack)|soundtrack]] to the [[Martin Lawrence]] and [[Eddie Murphy]] film, ''[[Life (1999 film)|Life]]'', which features tracks from [[K-Ci & JoJo]], [[Maxwell (musician)|Maxwell]], [[Mýa]], and [[Destiny's Child]], among others. The soundtrack was also released on the Rockland imprint.<ref name="MTV.com">{{cite web |title=Feature: R. Kelly |url=http://www.mtv.com/bands/archive/k/rkellyfeature99.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000229100318/http://mtv.com/news/gallery/k/rkellyfeature99.html |archive-date=February 29, 2000 |access-date=October 27, 2014 |publisher=MTV News}}</ref>

In early 2000, Kelly received multiple awards reflecting his status as an established R&B superstar. In January 2000, he won Favorite Male Soul/R&B Artist at the [[American Music Awards]] and, in February, was nominated for several Grammy Awards, including Best Male 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 (Puff Daddy song)|Satisfy You]]") with [[P. Diddy]].<ref name="grammys-r-kelly2"/><ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=exx2IVCnlsQC&q=r.+kelly+tp.2&pg=PA97|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212045012/https://books.google.com/books?id=exx2IVCnlsQC&pg=PA97&dq=r.+kelly+tp.2&hl=en&sa=X&ei=5kEgT_Juo6raBdbziK4P&ved=0CEMQ6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=r.%20kelly%20tp.2&f=false|url-status=dead|title=Your Body's Calling Me: Music, Love, Sex & Money : the Life & Times of "Robert" R. Kelly|first=Jake|last=Brown|date=August 13, 2004|archive-date=December 12, 2013|publisher=Amber Books Publishing|isbn = 9780972751957|via=Google Books}}</ref>

On November 7, 2000, he released his fifth studio album, ''[[TP-2.com]]'', a project aligned with his breakthrough album, ''12 Play''. Unlike ''[[R. (R. Kelly album)|R.]]'', all songs on ''TP-2.com'' were written, arranged, and produced by Kelly. [[AllMusic]]'s Jason Birchmeier gave ''TP-2.com'' 4 stars and stated: "Kelly knows how to take proven formulas and funnel them through his own stylistic aesthetic, which usually means slowing down the tempo, laying on lush choruses of strings and background vocals, taming down the lyrics for radio, and catering his pitch primarily to wistful women.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=o552g5xRRiwC&pg=PA386|title=All Music Guide to Soul: The Definitive Guide to R&B and Soul|isbn=9780879307448|access-date=September 10, 2012|last1=Bogdanov|first1=Vladimir|year=2003|publisher=Hal Leonard Corporation }}</ref>

In 2001, Kelly won the Outstanding Achievement Award at the Music of Black Origin or [[MOBO Awards]] and ''Billboard'' magazine ranked ''TP-2.com'' number 94 on the magazine's Top 200 Albums of the Decade.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/#/charts-decade-end/billboard-200-albums?year=2009&begin=81&order=position|title=Billboard - Music Charts, Music News, Artist Photo Gallery & Free Video|magazine=Billboard|access-date=October 27, 2014}}</ref> Kelly's song, "[[The World's Greatest]]", from the soundtrack to the 2001 autobiographical film, [[Ali (film)|''Ali'']], was a hit.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://newsroom.mtv.com/2010/05/19/r-kelly-world-cup/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120715235931/http://newsroom.mtv.com/2010/05/19/r-kelly-world-cup/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 15, 2012|title=R. Kelly Delivers His World Cup Anthem, Blows Minds|publisher=MTV|date=May 19, 2010|access-date=September 10, 2012}}</ref>

===2002–2003: ''The Best of Both Worlds'' and ''Chocolate Factory''===
{{Main|The Best of Both Worlds (Jay-Z and R. Kelly album)|Chocolate Factory}}
On January 24, 2002, at a press conference announcing the completion of Kelly and Jay-Z's first collaborative album, ''[[The Best of Both Worlds (Jay-Z and R. Kelly album)|The Best of Both Worlds]]'', celebrities such as [[Johnnie Cochran]], [[Russell Simmons]], [[Luther Vandross]], and [[Sean Combs]] praised the album, with Jay-Z stating that he hoped the collaboration represents "more unity for black people on a whole".<ref name="joint LP">{{cite web|last=Reid|first=Shaheem|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1451930/jay-z-r-kelly-hype-joint-lp-with-hash-browns-johnnie-cochran-and-a-pimp/|title=Jay-Z, R. Kelly Hype Joint LP With Hash Browns, Johnnie Cochran And A Pimp|publisher=MTV|date=January 24, 2002|access-date=July 20, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020210182536/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1451930/20020124/story.jhtml|archive-date=February 10, 2002|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[MTV]]'s Shaheem Reid wrote: "And if Jay and Kelly can put their egos to the side long enough to wrap up and promote their album, then their labels—[[Def Jam Recordings|Def Jam]] and Jive, respectively—can surely figure out a way to join forces and make cheddar together."<ref name="joint LP"/>

On February 8, 2002, Kelly performed at the closing ceremony of the [[2002 Winter Olympics]] at the same time a news scandal broke of a sex tape that appeared to show Kelly with an underage girl.<ref>{{Cite news|last=DeRogatis|first=Jim|date=May 2002|title=Tale of the Tape|pages=86–88|work=Spin|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=M4CHp9FEZRgC&pg=PP1|access-date=October 26, 2021}}</ref>

When the joint album leaked on February 22, 2002, it caused Jay-Z and [[Damon Dash]]'s label, Def Jam-distributed [[Roc-A-Fella Records|Roc-A-Fella]], and Jive to modify the album's release date in March.<ref name="autogenerated2">{{cite web|last=Reid|first=Shaheem|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1452773/jayz-shoots-song-cry.jhtml|title=Jay-Z Shoots New Video, Unsure If Clip With R. Kelly Will Come|publisher=MTV|date=March 6, 2002|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020409113726/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1452773/20020306/story.jhtml|archive-date=April 9, 2002|access-date=September 10, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> Jay-Z expressed frustration about the album leak to MTV News: "It's the gift and the curse. It's an honor that everybody wants your music fast, but on the other hand, it's another thing when the music gets out before you [want it to]. Because that's your art. You feel attached to it. You feel a certain way and you want people to go out and support it. The time that you take, it's like a piece of your life. You take parts of your life and you put it on these records and then for it to just be traded and moved around [is frustrating].<ref name="autogenerated2"/> Upon release on March 19, 2002, ''The Best of Both Worlds'' sold 285,000 copies in its opening week and debuted at number two on the ''Billboard'' 200.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Preezy |date=2017-03-28 |title=How Good Was Jay-Z & R. Kelly's 'Best Of Both Worlds' Album? |url=https://www.vibe.com/music/music-news/jayz-rkelly-best-of-both-worlds-album-anniversary-review-499480/ |access-date=2023-02-11 |website=VIBE.com |language=en-US}}</ref> It was a critical and commercial disappointment.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-feb-03-ca-popeye3-story.html |title='Best of Both Worlds' Is One Album Title That May Not Be Hyperbole |work=Los Angeles Times |last=Hochman |first=Steve |date=February 3, 2002 |access-date=January 3, 2022 }}</ref>

In May 2002, Kelly's initial sixth studio album, ''Loveland'', leaked and was delayed for releasing in November.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1454446/new-r-kelly-bootleg-hits-streets.jhtml|title=R. Kelly Vows To Clamp Down As New Bootleg Hits Streets|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020601214814/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1454446/20020521/kelly_r.jhtml|archive-date=June 1, 2002|last=Reid |first=Shaheem|publisher=MTV News|date=May 21, 2002|url-status=dead}}</ref> Kelly restructured the album which was later packaged as a [[Special edition|deluxe edition]] bonus disc of the now-renamed ''[[Chocolate Factory]]''.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bogdanov |first=Vladimir |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=o552g5xRRiwC&dq=r+kelly+loveland+album+chocolate+factory&pg=PA386 |title=All Music Guide to Soul: The Definitive Guide to R&B and Soul |date=2003 |publisher=Hal Leonard Corporation |isbn=978-0-87930-744-8 |pages=386 |language=en}}</ref> In October of that year, Kelly released the [[Ignition (Remix)|remix to its single, "Ignition"]]. It charted at number two on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/the-billboard-hot-100/2003-03-29 |title=The Billboard Hot 100 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=January 3, 2022 |url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-dec-04-et-quick4-story.html |title=R. Kelly's new album out next month |last=Boucher |first=Geoff |work=Los Angeles Times |date=December 4, 2002 |access-date=January 3, 2022 |url-access=subscription}}</ref>

On February 18, 2003, Kelly released the album, ''Chocolate Factory.'' It debuted at number one on the ''Billboard'' 200, ending the first two-week run of rapper [[50 Cent]]'s ''[[Get Rich or Die Tryin']]''.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/r-kelly-bounces-50-cent-180571/ |title=R. Kelly Bounces 50 Cent |magazine=Rolling Stone |last=Dansby |first=Andrew |date=February 26, 2003 |access-date=January 3, 2022 }}</ref> It sold 532,000 copies in its first week.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-rkjelly-timeline-redeye-story,1,1421606.story |title=R. Kelly timeline |work=Chicago Tribune |date=March 18, 2004 |access-date=January 3, 2022 }}</ref> The album was also supported by its follow-up singles, "[[Snake (R. Kelly song)|Snake]]" and the remix of "[[Step in the Name of Love]]"; the latter of which peaked at number nine on the Hot 100. Later that year, in September, Kelly's first [[greatest hits album]], ''[[The R. in R&B Collection, Vol. 1]]'', was released which included "[[Thoia Thoing]]" and two other previously unreleased songs.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-r-in-r-b-collection-vol-1-mw0000692032 |title=The R. in R&B Collection, Vol. 1 Review by Alex Henderson |last=Henderson |first=Alex |website=AllMusic |access-date=January 3, 2022 }}</ref>

===2004–2005: ''Unfinished Business, Happy People/U Saved Me'' and ''TP.3 Reloaded''===
{{Main|Unfinished Business (Jay-Z and R. Kelly album)|Happy People/U Saved Me|TP.3 Reloaded}}
Between mid-2003 and early 2004, Kelly began work on a double CD album, one with "happy" tracks and another with "inspirational" tracks. The double album, ''[[Happy People/U Saved Me]]'', was released on August 24, 2004. It debuted at number two on the ''Billboard'' 200, with first week sales of 264,000 copies.<ref>{{Cite magazine|author=<!--Not stated--> |date=2004-09-01|title=McGraw's 'Live' Powers To No. 1|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/mcgraws-live-powers-to-no-1-66670/|access-date=2021-12-27|magazine=Billboard|language=en-US}}</ref> Both of the album's titled tracks respectively performed underwhelmingly; "Happy People" charted at number twenty-nine on the Adult R&B song chart while "U Saved Me" peaked at number fifty-two on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100.<ref>{{Cite web|title=22 Aug 2004, Page 66 - The Los Angeles Times at Newspapers.com|url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/192813897/|access-date=2021-12-27|website=Newspapers.com|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=R Kelly - Happy People|url=http://www.uncut.co.uk/music/r_kelly/reviews/8457|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517214056/http://www.uncut.co.uk/music/r_kelly/reviews/8457 |archive-date=2008-05-17 |access-date=2021-12-26|website=[[Uncut (magazine)|Uncut]]}}</ref>

Two months later, Kelly and Jay-Z reunited to release their second collaborative album, [[Unfinished Business (Jay-Z and R. Kelly album)|''Unfinished Business'']]. The album received criticism and, as with the pair's previous collaboration, it was also a commercial failure, despite debuting at number one on the ''Billboard'' 200. Album promotion and its ''Best of Both Worlds'' tour were both plagued by tension between the stars, with Kelly reportedly showing up late or not at all to gigs.<ref name="Stewart-2014">{{Cite web|last=Stewart|first=Allison|date=January 2, 2014|title=Jay Z and R. Kelly: Chronicles of a feud|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/ct-xpm-2014-01-02-chi-jay-z-r-kelly-united-center-show-20140102-story.html|access-date=2021-10-03|website=Chicago Tribune|language=en-US}}</ref> Kelly complained that the touring lights were not directed towards him and allegedly assaulted the tour's lighting director.<ref name="Stewart-2014"/>

Jay-Z eventually removed Kelly halfway through the tour, after a member of Jay-Z's entourage [[pepper spray]]ed Kelly<ref>{{Cite web|last=McDermott|first=Maeve|date=June 4, 2019|title='Soulless: The Case Against R. Kelly' reveals singer's abuse, ugly relationship with Jay-Z|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/music/2019/06/04/soulless-case-against-r-kelly-everything-we-learned-jim-derogatis/1339943001/|access-date=2021-10-03|website=USA Today|language=en-US}}</ref> on October 29, 2004.<ref name="Harris-2006">{{Cite web|last=Harris|first=Chris|date=April 25, 2006|title=Jay-Z Associate Pleads Guilty In R. Kelly Pepper-Spray Case|url=https://www.mtv.com/news/1529414/jay-z-associate-pleads-guilty-in-r-kelly-pepper-spray-case/|access-date=2021-10-03|website=MTV News|language=en}}</ref> Tyran "Ty Ty" Smith was charged with assault, but took a plea deal for disorderly conduct.<ref name="Harris-2006"/> Kelly bounced back commercially after appearing on [[Ja Rule]]'s single, "[[Wonderful (Ja Rule song)|Wonderful]]" alongside [[Ashanti (singer)|Ashanti]]. The song charted at number five on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, topped the [[UK Singles Chart]] and went platinum in the summer of 2005.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Ja Rule Featuring R. Kelly & Ashanti - Wonderful|url=https://www.criticjonni.com/2018/01/ja-rule-r-kelly-ashanti-wonderful.html|access-date=2021-12-27|website=Critic Jonni}}</ref>

After finishing ''Happy People/U Saved Me'' and ''Unfinished Business'' in 2004,<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Pareles|first=Jon|date=2004-09-02|title=Happy People/U Saved Me|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/happy-people-u-saved-me-194822/|access-date=2021-10-03|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US}}</ref> Kelly released ''[[TP.3 Reloaded]]'' in July 2005.<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Hoard|first=Christian|date=2005-07-18|title=Tp.3 Reloaded|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/tp-3-reloaded-190877/|access-date=2021-10-03|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US}}</ref> It became Kelly's fifth consecutive number-one album in his career. ''TP.3 Reloaded'' was heavily cross-promoted by the first five chapters of Kelly's musical serial, ''[[Trapped in the Closet]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2005-07-26 |title=R. Kelly: TP.3 Reloaded, PopMatters |url=https://www.popmatters.com/kellyr-tp3reloaded-2495956544.html |access-date=2023-02-11 |website=PopMatters |language=en-US}}</ref>

=== 2006–2009: ''Double Up'' and ''Untitled'', Africa ===
{{Main|Double Up (R. Kelly album)|Untitled (R. Kelly album)}}
In December 2006, Kelly built momentum for his eighth solo studio album, ''[[Double Up (R. Kelly album)|Double Up]]'', after guest-appearing on [[Bow Wow (rapper)|Bow Wow]]'s "[[I'm a Flirt]]".<ref>{{Cite magazine|author=<!--Not stated--> |date=2007-02-23|title=Who's That 'Flirt?': Bow Wow, And R. Kelly, Too|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/whos-that-flirt-bow-wow-and-r-kelly-too-1054522/|access-date=2021-12-27|magazine=Billboard|language=en-US}}</ref> Three months later, Kelly's remix of "I'm a Flirt" was released, but instead of Bow Wow, it featured [[T.I.]] and [[T-Pain]]. On May 29, 2007, the album was released. It became Kelly's sixth and final album in his career to chart at number one on the ''Billboard'' 200.<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Hasty|first=Katie|date=2007-06-06|title=R. Kelly Flirts His Way To No. 1 Album Chart Debut|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/r-kelly-flirts-his-way-to-no-1-album-chart-debut-1051710/|access-date=2021-12-27|magazine=Billboard|language=en-US}}</ref> Kelly's other singles from ''Double Up'' titled "[[Same Girl (R. Kelly and Usher song)|Same Girl]]" was a duet of Kelly and [[Usher (musician)|Usher]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=Now Is Not a Good Time for R. Kelly and Usher to Have a Song Called 'Same Girl'|url=https://www.bet.com/article/rcmcsm/r-kelly-and-usher-fall-victim-to-same-girl-memes|access-date=2021-12-27|website=BET|language=en}}</ref> while "Rise Up" was a tribute to the victims of the [[Virginia Tech shooting]] that occurred earlier that year in April, a month before the album was released.<ref>{{Cite web|title=R. Kelly Writes Song For Virginia Tech|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/r-kelly-writes-song-for-virginia-tech/|access-date=2021-12-27|website=CBS News|date=May 2007 |language=en-US}}</ref> The song was previously released as a digital download on May 15, 2007. Proceeds were donated to the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund to help family members of the victims of the shootings.<ref>{{cite news|last=Lamb|first=Bill|url=http://top40.m/b/a/209075.htm|title=R. Kelly Records "Rise Up"&nbsp;–n Anthem for Healing in Aftermath o|date=May 4, 2007|access-date=May 9, 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20110725045657/http://top40./a/209075.htm|archive-date=July 25, 2011}}</ref>

Kelly began his ''Double Up'' tour with [[Ne-Yo]], [[Keyshia Cole]] and [[J. Holiday]] opening for him. One week into the tour, promoter Leonard Rowe had Ne-Yo removed from the tour because of a contract dispute. However, Ne-Yo alleges that the reason for the dropout was because Ne-Yo believes he received a better response from critics and fans.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Concepcion |first=Mariel |date=2007-11-20 |title=Ne-Yo Dropped From R. Kelly Tour |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/ne-yo-dropped-from-r-kelly-tour-1047256/ |access-date=2023-02-11 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}</ref> Ne-Yo won a lawsuit that he filed against Rowe Entertainment in 2008.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Vena |first=Jocelyn |date=September 8, 2008 |title=Ne-Yo Wins $700,000 In Lawsuit Against R. Kelly Tour Promoter |url=https://www.mtv.com/news/kxetrl/ne-yo-wins-700000-in-lawsuit-against-r-kelly-tour-promoter |access-date=2023-02-11 |website=MTV |language=en}}</ref> Kelly was not mentioned in the lawsuit. In December 2007, Kelly failed to appear at another preliminary court hearing on his case due to his tour bus being held up in Utah.<ref>{{cite web|last=Orzeck|first=Kurt|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1576840/r-kelly-arrest-warrant-issued-over-missed-court-date.jhtml|title=R. Kelly Arrest Warrant Issued Over Missed Court Date|publisher=MTV|date=December 19, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071221053706/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1576840/20071219/kelly_r.jhtml|archive-date=December 21, 2007|access-date=August 5, 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> The judge threatened to revoke Kelly's bond, but eventually decided against it. In 2008, Kelly released a rap track titled "I'm a Beast" in which he coarsely attacked his detractors, yet did not name the subjects of the song.<ref>{{cite web|last=Reid|first=Shaheem|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1582758/20080304/kelly_r.jhtml|title=R. Kelly's New Dis Track: Is He Lashing Out At Jay-Z, Ne-Yo Or Young Jeezy?|publisher=MTV|date=March 4, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080305194138/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1582758/20080304/kelly_r.jhtml|archive-date=March 5, 2008|access-date=August 5, 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2008, before and after being acquitted on charges of producing child sexual abuse material, ''Billboard'' reported that Kelly had plans to release his newest album titled ''12 Play: Fourth Quarter'' in the summer of that year but the album was postponed. ''Billboard'' named Kelly among the most successful artists ever for its 50th Anniversary List.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/bbcom/specials/hot100/charts/top100-artists-80.shtml|title=Billboard Hot 100 Chart 50th Anniversary|magazine=Billboard|access-date=August 5, 2009|archive-date=May 25, 2012|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120525113840/http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/specials/hot100/charts/top100-artists-80.shtml|url-status=dead}}</ref> In the spring, the promotional single "[[Hair Braider]]", peaked at No. 56 on ''Billboard''<nowiki/>'s R&B chart. On July 28, the entire album leaked online, causing the title to be scrapped.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/r-kelly/38519| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/https://www.nme.com/news/r-kelly/38519| archive-date=2021-09-28|title=Entire R Kelly album leaks online |work=NME|date=July 29, 2008|access-date=August 5, 2009}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

