Despite child pornography allegations, R. Kelly’s music career is blazing ahead.
Kelly’s new double album from Jive Records, “Happy People/U Saved Me,” drops Tuesday and is expected to extend the success he had with 2003’s “Chocolate Factory,” which sold more than 2.6 million copies in the U.S.
The R&B star also has racked up lots of awards, including seven prizes earlier this month at the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop awards. And his pairing with Jay-Z for a series of small concerts is being called a supertour.
Meanwhile, legal proceedings have inched along since Kelly’s 2002 indictment–keeping him square in the media spotlight–and he’s unlikely to face trial until next year.
So what makes Kelly such a Teflon superstar? The talented hitmaker appears as smooth as ever, topping the R&B charts while weathering the nasty storm of personal problems. How does he do it?
At the end of the day, what fans care about is the music, says Elroy Smith, program director at Chicago’s WGCI-FM 107.5.
“R. Kelly is the No. 1 R&B artist in the world, and to take away his music from his thousands and thousands of fans could hurt this radio station and hurt the fans,” he says.
When the charges surfaced in 2002, WGCI considered whether it should take Kelly’s music off the air, but management decided against it, Smith says.
“He is an icon in terms of music for this city. …We just had to look and say, ‘We’re not going to be the jury here and we’re not going to be the judge.’ “
Kelly’s court appearances, however, draw plenty of attention. Amid such intense public scrutiny, and perhaps as a way to relieve it, Kelly has stayed in the studio and dedicated himself to his music, observers say.
That’s always been his singular focus, attests Grammy-winning producer Hank Neuberger of Chicago Recording Company, where Kelly recorded his early albums and produced Michael Jackson’s last big hit, “You are Not Alone,” in 1995.
“Growing up, music was always the exact center of his life,” Neuberger says of Kelly. “He got out of bed to make music. He went to school because of music class. That is simply the core of his being. I think that helps us understand his success artistically but also his drive.”
Kelly also relies on religion, which comes through in much of his music, friends and associates say.
“Robert is a Christian. He has a lot of inner strength that he pulls from his Christianity and that helps him deal with any and every situation,” says Wayne Williams, who signed Kelly to Jive Records.
After the charges, Kelly said he sought counsel from Rev. James Meeks of the Salem Baptist Church on the South Side. Meeks has publicly supported Kelly, although he did not return calls for this story.
Kelly also declined repeated requests for an interview.
Album sales and the encouraging words posted on many R. Kelly message boards reflect the support that the star’s fans have maintained throughout the scandals.
“I don’t believe all of those things the news is saying about you. I am on your side baby!” a fan posted on www.deejaylink.com.
“You are gonna be acquitted of all those charges. I know you couldn’t have done those things they are accusing you of,” wrote another on www.celebstation.org.
Kelly faces 14 counts of child pornography in Illinois in connection with a videotape that allegedly depicts the now-37-year-old star having sex with an underage girl. Cook County prosecutors dropped seven of the initial 21 charges in February.
Years before the sex tape surfaced, Kelly was accused on several occasions of trying to pick up underage girls. At least three women filed charges alleging the star had sexual relations with them when they were minors. He ended up settling the cases.
And in 1994, more scandal surrounded Kelly when he married 15-year-old Aaliyah (whose album he had just produced), but Aaliyah’s family had the marriage annulled, and the two were separated. The pop star/actress later died in a plane crash in 2001 at the age of 22.
Fans largely overlooked the Aaliyah story, but it’s time the public held Kelly accountable for his behavior, counters Mark Anthony Neal, professor of black pop culture at Duke University.
Neal argues that dismissing the claims of a 13-year-old girl in the current case and excusing Kelly so easily only perpetuates this kind of celebrity privilege.
“We’re enablers. We’re enabling him and his attitude and his personality by continuing to support him and buy his album,” he said. “He’s almost putting all this drama in the face of the fans.”
To a certain extent, Kelly exploits the public’s sympathy through his music by tapping into religious themes, Neal explains.
“There’s a certain kind of arrogance about it. … He is being honest with coming to terms with who he is, but he’s also conscious that it’s going to win him a lot of praise.”
– – –
‘Shock and awe’ tour
The highly anticipated R. Kelly/Jay-Z supertour is back on, the multiplatinum artists announced last week, and at least one Chicago radio station was already giving out free tickets over the weekend.
The Best of Both Worlds Tour will kick off Sept. 30 in Chicago and end up in Phoenix on Nov. 28, but no other specifics for more than 40 other cities were announced.
The R&B hitmaker and star rapper originally planned the tour for 2002 to promote their album of the same name, but those plans crumbled when Kelly was arrested on child pornography charges.
Jay-Z is promising a “shock and awe campaign,” and Kelly is aiming to give fans “something they’ve never seen before.”
Stay tuned for info on ticket sales.
REDEYE
– – –
‘Ignition’ sequence I
February 2002
The Chicago Sun-Times receives a videotape, sent anonymously, allegedly showing Kelly having sex with a minor.
March 19, 2002
R. Kelly’s album with Jay-Z, “The Best of Both Worlds,” is released.
It sells only
1 million copies by June, a dud for Kelly, whose 2000 album, “TP-2.Com,” went triple platinum.
June 2002
Kelly is charged in Chicago with 21 counts of child pornography for allegedly directing the videotape, producing it and enticing an underage girl into illicit acts. He pleads not guilty and is released on $750,000 bail.
October 2002
“Ignition,” Kelly’s sexually explicit first single from “Chocolate Factory,” spends many weeks on various Billboard singles charts.
January 2003
During a court-approved visit to Miami to shoot the “Ignition” video, Kelly is arrested and charged with 12 additional counts of child pornography for allegedly knowingly possessing a representation of sexual conduct by a child. He is released the same day on $12,000 bail. He does not enter a plea.
Feb. 26, 2003
R. Kelly’s sixth album, “Chocolate Factory,” debuts at No. 1 on the Billboard album chart, selling more than 532,000 copies in its first week.
June 25, 2003
R. Kelly wins the BET award for best male R&B artist.
August, 2003
R. Kelly’s “Chocolate Factory” goes double platinum.
Dec. 10
Kelly takes home four top prizes at the Billboard Awards, including Hot 100 producer, R&B producer, Hot 100 songwriter and R&B songwriter.
Jan. 8
Kelly is nominated for an NAACP Image Award, sparking criticism considering the charges against him.
– – –
‘Ignition’ sequence II
Jan. 26
A Cook County judge orders Kelly to stay away from Michael Jackson, who faces child molestation charges, when Kelly attends the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles.
Feb. 27
Cook County prosecutors drop seven of 21 child pornography charges in connection with the videotape.
February
Kelly is nominated for two Grammy awards.
March 17
Florida prosecutors drop all charges.
March
Kelly wins Soul Train
Music Award for best male R&B/soul album for “Chocolate
Factory.”
June 22
A Cook County judge clears Kelly to go on a two-month fall tour, likely postponing trial until 2005.
Aug. 6
Kelly takes home seven awards from the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Awards.
Thursday
Kelly and Jay-Z announce joint Best of Both Worlds Tour to kick off in Chicago on Sept. 30.
Tuesday
Double album “Happy People/U Saved Me” is released.
Sept. 27
Kelly is expected to appear in Cook County court for his next pretrial hearing.
———-
asneumer@tribune.com
