2 on the R&B charts and sold 1 million copies. The first single, "Ignition," strung together transparent sexual metaphors ("Let me stick my key in your ignition, babe") and rose to No. Instead, it flaunted Kelly's reputation as a sex freak. A 2002 album, "Loveland," was scrapped and a joint album with hip-hop kingpin Jay-Z, "The Best of Both Worlds," flopped.īut his 2003 release, "Chocolate Factory," sold 2 million copies. When the child pornography charges were pressed, Kelly's career briefly stalled.
A fourth reached an out-of-court settlement with the singer. At least three women filed lawsuits stating they had sex with him before turning 17. Civil proceedings followed over the years. Though the singer didn't mention it at the time, he was dogged by rumors of improper sexual activities. I used to be flying in sin - now I'm flying in Jesus." I've come to find out that whatever it is you want, it's in the Lord. Every day I seem to be falling in love with the Lord. "Some may think it's a gimmick, but I tell you, here stands a broken man. Some of Kelly's explicit ballads had dark undercurrents, and the conflict between sexuality and spirituality was central to his 1998 album, "R." He wrestled with personal demons on tracks such as "When a Woman's Fed Up" and "Suicide."ĭuring a Chicago concert by gospel singer Kirk Franklin in 1997, Kelly strolled on stage and obliquely addressed some of his private turmoil: "It amazes me when I look back eight months ago - cars, women, money, the media. His self-empowerment ballad "I Believe I Can Fly," featured in the Michael Jordan movie "Space Jam," crossed him over to a huge mainstream audience. He helped launch the career of R&B singer Aaliyah (he also married the then-15-year-old singer in secrecy, only to have the marriage annulled soon after) and collaborated with Michael Jackson, Celine Dion, Kirk Frankin and Sean "Puffy" Combs, among others. Kelly's 1993 album, "12 Play," sold 8 million copies, and soon he was among pop's most successful quadruple-threat artists: singer, songwriter, producer and performer. In every one of James Bond's movies, he had a fine girl.
"If you go to a movie and there's no sex scene, it's not a good movie. "It's no secret sex sells," Kelly told the Tribune in a 1994 interview.
He was signed to a record deal based on a performance at a backyard barbecue, and he was an instant success with a style that combined hip-hop's thuggish street pose with R&B's pleading vocals in a way that appealed to millions of young listeners. While in his teens, he brought a portable keyboard to elevated train stops and sang for tips. Robert Kelly grew up on the South Side, where he attended Kenwood Academy in Hyde Park and sang in a Baptist church choir.
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