In February 2009, Kelly announced that he was working on a new album called ''[[Untitled (R. Kelly album)|Untitled]]''<ref>{{cite web|last=Reid|first=Shaheem|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1604777/20090210/kelly_r.jhtml|title=R. Kelly Reveals New Album Will Be Called Untitled|publisher=MTV|date=February 10, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090717111825/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1604777/20090210/kelly_r.jhtml|archive-date=July 17, 2009|access-date=August 5, 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> with a projected release date of September 29, but it had been delayed to December.<ref>{{cite web|author=Singersroom.com|url=http://singersroom.com/news/3978/R-Kelly-Eying-Busy-September-For-Untitled-Album-| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/http://singersroom.com/news/3978/R-Kelly-Eying-Busy-September-For-Untitled-Album-| archive-date=2021-09-28|title=R Kelly Eying Busy September For 'Untitled' Album ?|date=June 11, 2009|publisher=Singersroom.com|access-date=August 5, 2009}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In June 2009, he released his first [[mixtape]], ''[[The "Demo" Tape]],'' presented by [[DJ Skee]] and [[DJ Drama]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Reid|first=Shaheem|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1613052/20090601/kelly_r.jhtml|title=R. Kelly Remixes Lil Wayne, The-Dream, Drake For His First Mixtape|publisher=MTV News|date=June 2, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090605141822/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1613052/20090601/kelly_r.jhtml|archive-date=June 5, 2009|access-date=August 5, 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Kelly headlined the Arise African Fashion Awards in [[Johannesburg]], South Africa, on June 20, 2009.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/article/r-kelly-to-make-african-debut_1106618| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/http://www.contactmusic.com/news.nsf/article/r-kelly-to-make-african-debut_1106618| archive-date=2021-09-28|title=R. Kelly To Make African Debut&nbsp;– Contactmusic News|magazine=Contactmusic.com|access-date=August 5, 2009}}{{cbignore}}</ref> He performed in [[Cape Town]], followed by Nigeria as part of the annual ThisDay music and fashion festival in July. That same month, he released "[[Number One (R. Kelly song)|Number One]]", featuring singer-songwriter [[Keri Hilson]]. Then, on December 1, Kelly's untitled ninth solo album was released.<ref>{{Cite web|title=R. Kelly: Untitled|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/13790-untitled/|access-date=2021-12-27|website=Pitchfork|language=en}}</ref> It charted on the ''Billboard'' 200 at number four.<ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Caulfield|first=Keith|date=2009-12-09|title=Boyle's 'Dream' Continues At No. 1 On Billboard 200|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/boyles-dream-continues-at-no-1-on-billboard-200-266446/|access-date=2021-12-27|magazine=Billboard|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Kaufman|first=Gil|title=Susan Boyle's Dream Holds On To Billboard #1|url=https://www.mtv.com/news/1627906/susan-boyles-dream-holds-on-to-billboard-1/|access-date=2021-12-27|website=MTV News|language=en}}</ref> More singles from the album include "[[Echo (R. Kelly song)|Echo]]", "[[Supaman High]]" and "Be My #2". In January 2010, Kelly performed in Kampala, Uganda. "I'm very excited about my first visit to Africa, I've dreamed about this for a long time and it's finally here", Kelly said in a statement. "It will be one of the highlights of not only my career but my life. I can't wait to perform in front of my fans in Africa—who have been some of the best in the world."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eurweb.com/story/eur53958.cfm|title=R. Kelly in the Motherland: Singer due in Johannesburg this week for Fashion Awards gig; will kick off international string of concert dates|publisher=EURweb.com|date=June 15, 2009|access-date=August 5, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090721054202/http://www.eurweb.com/story/eur53958.cfm|archive-date=July 21, 2009}}</ref>

===2010–2012: ''Epic'', ''Love Letter'', throat surgery, and ''Write Me Back''===
{{Main|Epic (R. Kelly album)|Love Letter (R. Kelly album)|Write Me Back}}
Kelly performed at the [[2010 FIFA World Cup opening ceremony]] on June 11, 2010.<ref>{{cite magazine|author=R. Kelly|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/957819/r-kelly-kicks-off-world-cup-in-south-africa| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/957819/r-kelly-kicks-off-world-cup-in-south-africa| archive-date=2021-09-28|title=R. Kelly Kicks Off World Cup In South Africa|magazine=Billboard|date=September 14, 2009|access-date=July 8, 2010}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In an interview in the September 2010 issue of ''[[XXL (magazine)|XXL]]'' magazine, Kelly said he was working on three new albums (''[[Epic (R. Kelly album)|Epic]]'', ''[[Love Letter (R. Kelly album)|Love Letter]]'', and ''Zodiac'') which he described as "remixing himself".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://youheardthatnew.com/2010/08/r-kelly-on-being-happy-with-current-state-of-rb-in-some-ways-yes-and-in-some-ways-no/|title=R.Kelly On Being Happy With Current State Of R&B: "In Some Ways Yes And In Some Ways No"|work=youheardthatnew|access-date=January 14, 2012|date=January 13, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130625134045/http://youheardthatnew.com/2010/08/r-kelly-on-being-happy-with-current-state-of-rb-in-some-ways-yes-and-in-some-ways-no/|archive-date=June 25, 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> ''Epic'', a compilation filled with powerful ballads including "[[The World's Greatest]]" and "[[Sign of a Victory]]", only saw a European release on September 21, 2010.<ref>{{Cite web|title=R. Kelly: Epic|url=https://towerrecords.com/products/r-kelly-epic|access-date=2021-12-27|website=Tower Records|language=en}}</ref> However, it is also available for streaming worldwide.<ref>{{Citation|title=Epic|date=2010-09-10|url=https://open.spotify.com/album/7FK4BmsUI4cmUCsOso0X87|language=en|access-date=2021-12-27}}</ref>

In November 2010, Kelly collaborated with several African musicians forming a supergroup known as One8. The group featured [[2face Idibia|2Face]] from Nigeria, [[Ali Kiba]] from Tanzania, [[Democratic Republic of the Congo|Congolese]] singer [[Fally Ipupa]], 4X4 from Ghana, hip-hop artist Movaizhaleine from Gabon, Zambia's [[Jordan Katembula|JK]], Ugandan hip-hop star Navio and Kenya's [[Amani (musician)|Amani]], the only female in the group. The first release from the group was "Hands Across the World" written and produced by Kelly.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rnbmusicblog.com/hands-across-the-world-video-one8-r-kelly/17936/|title=Hands Across The World Video&nbsp;— ONE8 w R. Kelly|publisher=Rnbmusicblog.com|date=November 19, 2010|access-date=February 20, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101126200051/http://www.rnbmusicblog.com/hands-across-the-world-video-one8-r-kelly/17936/|archive-date=November 26, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/industry/e3i02240e53d2361c7112b6f6d8d0923e65|title=R. Kelly Backs African Supergroup|magazine=Billboard|access-date=February 20, 2011|archive-date=November 23, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101123192609/http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/industry/e3i02240e53d2361c7112b6f6d8d0923e65|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Kelly's tenth album ''[[Love Letter (R. Kelly album)|Love Letter]]'', released on December 14, 2010, included 15 songs, one of which was Kelly singing "[[You Are Not Alone]]", a track Kelly originally wrote for [[Michael Jackson]]. The first single "When a Woman Loves" was nominated for a Grammy for Best Traditional R&B Vocal Performance at the [[53rd Annual Grammy Awards]].<ref name="grammys-r-kelly2"/>

At the [[53rd Annual Grammy Awards|2011 Pre-Grammy Gala]] in Los Angeles, Kelly performed a medley of hits, and, in March 2011, Kelly was named the No. 1 R&B artist of the last 25 years by ''Billboard''.<ref>[https://www.usatoday.com/life/music/awards/grammys/2011-02-13-pregrammyparty_N.htm Celebs turn out for Pre-Grammy Gala]. ''USA Today''</ref><ref name="Up for Discussion Jump to Forums"/>

On July 19, 2011, Kelly was admitted to the Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago to undergo emergency throat surgery to drain an abscess on one of his tonsils, and was released on July 21, 2011.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/469146/r-kelly-released-from-hospital-after-throat-surgery| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/469146/r-kelly-released-from-hospital-after-throat-surgery| archive-date=2021-09-28|title=R. Kelly Released From Hospital After Throat Surgery|magazine=Billboard|date=September 14, 2009|access-date=September 10, 2012}}{{cbignore}}</ref> He canceled his performance at the Reggae Sumfest in Jamaica that was scheduled for the following Friday. Johnny Gourzong, Sumfest Productions executive director, commented, "We are truly going to miss his presence on the festival."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20110721/ent/ent1.html| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/http://jamaica-gleaner.com/gleaner/20110721/ent/ent1.html| archive-date=2021-09-28|title=R. Kelly grounded – Artiste's no-show sends Sumfest organisers on global search for replacement|publisher=Jamaica-gleaner.com|date=July 21, 2011|access-date=September 10, 2012}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/news/article/0,,9041886,00.html| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/http://www.artistdirect.com/nad/news/article/0,,9041886,00.html| archive-date=2021-09-28|title=R. Kelly Undergoes Emergency Throat Surgery|publisher=Artistdirect.com|access-date=September 10, 2012}}{{cbignore}}</ref> On September 23, 2011, ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' confirmed that Kelly had signed on to write original music for the ''[[Sparkle (2012 film)|Sparkle]]'' soundtrack.<ref>[https://www.variety.com/article/VR1118043361 Cee-Lo Green joins 'Sparkle' cast]. ''Variety (magazine)''</ref>

In 2011, Kelly worked with writer [[David Ritz]] on an autobiography entitled ''[[Soulacoaster|Soulacoaster: The Diary of Me]]'', which was later released in the summer of 2012.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Chandler|first=D. L.|title=R. Kelly's 'Soula Coaster' Memoir Delayed Until Spring|url=https://www.mtv.com/news/2496374/r-kelly-releasing-memoir-soula-coaster-next-spring/|access-date=2021-10-03|website=MTV News|language=en}}</ref>

On October 7, 2011, after [[Sony]]'s [[RCA Music Group]] announced the consolidation of [[Jive Records|Jive]], [[Arista Records|Arista]] and [[J Records]] into [[RCA Records]],<ref>{{Cite news|last=Nation|first=Urban Radio|title=RCA shuts down the famous Jive, J Records and Arista Imprints|url=http://www.urbanradionation.com/2011/10/rca-shuts-down-famous-jive-j-records.html|access-date=2021-12-27|newspaper=Urban Radio Nation &#124; R&B, Hip Hop, Black Radio, Media, Sports, Podcasts Information Format News|archive-date=December 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211227060124/http://www.urbanradionation.com/2011/10/rca-shuts-down-famous-jive-j-records.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Halperin|first=Shirley|date=2011-10-07|title=RCA Execs Confirm Jive and Arista Labels Shut Down|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/rca-execs-confirm-jive-arista-245392/|access-date=2021-12-27|website=The Hollywood Reporter|language=en-US}}</ref> Kelly was set to release music under the RCA brand.<ref>Christman, Ed. (August 23, 2011) [http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/industry/record-labels/rca-s-new-executive-team-named-under-ceo-1005324782.story RCA's New Executive Team Named Under CEO Peter Edge Amid Layoffs (Update)]</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.fmqb.com/article.asp?id=2268707|title=Radio Industry News, Music Industry Updates, Arbitron Ratings, Music News and more!|magazine=FMQB|access-date=September 10, 2012|archive-date=November 8, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111108044953/http://www.fmqb.com/article.asp?id=2268707|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Following his throat surgery, Kelly released "[[Shut Up (R. Kelly song)|Shut Up]]" to generally favorable reviews: ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]'' magazine said, "Kelly taking aim at the haters who said "he's washed up, he's lost it." He hasn't. Dude's voice is in prime smooth R&B form".<ref>[https://www.spin.com/2011/11/r-kelly-croons-about-tonsil-surgery-new-track/ R. Kelly Croons About Tonsil Surgery in New Track] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180405215827/https://www.spin.com/2011/11/r-kelly-croons-about-tonsil-surgery-new-track/ |date=April 5, 2018 }}. ''Spin''</ref> On December 21, 2011, Kelly made a live appearance on ''[[The X Factor (U.S.)|The X Factor]]'' and gave his first performance after the surgery. Kelly revealed to ''Rolling Stone'' that he felt like he was "just starting out" and how the performance was a "wake up call" for him.<ref>[https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/r-kelly-there-is-no-end-to-trapped-in-the-closet-20111222 R. Kelly: 'There Is No End' to 'Trapped in the Closet'] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170620005014/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/r-kelly-there-is-no-end-to-trapped-in-the-closet-20111222 |date=June 20, 2017 }}. ''Rolling Stone (magazine)''</ref>

In 2012, Kelly made a series of announcements including a follow-up to the ''Love Letter'' album titled ''[[Write Me Back]]'', which was released on June 26 to little fanfare,<ref>{{Citation|title=Write Me Back by R. Kelly|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/write-me-back/r-kelly|language=en|access-date=2021-12-27}}</ref> as well as a third installment of ''[[Trapped in the Closet]]''<ref>{{Citation|last1=Kelly|first1=R.|title=Trapped in the Closet: Chapters 23-33|date=2012-11-22|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2526856/|type=Comedy, Crime, Drama|publisher=Fuzzy Bunny Films (I), RCA Records, Sylvester Films|access-date=2021-12-27|last2=Swaffield|first2=Jim}}</ref> and The Single Ladies Tour featuring R&B singer, [[Tamia]].<ref>{{cite web|date=August 31, 2012|title=To All Of The Single Ladies!|url=http://www.r-kelly.com/news/all-single-ladies| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/http://www.r-kelly.com/news/all-single-ladies| archive-date=2021-09-28|access-date=December 11, 2015|publisher=R-Kelly}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>[http://rkellynews.blogspot.com/2012/01/new-r-kelly-interview-with-jojo-of.html New R. Kelly interview with JoJo of V101.5 ]. R. Kelly News {{dead link|date=May 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ifc.com/fix/2012/03/trapped-in-the-closet-announcement|title=Coming Soon to IFC: R. Kelly's "Trapped in the Closet: The Next Installment"|publisher=IFC|access-date=December 11, 2015|archive-date=October 16, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151016092152/http://www.ifc.com/fix/2012/03/trapped-in-the-closet-announcement|url-status=dead}}</ref> In February 2012, Kelly performed "[[I Look to You (song)|I Look to You]]", a song he wrote for [[Whitney Houston]], at Houston's [[homegoing]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Kleinman|first=Jacob|title=Whitney Houston Funeral: R. Kelly Sings Soulful Rendition of 'I Look To You'|url=http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/300964/20120218/whitney-houston-funeral-death-rkelly-songs-look.htm| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/300964/20120218/whitney-houston-funeral-death-rkelly-songs-look.htm| archive-date=2021-09-28|access-date=February 19, 2012|work=International Business Times|date=February 18, 2012}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

===2013–2017: ''Black Panties'', ''The Buffet'', and ''12 Nights of Christmas''===
{{Main|Black Panties|The Buffet (R. Kelly album)|12 Nights of Christmas}}
During 2013, Kelly continued his "The Single Ladies Tour". He performed at music festivals across North America, including [[Bonnaroo Music Festival|Bonnaroo]], [[Pitchfork Music Festival|Pitchfork]], and Macy's Music Festival. On June 30, 2013, R. Kelly performed live at [[BET Awards 2013|BET Awards Show]] singing hits as well as his new track "[[My Story (R. Kelly song)|My Story]]" featuring Atlanta rapper [[2 Chainz]]. The song was the lead single for Kelly's twelfth studio album ''[[Black Panties]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/r-kelly-announces-new-single-with-2-chainz-reveals-artwork-news.6585.html| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/http://www.hotnewhiphop.com/r-kelly-announces-new-single-with-2-chainz-reveals-artwork-news.6585.html| archive-date=2021-09-28|title=R. Kelly Announces New Single With 2 Chainz, Reveals Artwork| date=July 26, 2013|publisher=Hotnewhiphop.com|access-date=December 10, 2013}}{{cbignore}}</ref> released on December 10, 2013.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vibe.com/photo-gallery/lots-black-panties-r-kellys-black-panties-cover| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/http://www.vibe.com/photo-gallery/lots-black-panties-r-kellys-black-panties-cover| archive-date=2021-09-28|title=Lots of Black Panties On R. Kelly's 'Black Panties' Cover + Tracklist|work=Vibe|date=November 19, 2013|access-date=December 10, 2013}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Writing for [[New York (magazine)|''New York'' magazine]], David Marchese stated that Black Panties "was like a dare to the world: After all that he'd been accused of, after avoiding conviction, could R. Kelly still get away with making sex-obsessed music?"<ref name="Marchese 2016"/>

In 2013, Kelly collaborated with several artists including [[Celine Dion]], [[Mariah Carey]],<ref name="Digital Spy"/> [[Mary J. Blige]],<ref>{{cite web|date=October 24, 2013|title=Exclusive: Mary J.Blige Set To Duet With R.Kelly On Next Album|url=http://ratedrnb.com/2013/10/24/exclusive-mary-j-blige-set-duet-r-kelly-next-album/| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/http://ratedrnb.com/2013/10/24/exclusive-mary-j-blige-set-duet-r-kelly-next-album/| archive-date=2021-09-28|access-date=January 23, 2014|publisher=Ratedrnb.com}}{{cbignore}}</ref> and [[Jennifer Hudson]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Lewis|first=Brittany|date=November 15, 2013|title=The Night I Received Black Panties From R. Kelly by Brittany Lewis|url=http://globalgrind.com/2013/11/15/the-night-i-received-black-panties-from-r-kelly-brittany-lewis/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219164917/http://globalgrind.com/2013/11/15/the-night-i-received-black-panties-from-r-kelly-brittany-lewis/|archive-date=December 19, 2013|access-date=January 23, 2014|publisher=Global Grind}}</ref> In an interview with ''Global Grind'' in November, he described follow up work with Celine Dion after their number one single "[[I'm Your Angel]]" from 1998.<ref>{{cite web|last=Lewis|first=Brittany|url=http://globalgrind.com/2013/11/15/r-kelly-interview-video-ignition-remix-national-anthem-petition-childhood-new-collaboration-with-celine-dion/| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/http://globalgrind.com/2013/11/15/r-kelly-interview-video-ignition-remix-national-anthem-petition-childhood-new-collaboration-with-celine-dion/| archive-date=2021-09-28|title=R. Kelly Discusses The "Ignition (Remix)" National Anthem Petition, His Childhood, & New Collaboration With Celine Dion (VIDEO)|publisher=Global Grind|date=November 15, 2013|access-date=December 10, 2013}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Kelly worked with singer Mariah Carey for her album "[[The Art of Letting Go]]".<ref name="Digital Spy">{{cite web|url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a409177/mariah-carey-records-duet-with-r-kelly.html| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/news/a409177/mariah-carey-records-duet-with-r-kelly.html| archive-date=2021-09-28|title=Mariah Carey records duet with R Kelly - Music News|work=Digital Spy|date=September 30, 2012|access-date=December 10, 2013}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Kelly co-wrote and sang on [[Lady Gaga]]'s song "[[Do What U Want]]" from her 2013 album ''[[Artpop]]'', performing the duet with her on ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'' on November 16, 2013,<ref>{{cite web|title=Lady Gaga and R. Kelly Perform 'Do What U Want' on 'SNL'|url=http://www.rap-up.com/2013/11/16/video-lady-gaga-and-r-kelly-perform-do-what-u-want-on-snl/| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/http://www.rap-up.com/2013/11/16/video-lady-gaga-and-r-kelly-perform-do-what-u-want-on-snl/| archive-date=2021-09-28|work=[[Rap-Up]]|publisher=Rap-Up, LLC|access-date=November 18, 2013}}{{cbignore}}</ref> and at the 2013 [[American Music Awards]].<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Lipshutz|first=Jason|title=Lady Gaga, R. Kelly To Perform 'Do What U Want' At American Music Awards|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop-shop/5785874/lady-gaga-r-kelly-to-perform-do-what-u-want-at-american-music| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop-shop/5785874/lady-gaga-r-kelly-to-perform-do-what-u-want-at-american-music| archive-date=2021-09-28|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|access-date=November 18, 2013|date=November 12, 2013}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref name="Marchese 2016"/> "Do What U Want" had since been removed from streaming services and re-releases of Gaga's ''Artpop'' album following sexual misconduct allegations against Kelly in early 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2019-10-15|title=Lady Gaga removes R. Kelly collaboration "Do What U Want" from ARTPOP reissue|url=https://consequence.net/2019/10/lady-gaga-removes-rkelly-do-what-u-want-artpop/|access-date=2021-12-27|website=Consequence|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Trepany|first=Charles|title=Lady Gaga removes R. Kelly song from 'Artpop,' will reportedly release new vinyl copies|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2019/10/17/lady-gaga-removes-r-kelly-song-artpop-new-vinyl/4011567002/|access-date=2021-12-27|website=USA Today|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine|last=Caulfield|first=Keith|date=2019-01-11|title=Lady Gaga's 'Do What U Want' Featuring R. Kelly Removed from Apple Music, iTunes, Spotify|url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/lady-gaga-do-what-u-want-r-kelly-removed/|access-date=2021-12-27|magazine=Billboard|language=en-US}}</ref> He also collaborated with [[Birdman (entertainer)|Birdman]] and [[Lil Wayne]] on "We Been On", a single from the [[Cash Money Records]] compilation, [[Rich Gang (album)|''Rich Gang'']]. He also appeared on [[Twista]]'s first single on his new album "Dark Horse".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/04/we-been-on-video-rich-gang-lil-wayne-r-kelly_n_3865247.html| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/04/we-been-on-video-rich-gang-lil-wayne-r-kelly_n_3865247.html| archive-date=2021-09-28|title='We Been On' Video Has Rich Gang Getting Down With Lil Wayne And R. Kelly|work=HuffPost|access-date=December 10, 2013|first=Madeline|last=Boardman|date=September 4, 2013}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rap-up.com/2013/04/23/new-music-twista-f-r-kelly-throwin-my-money/| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/http://www.rap-up.com/2013/04/23/new-music-twista-f-r-kelly-throwin-my-money/| archive-date=2021-09-28|title=New Music: Twista f/ R. Kelly – 'Throwin My Money'|publisher=Rap-Up.com|date=April 23, 2013|access-date=December 10, 2013}}{{cbignore}}</ref> On November 17, 2013, Kelly and [[Justin Bieber]] debuted a collaboration entitled "[[PYD (song)|PYD]]".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vibe.com/article/justin-bieber-reveals-cover-art-r-kelly-collaboration-pyd| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/http://www.vibe.com/article/justin-bieber-reveals-cover-art-r-kelly-collaboration-pyd| archive-date=2021-09-28|title=Justin Bieber Reveals Cover Art For R. Kelly Collaboration, 'PYD'|work=Vibe|date=November 16, 2013|access-date=December 10, 2013}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rap-up.com/2013/12/09/rap-up-tv-r-kelly-talks-justin-bieber-lady-gaga-bruno-mars/| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/http://www.rap-up.com/2013/12/09/rap-up-tv-r-kelly-talks-justin-bieber-lady-gaga-bruno-mars/| archive-date=2021-09-28|title=RapUp TV: R. Kelly Talks Justin Bieber, Lady Gaga, & Bruno Mars|publisher=Rap-Up.com|access-date=January 23, 2014}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Kelly was featured on the soundtrack album of the film ''[[The Best Man Holiday]]'' with his song "[[Happy People (R. Kelly song)|Christmas, I'll Be Steppin']]".<ref>{{cite web|title='The Best Man Holiday' Soundtrack Details|url=http://filmmusicreporter.com/2013/10/04/the-best-man-holiday-soundtrack-details/| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/http://filmmusicreporter.com/2013/10/04/the-best-man-holiday-soundtrack-details/| archive-date=2021-09-28|work=Film Music Reporter|access-date=November 18, 2013|date=October 4, 2013}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Kelly stated his intention to tour with R&B singer Mary J. Blige on "The King & Queen Tour" prior to the [[Black Panties|Black Panties Tour]] while continuing to create segments of the [[hip hopera]] ''[[Trapped in the Closet]]''.<ref>{{cite magazine|author=Kory Grow|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/r-kelly-continues-the-trapped-in-the-closet-saga-20131204| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/r-kelly-continues-the-trapped-in-the-closet-saga-20131204| archive-date=2021-09-28|title=R. Kelly Continues 'Trapped in the Closet' With New Chapters {{pipe}} Music News|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=December 4, 2013|access-date=January 23, 2014}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

In July 2014, Kelly announced that he was working on a [[house music]] album.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/r-kelly-to-release-house-music-album-20140715| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/r-kelly-to-release-house-music-album-20140715| archive-date=2021-09-28|title=R. Kelly to Release House Music Album|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=July 15, 2014|access-date=September 10, 2014}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

In November 2015, Kelly released "[[Switch Up (R. Kelly song)|Switch Up]]" featuring fellow Chicagoan [[Jeremih]] and [[Lil Wayne]], followed by "[[Wake Up Everybody (R. Kelly song)|Wake Up Everybody]]", "[[Marching Band (R. Kelly song)|Marching Band]]" and "[[Backyard Party]]". The following month, the album containing those singles, ''[[The Buffet]]'', was released. It charted poorly on the ''Billboard'' 200 at number sixteen with first-week sales of 39,000 album-equivalent copies.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2015-12-21|title=Hip Hop Album Sales: August Alsina, R. Kelly & Rick Ross|url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.36727/title.hip-hop-album-sales-august-alsina-r-kelly-rick-ross|access-date=2021-12-27|website=HipHopDX}}</ref> During November 2015, R. Kelly released a song with [[Ty Dolla $ign]] called "Actress" off the album [[Free TC]].

