Robert Sylvester Kelly, known as R. Kelly, is an American former singer, songwriter, and record producer renowned for his influence in R&B, hip hop, and pop music. Dubbed 'the King of R&B' and 'the Pied Piper of R&B', he achieved significant commercial success before his career was abruptly ended in 2019 due to legal issues. Kelly was arrested and convicted on federal racketeering and sex trafficking charges, including the sexual abuse of minors.
January 8, 1967: Birth of Robert Sylvester Kelly
On January 8, 1967, Robert Sylvester Kelly was born. He would later become an influential American singer, songwriter, and record producer, known for his significant contributions to R&B, hip hop, and pop music.
September 1980: Entered Kenwood Academy
In September 1980, R. Kelly entered Kenwood Academy, where his music teacher encouraged him to perform, leading to a significant turning point in his life. This was also the period when he was diagnosed with dyslexia.
1989: Formation of MGM
In 1989, R. Kelly formed the group MGM (Musically Gifted Men or Mentally Gifted Men) with Marc McWilliams, Vincent Walker, and Shawn Brooks, marking the beginning of his professional music career.
1990: MGM Signs with Tavdash Records
In 1990, MGM signed a contract with Tavdash Records and released their single 'Why You Wanna Play Me', gaining initial recognition in the music industry.
1991: Winning Big Break Talent Show
In 1991, MGM won the $100,000 grand prize on the talent TV show Big Break, which significantly boosted R. Kelly's career before the group disbanded.
1991: Signed with Jive Records
In 1991, R. Kelly signed with Jive Records, marking the beginning of his solo career.
1991: Alleged sexual relations with Tiffany Hawkins
In 1991, Tiffany Hawkins alleged that R. Kelly had sexual relations with her when she was 15 and he was 24, marking the beginning of several accusations of sexual abuse against him.
1992: Release of 'Born into the 90's'
In early 1992, R. Kelly released his debut album 'Born into the 90's' with Public Announcement, which included several R&B hits.
November 9, 1993: Release of '12 Play'
On November 9, 1993, R. Kelly released his first solo album, '12 Play', which included the hit single 'Bump N' Grind'.
1993: Separation from Public Announcement
In 1993, R. Kelly separated from Public Announcement to pursue a solo career.
1993: Death of Kelly's mother
In 1993, R. Kelly's mother, Joanne, died from cancer. Kelly has given conflicting accounts of where he was during her passing.
1994: Established as Leading Producer
In 1994, R. Kelly established himself as a leading music producer by producing songs for prominent artists such as Aaliyah and Janet Jackson.
1994: Success of '12 Play'
In 1994, R. Kelly's album '12 Play' was certified Gold by the RIAA and went on to achieve six times platinum status.
November 14, 1995: Release of Second Studio Album 'R. Kelly'
On November 14, 1995, R. Kelly released his second studio album 'R. Kelly', which was praised for its artistic growth and maturity.
December 1995: Critical Acclaim for 'R. Kelly'
In December 1995, Professor Michael Eric Dyson critiqued R. Kelly's self-titled album for VIBE, highlighting his artistic growth and personal transformation.
1995: First Grammy Nominations
In 1995, R. Kelly received his first Grammy nominations for writing, producing, and composing Michael Jackson's hit 'You Are Not Alone'.
November 26, 1996: Release of "I Believe I Can Fly"
On November 26, 1996, Kelly released "I Believe I Can Fly", an inspirational song that became a massive hit, reaching No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 1 on the UK charts for three weeks. The song was originally released on the soundtrack for the film Space Jam.
1996: Marriage to Andrea Kelly
In 1996, R. Kelly married Andrea Kelly, his former backup dancer and mother of his three children.
1996: Grammy Nomination for 'You Are Not Alone'
In 1996, R. Kelly received a Grammy Award nomination for his songwriting and production on Michael Jackson's single 'You Are Not Alone', which also earned a Guinness World Record.
1996: First civil suit by Tiffany Hawkins
In 1996, Tiffany Hawkins filed the first civil suit against R. Kelly, alleging sexual relations with her starting in 1991 when she was 15.
