R&B producer and singer-songwriter R. Kelly began recording in 1992 at the tail-end of the new jack swing era, yet he was able to keep much of its sound alive while remaining commercially successful. He was able to make songs like "Sex Me," "Bump n' Grind," "Your Body's Callin'" and "Feelin' on Yo Booty" into hits because his production was seductive enough to sell such blatant come-ons. As his crossover success broadened, Kelly also developed a flair for pop balladry that helped cement his status as one of the biggest-selling male artists of the '90s and 2000s.

Kelly and his R&B group, Public Announcement, released their debut album, Born into the 90's, at the beginning of 1992. "Honey Love" and "Slow Dance (Hey Mr. DJ)" were No. 1 R&B hits, while "Dedicated" was his biggest pop hit at No. 31. 12 Play, released in the fall of 1993, established Kelly as an R&B superstar, eventually selling over five million copies. The first single, "Sex Me, Pts. 1-2," went gold, and the second, "Bump n' Grind," hit No. 1 on both the pop and R&B charts in 1994.

Kelly next wrote and co-produced "You Are Not Alone," the second single from Michael Jackson's HIStory album, which was released in the summer of 1995. Later that year, Kelly released a self-titled album that became his first to top the pop charts. R. Kelly sold four million copies and produced three platinum singles -- "You Remind Me of Something," "Down Low (Nobody Has to Know)" and "I Can't Sleep Baby (If I), "all of which hit No. 1 on the R&B charts and reached the pop top ten.

Kelly truly consolidated his crossover success with the 1996 single "I Believe I Can Fly," which he recorded for the Michael Jordan movie "Space Jam." Transcending Kelly's prior sexed-up image, the song reached No. 2 on the pop charts and won Grammy Awards for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance, Best R&B Song and Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or for Television.

The ambitious two-disc R. followed in 1998, and went platinum seven times over. Its first single, a duet with Celine Dion titled "I'm Your Angel," became Kelly's second No. 1 pop hit with a six-week run on top. Moving his blockbuster success into a new decade, Kelly returned in 2000 with TP-2.com, which spent three weeks at No. 1 on the album charts and scaled back the ambition of R. to return to familiar lyrical themes. He scored two more R&B number ones with "I Wish" and "Fiesta" (the latter featuring guest Jay-Z), and had further hits with "Feelin' on Yo Booty" and "The World's Greatest," the latter from the soundtrack of the Will Smith film "Ali."

In the wake of "Fiesta," Kelly and Jay-Z teamed up to record an entire album together. The Best of Both Worlds was heavily hyped and even more heavily bootlegged, but it entered the charts at No. 2.

Kelly then released Chocolate Factory. The lead single "Ignition" shot to No. 1 on the R&B charts in late 2002. Chocolate Factory itself was released in early 2003, and was followed in 2004 by Happy People/U Saved Me. Surprisingly, despite reports of a feud with Jay-Z, later in 2004 another album was released from The Best of Both Worlds sessions.

In 2005, TP.3 Reloaded was released, featuring the first five chapters of his soapy "Trapped in the Closet" saga. In 2010, Kelly's activity included Epic -- a European release combining some of his widescreen hits with a handful of new "inspirational" songs, including "Sign of a Victory," the anthem he recorded for the opening ceremony of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

After undergoing emergency throat surgery in July 2011, Kelly returned in June of 2012 with a memoir written with David Ritz, "Soulacoaster: The Diary of Me," as well as Write Me Back, his twelfth studio album.

In late 2013, R. Kelly announced with Rap-Up TV that he was planning to release the sequel to the album Black Panties for the summer of 2014, White Panties. He also added that he is finishing up a Christmas album for late 2014 called The 12 Nights Of Christmas. R. Kelly is also planning a tour with R&B singer Mary J. Blige called "The King & Queen Tour" before doing the Black Panties Tour later. He is also going to film and put out more Chapter of his infamous Hip Hopera Trapped in the Closet. R. Kelly has also been recording different songs with Celine Dion, Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, Jennifer Hudson on the track called "It's Your World", and the rapper Scarface as a featured performer on tracks on each of their albums. He has only confirmed one collaboration for his upcoming Black Panties sequel, with pop singer Justin Bieber. Stepping away from his music, R. Kelly is planning to make his debut as a film director and producer sometime during 2014 or 2015 and also plans on taking his musical Trapped in the Closet to Broadway.

In July 2014, Kelly announced at the Chosen Few DJs Picnic in hometown Chicago that he's currently working on a House music album.

1. Kelly released the album The Buffet in 2015.

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