The following year, after a two-and-a-half-year delay, Kelly presented his only Christmas album, also his fourteenth and final studio album in his career thus far, ''[[12 Nights of Christmas]]'', which was released on October 21, 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.xxlmag.com/news/2016/10/r-kellys-album-12-nights-of-christmas/| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/https://www.xxlmag.com/news/2016/10/r-kellys-album-12-nights-of-christmas/| archive-date=2021-09-28|title=Listen to R. Kelly's New Album '12 Nights of Christmas' |last=Ivey|first=Justin|date=October 21, 2016|website=XXL Mag|language=en|access-date=June 11, 2019}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

=== 2017–2022: Guest appearances, "I Admit" ===
{{Main|I Admit (R. Kelly song)}}
On March 17, [[Pitbull (rapper)|Pitbull]] released the song "Dedicated" off his album [[Climate Change (album)|Climate Change]] and features guest appearances from American singers R. Kelly and [[Austin Mahone]].

Kelly released the 19-minute-long "[[I Admit (R. Kelly song)|I Admit]]" on [[SoundCloud]] on July 23, 2018, as a response to his accusers.<ref name="Pitchfork I Admit">{{cite web |last1=Sodomsky |first1=Sam |last2=Strauss |first2=Matthew |date=July 23, 2018 |title=R. Kelly Addresses Sex Cult Allegations, Spotify Policy in 19-Minute New Song |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/r-kelly-addresses-sex-cult-allegations-spotify-policy-in-19-minute-new-song/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/https://pitchfork.com/news/r-kelly-addresses-sex-cult-allegations-spotify-policy-in-19-minute-new-song/ |archive-date=2021-09-28 |access-date=January 9, 2019 |work=Pitchfork}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref name="BBC I Admit">{{cite web |date=July 23, 2018 |title=R Kelly: 'I Admit' released against sex allegations |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-44929744 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-44929744 |archive-date=2021-09-28 |access-date=January 9, 2019 |publisher=BBC}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The song does not contain any [[Admission (law)|criminal admissions]] despite its title and [[Refrain|chorus]], which [[Repetition (music)|repeats]] the lyric "I admit it, I did it".<ref>{{cite news |last=Gajanan |first=Mahita |date=July 23, 2018 |title=A Defense Attorney Listened to R. Kelly's 19-Minute Song 'I Admit.' This Is What She Thinks |magazine=Time |url=http://time.com/5346369/r-kelly-i-admit-defense-attorney/ |access-date=January 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/http://time.com/5346369/r-kelly-i-admit-defense-attorney/ |archive-date=2021-09-28}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref name="Broadly I Admit">{{cite web |last1=Ettachfini |first1=Leila |last2=Burke |first2=Sarah |date=July 24, 2018 |title=R. Kelly's Victimhood Doesn't Excuse His Alleged Sexual Misconduct |url=https://broadly.vice.com/en_us/article/qvmvg7/r-kelly-i-admit-sexual-assault-abuse-victim |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/https://broadly.vice.com/en_us/article/qvmvg7/r-kelly-i-admit-sexual-assault-abuse-victim |archive-date=2021-09-28 |access-date=January 9, 2019 |website=Broadly}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In "I Admit", Kelly denies allegations of [[domestic violence]] and [[pedophilia]], asserting that they are matters of opinion.<ref name="Broadly I Admit" /> Kelly also denounces [[Jim DeRogatis]] and repudiates his investigative report's claim of Kelly operating a "[[sex cult]]".<ref name="Pitchfork I Admit" /> Addressing the [[Mute R. Kelly]] [[social media]] campaign, Kelly sings, "only God can mute me".<ref>{{cite web |last=Snapes |first=Laura |date=July 23, 2018 |title=R Kelly denies sexual abuse allegations in 19-minute song I Admit |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/jul/23/r-kelly-denies-sexual-abuse-allegations-in-19-minute-song-i-admit |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/jul/23/r-kelly-denies-sexual-abuse-allegations-in-19-minute-song-i-admit |archive-date=2021-09-28 |access-date=January 9, 2019 |website=The Guardian}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref name="cnn">{{cite news |last=Ellefson |first=Lindsey |date=July 23, 2018 |title=R. Kelly answers his critics with a 19-minute song, 'I Admit' |work=CNN |url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/23/entertainment/r-kelly-i-admit-song-trnd/index.html |access-date=January 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/23/entertainment/r-kelly-i-admit-song-trnd/index.html |archive-date=2021-09-28}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

The song was criticized by reviewers, who described it as an act of [[trolling]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Johnson |first1=Kevin C. |date=August 12, 2018 |title=Muting R. Kelly: Our music critic is finished with the Pied Piper of R&B |url=https://www.stltoday.com/entertainment/music/kevin-johnson/muting-r-kelly-our-music-critic-is-finished-with-the/article_f0a8f675-17dc-5dc1-b2f5-ebe10e3bd51c.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/https://www.stltoday.com/entertainment/music/kevin-johnson/muting-r-kelly-our-music-critic-is-finished-with-the/article_f0a8f675-17dc-5dc1-b2f5-ebe10e3bd51c.html |archive-date=2021-09-28 |access-date=January 9, 2019 |website=St. Louis Post-Dispatch}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Williams |first1=Stereo |date=July 23, 2018 |title=R. Kelly's Delusional Response to Sex Cult Allegations in 'I Admit': I'm the Victim Here |website=The Daily Beast |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/r-kellys-delusional-response-to-sex-cult-allegations-in-i-admit-im-the-victim-here |access-date=January 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/https://www.thedailybeast.com/r-kellys-delusional-response-to-sex-cult-allegations-in-i-admit-im-the-victim-here |archive-date=2021-09-28}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Many outlets compared the song to that of his "[[Heaven I Need a Hug]]" extended version, ''[[Trapped in the Closet]]'' opera, "[[I Believe I Can Fly]]" concert remix, and [[O. J. Simpson]]'s autobiographical novel ''[[If I Did It]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-07-23 |title=In R. Kelly's New Song, He Admits to Nothing |url=https://www.vogue.com/article/r-kelly-i-admit-abuse-allegations-new-song |access-date=2022-05-16 |website=Vogue |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lockett |first=Dee |date=2018-07-23 |title=The 8 Worst Lines on R. Kelly's 19-Minute New Song 'I Admit' |url=https://www.vulture.com/2018/07/r-kellys-19-minute-new-song-the-worst-things-on-i-admit.html |access-date=2022-05-16 |website=Vulture |language=en-us}}</ref> Andrea Kelly and Carey Killa Kelly (R. Kelly's ex-wife and brother, respectively) responded to "I Admit" with songs that contain additional allegations against R. Kelly.<ref>{{cite web |last=Scott |first=Katie |date=July 25, 2018 |title=R. Kelly's ex-wife responds to song 'I Admit' with her own remix |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/4352181/r-kelly-ex-wife-i-admit-remix/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/https://globalnews.ca/news/4352181/r-kelly-ex-wife-i-admit-remix/ |archive-date=2021-09-28 |access-date=January 9, 2019 |website=Globalnews.ca}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref name="The Source">{{cite web |last1=Grant |first1=Shawn |date=August 8, 2018 |title=R. Kelly's Brother Blasts Singer in New 'I Confess' Single |url=http://thesource.com/2018/08/08/r-kelly-brother-i-confess/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/http://thesource.com/2018/08/08/r-kelly-brother-i-confess/ |archive-date=2021-09-28 |access-date=January 9, 2019 |website=[[The Source]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

An album credited to Kelly titled ''I Admit It'' after and including the 19-minute song from 2018 was released on streaming services on December 9, 2022, but was taken down after it was not approved by Sony or R. Kelly's team. The album was credited to Sony's [[Legacy Recordings]] but actually uploaded by [[Real Talk Entertainment]], who had released the album through a sub-label also named Legacy Recordings. This resulted in the credited distributor, [[Universal Music Group]]-owned [[Ingrooves]], cutting ties with Real Talk Entertainment.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Mamo |first=Heran |date=December 9, 2022 |title=Here's How a New R. Kelly Album Got Uploaded to Streaming Services |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/r-kelly-new-album-streaming-how-did-it-get-there/ |access-date=December 10, 2022 |magazine=Billboard}}</ref>

== Artistry ==

=== Musical style and influences ===
Kelly's music took root in R&B, [[hip hop music|hip hop]] and [[soul music|soul]]. He was influenced by listening to his mother, Joanne Kelly, sing. She played records by [[Donny Hathaway]] and [[Marvin Gaye]], inspirations for Kelly.<ref name="hoekstra" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Larman |first=Alexander |title=The rise and fall of R Kelly {{!}} The Spectator |url=https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/the-rise-and-fall-of-r-kelly |access-date=2022-07-17 |website=www.spectator.co.uk |date=July 2022 |language=en-GB}}</ref> In reference to Hathaway, Kelly stated: "A guy like Donny Hathaway had a focused, sexual texture in his voice that I always wanted in mine. He had smooth, soulful tones, but he was spiritual at the same time.<ref name="hoekstra">{{Cite news |last=Hoekstra |first=David |date=29 November 1998 |title=The Righteous Brother : R. Kelly's ambitious album of genre- spanning songs finds him updating the spiritually grounded R&B; of such greats as Al Green and Donny Hathaway. |work=[[Los Angeles Times]] |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1998-nov-29-ca-48624-story.html |access-date=17 July 2022}}</ref> In his autobiography, Kelly stated that he was heavily influenced by Marvin Gaye's R&B Lothario image. "I had to make a 'baby-makin{{'}}' album. If Marvin Gaye did it, I wanted to do it", Kelly said.<ref name="Kelly-2012">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rMOfpYb4_PEC&q=Marvin+|title=Soulacoaster: The Diary of Me|publisher=Hay House, Inc|date=2012|isbn=9781401931773|access-date=October 13, 2014}}</ref>

While Kelly created a smooth, professional mixture of hip-hop beats, soulman crooning and funk, the most distinctive element of his music is its explicit sensuality. "[[Sex Me]]", "[[Bump n' Grind (R. Kelly song)|Bump n' Grind]]", "[[Your Body's Callin']]", and "[[Feelin' on Yo Booty]]" are considered to be examples, as their productions were seductive enough to sell such blatant come-ons. Kelly's crossover appeal was also sustained by his development of a flair for pop balladry.<ref name="allmusic"/>

=== Vocal style and lyrical themes ===
Writing for the ''[[New York Daily News]]'' in 1997, Nunyo Demasio stated "With a voice that easily shifts from booming [[baritone]] to seductive [[alto]], Kelly has gained international celebrity by combining streetwise rhythms with sexually explicit lyrics."<ref name="shooting star"/> Love and sex are the topics of the majority of Kelly's lyrical content, although he has written about a wide variety of themes such as inspiration and [[spirituality]]. ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' reporters [[Jim DeRogatis]] and Abdon Pallasch observed about the contrasting themes: "... the image he liked to project was that of the "R&B Thug"... bringing the streetwise persona of the [[gangsta rap]]per into the more polite world of R&B."<ref name="singer swinger">{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020609224145/http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-kelly09.html|archive-date=June 9, 2002|last1=DeRogatis|first1=Jim|last2=Pallasch|first2=Abdon|title=Inspirational singer or perverted swinger?|work=Chicago Sun-Times|date=June 9, 2002|access-date=March 15, 2020|url=http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-kelly09.html}}</ref>

Kelly expressed that he writes from everyday experiences and prides himself on being versatile. Larry Khan, senior vice president of Jive's urban marketing and promotion, said that Kelly's musical compass is second to none.<ref>{{citation|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8hIEAAAAMBAJ&q=R.+Kelly&pg=PA20|title=Hot Beats of Summer|last=Cohen|first=Jonathan|magazine=Billboard|volume=120|issue=20|page=20|date=May 16, 2008|access-date=November 2, 2014}}</ref> DeRogatis and Pallasch reported that at concerts where Kelly would go from singing "Like a Real Freak" to "[[I Wish (R. Kelly song)|I Wish]]": "Many fans found these abrupt shifts between the transcendent and the venal, the inspirational and the X-rated jarring."<ref name="singer swinger"/>

=== Influence ===
Kelly is considered to be one of the most successful R&B artists since the mid-1980s.<ref name="Up for Discussion Jump to Forums" /> He is also one of the bestselling music artists in the United States, with over 30 million albums sold, as well as only the fifth black artist to enter the top 50 of the same list.<ref name="RIAA best"/> ''Rolling Stone'' magazine called him "arguably the most important R&B figure of the 1990s and 2000s".<ref name="Rolling Stone bio">{{cite magazine |title=R. Kelly: Biography |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/r-kelly/biography |url-status=dead |magazine=Rolling Stone |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110622021816/http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/r-kelly/biography |archive-date=June 22, 2011 |access-date=June 30, 2013}}</ref> Music executive [[Barry Weiss]] described Kelly as "the modern-day [[Prince (musician)|Prince]], although there's a bit of [[Marvin Gaye]] in him, and a bit of [[Irving Berlin]]".<ref name="The New York Times">{{cite news |author=Sanneh |first=Kelefa |date=November 6, 2003 |title=Tarnished but Still Platinum; R. Kelly Is Popular Despite Pornography Charges |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2003/11/06/arts/tarnished-but-still-platinum-r-kelly-is-popular-despite-pornography-charges.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm |access-date=August 2, 2012}}</ref>

In addition to his solo and collaboration success, Kelly has also written and produced several hit songs, such as "[[Fortunate]]" for [[Maxwell (musician)|Maxwell]], "[[You Are Not Alone]]" for Michael Jackson, "[[G.H.E.T.T.O.U.T.]]" for [[Changing Faces (group)|Changing Faces]], "[[Bump, Bump, Bump]]" for [[B2K]], and many more. R. Kelly has been compared to artists like [[Sam Cooke]] and Marvin Gaye.<ref name="The New York Times" />

== Honors and awards ==
{{See also|List of awards and nominations received by R. Kelly}}
Kelly has received and been nominated for multiple awards, as a songwriter, producer, and singer. He won three [[Grammy Awards]] for his song "I Believe I Can Fly": Best Male R&B Vocal Performance, Best Rhythm and Blues Song, and Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or for Television.<ref name="grammys-r-kelly2" /> After Kelly's federal conviction in New York, [[The Recording Academy]] received major backlash in 2021 for refusing to strip Kelly of his awards.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-10-26 |title=R. Kelly's three Grammys will not be rescinded — for now — Recording Academy CEO says |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/2021/10/26/22747647/r-kelly-grammys-will-not-be-rescinded-for-now-recording-academy-ceo-says |access-date=2022-05-16 |website=Chicago Sun-Times |language=en}}</ref>

Kelly was given a [[Freedom of the City#Key to the City|key to the city]] of [[Baton Rouge, Louisiana]], in 2013 as "an artist whose music brings generations together".<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-02-18 |title=R.Kelly Receives Key to the City and Inspires Local Musicians at Concert |url=https://cameronjamesmind.wordpress.com/2013/02/18/r-kelly-receives-key-to-the-city-and-inspires-local-musicians-at-concert/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130502034344/http://cameronjamesmind.wordpress.com/2013/02/18/r-kelly-receives-key-to-the-city-and-inspires-local-musicians-at-concert/ |archive-date=2013-05-02 |access-date=2022-05-22 |website=Cameron James' Mind |language=en}}</ref> On September 30, 2021, following his New York conviction of multiple sex crimes, the key was rescinded.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-10-01 |title=R. Kelly's key to the city of Baton Rouge has been rescinded |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/r-kelly-has-his-key-to-the-city-of-baton-rouge-rescinded-3059958 |access-date=2022-05-16 |website=NME |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Baton Rouge takes back R. Kelly's key to the city |url=https://www.revolt.tv/article/2021-09-30/107762/baton-rouge-takes-back-r-kellys-key-to-the-city/ |access-date=2022-05-16 |website=REVOLT |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Child sexual abuse and court cases==
Kelly has repeatedly faced allegations of sexual abuse that have resulted in multiple civil suits and criminal trials, activities culminating in a 2021 conviction for violations of the [[Mann Act]] and [[Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act]]. Defenders of Kelly maintained that he was merely a "playboy" and a "sex symbol."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-06-29 |title=R. Kelly, the top-selling R&B star who dodged sex allegations for years |url=https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20220629-r-kelly-the-top-selling-r-b-star-who-dodged-sex-allegations-for-years |access-date=2022-08-02 |website=France 24 |language=en}}</ref> Judge [[Ann Donnelly]], who presided over Kelly's 2021 trial, summarized Kelly's actions as having "[used] his fame and organization to lure young people into abusive sexual relationships—a racketeering enterprise that the government alleged spanned about 25 years."<ref>{{Cite Pacer|plaintiff=United States of America|defendant=Robert Sylvester Kelly|title=Memorandum Decision and Order|doc-number=318|date=2022-06-29|pacer-number=434840|use-recap=yes|case-state=NY|case-district=ED|case-division=1|case-year=2019|case-type=cr|case-sequence=00286|access-date=2022-08-02}}</ref>

=== Early sexual abuse accusations (1990s–2000s) ===

==== First reports ====
In December 2000, the ''Chicago Sun-Times'' first reported that police had made two investigations that Kelly was having sex with an underage female but had to drop the investigations due to lack of cooperation by the girls accusing him.<ref name="accused of teen sex"/> A civil suit filed in 1996 by Tiffany Hawkins detailed allegations that, starting in 1991 when she was age 15, 24-year-old Kelly had sexual relations with her as an underage high school student, encouraged her to recruit her school friends, and pressured her into engaging in group sex with other underage girls.<ref>{{Cite news|date=October 20, 2021|title=R. Kelly timeline: Chicago upbringing, rapid rise to stardom and years of sexual abuse charges, suits and rumors, conviction|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-viz-r-kelly-timeline-htmlstory.html|access-date=October 31, 2021|newspaper=[[The Chicago Tribune]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Corry|first=Kristin|date=January 6, 2020|title=The Six Most Disturbing Revelations From Lifetime's 'Surviving R. Kelly' Sequel|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/939wj3/the-six-most-disturbing-revelations-from-lifetimes-surviving-r-kelly-sequel|access-date=2021-10-31|website=[[Vice (magazine)|Vice]]|language=en}}</ref> In 1998, Kelly settled the lawsuit with Hawkins for $250,000.<ref>{{cite web|title=R. Kelly settles one sex suit|url=http://www.canoe.com/JamMusicArtistsK/kelly_r.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021121085200/http://www.canoe.com/JamMusicArtistsK/kelly_r.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 21, 2002|website=canoe.com|date=April 9, 2002|access-date=May 25, 2020}}</ref><ref name="accused of teen sex" />

==== Illegal marriage (1994) ====
{{Further|Marriage age in the United States}}
In 1991, [[Barry Hankerson]] introduced his niece [[Aaliyah]] to Kelly when she was 12 years old.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Iandoli |first=Kathy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=c7V9EAAAQBAJ&dq=aaliyah+kelly+1991&pg=PA11 |title=Baby Girl: Better Known as Aaliyah |publisher=Simon and Schuster |year=2022 |isbn=978-1-9821-5685-5 |pages=11 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="accused of teen sex"/> "I saw her as a star the minute I heard her sing and dance," Kelly said.<ref name="Heath-2016a" /> A witness later testified that Kelly had sexual contact with Aaliyah starting when she was "13 or 14 years old."<ref name="Closson-2021">{{Cite news|last1=Closson|first1=Troy|last2=Palmer|first2=Emily|date=September 13, 2021|title=R. Kelly Sexually Abused Aaliyah When She Was 13 or 14, Witness Says|language=en-US|work=[[The New York Times]]|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/13/nyregion/r-kelly-trial-aaliyah.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20211228/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/13/nyregion/r-kelly-trial-aaliyah.html |archive-date=2021-12-28 |url-access=limited|access-date=October 4, 2021|issn=0362-4331}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Savage|first=Mark|date=2021-09-14|title=R. Kelly abused Aaliyah when she was 13 or 14, court hears|language=en-GB|work=[[BBC News]]|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-58556274|access-date=2021-10-04}}</ref> Kelly wrote and produced Aaliyah's debut album, ''[[Age Ain't Nothing but a Number]]'', which was released in May 1994.<ref>{{Cite web|date=September 27, 2021|title=R. Kelly's life, from troubled talent to trafficking trial|url=https://apnews.com/article/r-kelly-entertainment-arts-and-entertainment-trials-new-york-c549cadbc4df9c2b96b5107ef207883e|access-date=October 4, 2021|website=[[AP News]]|language=en}}</ref>