1997: Signed with Atlantic City Seagulls
In 1997, Kelly signed a contract to play professional basketball with the Atlantic City Seagulls of the USBL, wearing the number 12 in honor of his album 12 Play. His contract allowed him to fulfill music obligations as needed.
1997: Article on R. Kelly's musical style
In 1997, Nunyo Demasio wrote for the New York Daily News about R. Kelly's international celebrity status and his ability to blend streetwise rhythms with sexually explicit lyrics. Chicago Sun-Times reporters Jim DeRogatis and Abdon Pallasch observed his "R&B Thug" image merging the gangsta rapper persona with R&B.
November 17, 1998: Release of Album "R"
On November 17, 1998, Kelly released his fourth studio and first double album, R. The album spans various genres and was described as his most ambitious project to date.
1998: Collaboration with Celine Dion on 'I'm Your Angel'
In 1998, R. Kelly collaborated with Celine Dion on the song 'I'm Your Angel', which achieved notable success, further solidifying his career as a prominent music producer and songwriter.
1998: Birth of Kelly's oldest daughter
In 1998, R. Kelly's oldest daughter, JoAnn, was born. She was named after Kelly's mother but is also known as Buku Abi.
1998: Number one single with Celine Dion
In 1998, R. Kelly and Celine Dion released the number one single "I'm Your Angel".
1998: Launch of Rockland Records
In 1998, Kelly launched his own label, Rockland Records, under a distribution deal with Interscope Records. The label's roster included several artists, and its first signed artist, Sparkle, released a debut album in May.
1998: Grammy Awards for 'I Believe I Can Fly'
In 1998, R. Kelly won three Grammy Awards for his hit single 'I Believe I Can Fly', marking a high point in his music career.
1998: Grammy Awards for "I Believe I Can Fly"
In 1998, Kelly's song "I Believe I Can Fly" won three Grammy Awards. This same year, he contributed to "Freak Tonight" for the A Thin Line Between Love and Hate soundtrack.
1999: Soundtrack for Film "Life"
In 1999, Kelly wrote and produced the majority of the soundtrack for the film Life, featuring tracks by artists like K-Ci & JoJo and Destiny's Child. The soundtrack was released under his Rockland Records imprint.
January 2000: American Music Awards Win
In January 2000, Kelly won Favorite Male Soul/R&B Artist at the American Music Awards. The following month, he received several Grammy nominations.
August 2000: Long-term investigation by Chicago Sun-Times
Starting in August 2000, R. Kelly was the subject of a long-term investigation by the Chicago Sun-Times over repeated accusations of sexual abuse dating from 1991 to 2018.
November 7, 2000: Release of Album TP-2.com
On November 7, 2000, Kelly released his fifth studio album, TP-2.com, which received critical acclaim and was noted for its alignment with his earlier breakthrough album, 12 Play.
December 2000: Sparkle's Debut Album Certified Platinum
In December 2000, the debut album of Sparkle, the first artist signed to Kelly's Rockland Records, was certified platinum. Kelly produced, wrote, and contributed vocally to the album.
2000: Birth of second child
In 2000, R. Kelly's second child, Jaah, was born.
2001: MOBO Award and Billboard Ranking
In 2001, Kelly won the Outstanding Achievement Award at the Music of Black Origin (MOBO) Awards. Additionally, Billboard magazine ranked his album TP-2.com as number 94 on the Top 200 Albums of the Decade.
January 24, 2002: Press Conference for The Best of Both Worlds
On January 24, 2002, a press conference was held to announce the completion of Kelly and Jay-Z's first collaborative album, The Best of Both Worlds. Celebrities praised the album and Jay-Z expressed hopes for unity among black people.
February 8, 2002: Performance at 2002 Winter Olympics Closing Ceremony
On February 8, 2002, Kelly performed at the closing ceremony of the 2002 Winter Olympics, despite being embroiled in a sex tape scandal involving an underage girl.
February 22, 2002: Leak of The Best of Both Worlds
Following a leak of the joint album The Best of Both Worlds on February 22, 2002, Roc-A-Fella and Jive moved the release date one week earlier in an effort to curtail piracy.
March 19, 2002: Release of The Best of Both Worlds
Upon its 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, despite being a critical and commercial disappointment.
