Despite his legal troubles, Kelly’s musical career has continued to flourish.
His latest album, “Chocolate Factory,” has sold more than 2 million copies since its February release and the track “Snake (Remix)” is this year’s fastest selling single. No other artist has more top-10 hits to his name than Kelly.
The 36-year-old performer who was charged last year on several counts of child pornography, which stem from a bootlegged videotape allegedly showing him having sex with a minor, ignored his legal woes and picketers outside the Forum Club brandishing “Kelly Get Help” banners, and instead skillfully delivered several medleys of his top hits.
The versatile singer, songwriter and producer, who hasn’t been allowed to leave the Chicago area without a judge’s say so, was recently granted permission to play several concert dates in the coming weeks, including five Nationwide headlining shows in August before he’s due back in a Chicago courtroom. Casting his worries aside, the beleaguered R&B super stud who in 1994 made his solo debut – the No. 1 pop and R&B single “Bump n’ Grind,”’ told cheering fans, “I came a long way not to be myself tonight and I gotta do my show.” With that Kelly lunged into a 90 minute set belting out several hits including “Fiesta”, “I Wish,” “Heaven I Need A Hug”, “When a Woman’s Fed Up”, “Ignition,” and “A Song For You,” which he dedicated to his late mother and received a standing ovation. Inviting fans to join him for a dance party and not the usual striptease as he paced the stage, Kelly displayed an unusual compassion, which went down well with fans.
From the moment he appeared on stage, a little later than scheduled after a brief performance by Ashanti, enigmatic and solemn, cladding a Lakers jersey, a hat and an eye patch, loyal fans, mainly female were on their feet singing along to Kelly’s jukebox of enrapturing rhetoric.
Subdued and serene Kelly the entertainer who usually simulates and suggests sex onstage clearly toned down his raucous act, which normally has him gyrating with shirt off and zipper down. This time the shirt remained on, and the zipper stayed up – perhaps a little cautious with the charges he faces. Kelly’s past performance has included an act, in which he briefly rummaged in the crotch of his leather pants before pulling out a microphone – a display, which he wisely cut out on this occasion. Impressively mixing such diverse styles as salsa, hip-hop, and contemporary rhythm and blues with remarkable ease, he supplied the kind of entertainment you would expect at a church gala choosing not to sing his raunchier tracks like “Feelin’ On Yo Booty and“Freak Dat Body” Shame for perverse or putrid, his vulgarity is his persona.
A remarkable genius whose music is considered an investment – guaranteed to be enjoyed time and time over, Kelly releases his first greatest-hits album, titled “The ‘R.’ in R&B Collection Volume 1,” on Sept. 9 which features his latest single, “Thoia-Thoing,” and is due back in court on Sept. 26 for pretrial proceedings and faces up to 15 years in jail if convicted on all 33 counts of child pornography charges.