On August 31, 1994, Kelly, then 27, married Aaliyah, then 15, in a secret ceremony at Sheraton Gateway Suites in [[Rosemont, Illinois]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Melendez |first=Pilar |date=2021-09-01 |title=Inside R. Kelly's Secret Marriage to 15-Year-Old Aaliyah |language=en |work=The Daily Beast |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/inside-r-kellys-secret-marriage-to-15-year-old-aaliyah-as-revealed-at-trial |access-date=2023-01-07}}</ref><ref name="accused of teen sex">{{cite web|url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/news/sun-times-archive-r-kelly-accused-of-sex-with-teenage-girls/|title=Kelly accused of sex with teenage girls|last1=DeRogatis|first1=Jim|author-link1=Jim DeRogatis|last2=Pallasch|first2=Abdon|date=December 21, 2000|work=[[The Chicago Sun-Times]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080516005806/http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/kelly/939951,kellya.article|archive-date=May 16, 2008|access-date=February 28, 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> Reportedly, Kelly married Aaliyah after he found out she was pregnant.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Finley |first=Taryn |date=2021-08-24 |title=R. Kelly Admitted To Marrying Aaliyah So She Could Get An Abortion, 'Jane Doe' Testifies |url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/r-kelly-trial-aaliyah-marriage_n_61242355e4b07fee0cb08a92 |access-date=2023-01-07 |website=HuffPost |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Rouhani-2021">{{Cite magazine |last=Rouhani |first=Neena |date=2021-08-20 |title=R. Kelly Believed Aaliyah Was Pregnant Before They Married, Tour Manager Testifies |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/r-kelly-aaliyah-pregnant-marriage-tour-manager-testimony-trial-9617835/ |access-date=2023-01-07 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}</ref> Their marriage certificate was published in the Dec. 1994 / Jan. 1995 issue of ''[[Vibe (magazine)|Vibe]]'' magazine.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Smith |first=Danyel |date=2019-01-04 |title=Revisit R. Kelly's Dec 1994/Jan 1995 Cover Story: SUPERFREAK |url=https://www.vibe.com/features/editorial/r-kellys-dec-1994-jan-1995-cover-story-superfreak-629059/ |access-date=2023-01-07 |website=VIBE.com |language=en-US}}</ref> Their marriage was [[Annulment|annulled]] in February 1995 at the behest of Aaliyah's family by a Michigan judge.<ref name="Finalized"/> In May 1997, Aaliyah filed a lawsuit in Cook County to have the marriage record expunged, stating that she was underage at the time of marriage, had lied by signing the marriage certificate as an 18-year-old, and that she could not legally enter into marriage without parental consent.<ref name="accused of teen sex" />

Kelly and Aaliyah both denied that their relationship had moved beyond friendship.<ref name="MTV">{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rwlBoSSahkYC&q=Kelly%20and%20Aaliyah%2C%20however%2C%20both%20denied%20that%20the%20marriage%20occurred%20and%20even%20denied%20that%20their%20relationship%20had%20ever%20moved%20beyond%20friendship&pg=PA46|title=Aaliyah: More Than A Woman|date=January 26, 2002|publisher=Google, Christopher John Farley|isbn=9780743455664|access-date=September 14, 2014}}</ref> In 2016, Kelly told ''[[GQ]]'' magazine: "Well, because of Aaliyah's passing ... I will never have that conversation with anyone. Out of respect for Aaliyah, and her mother and father who has asked me not to personally. But I can tell you I loved her, I can tell you she loved me, we was very close. We were, you know, best best best best friends."<ref name="Heath-2016a" />

In 2019, federal prosecutors in the state of New York charged Kelly with bribery related to the 1994 purchase of a fake [[Identity document|identification card]] for Aaliyah in order to obtain a marriage license.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/05/nyregion/rkelly-aaliyah.html| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/12/05/nyregion/rkelly-aaliyah.html| archive-date=2021-09-28|title=R. Kelly Married Aaliyah at Age 15 by Using Bribes, Charges Allege|last=Hong|first=Nicole|date=December 5, 2019|work=The New York Times|access-date=December 6, 2019|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Kelly's former tour manager, Demetrius Smith, testified that he facilitated the wedding by obtaining falsified identification for Aaliyah, which listed her as 18 years old.<ref name="Rouhani-2021" /><ref name="2018 Washington Post story">{{cite news |last=Edgers |first=Geoff |date=May 4, 2018 |title=The Star Treatment |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/style/wp/2018/05/04/feature/how-the-music-industry-overlooked-r-kellys-alleged-abuse-of-young-women/ |url-status=live |access-date=May 9, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180504212853/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/style/wp/2018/05/04/feature/how-the-music-industry-overlooked-r-kellys-alleged-abuse-of-young-women/ |archive-date=2018-05-04}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Kelly, through his lawyers, admitted in 2021 to having had "underage sexual contact" with Aaliyah.<ref>{{cite news|last=White|first=Adam|title=R Kelly finally admits to 'underage sexual contact' with Aaliyah|work=[[The Independent]]|date=4 August 2021|access-date=2021-08-05|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/r-kelly-aaliyah-relationship-b1896521.html| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/news/r-kelly-aaliyah-relationship-b1896521.html| archive-date=2021-09-28}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

==== Exposure of child sexual abuse material and indictment (2002) ====
On February 3, 2002, a video began circulating allegedly depicting Kelly's sexual abuse of a girl known to be [[age of consent|underage]]. The abuse included Kelly [[urolagnia|urinating on her]]. The video was released by an unknown source and sent to the ''Chicago Sun-Times.'' The publisher broke the story on February 8, 2002, the same day Kelly performed at the opening ceremony of the [[2002 Winter Olympics]].<ref name="child porn investigation">{{cite news|last=DeRogates|first=Jim|author2=Pallasch, Abdon M.|title=City police investigate R&B singer R. Kelly in sex tape|url=http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-kelly08.html|work=Chicago Sun-Times|date=February 8, 2002|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020212051418/http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-kelly08.html|archive-date=February 12, 2002}}</ref> Kelly has said in interviews that [[Shaggy defense|he was not the man in the video]].<ref name="Kelly denies">{{cite news|author1=Pallasch, Abdon M.|author2=DeRogatis, Jim|author3=Fusco, Chris|title=Kelly denies underage sex charge|url=http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-kelly09.html|work=Chicago Sun-Times|date=February 9, 2002|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020212052450/http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-kelly09.html|archive-date=February 12, 2002}}</ref><ref name="in his own words 2">{{cite news|last=Norris|first=John|title=R. Kelly: In His Own Words (page 2)|url=http://www.mtv.com/bands/r/r_kelly/news_feature_051302/index2.jhtml|publisher=MTV News|date=May 13, 2002|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021020213553/http://www.mtv.com/bands/r/r_kelly/news_feature_051302/index2.jhtml|archive-date=October 20, 2002|access-date=February 18, 2007|url-status=dead}}</ref> In June 2002, Kelly was indicted in Chicago on 21 counts of child pornography.<ref name="Fountain-2002">{{cite web |last=Fountain |first=John W. |date=June 6, 2002 |title=R. Kelly, R & B Star, Is Indicted on Child Sex Charges |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2002/06/06/us/r-kelly-r-b-star-is-indicted-on-child-sex-charges.html |access-date=18 February 2022 |website=The New York Times}}</ref> That same month on June 5, 2002, Kelly was arrested by the [[Miami Police Department]] on a Chicago arrest warrant at his Florida vacation home.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-020602kelly-story.html|title=R. Kelly arrested on 21 porn charges|website=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=June 6, 2002|access-date=18 February 2022}}</ref> He was released after one night in jail, the following day after posting bail of $750,000.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/r-kelly-out-on-bail/| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/r-kelly-out-on-bail/| archive-date=2021-09-28|title=R. Kelly Out On Bail|website=CBS News|agency=Associated Press|date=June 26, 2002|access-date=October 20, 2020}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

While investigating the photographs reported in the ''Chicago Sun-Times'', [[Polk County, Florida|Polk County]] Sheriff's Office conducted a search of Kelly's residence in [[Davenport, Florida]]. During the search, officers recovered 12 images of an alleged underage girl on a digital camera&nbsp;– wrapped in a towel in a duffel bag – which allegedly depicted Kelly "involved in sexual conduct with the female minor".<ref>{{cite web|last=Hira|first=Nadira|title=Judge Rules R. Kelly Photos Seized In Florida Can't Be Used To Try Him|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1485672/r-kelly-photos-inadmissible-judge.jhtml|publisher=MTV|access-date=August 17, 2013|date=March 11, 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040317090600/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1485672/20040311/story.jhtml|archive-date=March 17, 2004|url-status=dead}}</ref> According to the ''Chicago Sun-Times'', the girl in the images obtained from Kelly's Florida home also appears in the videotape; which got Kelly indicted in Chicago.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Sadovi|first1= Carlos |last2=DeRogates|first2=Jim|last3=Pallasch|first3=Abdon M.|url=http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1476657.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140924070020/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P2-1476657.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 24, 2014|title=Girl in Kelly tape linked to Florida photos|work=Chicago Sun-Times|date=January 28, 2003|access-date=September 23, 2014}}</ref>

Police investigators from Polk County and Miami-Dade County arrested Kelly on January 22, 2003, at Miami's Wyndham Grand Bay Hotel for 12 counts of possession of child pornography.<ref name="ew_2003_01_23">{{cite magazine |date=January 23, 2003 |title=R. Kelly is arrested on porn charges...again |url=https://ew.com/article/2003/01/23/r-kelly-arrested-porn-chargesagain/ |url-status=live |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/https://ew.com/article/2003/01/23/r-kelly-arrested-porn-chargesagain/ |archive-date=2021-09-28 |access-date=February 11, 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Kelly posted bail of $12,000 bond and was released three hours later from Miami-Dade county jail.<ref name="ew_2003_01_23" /><ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/r-kelly-arrested-again-202890/|title=R. Kelly Arrested Again|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=January 22, 2003|access-date=18 February 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ocala.com/story/news/2003/01/23/r-kelly-again-charged-with-child-pornography/31272874007/|title=R. Kelly again charged with child pornography|date=January 22, 2003|access-date=18 February 2022}}</ref> In March 2004, these charges were dropped due to a lack of [[probable cause]] for the search warrants.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1485804/20040317/kelly_r.jhtml|title=R. Kelly's Florida Child Porn Charges Dropped|publisher=MTV|date=March 17, 2004|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040422151950/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1485804/20040317/kelly_r.jhtml|archive-date=April 22, 2004|access-date=September 15, 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Time Waster|url=http://www.thesmokinggun.com/file/r-kelly-florida-porn-charges-dropped?page=3|title=R. Kelly Florida Porn Charges Dropped|website=The Smoking Gun|access-date=September 10, 2012}}</ref>

The alleged victim refused to testify at the trial,<ref name="nytimes_2019-02-25">{{cite web |last1=Harris |first1=Elizabeth A. |last2=Chiarito |first2=Robert |date=February 25, 2019 |title=R. Kelly Released From Jail After Making Bail on Sexual Abuse Charges |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/25/arts/music/r-kelly-plea-not-guilty.html |website=The New York Times}}</ref> and a Chicago jury found Kelly not guilty on all 14 counts of child pornography in June 2008.<ref>{{cite web |last=Grossberg |first=Josh |date=June 13, 2008 |title=R. Kelly Found Not Guilty! |url=http://uk.eonline.com/news/1956/r-kelly-found-not-guilty |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/http://uk.eonline.com/news/1956/r-kelly-found-not-guilty |archive-date=2021-09-28 |access-date=September 25, 2009 |publisher=[[E!]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref name="Levin-2008" /> Kelly's own defense lawyer, [[Ed Genson]], questioned the acquittal and Kelly's public proclamations of innocence.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-03-07 |title=R. Kelly was 'guilty as hell,' singer's prominent lawyer from first trial says |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/2019/3/7/18392521/r-kelly-was-guilty-as-hell-singer-s-prominent-lawyer-from-first-trial-says |access-date=2022-07-15 |website=Chicago Sun-Times |language=en}}</ref>

==== Allegations of child molestation (2009) ====
In a divorce court filing unsealed in 2020, Kelly's ex-wife [[Andrea Kelly|Andrea Lee]] claimed Kelly was accused of molesting a preteen girl in 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wbez.org/stories/divorce-court-filing-reveals-allegation-that-r-kelly-molested-a-preteen-girl-in-2009/d4fa6927-7f67-430c-b0fd-b18459d37310| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/https://www.wbez.org/stories/divorce-court-filing-reveals-allegation-that-r-kelly-molested-a-preteen-girl-in-2009/d4fa6927-7f67-430c-b0fd-b18459d37310| archive-date=2021-09-28|title=Divorce Court Filing Reveals Allegation That R. Kelly Molested A Preteen Girl In 2009|publisher=[[WBEZ]]|first=Patrick|last=Smith|date=October 1, 2020|access-date=October 17, 2020}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

=== Second series of accusations (2010s–present) ===

==== ''Huffington Post Live'' interview (2015) ====
In December 2015, Kelly appeared on ''[[HuffPost|Huffington Post Live]]'' in an interview with journalist Caroline Modarressy-Tehrani. The interview was conducted so that he could promote the release of his thirteenth solo album, ''[[The Buffet]].''

During the interview, Modarressy-Tehrani quizzed Kelly about the sexual abuse allegations being leveled against him and wanted to gauge his reaction. This resulted in Kelly growing angry and defensive. He continually shouted over Modarressy-Tehrani, asked her whether she drank and threatened to leave and go to [[McDonald's]]. Kelly stormed out of the interview before it ended.<ref>{{Cite web|title=R Kelly Walks Out Of Huff Post Live Interview When Questioned About Sexual Assault Accusations|date=December 22, 2015|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2015/12/22/r-kelly-huffpost-live-_n_8859286.html}}</ref>

The incident was one of the first occasions where Kelly was concretely asked about the allegations against him on a public platform. Following Kelly's New York conviction in late-September 2021, Modarressy-Tehrani tweeted: "Now, with this verdict, hopefully, his survivors get some peace and feel this justice."<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://twitter.com/caromt/status/1442573380603953153 |title=On R. Kelly… |access-date=2022-08-02 |website=Twitter |language=en}}</ref>

==== Alleged sex cult (2010s) ====
[[Jim DeRogatis]] reported for ''[[BuzzFeed News]]'' on July 17, 2017, that Kelly was accused by three sets of parents of holding their daughters in an "abusive cult".<ref name="BuzzfeedCult">{{cite web |last=DeRogatis |first=Jim |date=July 17, 2017 |title=Parents Told Police Their Daughter Is Being Held Against Her Will In R. Kelly's "Cult" |url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/jimderogatis/parents-told-police-r-kelly-is-keeping-women-in-a-cult |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/jimderogatis/parents-told-police-r-kelly-is-keeping-women-in-a-cult |archive-date=2021-09-28 |access-date=July 25, 2018 |website=[[BuzzFeed News]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Kelly and the alleged victims denied the allegations.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-40639378| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-40639378| archive-date=2021-09-28|title=R Kelly denies holding several women in 'abusive cult'|date=July 18, 2017|work=[[BBC News]]|access-date=July 18, 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2017/music/news/parents-accusing-r-kelly-of-holding-daughters-in-cult-to-hold-press-conference-1202497833/| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/https://variety.com/2017/music/news/parents-accusing-r-kelly-of-holding-daughters-in-cult-to-hold-press-conference-1202497833/| archive-date=2021-09-28|title=Parents Accusing R. Kelly of Holding Daughters in Abusive 'Cult' to Hold Press Conference, Writer Says|last=Aswad|first=Jem|date=July 17, 2017|website=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|access-date=July 18, 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

In March 2018, [[BBC World Service]] aired a documentary entitled ''R Kelly: Sex, Girls and Videotapes'' presented by reporter Ben Zand that explored the 2017 allegations.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/n3ct58m6| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/n3ct58m6| archive-date=2021-09-28|title=BBC World News - R Kelly: Sex, Girls & Videotapes|website=BBC|language=en-GB|access-date=June 11, 2019}}{{cbignore}}</ref> This was followed up in May with the [[BBC Three (online)|BBC Three]] documentary ''R Kelly: The Sex Scandal Continues'', which included interviews with the Savage family.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p067xbzc| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p067xbzc| archive-date=2021-09-28|title=BBC Three - R Kelly: The Sex Scandal Continues|website=BBC| date=May 26, 2018|language=en-GB|access-date=June 11, 2019}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Kelly was again accused of misconduct on April 17, 2018, by a former partner of his who claimed that Kelly "intentionally" infected her with a [[sexually transmitted disease]]. A representative for Kelly stated that he "categorically denies all claims and allegations".<ref name="FreshAllegationBBC">{{cite news |date=April 17, 2018 |title=R Kelly faces fresh sexual misconduct allegation |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-43794843 |url-status=live |access-date=2018-04-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180417123802/http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-43794843 |archive-date=2018-04-17}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

In a January 2019 [[BBC News Online|BBC News]] article, a woman named Asante McGee whom Kelly had met in 2014 and taken to live with him some months later, said that she lived with not only Kelly alone, but with other women. She said: "He controlled every aspect of my life, while I lived with him." McGee later moved out on her own accord.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/stories-46964969| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/https://www.bbc.com/news/stories-46964969| archive-date=2021-09-28|work=[[BBC News]]|title=R. Kelly insisted I have a sex trainer|date=January 23, 2019|access-date=January 24, 2019|language=en-GB}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

==== Boycott and industry response ====
In May 2018, the Women of Color branch of the [[Time's Up (organization)|Time's Up]] movement called for a boycott of Kelly's music and performances over the many allegations against him. The boycott was accompanied by a [[social media]] campaign called [[Mute R. Kelly]]. In response, his management said that Kelly supports the movement in principle, but targeting him was "the attempted lynching of a black man who has made extraordinary contributions to our culture".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/may/01/r-kelly-times-up-muterkelly| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2018/may/01/r-kelly-times-up-muterkelly| archive-date=September 28, 2021|title=R Kelly: Time's Up campaign against me is 'attempted lynching of a black man'|first=Laura|last=Snapes|date=May 1, 2018|access-date=June 23, 2019|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Music streaming service [[Spotify]] announced on May 10, 2018, that it was going to stop promoting or recommending music by Kelly and [[XXXTentacion]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lockett |first=Dee |date=2018-05-11 |title=What Spotify Removing R. Kelly and XXXTentacion From Its Playlists Means |url=https://www.vulture.com/2018/05/what-spotify-blacklisting-r-kelly-and-xxxtentacion-means.html |access-date=2022-05-16 |website=Vulture |language=en-us}}</ref> stating, "We don't censor content because of an artist's or creator's behavior, but we want our editorial decisions—what we choose to program—to reflect our values."<ref>{{cite news|last=Coscarelli|first=Joe|date=May 10, 2018|title=Spotify Pulls R. Kelly and XXXTentacion From Playlists, Stirring a Debate|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/10/arts/music/rkelly-spotify-accusations-xxxtentacion.html| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/10/arts/music/rkelly-spotify-accusations-xxxtentacion.html| archive-date=2021-09-28|work=The New York Times|access-date=May 11, 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Two days later, [[Apple Music]] and [[Pandora Radio|Pandora]] also announced that they would cease to feature or promote Kelly's music.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://consequence.net/2018/05/apple-pandora-r-kelly/| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/https://consequence.net/2018/05/apple-pandora-r-kelly/| archive-date=2021-09-28|title=Apple and Pandora stop promoting R. Kelly's music, too|date=May 11, 2018|work=Consequence of Sound|access-date=May 15, 2018}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Spotify was criticized by members of the music industry with concerns the decision would create a "[[slippery slope]]" of muting artists accused of criminal activity. Spotify ultimately reversed this decision, following initial backlash<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-05-10 |title=R. Kelly and XXXTentacion camps react to Spotify removing their music from playlists |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/music/la-et-ms-spotify-rkelly-20180510-story.html |access-date=2022-05-16 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}</ref> including that of [[Top Dawg Entertainment]], which threatened to remove its musical catalog from the streaming service.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/8494233/spotify-mute-artist-feature-dont-play-button-skip| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/8494233/spotify-mute-artist-feature-dont-play-button-skip| archive-date=September 28, 2021|title=Spotify Makes It Easy to Mute R. Kelly (Or Any Other Artist)|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|first=Marc|last=Schneider|date=January 21, 2019|access-date=March 20, 2019}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Kendrick Lamar Threatens To Pull His Music Off Of Spotify |url=https://genius.com/discussions/324954-Kendrick-lamar-threatens-to-pull-his-music-off-of-spotify |access-date=2022-05-16 |website=Genius |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=ago |first=Music-4 years |date=2018-05-25 |title=Kendrick Lamar Reportedly Threatened To Remove Music From Spotify Following XXXTentacion Ban |url=https://www.okayplayer.com/music/kendrick-lamar-xxxtentacion-spotify-hateful-playlists.html |access-date=2022-05-16 |website=Okayplayer |language=en-US}}</ref>