May 2002: Leak of Loveland and Work on Chocolate Factory
In May 2002, a bootleg copy of Kelly's upcoming album Loveland was leaked. In response, Kelly began work on a new album, Chocolate Factory, and decided to release Loveland as a deluxe edition bonus disc.
2002: Birth of third child
In 2002, R. Kelly's third child, Robert Jr., was born.
2002: Child pornography charges
In 2002, following leaked video recordings, R. Kelly was prosecuted on child pornography charges.
2002: Child Pornography Charges
In 2002, R. Kelly faced child pornography charges after leaked video recordings. This led to a controversial trial.
February 18, 2003: Release of Chocolate Factory
On February 18, 2003, Kelly released Chocolate Factory, which debuted as the number one album on the Billboard 200, selling 532,000 copies in its first week. The album received critical acclaim and produced several hit singles.
August 24, 2004: Release of Happy People/U Saved Me
On August 24, 2004, Kelly released the double album Happy People/U Saved Me. It debuted at number two on the Billboard 200, with 264,000 copies sold in the first week. The album featured tracks that performed underwhelmingly on the charts.
October 29, 2004: Pepper Spray Incident and Removal from Tour
On October 29, 2004, Kelly was removed from a tour with Jay-Z after a member of Jay-Z's entourage pepper sprayed him. Tyran "Ty Ty" Smith was charged with assault but took a plea deal for disorderly conduct.
2004: Work on TP.3 Reloaded and Trapped in the Closet
In 2004, Kelly finished working on TP.3 Reloaded and the first five chapters of his musical serial, Trapped in the Closet, which were heavily cross-promoted.
July 2005: Release of TP.3 Reloaded
In July 2005, Kelly released TP.3 Reloaded, his fifth consecutive number-one album. The album was promoted alongside the first five chapters of his musical serial, Trapped in the Closet.
September 2005: Restraining order filed by Andrea Kelly
In September 2005, Andrea Kelly, R. Kelly's wife, filed a restraining order against him after a physical altercation.
2005: Commercial Success with "Wonderful"
In 2005, Kelly experienced a commercial rebound by appearing on Ja Rule's single, "Wonderful", which charted at number five on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the UK Singles Chart.
2005: Charges for extortion attempt
In 2005, a Chicago man was charged for attempting to extort Gary Sheffield by allegedly threatening to release a sex tape of Sheffield's wife, Deleon Richards, reportedly involving R. Kelly.
January 2006: Extortion attempt involving Deleon Richards
In January 2006, a Chicago man was sentenced to 27 months in prison for attempting to extort Gary Sheffield by threatening to release a sex tape of Sheffield's wife, Deleon Richards, reportedly involving R. Kelly.
December 2006: Momentum for 'Double Up' Album
In December 2006, R. Kelly built momentum for his upcoming 'Double Up' album by guest-appearing on Bow Wow's 'I'm a Flirt'.
2006: Andrea Kelly files for divorce
In 2006, Andrea Kelly filed for divorce from R. Kelly.
May 15, 2007: Release of 'Rise Up' Single
On May 15, 2007, R. Kelly released a digital download single titled 'Rise Up' as a tribute to the victims of the Virginia Tech shooting. Proceeds were donated to the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund.
May 29, 2007: Release of 'Double Up' Album
On May 29, 2007, R. Kelly released his eighth solo studio album titled 'Double Up'. The album became his sixth and final album to chart at number one on the Billboard 200.
December 2007: Missed Court Hearing
In December 2007, R. Kelly failed to appear at a preliminary court hearing due to his tour bus being held up in Utah. The judge threatened to revoke his bond but eventually decided against it.
2008: Release of 'I'm a Beast' Track
In 2008, R. Kelly released a rap track titled 'I'm a Beast', where he coarsely attacked his detractors without naming them.
2008: Acquittal on child pornography charges
In 2008, R. Kelly was acquitted on all charges in a controversial trial regarding child pornography.
2008: Acquittal on All Charges
In 2008, R. Kelly was acquitted on all child pornography charges following a controversial trial.
2008: Acquitted on Charges and Album Leak
In 2008, R. Kelly was acquitted on charges of producing child sexual abuse material. He planned to release his album '12 Play: Fourth Quarter', but it was postponed and later leaked online.
