Despite a tumultuous career full of brushes with the law and more than a few stylistic missteps, R. Kelly has managed to solidify himself as one the predominant forces of contemporary R&B. Born in Chicago in 1967, Kelly initially entered the music world as a member of the early 1990s group, Public Announcement. It didn't take him long to decide to branch out on his own, however, and in 1993 he released his debut LP, 12 Play. Working within the scope of everything from lite funk and slow jams, to hip-hop and soul, Kelly's career has always retained a chameleon-like ability to adjust to evolving musical styles and tastes. Casual fans may know him as the singer of popular hits such as "I Believe I Can Fly" and "Ignition," but it's the stranger, more ambitious aspects of Kelly's catalog (such as his 22 chapter hip-hopera, Trapped in the Closet) that have kept him an intriguingly enigmatic figure well into the 21st Century. In addition to his solo work, Kelly has produced, remixed, collaborated with or written songs for the likes of Michael Jackson, Celine Dion, Mary J. Blige and Whitney Houston.