In early-January 2019, Kelly was dropped from RCA Records following the airing of ''Surviving R. Kelly'', which detailed numerous sexual assault allegations against the singer for decades.<ref>{{Cite news |title=R. Kelly Has Been Dropped By RCA Records, 'Billboard' Reports |language=en |work=NPR |url=https://www.npr.org/2019/01/18/686641970/r-kelly-has-been-dropped-by-rca-records-billboard-reports#:~:text=R.-,Kelly%20Has%20Been%20Dropped%20By%20RCA%20Records,%20'Billboard'%20Reports,multiple%20women%20of%20sexual%20abuse. |access-date=2021-12-27}}</ref> A number of musicians who collaborated with Kelly expressed regret for working with him, including [[Celine Dion]] ("[[I'm Your Angel]]"), [[Nick Cannon]] ("[[Gigolo (Nick Cannon song)|Gigolo]]"), [[Chance the Rapper]] ("Somewhere in Paradise"), [[Lady Gaga]] ("[[Do What U Want]]"), and [[Jennifer Hudson]] ("[[It's Your World (song)|It's Your World]]"). Some went the extent of having streaming services remove their own songs that feature his vocals or credit him for songwriting or production.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Lockett |first1=Dee |last2=Rothstein |first2=Katie |date=2019-02-01 |title=All the Artists Who've Denounced R. Kelly |url=https://www.vulture.com/2019/02/artists-issue-r-kelly-apology-updated-list.html |access-date=2022-05-16 |website=Vulture |language=en-us}}</ref>

As of October 2021, following his New York conviction, Kelly's [[YouTube]] channel was terminated,<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Brandle |first=Lars |date=2021-10-06 |title=R. Kelly's YouTube Channels Are Terminated |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/r-kelly-youtube-channels-terminated/ |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US |access-date=2021-12-27}}</ref> but his catalog remained available on [[YouTube Music]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-10-06 |title=R. Kelly Channels Removed From YouTube, but Songs Can Remain |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/r-kelly-channels-removed-from-youtube-but-songs-can-remain/ |access-date=2021-12-27 |website=Pitchfork |language=en-US}}</ref>

====Alleged music industry complicity====
In May 2018, ''[[The Washington Post]]'' reporter [[Geoff Edgers]] wrote "The Star Treatment", a lengthy article alleging music industry executives' [[willful blindness]] to Kelly's sexually abusive behavior toward underage girls. Edgers reported that as early as 1994, Kelly's tour manager urged [[Jive Records]] founder [[Clive Calder]] to tell Kelly he would not release the singer's records if he continued to have "incidents" with young women and minors after every concert he gave. Calder told the ''Post'' that he regretted not having done more at the time, saying "Clearly, we missed something."<ref name="2018 Washington Post story"/>

Former Jive president [[Barry Weiss]] told the newspaper that during twenty years with the label he never concerned himself with Kelly's private life and was unaware of two lawsuits filed against Kelly and the label by young women alleging sexual misconduct while they were minors. Jive Records had, in fact, successfully argued it was not [[Legal liability|liable]]. Larry Khan, another Jive executive who worked closely with the singer even after viewing the sex tape, likewise implied it was not the label's responsibility, and pointed to [[Chuck Berry]] and [[Jerry Lee Lewis]] as musicians whose labels continued to release and promote their records despite public awareness that they were involved with underage girls.<ref name="2018 Washington Post story"/>

According to the ''Post'', executives at [[Epic Records]] also took a similarly relaxed attitude towards allegations of Kelly's sexual misconduct. In 2002, after Kelly signed with the label, executive David McPherson allegedly avoided viewing a copy of a tape purportedly showing the singer having sex with an underage girl; he simultaneously warned Kelly's assistant that if it turned out to be Kelly on that tape, the label would drop him. McPherson did not respond to the ''Post''{{'}}s requests for comment.<ref name="2018 Washington Post story"/>

An [[internship|intern]] with the label whose work suffered after she began a relationship with Kelly, ultimately costing her the position, settled with Epic for $250,000. Cathy Carroll, the executive she worked for, regularly rebuked her former subordinate for having an affair with a married man whenever the two met at social functions for years afterwards, and the damage to the woman's reputation led her to abandon her career in the music industry. Carroll told the newspaper the woman was "starstruck ... A lot of times it's not really the men."<ref name="2018 Washington Post story"/>

''The Washington Post'' also suggested the labels were complicit in the sex-cult allegations from the previous summer's ''BuzzFeed'' piece. Employees at the studios where Kelly recorded were required to sign [[non-disclosure agreement]]s and not enter certain rooms, which they said they believed were where Kelly made the young women and underage girls stay while he worked. Despite the agreements, the newspaper was able to publish screenshots of text exchanges where young women and underage girls in the rooms asked Kelly's assistants to let them out so they could go to the bathroom or get food. The newspaper also published pictures taken after Kelly had concluded a six-week session at a Los Angeles studio, paid for by his former record label, RCA Records, showing a cup of urine sitting on a piano and urine stains on the wooden floor of another room.<ref name="2018 Washington Post story"/>

==== ''Surviving R. Kelly'' (2019–2020, 2023) ====
{{Main|Surviving R. Kelly}}
In January 2019, [[Lifetime (TV network)|Lifetime]] began airing a six-part documentary series titled ''Surviving R. Kelly'' detailing sexual abuse and misconduct allegations against Kelly.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/04/arts/music/surviving-r-kelly.html| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/04/arts/music/surviving-r-kelly.html| archive-date=2021-09-28|title='Surviving R. Kelly' Documentary on Lifetime Details Sex Abuse Accusations|last=Fortin|first=Jacey|date=January 4, 2019|work=The New York Times|access-date=January 6, 2019|issn=0362-4331}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Writing for the ''Los Angeles Times'', Loraine Ali observed that the series covered a range of in-depth interviews that "paint a picture of a predator whose behavior was consistently overlooked by the industry, his peers and the public while his spiritual hit was sung in churches and schools."<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ali|first=Lorraine|date=2019-01-05|title=Review: 'Surviving R. Kelly' explores decades of alleged sexual abuse by the singer and an industry's complicity|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-et-st-surviving-r-kelly-review-lifetime-20190105-story.html|access-date=2021-10-03|website=Los Angeles Times|language=en-US}}</ref>

Within two weeks, Kelly launched a [[Facebook]] page where he sought to discredit the accusers who appeared in the docuseries. Facebook removed the page for violating their standards as it appeared to contain personal contact information for his accusers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/r-kelly-plans-to-sue-everybody-involved-in-surviving-r-kelly-series-2427856| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/https://www.nme.com/news/music/r-kelly-plans-to-sue-everybody-involved-in-surviving-r-kelly-series-2427856| archive-date=2021-09-28|title=R. Kelly plans to "sue everybody" involved in 'Surviving R. Kelly' series and launch website to "expose" accusers|last=Reilly|first=Nick|date=January 7, 2019|website=NME|access-date=January 9, 2019}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The second season titled ''Surviving R. Kelly Part II: The Reckoning'' premiered on January 2, 2020.<ref>{{cite web|title=The Explosive Story Continues - "Surviving R. Kelly Part II: The Reckoning" Debuts as a Three-Night Event Beginning January 2 on Lifetime|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2019/12/11/the-explosive-story-continues-surviving-r-kelly-part-ii-the-reckoning-debuts-as-a-three-night-event-beginning-january-2-on-lifetime-191504/20191211lifetime01/| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2019/12/11/the-explosive-story-continues-surviving-r-kelly-part-ii-the-reckoning-debuts-as-a-three-night-event-beginning-january-2-on-lifetime-191504/20191211lifetime01/| archive-date=2021-09-28|work=[[The Futon Critic]]|date=December 11, 2019}}{{cbignore}}</ref> January 2–3, 2023 commences the dates of the final season titled ''Surviving R. Kelly: The Final Chapter'', as confirmed on a December 14, 2022 trailer uploaded on Lifetime's YouTube account.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Garcia |first=Thania |date=2022-12-14 |title=Lifetime Unveils Trailer for 'Surviving R. Kelly: The Final Chapter,' Set for January Release |url=https://variety.com/2022/music/news/surviving-r-kelly-final-chapter-trailer-release-date-1235461135/ |access-date=2022-12-22 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Cordero |first=Rosy |date=2022-12-14 |title='Surviving R. Kelly: The Final Chapter': Lifetime Reveals Premiere Date & Trailer |url=https://deadline.com/2022/12/surviving-r-kelly-the-final-chapter-lifetime-premiere-date-trailer-1235199071/ |access-date=2022-12-22 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}</ref>

Following airing of the ''Surviving R. Kelly'' documentary, Kelly was listed in ''[[Guinness World Records]]'' as the most searched for male musician on Google in 2019.<ref name="Guinness-2020">{{Cite web|date=2020|title=Most searched-for musician on the internet (male, 2019)|url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/414002-most-searched-for-male-pop-star-on-the-internet|access-date=2021-11-01|website=Guinness World Records|language=en-gb}}</ref> He ranked 8th overall on Google's list of the 10 most search for people for the year.<ref name="Guinness-2020"/>

==== ''CBS This Morning'' interview with Gayle King (2019) ====
On March 6, 2019, [[Gayle King]] interviewed Kelly on ''[[CBS This Morning]].<ref name="King-2019">{{cite web |last=King |first=Gayle |author-link=Gayle King |date=March 9, 2019 |title=The Gayle King Interview with R. Kelly |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/r-kelly-interview-full-coverage-of-the-gayle-king-interview-with-r-kelly-on-cbs-2019-03-08/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/r-kelly-interview-full-coverage-of-the-gayle-king-interview-with-r-kelly-on-cbs-2019-03-08/ |archive-date=2021-09-28 |access-date=March 9, 2019 |work=[[CBS News]] }}{{cbignore}}</ref>'' Kelly insisted on his innocence and blamed social media for the allegations.<ref>{{cite web |date=March 6, 2019 |title=What we know about the allegations against R. Kelly |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/03/06/entertainment/r-kelly-what-we-know-about-the-allegations/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/https://www.cnn.com/2019/03/06/entertainment/r-kelly-what-we-know-about-the-allegations/index.html |archive-date=2021-09-28 |access-date=March 6, 2019 |work=CNN}}{{cbignore}}</ref> During the interview, Kelly had an emotional outburst where he stood up, pounded his chest, and yelled.<ref name="poise">{{cite magazine |last=Sands |first=Nicole |date=March 6, 2019 |title=Gayle King Commended for Leading a 'Master Class in Poise' During Raucous R. Kelly Interview |url=https://people.com/music/gayle-king-commended-poise-r-kelly-interview/ |url-status=live |magazine=People |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/https://people.com/music/gayle-king-commended-poise-r-kelly-interview/ |archive-date=2021-09-28 |access-date=March 6, 2019 |quote="Y'all killing me with this shit!" Kelly continued emotionally, standing up. "I gave you 30 years of my fucking career!"}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Asked by King about [[John Legend]] and [[Lady Gaga]] denouncing him, Kelly called them "not professional".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Post |first=Chantilly |date=2019-03-06 |title=R. Kelly Calls John Legend & Lady Gaga Unprofessional For Speaking Out Against Him |url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/r-kelly-calls-john-legend-and-lady-gaga-unprofessional-for-speaking-out-against-him-news.73735.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190307001724/https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/r-kelly-calls-john-legend-and-lady-gaga-unprofessional-for-speaking-out-against-him-news.73735.html |archive-date=2019-03-07 |access-date=2022-05-16 |website=HotNewHipHop |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lincoln |first=Ross A. |date=2019-03-05 |title=R Kelly Says Lady Gaga Was 'Not Professional' When She Apologized for Working With Him (Video) |url=https://www.thewrap.com/r-kelly-says-lady-gaga-was-not-professional-when-she-apologized-for-working-with-him-video/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190306115235/https://www.thewrap.com/r-kelly-says-lady-gaga-was-not-professional-when-she-apologized-for-working-with-him-video/ |archive-date=2019-03-06 |access-date=2022-05-16 |website=[[The Wrap]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

The ''CBS This Morning'' segment also included two women whose parents claimed were brainwashed captives of Kelly. They described themselves as "girlfriends" of Kelly, defending and declaring their love for him, while also denouncing their parents.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Coscarelli |first=Joe |date=March 7, 2019 |title=2 Women Living With R. Kelly Denounce Their Parents and Deny Being Brainwashed |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/07/arts/azriel-clary-joycelyn-savage-r-kelly.html |url-status=live |access-date=2022-06-13 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/07/arts/azriel-clary-joycelyn-savage-r-kelly.html |archive-date=2021-09-28}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Afterward, King would debrief with colleagues on the recording on the segment. She recalled that a condition for recording the segment with the "girlfriends" was that Kelly would not be in the room with them. Kelly had nevertheless stayed nearby during the recording and, according to King, Kelly would "cough really loudly" to remind the women of his presence.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Meyer |first=Ken |date=2019-03-07 |title=Gayle King: R Kelly Was Coughing 'Very Loudly' |url=https://www.mediaite.com/tv/gayle-king-r-kelly-coughed-very-loudly-during-interview-with-girlfriends-to-let-them-know-he-was-there/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190308033037/https://www.mediaite.com/tv/gayle-king-r-kelly-coughed-very-loudly-during-interview-with-girlfriends-to-let-them-know-he-was-there/ |archive-date=2019-03-08 |access-date=2022-06-13 |website=[[Mediaite]] |language=en}}</ref>

==== 2019 Cook County arrest and indictments ====
On February 22, 2019, the [[Cook County State's Attorney]]'s Office in Illinois charged Kelly with 10 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Li|first1=David K.|last2=Fitzpatrick|first2=Sarah|last3=Fieldstadt|first3=Elisha|date=February 22, 2019|title=R. Kelley charged with multiple counts of sexual abuse of a minor|work=NBC News|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/r-kelly-charged-multiple-counts-sexual-abuse-minor-n974621|access-date=February 22, 2019|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/r-kelly-charged-multiple-counts-sexual-abuse-minor-n974621|archive-date=2021-09-28}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The charges allege that from 1998 to 2010, Kelly sexually abused four females, three of whom were teen minors at the time,<ref name="BBCCharge">{{cite news |date=February 22, 2019 |title=R Kelly: Singer charged with sexual abuse in Chicago |work=BBC |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-47338368 |url-status=live |access-date=February 22, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190223024951/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-47338368 |archive-date=2019-02-23}}{{cbignore}}</ref> with evidence including a video provided by [[Michael Avenatti]] of an alleged new crime.<ref name="nytimes_2019-02-25" /> After Kelly turned himself in the day the charges were announced, he was arrested by the [[Chicago Police Department]] and taken into custody.<ref>{{Cite web|date=February 22, 2019|title=R. Kelly arrested by Chicago police after being indicted on sexual abuse charges|url=https://fox59.com/news/r-kelly-arrested-by-chicago-police-after-being-indicted-on-sexual-abuse-charges/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/https://fox59.com/news/r-kelly-arrested-by-chicago-police-after-being-indicted-on-sexual-abuse-charges/|archive-date=2021-09-28|access-date=October 20, 2020|website=FOX 59|agency=[[Associated Press]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

The judge set bond at $1 million and ordered Kelly to have no contact with any minor under 18 or alleged victim.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Dwyer|first1=Colin|last2=Tsioulcas|first2=Anastasia|date=February 23, 2019|title=R. Kelly Bond Set At $1 Million After Arrest On Charges Of Aggravated Sexual Abuse|language=en|work=NPR|url=https://www.npr.org/2019/02/22/695175118/r-kelly-charged-with-10-counts-of-aggravated-sexual-abuse-in-illinois|access-date=February 23, 2019|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/https://www.npr.org/2019/02/22/695175118/r-kelly-charged-with-10-counts-of-aggravated-sexual-abuse-in-illinois|archive-date=2021-09-28}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Kelly pleaded not guilty to all charges, which he called lies. He was released on bail after three nights at [[Cook County Jail]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/25/arts/music/r-kelly-plea-not-guilty.html|title=R. Kelly Released From Jail After Making Bail on Sexual Abuse Charges|newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=February 25, 2019|access-date=February 12, 2021|last1=Harris|first1=Elizabeth A.|last2=Chiarito|first2=Robert}}</ref>

On January 30, 2023, the Cook County District Attorney's office announced that several Illinois-specific charges against Kelly had been dropped, due to "him already being served justice in extensive federal sentences", preventing him from facing more prison time for state-related charges.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Jacobs |first=Julia |date=2023-01-31 |title=Prosecutors in Chicago Will Drop Abuse Charges Against R. Kelly |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/30/arts/music/r-kelly-abuse-charges-dropped-chicago.html |access-date=2023-02-08 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Razek |first=Raja |date=2023-01-31 |title=Illinois prosecutors drop pending criminal cases against R. Kelly, who remains imprisoned on federal convictions |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/31/us/r-kelly-charges-dropped-cook-county-illinois/index.html |access-date=2023-02-08 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref>

==== Federal indictments and pretrial detention (2019–2023) ====
The first grand jury indictment from the Eastern District of New York was handed down June 20, 2019.<ref>{{Cite Pacer|plaintiff=United States of America|defendant=Robert Sylvester Kelly|title=Indictment|doc-number=1|att-number=0|date=2019-06-20|pacer-number=434840|use-recap=yes|case-state=NY|case-district=ED|case-division=1|case-year=2019|case-type=cr|case-sequence=00286|access-date=2020-05-10}}</ref> On July 11, 2019, Kelly was arrested on federal charges alleging sex crimes and obstruction of justice by [[U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement|U.S. Homeland Security]] investigators and [[New York City Police Department Detective Bureau|NYPD]] detectives in Chicago.<ref name="chicagotribune.com">[https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/criminal-justice/ct-r-kelly-arrested-federal-charges-20190712-6ghntysw3zf3lpncn4owcfzyje-story.html Meisner, Jason; Buckley, Madeline; Crepeau, Megan. (July 11, 2019) "R. Kelly arrested in Chicago after being indicted by federal grand jury on new sex crime charges"], ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'', July 11, 2019.</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Arcand |first=Rob |date=July 11, 2019 |title=R. Kelly Arrested on Federal Sex Trafficking Charges |url=https://www.spin.com/2019/07/r-kelly-arrested-on-federal-sex-trafficking-charges-report/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/https://www.spin.com/2019/07/r-kelly-arrested-on-federal-sex-trafficking-charges-report/ |archive-date=2021-09-28 |access-date=October 20, 2020 |website=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Rojas |first1=Rick |last2=Zaveri |first2=Mihir |last3=Gold |first3=Michael |date=July 12, 2019 |title=U.S. Prosecutors File New Charges, Including Child Pornography, Against R. Kelly |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/12/nyregion/rkelly-arrested.html |access-date=March 28, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=July 12, 2019 |title='R. Kelly' charged with racketeering, including predicate acts of coercing and transporting minor girls to engage in sex |url=https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/r-kelly-charged-racketeering-including-predicate-acts-coercing-and-transporting-minor |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/https://www.ice.gov/news/releases/r-kelly-charged-racketeering-including-predicate-acts-coercing-and-transporting-minor |archive-date=2021-09-28 |access-date=March 28, 2021 |website=U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement |publisher=Department of Homeland Security}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first1=Jonathan|last1=Dienst|access-date=July 17, 2019|title=R. Kelly Arrested on Fed Child Porn Charges, Indicted in NYC|url=https://www.nbcnewyork.com/investigations/R-Kelly-Arrested-on-Federal-Sex-Crime-Charges-512618121.html| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/https://www.nbcnewyork.com/investigations/R-Kelly-Arrested-on-Federal-Sex-Crime-Charges-512618121.html| archive-date=2021-09-28|website=[[WNBC]]|date=July 12, 2019 }}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first1=Jason|last1=Meisner|access-date=July 17, 2019|title='We're talking seventh and eighth grade girls,' prosecutors say as R. Kelly held without bond on sex charges|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/criminal-justice/ct-r-kelly-detain-federal-charges-20190716-r4xh5muwzrb7niib3gohvq2ldq-story.html| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/criminal-justice/ct-r-kelly-detain-federal-charges-20190716-r4xh5muwzrb7niib3gohvq2ldq-story.html| archive-date=2021-09-28|website=[[Chicago Tribune]]|date=July 17, 2019 }}{{cbignore}}</ref> A day later, following his re-arrest, federal prosecutors from New York and Chicago [[Indictment|indicted]] Kelly on 18 charges, including [[child sexual exploitation]], [[child pornography]] production, [[sex trafficking]], [[kidnapping]], [[forced labor]], [[racketeering]], and [[obstruction of justice]].