January 2009: Finalization of divorce from Andrea Kelly
In January 2009, R. Kelly's divorce from Andrea Kelly was finalized after 13 years of marriage. Andrea later accused Kelly of physical, verbal, and mental abuse.
February 2009: Announcement of 'Untitled' Album
In February 2009, R. Kelly announced that he was working on a new album called 'Untitled', initially projected for release in September.
June 2009: Release of First Mixtape
In June 2009, R. Kelly released his first mixtape, 'The "Demo" Tape', presented by DJ Skee and DJ Drama.
June 20, 2009: Performance at Arise African Fashion Awards
On June 20, 2009, R. Kelly headlined the Arise African Fashion Awards in Johannesburg, South Africa.
June 11, 2010: Performance at 2010 FIFA World Cup
On June 11, 2010, R. Kelly performed at the opening ceremony of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
September 2010: Interview in XXL Magazine
In September 2010, R. Kelly revealed in an interview with XXL magazine that he was working on three new albums: 'Epic', 'Love Letter', and 'Zodiac'.
September 21, 2010: European Release of 'Epic' Album
On September 21, 2010, R. Kelly released 'Epic', a compilation album, in Europe.
November 2010: Formation of One8 Supergroup
In November 2010, R. Kelly collaborated with several African musicians to form a supergroup called One8. Their first release was 'Hands Across the World'.
December 14, 2010: Release of 'Love Letter' Album
On December 14, 2010, R. Kelly released his tenth album 'Love Letter', which included a Grammy-nominated single 'When a Woman Loves'.
March 2011: Named No. 1 R&B Artist of Last 25 Years
In March 2011, Billboard named R. Kelly the No. 1 R&B artist of the last 25 years.
March 2011: Named Most Successful R&B Artist by Billboard
In March 2011, Billboard named R. Kelly the most successful R&B artist of the last 25 years, recognizing his significant impact on the music industry.
July 19, 2011: Emergency Throat Surgery
On July 19, 2011, R. Kelly was admitted to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago for emergency throat surgery.
July 21, 2011: Release from Hospital
On July 21, 2011, R. Kelly was released from the hospital after undergoing emergency throat surgery two days prior.
September 23, 2011: Confirmed to Write 'Sparkle' Soundtrack
On September 23, 2011, it was confirmed that R. Kelly would write original music for the 'Sparkle' soundtrack.
December 21, 2011: First Performance Post-Surgery
On December 21, 2011, R. Kelly made his first live performance after throat surgery on The X Factor, receiving generally favorable reviews.
2011: Work on 'Soulacoaster: The Diary of Me'
In 2011, R. Kelly worked with writer David Ritz on an autobiography titled 'Soulacoaster: The Diary of Me', which was released in 2012.
February 2012: Performed at Whitney Houston's Homegoing
In February 2012, R. Kelly performed 'I Look to You', a song he wrote for Whitney Houston, at her homegoing.
2012: Release of 'Soulacoaster: The Diary of Me'
In 2012, R. Kelly released his autobiography 'Soulacoaster: The Diary of Me', written with David Ritz.
2012: Autobiography 'Soulacoaster: The Diary of Me'
In 2012, R. Kelly released his autobiography 'Soulacoaster: The Diary of Me', where he revealed personal experiences including being sexually abused and an incident where he was shot in the shoulder.
June 30, 2013: Performance at BET Awards
On June 30, 2013, R. Kelly performed live at the BET Awards Show, singing hits and his new track 'My Story' featuring Atlanta rapper 2 Chainz.
November 16, 2013: Performance on Saturday Night Live
On November 16, 2013, R. Kelly co-wrote and sang on Lady Gaga's song "Do What U Want" and performed the duet with her on Saturday Night Live.
November 17, 2013: Collaboration with Justin Bieber
On November 17, 2013, R. Kelly and Justin Bieber debuted a collaboration entitled "PYD".
December 10, 2013: Release of 'Black Panties' Album
On December 10, 2013, R. Kelly released his twelfth studio album 'Black Panties', featuring the lead single 'My Story'.
2013: Key to the city of Baton Rouge
In 2013, R. Kelly was given a key to the city of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, as "an artist whose music brings generations together".