Following his re-arrest on the first superseding indictment, the [[United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York]] filed a letter in support of a permanent order of detention that previewed its case against Kelly, concluding that "preponderance of the evidence that the defendant's release poses a both a risk of flight and a risk of obstruction of justice".<ref name="US EDNY-2019">{{Cite Pacer|plaintiff=United States of America|defendant=Robert Sylvester Kelly|title=Letter in support of a permanent order of detention as to Robert Sylvester Kelly|doc-number=5|att-number=0_1|date=2019-07-12|pacer-number=434840|use-recap=yes|case-state=NY|case-district=ED|case-division=1|case-year=2019|case-type=cr|case-sequence=00286|access-date=2022-05-10}}</ref> Kelly's first arraignment on the Eastern District case took place before a [[United States magistrate judge|United States Magistrate Judge]] Steven Tiscione on August 2, 2019, where he pleaded not guilty. Judge Tiscione denied bail, on grounds of both dangerousness and flight risk.<ref name="Tiscione-2019">{{Cite Pacer|plaintiff=United States of America|defendant=Robert Sylvester Kelly|title=Minute Entry for proceedings held before Magistrate Judge Steven Tiscione:Arraignment as to Robert Sylvester Kelly|doc-number=18|date=2019-08-02|pacer-number=434840|use-recap=yes|case-state=NY|case-district=ED|case-division=1|case-year=2019|case-type=cr|case-sequence=00286|access-date=2022-05-10}}</ref><ref name="Andone-2019">{{Cite web |last1=Simon |first1=Darran |last2=Moghe |first2=Sonia |last3=Andone |first3=Dakin |date=2019-08-02 |title=R. Kelly pleads not guilty to federal charges of kidnapping and sexual exploitation of a child in New York |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/02/us/r-kelly-arraignment-federal-court-new-york/index.html |access-date=2022-05-10 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref>

Kelly's lawyers made a request for pre-trial release October 2019 and were denied. His lawyers tried again to secure pre-trial release in 2020, citing the [[COVID-19 pandemic]]; the request was denied.<ref>{{cite web|first1=Sara|last1=Burnett|first2=Caryn|last2=Rousseau|access-date=July 17, 2019|title=Feds bring new sex-crime charges against singer R. Kelly|url=https://apnews.com/9f735f66ad3844d199d29fbbbfba6389| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/https://apnews.com/9f735f66ad3844d199d29fbbbfba6389| archive-date=2021-09-28|date=July 13, 2019|website=[[Associated Press]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|access-date=July 17, 2019|title=R. Kelly Was Denied Bond After Being Charged With Federal Sex Crimes|url=https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/jasonwells/r-kelly-bail-hearing-chicago| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/jasonwells/r-kelly-bail-hearing-chicago| archive-date=2021-09-28|website=[[BuzzFeed News]]|first1=Jason|last1=Wells|first2=Tasneem|last2=Nashrulla|date=July 16, 2019 }}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/lisettevoytko/2020/04/07/r-kelly-denied-early-prison-release-after-claiming-fear-of-coronavirus/#133cd597781c| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/https://www.forbes.com/sites/lisettevoytko/2020/04/07/r-kelly-denied-early-prison-release-after-claiming-fear-of-coronavirus/#133cd597781c| archive-date=2021-09-28|title=R. Kelly Denied Early Prison Release After Claiming Fear Of Coronavirus|work=www.forbes.com|date=April 7, 2020}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Superseding indictments were filed in Chicago on February 13, 2020,<ref>{{cite web |url= https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2020/02/14/r-kelly-new-indictment-federal-charges-sexual-abuse-assault/| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/https://chicago.cbslocal.com/2020/02/14/r-kelly-new-indictment-federal-charges-sexual-abuse-assault/| archive-date=2021-09-28|title= R. Kelly Faces New Federal Indictment In Chicago; Adding New Victim, But Removing Another|last=Tye |first=Chris |date=February 14, 2020 |website=WBBM-TV |access-date=January 29, 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref> and in New York on March 13, 2020,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://lawandcrime.com/celebrity/r-robert-sylvester-kelly-faces-yet-another-criminal-indictment-in-brooklyn-federal-court/| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/https://lawandcrime.com/celebrity/r-robert-sylvester-kelly-faces-yet-another-criminal-indictment-in-brooklyn-federal-court/| archive-date=2021-09-28 |title=R. Kelly Faces Yet Another Criminal Indictment in Brooklyn Federal Court |last=Luperon |first=Alberto |date=March 13, 2020 |website=[[Dan Abrams#Law&Crime|Law & Crime]] |access-date=January 29, 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref> raising the total number of charges to 22. He was incarcerated at [[Metropolitan Correctional Center, Chicago]] from July 11, 2019, to June 23, 2021, when he was transferred to [[Metropolitan Detention Center, Brooklyn]].<ref>{{cite web |date=June 23, 2021 |title=R. Kelly transferred to NYC jail ahead of sex-trafficking trial |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2021/06/23/r-kelly-transferred-nyc-jail-ahead-sex-trafficking-trial/5326141001/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2021/06/23/r-kelly-transferred-nyc-jail-ahead-sex-trafficking-trial/5326141001/ |archive-date=2021-09-28 |access-date=June 25, 2021 |website=[[USA Today]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref name="mcc">{{cite web|first=Jon|last=Seidel |title=R. Kelly's lawyers say no one 'raised a finger' to prevent MCC attack|url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/2020/10/16/21519089/r-kelly-mcc-attack-jeremiah-farmer-detention-hearing| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/https://chicago.suntimes.com/2020/10/16/21519089/r-kelly-mcc-attack-jeremiah-farmer-detention-hearing| archive-date=2021-09-28 |website=[[Chicago Sun-Times]]|language=en|date=October 16, 2020|access-date=January 29, 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

==== Hennepin County indictment (2019) ====
On August 5, 2019, the [[State's attorney|State's Attorney]] Office in [[Hennepin County, Minnesota]] charged Kelly with soliciting a minor and [[prostitution]]. Prosecutors alleged that in July 2001, following a concert in [[Minneapolis]], Kelly had invited a girl up to his hotel room and paid her $200 to remove her clothing and dance with him.<ref name="Haas-2019">{{Cite web |last=Haas |first=Mariah |date=August 5, 2019 |title=R. Kelly charged with soliciting a minor in Minnesota |url=https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/r-kelly-accused-of-soliciting-minor-in-minnesota |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/r-kelly-accused-of-soliciting-minor-in-minnesota |archive-date=2021-09-28 |access-date=August 5, 2019 |website=Fox News |language=en-US}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref name="Aswad-2019">{{Cite web |last=Aswad |first=Jem |date=August 5, 2019 |title=R. Kelly Charged With Prostitution in Minnesota |url=https://variety.com/2019/music/news/r-kelly-charged-with-sexual-crimes-in-minnesota-1203292316/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/https://variety.com/2019/music/news/r-kelly-charged-with-sexual-crimes-in-minnesota-1203292316/ |archive-date=2021-09-28 |access-date=August 5, 2019 |website=Variety |language=en}}{{cbignore}}</ref> The charges were however dropped on May 16, 2023, citing Kelly's federal convictions. <ref>{{Cite web |last=Rose |first=Andy |date=2023-05-16 |title=R. Kelly: Prostitution charges involving a minor dropped in Minnesota |url=https://www.cnn.com/2023/05/16/us/r-kelly-minnesota-charges-dropped-hennepin-county/index.html |access-date=2023-08-26 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref>

=== Trial in the Eastern District of New York (2021) ===
{{Wikisourcehas|2=[[s:Superseding Indictment, United States of America v. Robert Sylvester Kelly|Superseding Indictment, United States of America v. Robert Sylvester Kelly]]}}
The [[United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York]] was the first federal court to indict Kelly; at the time, it was the only jurisdiction to take Kelly to trial following the charges filed in the wake of ''Surviving R. Kelly''.<ref>{{Cite Pacer|plaintiff=United States of America|defendant=Robert Sylvester Kelly|title=Superseding Indictment 1|doc-number=3|date=July 10, 2019|pacer-number=434840|use-recap=yes|case-state=NY|case-district=ED|case-division=1|case-year=2019|case-type=cr|case-sequence=00286|access-date=2020-05-10}}</ref> Investigations continued with Kelly indicted, jailed and awaiting trial. Before trial, prosecutors previewed a growing body of evidence including evidence of bribes and recordings of threats. It was a month before trial that prosecutors first accused Kelly of abusing a male victim, an underaged boy he met at McDonald's, as pattern evidence in his trial.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Moghe |first1=Sonia |title=As R. Kelly trial approaches, prosecutors want to include alleged evidence of bribes and recordings of threats |work=CNN |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/25/us/r-kelly-prosecutors-evidence-racketeering-trial/index.html |url-status=live |access-date=25 July 2021 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/25/us/r-kelly-prosecutors-evidence-racketeering-trial/index.html |archive-date=2021-09-28}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

==== Jury trial ====
With [[Judge Ann Donnelly]] presiding, ''[[voir dire]]'' in ''United States v. Robert Sylvester Kelly'' was held August 9, 2021.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Leight |first=Elias |date=2021-08-10 |title=R. Kelly Racketeering Trial Opens as Judge Questions Prospective Jurors |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/r-kelly-racketeering-trial-prospective-jurors-1210030/ |url-status=live |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210810011002/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/r-kelly-racketeering-trial-prospective-jurors-1210030/ |archive-date=2021-08-10 |access-date=2022-05-10}}</ref> The same day, Kelly's lawyers filed a last-second motion to dismiss charges related to his transmission of [[genital herpes]] to several of his victims; that Kelly knew of his infection and non-disclosure to his sexual partners is a criminal act under the Public Health Law of New York and was presented as a predicate act for the charge of racketeering as well as the violations of the Mann Act.<ref>{{Cite Pacer|plaintiff=United States of America|defendant=Robert Sylvester Kelly|title=Memorandum of Law in Support of Robert S. Kelly's Motion to Dismiss|doc-number=159|date=2021-08-09|pacer-number=434840|use-recap=yes|case-state=NY|case-district=ED|case-division=1|case-year=2019|case-type=cr|case-sequence=00286|access-date=2020-05-10}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kalmbacher |first=Colin |date=2021-08-12 |title=R. Kelly Wants Witness Testimony About His Alleged Herpes Status Tossed Because the Women Are Not Medical Experts |url=https://lawandcrime.com/celebrity/r-kelly-wants-witness-testimony-about-his-alleged-herpes-status-tossed-because-the-women-are-not-medical-experts/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210812183415/https://lawandcrime.com/celebrity/r-kelly-wants-witness-testimony-about-his-alleged-herpes-status-tossed-because-the-women-are-not-medical-experts/ |archive-date=2021-08-12 |access-date=2022-05-10 |website=Law & Crime |language=en}}</ref> Judge Donnelly denied the motion, releasing a written decision after the trial.<ref>{{Cite Pacer|plaintiff=United States of America|defendant=Robert Sylvester Kelly|title=Memorandum Decision and Order|doc-number=252|date=2021-10-26|pacer-number=434840|use-recap=yes|case-state=NY|case-district=ED|case-division=1|case-year=2019|case-type=cr|case-sequence=00286|access-date=2022-05-10}}</ref>

The federal jury trial began on August 18, 2021, with opening statements by prosecution and defense lawyers.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Ehrlich |first=Brenna |date=2021-08-18 |title=The 'Singing Boss': Opening Statements in R. Kelly Trial Clash Over Racketeering Charge |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/r-kelly-trial-opening-statements-1213307/ |access-date=2022-05-10 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}</ref> The first witness called was Jerhonda Pace, one of the subjects of ''[[Surviving R. Kelly]]'' whose identity is widely known. She was the first of any of Kelly's accusers to have ever testified against him in court.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Closson |first1=Troy |last2=Palmer |first2=Emily |date=2021-08-18 |title=R. Kelly Trial Opens With an Accuser's Searing Testimony |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/18/nyregion/r-kelly-trial-updates.html |access-date=2022-05-10 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Pace testified that Kelly's abuse included slapping, choking, and raping her.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Shamsian |first1=Jacob |last2=Orecchio-Egresitz |first2=Haven |title=R. Kelly accuser details how he 'trained' her in searing testimony on the first day of his sex crimes trial |url=https://www.insider.com/r-kelly-accuser-describes-how-he-trained-sex-crimes-trial-2021-8 |access-date=2022-05-10 |website=Insider |language=en-US}}</ref> On cross examination, Pace was asked about signing a statement that she had deceived Kelly about her age and replied that it was a condition of a settlement.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hays |first=Tom |date=2021-08-19 |title=Woman weeps while testifying against R. Kelly about assault |url=https://abc7amarillo.com/news/entertainment/woman-weeps-while-testifying-against-r-kelly-about-assault |access-date=2022-05-10 |website=KVII |publisher=Associated Press |language=en}}</ref>

In all, eleven witnesses at Kelly's trial accused him of abuse either sexual or physical, with some accusing him of both. Two accusers were men alleging Kelly had sexually abused them as children; one ("Louis") had recruited the other ("Alex") and testified as a cooperating witness. In addition, eight employees of Kelly's staff testified, corroborating details of Kelly's modus operandi.<ref>{{cite news |date=24 July 2021 |title=R. Kelly accused of abusing teenage boy he met in McDonald's |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-57958367 |access-date=25 July 2021 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-57958367 |archive-date=2021-09-28}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Bekiempis |first=Victoria |date=2021-09-17 |title=The Worst Things That Happened at the R. Kelly Trial This Week |url=https://www.vulture.com/2021/09/r-kelly-trial-week-5-recap-aaliyah-abuse-witness-threats.html |access-date=2022-05-10 |website=Vulture |language=en-us}}</ref><ref name="Bekiempis-2021">{{Cite web |last=Bekiempis |first=Victoria |date=2021-09-22 |title=R. Kelly's Sex-Crimes Trial Comes to a Messy Close |url=https://www.vulture.com/2021/09/r-kelly-trial-prosecution-defense-rests.html |access-date=2022-05-10 |website=Vulture |language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2021-08-31 |title=R. Kelly trial: First male accuser testifies to sexual abuse |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-58393119 |access-date=2022-05-10}}</ref>

Toward the end of the testimony on September 15, 2021, video corroborating accusers' accounts of abuse was shown to the jury, but not the public nor media. The videos were alluded to in later closing arguments as depicting Kelly delivering a painful spanking to one accuser, and a lengthy recording in which Kelly demanded acts of [[coprophagia]] and [[urophagia]] to humiliate another accuser. As the jury deliberated, the press were allowed to listen to the audio portions to fulfill obligations of access to evidence; accounts confirm that Kelly and his victim's voices are heard narrating the graphic acts of abuse of the latter recording.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Melendez |first=Pilar |date=2021-09-27 |title=Audio Released From Horrific Videos Seen by Jurors in R. Kelly Case |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/judge-grants-media-access-to-graphic-videos-heard-in-r-kelly-case |access-date=2022-05-10 |website=The Daily Beast |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author=Sonia Moghe |title=What we were not allowed to see at R. Kelly's trial |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/09/26/us/r-kelly-trial-public-not-allowed-to-see/index.html |access-date=2022-05-10 |website=CNN|date=September 26, 2021 }}</ref> Months after the verdict, prosecutors disclosed that, following Kelly's orders, "[a]t least three women made videos of themselves eating feces and rubbing it over their bodies."<ref name="US EDNY-2022" />

==== Guilty verdicts ====
[[File:Robert_Sylvester_Kelly_convicted,_September_27,_2021.webm|thumb|Jacquelyn M. Kasulis, Acting [[United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York]], and Peter C. Fitzhugh, Special Agent-in-Charge, [[Homeland Security Investigations]], New York (HSI), announced the guilty verdict on September 27, 2021]]After a six-week trial including two days of deliberations, on September 27, 2021, the jury returned a verdict of guilty on all nine counts of the verdict sheet. They include:

* One count of [[Racketeering]] ({{UnitedStatesCodeSub|18|1962|c}}).
* Eight [[Mann Act]] violations:
** Three counts of transportation across state lines for illegal sexual activity ({{UnitedStatesCodeSub|18|2421|a}})
** Four counts coercion and enticement ({{UnitedStatesCodeSub|18|2422|a}})
** One count of transportation of a minor ({{UnitedStatesCodeSub|18|2423|a}}).<ref>{{Cite Pacer|plaintiff=United States of America|defendant=Robert Sylvester Kelly|title=Jury Verdict|doc-number=238|date=September 27, 2021|pacer-number=434840|use-recap=yes|case-state=NY|case-district=ED|case-division=1|case-year=2019|case-type=cr|case-sequence=00286|access-date=2022-05-09}}</ref><ref name="USA Today2"/><ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-09-27 |title=R Kelly found guilty on racketeering and sex trafficking charges |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/sep/27/r-kelly-racketeering-sex-trafficking |access-date=2021-09-27 |website=The Guardian |language=en}}</ref>

As described in a release by the [[United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York]], the racketeering charge against Kelly specified the following [[Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act#RICO predicate offenses|predicate acts]]:<ref name="US EDNY-2021">{{Cite web |date=2021-09-27 |title="R. Kelly" Convicted of All Counts by a Federal Jury in Brooklyn |url=https://www.justice.gov/usao-edny/pr/r-kelly-convicted-all-counts-federal-jury-brooklyn |access-date=2022-05-10 |website=www.justice.gov |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Puente |first=Maria |title=R. Kelly convicted on child pornography charges in second federal trial verdict |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2022/09/14/rkelly-chicago-trial-verdict-singer-convicted-child-porn-charges/8003550001/ |access-date=2022-09-15 |website=USA Today |language=en-US}}</ref>

{{Blockquote|text=Racketeering Act One – Bribery

Kelly bribed a state employee to create an identification card for Jane Doe #1, then 15 years old, so that Kelly could marry Jane Doe #1 because he believed she was pregnant and therefore the marriage could keep him out of jail.

Racketeering Acts Two, Seven and Ten – Sexual Exploitation of a Child – Jane Doe #2, Jane Doe #4 and Jane Doe #5

Kelly coerced Jane Doe #2, Jane Doe #4 and Jane Doe #5 to engage in sexually explicit conduct for the purpose of producing video recordings. Over the course of decades, he made these recordings, and other recordings of sexually explicit conduct, using VHS video cameras, Canon camcorders, iPhones and iPads.

Racketeering Acts Six, Eleven and Thirteen – Forced Labor – Jane Doe #4, Jane Doe #5 and Jane Doe #6

Kelly used the threat of physical harm and physical restraint to ensure that his victims, including Jane Doe #4, Jane Doe #5 and Jane Doe #6, performed sexually at his command. As to Jane Doe #4, he slapped her, choked her and spat on her, before demanding she give him oral sex. As to Jane Doe #5, over a period of years, he spanked her, viciously assaulted her, confined her for periods of days and otherwise manipulated her, to ensure that she would perform for him sexually, including with other women and a man. As to Jane Doe #6, he forced her to give him oral sex. When he did that, there was a gun within Kelly's reach.

Racketeering Acts Five and Nine – Mann Act Violations – Jane Doe #4 and Jane Doe #5

Between May 2009 and January 2010, Kelly regularly spoke with Jane Doe #4 over the telephone to arrange for Jane Doe #4 to come to his residence in Olympia Fields for the purpose of illegal sexual activity, which was illegal because Jane Doe #4 was too young to consent to sex in Illinois. Similarly, between September 2015 and October 2015, Kelly transported Jane Doe #5, who was then 17 years old, from New York City to Oakland, California for the purpose of illegal sexual activity, as she was too young to consent to sex in California.

Racketeering Acts Eight, Thirteen and Fourteen – Mann Act Violations – Jane Doe #5 and Jane Doe #6

In April 2015, Kelly arranged for Jane Doe #5 to fly from her home in Orlando, Florida, to Los Angeles, California, for the purpose of illegal sexual activity, which was illegal because Kelly knew he had an incurable sexually transmitted disease ("STD") and did not inform Jane Doe #5 about the STD prior to engaging in sexual intercourse with her. In May of 2017 and again in February of 2018, Kelly arranged for Jane Doe #6 to fly from her home in San Antonio, Texas, to La Guardia Airport in Queens, New York, for the purpose of illegal sexual activity, which again was illegal because Kelly failed to disclose that he had an incurable STD and obtain Jane Doe #6's consent to engage in sexual intercourse under those circumstances.|author=[[United States Department of Justice]], [[United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York]]|title="R. Kelly" Convicted of All Counts by a Federal Jury in Brooklyn}}

==== Post-verdict reaction ====
United States District Judge [[Ann Donnelly]] ordered Kelly to be kept in custody at the [[Metropolitan Detention Center, Brooklyn]] to await sentencing. Kelly faced a sentencing range of 10 years to life in prison,<ref>{{Cite web|date=2022-04-05|title=R. Kelly sentencing in New York postponed, but not for the reason his lawyer requested|url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/criminal-justice/ct-r-kelly-sentencing-postponed-new-york-racketeering-case-20220405-rilzxxpm4nhkple3bkvvw5solu-story.html|access-date=2022-05-04|website=The Chicago Tribune|language=en}}</ref> and on June 29, 2022, was sentenced to spend 30 years behind bars.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/r-kelly-sentence-30-years-prison-brooklyn-trial-1375483/|title=R. Kelly Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison on Racketeering, Sex Trafficking Charges|first1=Jon|last1=Blistein|first2=Daniel|last2=Kreps|first3=Victoria|last3=Bekiempis|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=June 29, 2022}}</ref>
After the jury delivered their verdict, women's rights attorney [[Gloria Allred]], who represented several victims, stated that Kelly was the worst sexual predator she had pursued in her 47-year career of practicing law.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-09-27 |title=R. Kelly Found Guilty of Racketeering in Sex Trafficking Trial |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/music-news/r-kelly-guilty-verdict-1235021377 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/music-news/r-kelly-guilty-verdict-1235021377/ |archive-date=2021-09-28 |access-date=2021-09-28 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Roberts |first=Nigel |date=September 28, 2021 |title=Attorney Gloria Allred Breaks Down Why R. Kelly Is The Worst Sexual Predator She's Ever Pursued |url=https://www.bet.com/news/national/2021/09/27/attorney-gloria-allred-r-kelly-worst-of-all-sexual-predators.html?cid=facebook |access-date=2021-10-03 |website=BET}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2021-09-28 |title=Attorney Gloria Allred says R Kelly is 'the worst' predator she has ever pursued – video |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/video/2021/sep/28/attorney-gloria-allred-says-r-kelly-is-the-worst-predator-she-has-ever-pursued-video |access-date=2021-10-03 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Petri |first1=Alexandra E. |last2=Palmer |first2=Emily |date=2021-09-27 |title=Gloria Allred, lawyer for survivors, says 'justice has been done.' |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/27/nyregion/gloria-allred-r-kelly-trial.html |url-access=limited |access-date=2021-10-03 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20211228/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/27/nyregion/gloria-allred-r-kelly-trial.html |archive-date=2021-12-28 |issn=0362-4331}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

Writing for ''[[The New Yorker]]'', longtime Kelly critic Jim DeRogatis asked, "how many more victims are there who we don't know about? This case involved twenty women and two men, but there are likely many more." DeRogatis noted that before the trial, prosecutors had told the judge they would call Susan E. Loggans, a Chicago attorney who had negotiated settlements on behalf of several accusers who testified in the criminal case. Loggans was never actually called to the stand.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=DeRogatis |first=Jim |date=2021-09-27 |title=R. Kelly Is Found Guilty on All Counts, Twenty-five Years Too Late |url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/r-kelly-is-found-guilty-on-all-counts-twenty-five-years-too-late |access-date=2022-05-11 |magazine=The New Yorker |language=en-US}}</ref>

On October 29, 2021, Kelly retained the services of Jennifer Ann Bonjean, who has helped overturn rape convictions for [[Bill Cosby]] and a victim of [[Jon Burge]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Convicted singer R. Kelly to get appeal aid from high-profile New York attorney who helped Bill Cosby |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/criminal-justice/ct-r-kelly-racketeering-conviction-new-attorney-jennifer-bonjean-20211029-a7b4rung4va2xp7zr7ghoqti3e-story.html |access-date=2022-05-10 |website=Chicago Tribune |date=October 29, 2021 |language=en}}</ref> Kelly fired his other lawyers in January 2022.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Donahue |first=Bill |date=2022-02-01 |title=R. Kelly Catches COVID and Fires Legal Team, Delaying Conviction Appeal |url=https://www.billboard.com/business/legal/r-kelly-catches-covid-fires-legal-team-conviction-appeal-delay-1235025880/ |access-date=2022-05-10 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}</ref> Kelly appealed the verdict for this case in April 2023.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tmz.com/2023/04/19/r-kelly-files-appeal-federal-sex-crimes-case-new-york/|title=R. Kelly Files Appeal Over Federal Sex Crimes Case in New York|website=TMZ}}</ref>

==== Sentencing ====
[[File:R._Kelly_Post_Sentencing_Statement.webm|thumb|U.S. Attorney [[Breon Peace]] and Executive Associate Director Steve Francis of [[Homeland Security Investigations]] (HSI) deliver remarks after the sentencing of R. Kelly to 30 years in prison.]]