2013: Collaborations with various artists
In 2013, R. Kelly collaborated with several prominent artists including Celine Dion, Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, and Jennifer Hudson. He spoke about follow-up work with Celine Dion after their number one single "I'm Your Angel" from 1998. This year also saw Kelly working with Mariah Carey for her album "The Art of Letting Go".
July 2014: Announcement of house music album
In July 2014, R. Kelly announced that he was working on a house music album.
November 2015: Release of singles and album
In November 2015, R. Kelly released several singles including "Switch Up" featuring Jeremih and Lil Wayne, "Wake Up Everybody", "Marching Band", and "Backyard Party". His album "The Buffet" followed the next month, despite charting poorly on the Billboard 200 at number sixteen. He also released a song with Ty Dolla $ign called "Actress" off the album Free TC.
October 21, 2016: Release of Christmas album
On October 21, 2016, R. Kelly released his only Christmas album, "12 Nights of Christmas", marking his fourteenth and final studio album in his career thus far.
July 23, 2018: Release of "I Admit" on SoundCloud
On July 23, 2018, R. Kelly released the 19-minute-long song "I Admit" on SoundCloud as a response to his accusers. The song denies allegations of domestic violence and pedophilia, asserting that they are matters of opinion. Kelly also denounces Jim DeRogatis and the "sex cult" claims, addressing the Mute R. Kelly social media campaign with the lyric "only God can mute me".
2018: Accusations of sexual abuse
R. Kelly faced accusations of sexual abuse for incidents dating from 1991 to 2018, leading to multiple civil suits and criminal trials.
2019: Surviving R. Kelly documentary
In 2019, the documentary "Surviving R. Kelly" reexamined Kelly's alleged sexual misconduct with minors, prompting RCA Records to terminate his contract and leading to additional law enforcement investigations.
2019: Documentary 'Surviving R. Kelly' and Contract Termination
In 2019, the documentary 'Surviving R. Kelly' reexamined his alleged sexual misconduct, leading to RCA Records terminating his contract and prompting additional investigations.
2019: Removal of "Do What U Want" from streaming services
In 2019, Lady Gaga's song "Do What U Want" featuring R. Kelly was removed from streaming services and re-released versions of Gaga's Artpop album following sexual misconduct allegations against Kelly.
2019: Arrest and Career End of R. Kelly
In 2019, R. Kelly's career came to an end following his arrest and subsequent convictions on federal racketeering and sex trafficking charges involving the sexual abuse of minors. His arrest marked a significant turning point in his life and career.
2019: Andrea Kelly's allegations in "Surviving R. Kelly"
In 2019, Andrea Kelly accused R. Kelly of physical, verbal, and mental abuse in the documentary "Surviving R. Kelly".
September 30, 2021: Key to the city rescinded
On September 30, 2021, following his New York conviction of multiple sex crimes, R. Kelly had his key to the city of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, rescinded. He had been given the key in 2013 as "an artist whose music brings generations together".
2021: Conviction for sex crimes
In 2021, R. Kelly was convicted of violations of the Mann Act and Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act.
2021: Convictions on Multiple Charges
In 2021, R. Kelly was convicted on multiple charges involving child sexual abuse, marking a significant legal downfall.
2021: Grammy Awards status post-conviction
In 2021, after R. Kelly's federal conviction in New York, The Recording Academy stated they wouldn't strip Kelly of his Grammy Awards despite his "disturbing" actions.
December 9, 2022: Release of unauthorized album
On December 9, 2022, an album credited to R. Kelly titled "I Admit It" was released on streaming services but was taken down after not being approved by Sony or R. Kelly's team. The album was credited to Sony's Legacy Recordings but actually uploaded by Real Talk Entertainment, leading to Universal Music Group-owned Ingrooves cutting ties with Real Talk Entertainment.
2022: Further Convictions
In 2022, R. Kelly faced further convictions related to child sexual abuse, adding to his legal troubles.
2022: Conviction for child pornography
In 2022, R. Kelly was convicted for production of child pornography.
2023: Serving a 31-year sentence
As of 2023, R. Kelly is serving a 31-year combined sentence at FCI Butner Medium I.
2024: Serving 31-Year Sentence
As of 2024, R. Kelly is serving a 31-year combined sentence at FCI Butner Medium I for his convictions involving child sexual abuse.