The sentencing process in the Eastern District of New York began with the presentation of the sealed [[Presentence report|Presentence Report]] (PSR) by the [[U.S. Probation and Pretrial Services System|Office of Probation]] to the court on April 5, 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Donnelly |first=Ann |author-link=Judge Ann Donnelly |date=2022-04-05 |title=Order granting in part and denying in part 279 Motion to Continue Sentencing as to Robert Sylvester Kelly |url=https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/15909617/united-states-v-kelly/ |access-date=2022-05-10 |website=CourtListener |language=en-us |quote=The Court denies the application to adjourn the sentence until after the completion of the trial in the Northern District of Illinois, but because the Presentence Report was filed today, grants an adjournment until 6/16/2022 at 10:30 a.m.}}</ref> Kelly's defense lawyer Jennifer Bonjean lodged several objections to the report's description of Kelly's conduct.<ref>{{Cite Pacer|plaintiff=United States of America|defendant=Robert Sylvester Kelly|title=Defendant Robert Kelly's Objections to the Presentence Report|doc-number=292|date=2022-04-21|pacer-number=434840|use-recap=yes|case-state=NY|case-district=ED|case-division=1|case-year=2019|case-type=cr|case-sequence=00286|access-date=2022-05-10}}</ref>

The opposing sides differed sharply in assessments of applicable sentence. Bonjean filed a defense sentencing memorandum arguing that the applicable sentence according to [[United States Federal Sentencing Guidelines]] would be 168–210 months imprisonment, and that Kelly should receive less prison time. Arguing for leniency, Bonjean also wrote that a minor victim of Kelly was "a sophisticated 16-year-old".<ref>{{Cite Pacer|plaintiff=United States of America|defendant=Robert Sylvester Kelly|title=Sentencing Memorandum by Robert Sylvester Kelly|doc-number=301|date=2022-05-27|pacer-number=434840|use-recap=yes|case-state=NY|case-district=ED|case-division=1|case-year=2019|case-type=cr|case-sequence=00286|access-date=2022-06-08}}</ref> In its own sentencing memorandum, prosecutors supported the application of several enhancements under Sentencing Guidelines, adding up to a sentence of 25 years-to-[[Life imprisonment in the United States|life imprisonment]], and that "[g]iven the need for specific deterrence and incapacitation, the government respectfully submits that a shorter sentence would be insufficient to adequately protect the public."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Frehse |first=Rob |date=2022-06-09 |title=Federal prosecutors recommend R. Kelly be sentenced to more than 25 years in prison |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/09/us/r-kelly-federal-prosecutors-sentencing-recommendations/index.html |access-date=2022-06-17 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref><ref name="US EDNY-2022">{{Cite Pacer|plaintiff=United States of America|defendant=Robert Sylvester Kelly|title=Sentencing Memorandum|doc-number=304|date=2022-06-08|pacer-number=434840|case-state=NY|case-district=ED|case-division=1|case-year=2019|case-type=cr|case-sequence=00286|access-date=2022-06-08}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-06-09 |title=Feds ask New York judge to sentence R. Kelly to more than 25 years in prison |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/2022/6/8/23160379/r-kelly-sentencing-new-york-prison |access-date=2022-06-09 |website=Chicago Sun-Times |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-06-09 |title='He Lured Young Girls and Boys into His Orbit': Feds Want R. Kelly to Serve in 'Excess of 25 Years' for Racketeering and Child Exploitation Crimes |url=https://lawandcrime.com/celebrity/he-lured-young-girls-and-boys-into-his-orbit-feds-want-r-kelly-to-serve-in-excess-of-25-years-for-racketeering-and-child-exploitation-crimes/ |access-date=2022-06-09 |website=Law & Crime |language=en}}</ref>

Kelly's defense submitted several exhibits of their own attesting to [[mitigating factor]]s in a supplement to the sentencing memorandum. The exhibits were filed [[under seal]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lawyer for R. Kelly asks for mandatory minimum 10-year sentence on New York racketeering conviction |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/criminal-justice/ct-r-kelly-sentencing-memo-defense-new-york-racketeering-20220614-jfg7pxrbtra3na2fk2anxnwtde-story.html |access-date=2022-06-15 |website=Chicago Tribune|date=June 14, 2022 }}</ref> Following an unsealing and redaction process, the court revealed that factors Kelly's defense cited were his history of [[adverse childhood experiences]], including sexual abuse by his sister and his [[illiteracy]]. Defense experts diagnosed Kelly with [[hypersexuality]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Orecchio-Egresitz |first=Haven |title=R. Kelly's attorney says the 'musical genius' doesn't deserve 25 years in prison for his crimes because he was sexually abused as a child |url=https://www.insider.com/r-kelly-attorney-says-sister-molested-him-as-a-child-2022-6 |access-date=2022-06-29 |website=Insider |language=en-US}}</ref>

In the first half of Kelly's sentencing date of June 29, 2022, seven women were permitted to address court with their [[victim impact statement]]s. According to ''Rolling Stone'' journalists, Kelly refused to look at them.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last1=Bekiempis |first1=Victoria |last2=Roundtree |first2=Cheyenne |date=2022-06-29 |title='I Don't Know If I'll Ever Be Whole': R. Kelly's Survivors Confront Singer at Sentencing. He Refused to Look at Them |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/r-kelly-sentencing-survivors-1376160/ |access-date=2022-06-29 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}</ref> Judge Donnelly ended the day reportedly sentencing Kelly to 30 years imprisonment, admonishing his criminality as "calculated and carefully planned and regularly executed for almost 25 years".<ref>{{Cite magazine |last1=Blistein |first1=Jon |last2=Kreps |first2=Daniel |last3=Bekiempis |first3=Victoria |date=2022-06-29 |title=R. Kelly Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison on Racketeering, Sex Trafficking Charges |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/r-kelly-sentence-30-years-prison-brooklyn-trial-1375483/ |access-date=2022-06-29 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}</ref>

In her written judgment, Donnelly's sentence was apportioned as 30 years for the top charge of racketeering; 20 year sentences for three acts of Mann Act coercion and enticement; a 20-year sentence for one violation of the Mann Act transportation of a minor; and 10 years for three counts of Mann Act transportation across state lines for illegal sexual activity. These prison sentences will be served concurrently. Following Kelly's completing a prison sentence, Judge Donnelly ordered Kelly to serve 5 years of [[United States federal probation and supervised release|supervised release]] with conditions typical for sex offenders.<ref name="Donnelly-2022">{{Cite Pacer|plaintiff=United States of America|defendant=Robert Sylvester Kelly|title=Judgment as to Robert Sylvester Kelly|doc-number=319|date=2022-06-30|pacer-number=434840|use-recap=yes|case-state=NY|case-district=ED|case-division=1|case-year=2019|case-type=cr|case-sequence=00286|access-date=2022-07-10}}</ref>

In addition to prison time, Judge Donnelly levied a $100,000 fine plus a statutory $40,000 penalty under the [[Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act of 2015]].<ref name="Donnelly-2022" /> Contesting the assessments, attorney Jennifer Bonjean claimed that Kelly has lost his income and is [[Indigent defendant|indigent]]. Prosecutors countered that Kelly has secretly sold rights to his [[Royalty payment|composition and lyrics royalties]] for $5 million. On September 28, 2022, Kelly was ordered to pay restitution of $300,000 to one of his victims, with potential for tens of thousands of dollars more to pay for another victim.<ref>{{cite news |title=R Kelly ordered to pay restitution of $300,000 to his victim |url=https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/sep/28/r-kelly-restitution-victim-sexual-abuse |access-date=November 25, 2022 |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=September 28, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220929233517/https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/sep/28/r-kelly-restitution-victim-sexual-abuse |archive-date=September 29, 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref>

According to Bonjean, Kelly was "devastated" by his sentence but would appeal.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.straitstimes.com/life/entertainment/rb-singer-r-kelly-sentenced-to-30-years-in-prison-in-sex-case|title=R&B singer R. Kelly sentenced to 30 years in prison in sex case|location=Singapore|newspaper=[[The Straits Times]]|date=30 June 2022|access-date=30 June 2022}}</ref> Following his sentencing, the [[Federal Bureau of Prisons]] placed Kelly under [[suicide watch]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bustard |first=Andy |date=2021-10-21 |title=R. Kelly Placed On Suicide Watch Following Guilty Verdict As Chicago Sex Trial Gets Date |url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.65337/title.r-kelly-suicide-watch-prison-chicago-trial-date |access-date=2022-07-06 |website=HipHopDX}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=R Kelly remains on suicide watch 'for his own safety', authorities say |url=https://news.yahoo.com/r-kelly-remains-suicide-watch-075854697.html |access-date=2022-07-06 |website=news.yahoo.com |date=July 4, 2022 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=R. Kelly Was Reportedly Placed on Suicide Watch Following Guilty Verdict |url=https://www.complex.com/music/r-kelly-was-reportedly-placed-suicide-watch-after-guilty-verdict |access-date=2022-07-06 |website=Complex |language=en}}</ref> His legal team argued that the measures were unnecessary, punitive and [[Cruelty|cruel]], because he was never [[Suicide|suicidal]] nor had he ever even [[Suicidal ideation|thought about suicide]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-07-03 |title=R. Kelly Remains on Suicide Watch in Prison, Lawyer Claims It's 'Unnecessary and Punitive' |url=https://www.wfaa.com/article/entertainment/entertainment-tonight/r-kelly-remains-on-suicide-watch-in-prison-lawyer-claims-its-unnecessary-and-punitive/603-d54d05d6-e7d6-4aac-a987-9dcc7a378b35 |access-date=2022-07-06 |website=WFAA-TV |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Moghe |first1=Sonia |last2=Elassar |first2=Alaa |date=2022-07-01 |title=R. Kelly placed on suicide watch after being sentenced to 30 years in prison, his lawyer says |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/01/us/r-kelly-suicide-watch-sentencing/index.html |access-date=2022-07-06 |website=CNN |language=en}}</ref> However, prosecutors defended the placement, claiming it was for his own safety.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Watkins |first=Ali |date=2022-07-03 |title=Prosecutors Defend Decision to Place R. Kelly on Suicide Watch |language=en-US |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/03/nyregion/r-kelly-jail-suicide-watch.html |access-date=2022-07-07 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> On [[Independence Day (United States)|Independence Day]] 2022, authorities removed Kelly from suicide watch.<ref>{{Cite web |title=R. Kelly taken off suicide watch at Brooklyn federal jail |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/brooklyn/ny-r-kelly-off-suicide-watch-mdc-feds-racketeering-conviction-20220705-bp5gczlfcbhebfwajhsqb7bbq4-story.html |access-date=2022-07-06 |website=New York Daily News|date=July 5, 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last1=Donahue |first1=Bill |date=2022-07-05 |title=R. Kelly Removed From Suicide Watch Following Decades-Long Sentence |url=https://www.billboard.com/business/legal/r-kelly-suicide-watch-removed-sentence-1235110482/ |access-date=2022-07-06 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}</ref>

On July 13, 2022, Kelly transferred out of [[Metropolitan Detention Center, Brooklyn]] to [[Metropolitan Correctional Center, Chicago]] in anticipation of a trial in the [[United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-07-13 |title=R. Kelly transferred to Chicago prison ahead of trial |url=https://abc7chicago.com/r-kelly-news-chicago-trial-sentence/12048883/ |access-date=2022-07-13 |website=WLS-TV |language=en |archive-date=July 13, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220713162126/https://abc7chicago.com/r-kelly-news-chicago-trial-sentence/12048883/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== Trial in the Northern District of Illinois (2022) ===
Parallel to Eastern District of New York prosecution, the [[United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois]] in Chicago indicted Kelly alongside two alleged co-conspirators: his manager Derrel McDavid and his personal assistant Milton "June" Brown.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Derrel McDavid and Milton "June" Brown: Fast Facts About R. Kelly Associates Indicted In Singer's Federal Sex Crime Case |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/derrel-mcdavid-milton-june-brown-5-fast-facts-about-r-kellys-associates/ |access-date=2022-06-30 |website=CBS News |date=July 12, 2019 |language=en-US}}</ref> All pled "not guilty".<ref>{{Cite Pacer|plaintiff=United States of America|defendant=Robert Sylvester Kelly|title=Order|doc-number=102|date=2020-03-05|pacer-number=366672|use-recap=yes|case-state=IL|case-district=ND|case-division=1|case-year=2019|case-type=cr|case-sequence=00567|access-date=2022-06-30}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=DeRogatis |first=Jim |date=2021-09-22 |title=Why Is R. Kelly Standing Trial Alone? |url=https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/why-is-r-kelly-standing-trial-alone |access-date=2022-06-30 |magazine=The New Yorker |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-07-19 |title=R. Kelly co-defendant Milton Brown pleads not guilty to child porn charge |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/2019/7/19/20700925/r-kelly-milton-brown-conspiracy-child-pornography |access-date=2022-06-30 |website=Chicago Sun-Times |language=en}}</ref> The case was tried before Judge [[Harry Leinenweber]], and commenced on August 17, 2022.<ref name="BBC News"/><ref>{{Cite Pacer|plaintiff=United States of America|defendant=Robert Sylvester Kelly|title=Minute Entry|doc-number=217|date=2022-06-21|pacer-number=366672|use-recap=yes|case-state=IL|case-district=ND|case-division=1|case-year=2019|case-type=cr|case-sequence=00567|access-date=2022-06-30}}</ref>

==== Allegations ====
The final superseding indictment of Kelly and his co-conspirators charged him with the following:<ref>{{Cite Pacer|plaintiff=United States of America|defendant=Robert Sylvester Kelly|title=Superseding Indictment|doc-number=93|date=2020-02-13|pacer-number=366672|use-recap=yes|case-state=IL|case-district=ND|case-division=1|case-year=2019|case-type=cr|case-sequence=00567|access-date=2022-06-30}}</ref>

* '''Counts One through Four:''' Production of child pornography ({{USC-Sub|18|2251|a}}) for four videos filmed with "Minor 1" between 1998 and 1999.
* '''Count Five:''' [[Conspiracy to defraud the United States]] ({{USCSub|18|371}}) for various illegal acts from 2001 until 2015 to cover up offenses in the 2002 Cook County case.
* '''Counts Six through Eight:''' Receipt of child pornography ([[18 USC]] § {{USCSub2|18|2252A|a|2}} and § {{USCSub2|18|2252A|b|1}}) conspiracies to obtain videos of child sexual abuse to conceal them.
* '''Counts Nine through Thirteen:''' Child sex trafficking through coercion and enticement ({{USCSub|18|2422|b}}) of five unnamed victims (listed as Minors 1, 3, 4, 5, 6), for acts committed in the time span of 1996 through 2001.

==== Trial process ====
Jury selection began August 15, 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-08-12 |title=Jury selection set to begin Monday in R. Kelly child pornography trial |url=https://wgntv.com/news/r-kelly-trial/jury-selection-set-to-begin-monday-in-r-kelly-child-pornography-trial/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220812150657/https://wgntv.com/news/r-kelly-trial/jury-selection-set-to-begin-monday-in-r-kelly-child-pornography-trial/ |archive-date=2022-08-12 |access-date=2022-08-15 |website=WGN-TV |language=en-US}}</ref> Over 100 potential jurors were interviewed over two days. The regular jury of twelve persons consisted of four white women, four black women, two white men, and two black men.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Meisner |first1=Jason |last2=Crepeau |first2=Megan |date=2022-08-16 |title=Jury in R. Kelly's Chicago federal case selected; opening statements set for Wednesday |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/criminal-justice/ct-r-kelly-chicago-federal-trial-jury-selection-day-two-20220816-i2gavfvjm5cp5enqy2cwulzpbq-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220816134731/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/criminal-justice/ct-r-kelly-chicago-federal-trial-jury-selection-day-two-20220816-i2gavfvjm5cp5enqy2cwulzpbq-story.html |archive-date=2022-08-16 |access-date=2022-08-16 |website=Chicago Tribune}}</ref>

On the first day of testimony, the jury heard from a witness who is allegedly depicted in the child sexual abuse material revealed in 2002. Now 37, the alleged victim was allowed by the court to testify under the pseudonym "Jane". She testified that Kelly groomed her for sexual abuse starting when she was 13 years of age, presenting himself as a benevolent "godfather". Jane also told the jury that Kelly induced her to recruit other girls for abuse. Speaking to efforts to thwart law enforcement, Jane told the court that Kelly sent her to travel to the Bahamas and Cancun to keep her away from law enforcement, and coaxed her to lie to a grand jury.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Meisner |first1=Jason |last2=Crepeau |first2=Megan |date=2022-08-18 |title=R. Kelly's former goddaughter breaks down at his federal trial in Chicago, telling jury he filmed them having sex while she was a minor |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/criminal-justice/ct-r-kelly-chicago-federal-trial-day-4-20220818-fszlinleujgztgvbzy4rk4apjq-story.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220818124352/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/criminal-justice/ct-r-kelly-chicago-federal-trial-day-4-20220818-fszlinleujgztgvbzy4rk4apjq-story.html |archive-date=2022-08-18 |access-date=2022-08-18 |website=Chicago Tribune}}</ref><ref name="Melendez-2022">{{Cite news |last=Melendez |first=Pilar |date=2022-08-18 |title=Teen From Notorious R. Kelly Urination Tape Speaks Out |language=en |work=The Daily Beast |url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/r-kelly-urination-pee-video-teen-speaks-out-in-chicago-court |access-date=2022-08-18}}</ref>

Also testifying was an individual who purchased a home previously owned by Kelly. The interior was alleged to match the 2002 video. The individual noted that after his purchase, he discovered a bedroom contained a camera disguised as a smoke detector and a secured door requiring a button to be pressed to leave.<ref name="Melendez-2022" />

==== Verdict and sentencing ====
On September 14, the jury found Kelly guilty on three of thirteen charges of production of [[child pornography]] and three charges of enticing a child, but acquitted him and his alleged co-conspirators of trial fixing related to his 2008 state child pornography trial.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-09-14 |title=R. Kelly convicted on many counts, acquitted of trial fixing |url=https://apnews.com/article/r-kelly-chicago-53e10cd71c4277773989863d6ace05c6 |access-date=2022-09-14 |website=AP NEWS |language=en}}</ref>

Stating a case for leniency in a sentencing memorandum, Kelly's attorneys made a number of technical arguments about the Chicago federal case, but concedes repeated sexual encounters with the testifying victims when they were underage. Arguing for [[Mitigating factor|mitigation]], the memorandum includes a passage written by expert witness Dr. Renee Sorentino arguing that Kelly is not a pedophile:<ref>{{Cite Pacer|plaintiff=United States of America|defendant=Robert Sylvester Kelly|title=Sentencing Memorandum (Defense)|doc-number=410|date=2023-02-10|pacer-number=366672|case-state=IL|case-district=ND|case-division=1|case-year=2019|case-type=cr|case-sequence=00567|access-date=2023-02-17}}</ref><blockquote>I considered the diagnosis of Pedophilia given Mr. Kelly's alleged history of sexual contact with minors. The diagnosis of Pedophilia is used to refer to individuals who experience recurrent, intense, sexually arousing fantasies or sexual urges involving sexual activity with prepubescent child or children (generally age 13 years of younger). I rejected the diagnosis because Mr. Kelly does not report a history of sexual arousal to prepubescent individual and his sexual behavior has never involved prepubescent individuals. </blockquote>Dr. Sorentino is co-author of a paper arguing for a distinction between [[pedophilia]] and [[ephebophilia]], and using the term "minor-attracted person". The paper also cites research by the organization [[Virtuous Pedophiles]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Sorrentino |first=Renée |date=2021-07-01 |title=Minor-attracted persons: A neglected population |url=https://www.mdedge.com/psychiatry/article/242357/minor-attracted-persons-neglected-population |journal=Current Psychiatry |volume=20 |issue=7 |doi=10.12788/cp.0149|s2cid=246886997 |doi-access=free }}</ref> Use of the term in a criminal justice context is controversial.<ref>{{Cite web |last=DeJesus |first=Ivey |date=2022-08-12 |title=Prison sex therapist defends pedophiles as 'minor-attracted persons,' outraging victim advocates |url=https://www.pennlive.com/news/2022/08/prison-sex-therapist-defends-pedophiles-as-minor-attracted-persons-outraging-victim-advocates.html |access-date=2023-02-17 |website=pennlive |language=en}}</ref>

In their own sentencing memorandum, prosecutors requested a 300-month prison sentence, to be served consecutively to the sentence from the Eastern District of New York (in effect [[life imprisonment]]). Arguing that Kelly's criminal conduct in Illinois is separate from the conduct of his previous conviction in New York and severe, the memorandum states in its opening paragraph:<ref>{{Cite Pacer|plaintiff=United States of America|defendant=Robert Sylvester Kelly|title=Sentencing Memorandum (Prosecution)|doc-number=418|date=2023-02-16|pacer-number=366672|case-state=IL|case-district=ND|case-division=1|case-year=2019|case-type=cr|case-sequence=00567|access-date=2023-02-17}}</ref><blockquote>Robert Kelly is a serial sexual predator who, over the course of many years, specifically targeted young girls and went to great lengths to conceal his abuse of Jane and other minor victims. To this day, and even following the jury verdict against him, Kelly refuses to accept responsibility for his crimes. To the contrary, Kelly brazenly blames his victims and argues that his abuse of 14, 15, and 16 year-old girls was justified because some of his victims as minors "wanted to pursue a romantic and sexual connection" with him and others remained in contact with him as adults. At the age of 56 years old, Kelly's lack of remorse and failure to grasp the gravity of his criminal conduct against children demonstrates that he poses a serious danger to society. Kelly goes so far as to insinuate that he—and not the young girls he abused—is the victim, because the federal government elected to prosecute him for egregious conduct that occurred throughout the United States for over 20 years.</blockquote> Kelly was sentenced in Chicago federal court on February 23, 2023.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/23/arts/music/r-kelly-sentenced-federal-child-sex-crimes.html|title=R. Kelly Sentenced to 20 Years for Child Sex Crimes|first1=Robert|last1=Chiarito|first2=Julia|last2=Jacobs|work=The New York Times|date=February 23, 2023|access-date=February 23, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-01-23 |title=R. Kelly judge shoots down request for $850,000 in attorneys' fees from singer's acquitted ex-manager |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/2023/1/23/23568242/r-kelly-judge-shoots-down-request-for-850000-in-attorneys-fees-from-singers-acquitted-ex-manager |access-date=2023-01-25 |website=Chicago Sun-Times |language=en}}</ref> Judge Harry Leinenweber sentenced Kelly to 20 years: 19 concurrent to the 30-year sentence from New York and 1 year consecutively, effectively bringing his sentence to 31 years.<ref>{{Cite web |title=R. Kelly Sentenced to 1 Additional Year in Prison, 19 Concurrent Years, Following Child Pornography and Enticement Convictions |url=https://news.wttw.com/2023/02/22/r-kelly-be-sentenced-thursday-chicago-after-federal-child-pornography-enticement |access-date=2023-02-23 |website=WTTW News |language=en}}</ref>

On April 24, 2023, Kelly was transferred from the [[Metropolitan Correctional Center, Chicago]] to the [[Federal Correctional Complex, Butner]] in [[Butner, North Carolina]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/r-kelly-prison-chicago-north-carolina-c9fc878db8ebead6c1a9fc5c33df1871|title=Singer R. Kelly moved to North Carolina prison from Chicago|website=[[Associated Press]] |date=April 24, 2023|access-date=July 10, 2023}}</ref>

=== Other court cases ===
{{Anchor|Legal issues}}Other than the federal sex abuse cases, Kelly has been involved in several high-profile criminal cases and lawsuits.

==== Criminal ====
* '''August 13, 1997''': Kelly was found guilty of battery and placed on unsupervised probation for one year in [[Lafayette, Louisiana]] as a result of a July 1996 brawl which involved the singer and his entourage. One of the victims needed a total of 110 facial stitches.<ref>{{cite news |date=August 13, 1997 |title=R. Kelly Reaches Settlement In Lawsuit |publisher=MTV News |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1430775/19970813/story.jhtml |url-status=dead |access-date=July 14, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010830141535/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1430775/19970813/story.jhtml |archive-date=August 30, 2001}}</ref>
* '''April 8, 1998''': Kelly was arrested in Chicago on three misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct, including one charge of violating noise ordinance for playing his music extremely loud from his car, during a test run. He was allegedly [[Attack therapy|confrontational]] as he was arrested and placed into custody. The vehicle he was testing audio in was [[Vehicle impoundment|impounded]] and placed on a $500 daily recovery fee.<ref>{{cite news |date=May 7, 1998 |title=R Kelly Busted For Blasting Car Stereo |publisher=MTV News |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1430772/19980507/kelly_r.jhtml |url-status=dead |access-date=July 14, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000519054623/http://www.mtv.com/mtv/news/gallery/r/rkelly980408.html |archive-date=May 19, 2000}}</ref> Prosecutors from the district attorney's office dropped the first two charges on May 7,<ref>{{cite news |date=May 7, 1998 |title=R. Kelly Gets Mixed Legal News In Court Date |publisher=MTV News |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1430772/19980507/kelly_r.jhtml |url-status=dead |access-date=July 14, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000525114925/http://www.mtv.com/mtv/news/gallery/r/rkelly980507.html |archive-date=May 25, 2000}}</ref> and the noise charge on July 22 that year.<ref>{{cite news |title=R. Kelly Free To Kick Out The Car Jams |publisher=MTV News |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1430770/19980722/kelly_r.jhtml |url-status=dead |access-date=July 14, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000525114925/http://www.mtv.com/mtv/news/gallery/r/rkelly980507.html |archive-date=May 25, 2000}}</ref>
* '''March 6, 2019''': Kelly was taken to the [[Cook County Jail]] after [[Deadbeat parent|failing to pay child support]] in the amount of $161,633 to his former wife, Andrea. Three days later, he was released after someone, whose identity was withheld, paid off the child support on his behalf. His lawyer says he could not discuss the payment due to a [[gag order]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Babwin |first1=Don |last2=Crawford |first2=Teresa |date=March 10, 2019 |title=R. Kelly: 'We're going to straighten all this stuff out' |url=https://apnews.com/e1a087aaec8643b0b5535b88bf5a01c0 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/https://apnews.com/e1a087aaec8643b0b5535b88bf5a01c0 |archive-date=2021-09-28 |access-date=March 24, 2019 |website=Associated Press}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

==== Civil suits ====
* '''November 1, 2004''': Kelly launched a $75 million lawsuit against former friend Jay-Z and several concert organizers and/or promoters for removing him from the ''Best of Both Worlds'' tour.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Devenish |first=Colin |date=2004-11-02 |title=R. Kelly Sues Jay-Z |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/r-kelly-sues-jay-z-110036/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US |access-date=2022-04-04}}</ref> The lawsuit for [[breach of contract]], which sought $75 million in damages ($60 million in [[punitive damages]] and $15 million [[Damages#Compensatory damages|for lost income]]) was a result of not being able to tour.<ref>{{Cite magazine |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=2004-11-02 |title=R. Kelly Files $75 Million Lawsuit Against Jay-Z |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/r-kelly-files-75-million-lawsuit-against-jay-z-65820/ |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US |access-date=2022-04-04}}</ref>
* '''January 2005''': Jay-Z countersued the singer, claiming Kelly showed erratic behavior including being late or absent attendances, vacating deadlines, and continued demands or requests that led to several cancellations and resulted in loss of gross. Kelly's lawyers challenged it as "inaccurate smears of [Mr. Kelly] that are utterly irrelevant to the issues of the case" but confirmed the rapper's refusal to continue work with Kelly after the Madison Square Garden incident and thus broke the contract.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Mar |first=Alex |date=2005-02-03 |title=Jay-Z Countersues R. Kelly |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/jay-z-countersues-r-kelly-102164/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US |access-date=2022-04-04}}</ref> Jay-Z's counter suit was dismissed by a judge that May.<ref>{{cite news |last=Harris |first=Chris |date=November 7, 2005 |title=R. Kelly Sues Jay-Z&nbsp;— Again |publisher=MTV News |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1513117/20051107/kelly_r.jhtml |url-status=dead |access-date=July 12, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051128065531/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1513117/20051107/kelly_r.jhtml |archive-date=November 28, 2005}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Archive-Brandee-J-Tecson |title=Jay-Z's Countersuit Against R. Kelly Thrown Out |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1502430/jay-zs-countersuit-against-r-kelly-thrown-out/ |access-date=2022-04-04 |website=MTV News |language=en}}</ref>
* '''November 2005''': Kelly sued Jay-Z again, claiming that now [[Roc Nation]] executive Tyran "Ty Ty" Smith was awarded with the position of vice president at the [[Artists and repertoire|artist and repertoire]] department of Def Jam Recordings (which Jay was president of at the time), as a result of the latter pepper-spraying Kelly on October 29, 2004.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Archive-Chris-Harris |title=R. Kelly Sues Jay-Z — Again |url=https://www.mtv.com/news/1513117/r-kelly-sues-jay-z-again/ |access-date=2022-04-04 |website=MTV News |language=en}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Kelly's mother, Joanne, died from cancer in 1993.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/troubled-life-times-kelly-gallery-1.3336130?pmSlide=1.3336113|title=R. Kelly and his mother, 1993 - Photos - The troubled life and times of R. Kelly|website=Daily News|location=New York|access-date=March 26, 2018}}</ref> He has given conflicting accounts of where he was during his mother's passing.<ref name="Heath-2016a"/> His oldest daughter, JoAnn (b. 1998), was named after the singer's mother, but is also known as Buku Abi.<ref>{{Cite web |agency=Associated Press |date=2019-09-04 |title=R. Kelly's Daughter Opens Up About Family Life in Rare Interview |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/music-news/r-kellys-daughter-opens-up-father-rare-interview-1236695/ |access-date=2022-07-06 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 1996, Kelly married [[Andrea Kelly]] (née Lee), his former [[backup dancer]] and mother of his three children, the aforementioned JoAnn, as well as Jaah (b. 2000), and Robert, Jr. (b. 2002).<ref name="Pallasch-2007">{{cite web|last=Pallasch|first=Abdon M.|date=May 2007|title=Unfinished Business|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oyYEAAAAMBAJ&q=r+kelly+andrea+kelly+divorce+joann+jaya+robert&pg=PA83|access-date=March 11, 2015|website=Vibe Magazine}}{{Dead link|date=February 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Kellaway|first=Mitch|date=July 8, 2014|title=R. Kelly's Ex, Jay Kelly's Mom, On Loving Their Trans Son|url=http://www.advocate.com/parenting/2014/07/08/r-kellys-ex-jay-kellys-mom-loving-their-trans-son|url-status=live|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/http://www.advocate.com/parenting/2014/07/08/r-kellys-ex-jay-kellys-mom-loving-their-trans-son|archive-date=2021-09-28|website=Advocate}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Andrea filed a [[restraining order]] against Kelly in September 2005 after a physical altercation, ultimately filing for divorce in 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.essence.com/news/r-kellys-wife-speak-out-notes-on-a-scand/| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/https://www.essence.com/news/r-kellys-wife-speak-out-notes-on-a-scand/| archive-date=2021-09-28|title=R. Kelly's Wife Speak Out: Notes On A Scandal|date=December 16, 2009|website=Essence}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In January 2009, their divorce was finalized after 13 years of marriage.<ref name="Finalized">{{cite web|last=Reid|first=Shaheem|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1602377/r-kellys-divorce-finalized/|title=R. Kelly's Divorce Finalized|publisher=MTV|date=January 9, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090114024030/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1602377/20090109/kelly_r.jhtml|archive-date=January 14, 2009|access-date=September 12, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20251074,00.html?xid=rss-topheadlines|title=R. Kelly & Wife Finalize Divorce - Divorced, R. Kelly|last=Lewis|first=Debra|work=People|access-date=September 10, 2012|archive-date=November 20, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121120212946/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20251074,00.html?xid=rss-topheadlines|url-status=dead}}</ref> In later years, Andrea accused Kelly of physical, verbal, and mental abuse, including in ''Surviving R. Kelly'' (2019).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Andrea Kelly Has A Message For Those Looking To 'Expose' Her |url=https://www.essence.com/celebrity/r-kelly-ex-wife-andrea-kelly-no-longer-afraid/ |access-date=2022-07-06 |website=Essence |date=October 23, 2020 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=R. Kelly's Ex-Wife Andrea Kelly's Interview In 'Surviving R. Kelly' Is Not The First Time She's Spoken About Her Experience |url=https://www.bustle.com/p/r-kellys-ex-wife-andrea-kellys-interview-in-surviving-r-kelly-is-not-the-first-time-shes-spoken-about-her-experience-15648288 |access-date=2022-07-06 |website=Bustle |date=January 4, 2019 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last1=Iasimone |first1=Ashley |date=2018-10-07 |title=R. Kelly's Ex-Wife Details Alleged Abuse: 'I Thought I Was Gonna Die' |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/r-kelly-abuse-allegations-ex-wife-andrea-kelly-the-view-8478566/ |access-date=2022-07-06 |magazine=Billboard |language=en-US}}</ref>

Kelly reportedly had a long relationship with gospel singer [[Deleon Richards]] in the 1990s. In 2005, a Chicago man was charged for attempting to extort Richards' husband, [[Gary Sheffield]], by allegedly threatening to release a sex tape of Richards with an ex-boyfriend, reportedly Kelly.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Oberfield |first1=Gabriel S. |title='Activist' pleads not guilty in extortion case |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122517478/activist-pleads-not-guilty-in/ |access-date=8 April 2023 |work=[[The Times of Northwest Indiana]] |agency=Medill News Service |date=18 February 2005 |pages=}}</ref> In January 2006, the man was sentenced to 27 months in prison.<ref>{{cite news |date=19 January 2006 |title=Man Sentenced in Sheffield Case |pages=24 |work=[[Clarion-Ledger]] |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/122538840/man-sentenced-in-sheffield-case/ |access-date=9 April 2023}}</ref>

===Philanthropy===

* In April 2007, Kelly released the song "Rise Up" for [[Virginia Tech]] after the [[Virginia Tech shooting|2007 school shooting]] and donated the net proceeds to the families of the victims.<ref>{{cite web|date=May 2, 2007|title=R. Kelly Releases VA Tech Tribute|url=http://www.dallasblack.com/entertainment/kellyvatribute|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305062832/http://www.dallasblack.com/entertainment/kellyvatribute|archive-date=March 5, 2016|access-date=February 27, 2016|work=dallasblack.com|publisher=Associated Press}}</ref>
* In 2010, Kelly penned the song "[[Sign of a Victory]]" for the [[FIFA World Cup]], with all proceeds benefiting African charities.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/r-kelly-pens-new-single-for-charity-2010215| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/http://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/r-kelly-pens-new-single-for-charity-2010215| archive-date=2021-09-28|title=R. Kelly Pens New Single for Charity|date=May 21, 2010|work=Us Weekly|access-date=March 11, 2015}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
* On April 6, 2011, he performed at a charity event in Chicago benefiting Clara's House, a facility designed to build employment, housing, health care, and education in the projects of Chicago.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://theurbandaily.com/2011/04/06/r-kelly-covers-sam-cooke-classics-at-chicago-charity-event-video/| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/http://theurbandaily.com/2011/04/06/r-kelly-covers-sam-cooke-classics-at-chicago-charity-event-video/| archive-date=2021-09-28|title=R Kelly's Private Performance for Clara's House|date=April 6, 2011|work=theurbandaily.com|access-date=February 27, 2016}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
* In 2016, Kelly donated cases of water to the [[Flint water crisis]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.daily-journal.com/news/local/local-drive-replenishes-flint-water-supply/article_d2c156e2-e435-59ba-81cc-fbb0bcf295d3.html| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/http://www.daily-journal.com/news/local/local-drive-replenishes-flint-water-supply/article_d2c156e2-e435-59ba-81cc-fbb0bcf295d3.html| archive-date=2021-09-28|title=Local drive replenishes Flint water supply|date=February 22, 2016|work=daily-journal.com|access-date=February 27, 2016}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

== Discography ==
{{See also|R. Kelly discography|R. Kelly production discography|R. Kelly videography}}
'''Studio albums'''

* ''[[Born into the 90's]]'' (1992)
* ''[[12 Play]]'' (1993)
* ''[[R. Kelly (album)|R. Kelly]]'' (1995)
* ''[[R. (R. Kelly album)|R.]]'' (1998)
* ''[[TP-2.com]]'' (2000)
* ''[[Chocolate Factory]]'' (2003)
* ''[[Happy People/U Saved Me]]'' (2004)
* ''[[TP.3 Reloaded]]'' (2005)
* ''[[Double Up (R. Kelly album)|Double Up]]'' (2007)
* ''[[Untitled (R. Kelly album)|Untitled]]'' (2009)
* ''[[Love Letter (R. Kelly album)|Love Letter]]'' (2010)
* ''[[Write Me Back]]'' (2012)
* ''[[Black Panties]]'' (2013)
* ''[[The Buffet]]'' (2015)
* ''[[12 Nights of Christmas]]'' (2016)
* ''I Admit It'' (2022)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.tmz.com/2022/12/09/r-kelly-new-album-i-admit-it-prison-spotify-apple-music/ | title=R. Kelly Drops Album, 'I Admit It' While Locked up for Federal Sex Crimes }}</ref>

'''Collaborative albums'''

* ''[[The Best of Both Worlds (Jay-Z and R. Kelly album)|The Best of Both Worlds]]'' <small>(with [[Jay-Z]])</small> (2002)
* ''[[Unfinished Business (Jay-Z and R. Kelly album)|Unfinished Business]]'' <small>(with Jay-Z)</small> (2004)

== Tours ==
Kelly toured extensively as a live musician. His [[concert tour]]s included:
*60653 Tour <small>(w/ [[Public Announcement]])</small> (1993)<ref name="AP Timeline" />
*The Very Necessary 12 Play Tour <small>(with [[Salt-N-Pepa]])</small> (1994)<ref>{{Cite news |last=Tharp |first=Robert |date=May 24, 1994 |title=R. Kelly, Salt 'n' Pepa Impress with Sexiness |pages=Section E, Page 3 |work=Fort Worth Star-Telegram}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Hinckley |first=David |date=May 27, 1994 |title=Whatta Band: Salt-n-Pepa at Radio City |pages=55 |work=Daily News}}</ref>
*The Down Low Top Secret Tour <small>(with [[LL Cool J]] and [[Xscape (band)|Xscape]])</small> (1996)<ref name="Pareles-1996" />
*The Get Up on a Room Tour <small>(with [[Kelly Price]], [[Nas]], [[Foxy Brown (rapper)|Foxy Brown]], and [[Deborah Cox]])</small> (1999)
*The TP-2.com Tour <small>(with [[Sunshine Anderson]] and [[Syleena Johnson]])</small> (2001)
*The Key in the Ignition Tour <small>(with [[Ashanti (entertainer)|Ashanti]])</small> (2003)
*[[Unfinished Business (Jay-Z and R. Kelly album)#Best of Both Worlds tour|The Best Of Both Worlds Tour]] <small>(with [[Jay-Z]]</small>) (2004)<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Devenish |first=Colin |date=2004-11-01 |title=Jay-Z Boots R. Kelly |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/jay-z-boots-r-kelly-111606 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US |access-date=2021-10-23}}</ref>
*[[The Light It Up Tour]] (2006)
*The Double Up Tour <small>(with [[J. Holiday]] and [[Keyshia Cole]])</small> (2007)
*The Ladies Make Some Noise Tour (<small>with [[K. Michelle]])</small> (2009)
*[[Love Letter Tour]] <small>(with [[Keyshia Cole]] and [[Marsha Ambrosius]])</small> (2011)
*The Single Ladies Tour <small>(with [[Tamia]])</small> (2012–13)
*Black Panties Tour (2014–16)
*[[The Buffet Tour]] (2016)

==Books==
*''[[Soulacoaster: The Diary of Me]]'' (2012, autobiography)<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/exclusive-book-excerpt-r-kellys-soulacoaster-the-diary-of-me-20120626| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/exclusive-book-excerpt-r-kellys-soulacoaster-the-diary-of-me-20120626| archive-date=2021-09-28|title=Exclusive Book Excerpt: R. Kelly's 'Soulacoaster: The Diary of Me'|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=June 26, 2012|access-date=March 11, 2015}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[List of artists who reached number one in the United States]]
*[[List of Billboard number-one singles]]
*[[List of highest-certified music artists in the United States]]
*[[List of songs recorded by R. Kelly]]
*[[List of songs written and produced by R. Kelly]]
*[[List of unreleased songs recorded by R. Kelly]]
*[[Shaggy defense]]
*[[Ian Watkins (Lostprophets singer)|Ian Watkins]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*{{Cite web|title= R. Kelly's official website | url=https://r-kelly.com/ | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20210928233259/http://r-kelly.com/ | archive-date=2021-09-28 | url-status=live}}{{cbignore}}
*{{allMusic}}
*{{IMDb name}}
*[https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p060m6qx/r-kelly-sex-girls-videotapes R. Kelly: Sex, Girls and Videotapes], BBC documentary, March 28, 2018

{{R. Kelly}}
{{R. Kelly singles}}
{{Navboxes
|title=Articles related to R. Kelly
|list1=
{{12 Play}}
{{Public Announcement}}
{{American Music Award for Favorite Soul/R&B Male Artist}}
{{BET Award for Best Male R&B Artist}}
{{Grammy Award for Best Song Written for Visual Media}}
{{NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Male Artist}}
{{NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Music Video}}
{{NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Song}}
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== Eksterne skakels ==
{{Portal bar|R&B and Soul Music|Biography|Music}}
* {{IMDb|1448567|Robert Kelly}}


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[[Kategorie:Geboortes in 1970]]
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Wysiging soos op 17:51, 4 Desember 2023

Robert Kelly
'n Beeld van die betrokke persoonlikheid.
Geboorte 8 Oktober 1970 (1970-10-08) (53 jaar oud)
Nasionaliteit Amerikaans
Beroep(e) Akteur
Internet-rolprentdatabasis-profiel

Robert Kelly (gebore 8 Oktober 1970) is 'n Amerikaanse akteur.

Eksterne skakels

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