R Kelly Tour
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R Kelly 2014 Black Panties Tour Opening Band: Tamar Braxton
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Frequently Asked Questions
What songs will R. Kelly play in concert?
R. Kelly is a bit versatile in his song selections each time out. He knows to play the hits but he also has enough sense to mix up the second-tier cuts enough to keep fans on their toes. The setlist from one show to the next are almost identical within the tour. But from one tour to the next, the set can change up quite a bit.
A lot of this has to do with R. Kelly’s consistent recording output. Like clockwork, R. Kelly has delivered an album almost every year since his solo debut, 12 Play, in 1993, and in the last five years he has released five records.
The setlist carries a few major gems from the previous record and makes room for a handful of selections from the next record. In this case, it is the 2013 release of Black Panties. Kelly only plays two or three songs from the record, but he makes them count by performing “Legs Shakin” as well as “My Story.”
R. Kelly has a rather massive discography worth looking into, and because the themes of all his material are pretty well the same, with sex and love-making, he can switch the setlist out often without affecting any kind of tonal theme or shift. He performs “Bump and Grind” from his debut, as well as “You Remind Me of Something” from that self-titled follow-up. The later is sometimes switched out for another early career cut such as “Home Alone.”
Ignition
Hotel
Flashing Lights
Go Getta
You Remind Me of Something
Gigolo
Freaky in the Club
Home Alone
Wonderful
Number One Hit
Promise
Your Body’s Callin’
Bump N’ Grind
Sex in the Kitchen
Strip for You
Half on a Baby
Down Low
Feelin’ on Yo Booty
Happy People
Step in the Name of Love
When a Woman Loves
My Mind’s Tellin’ Me No
I Believe I Can Fly
Heaven I Need a Hug
How about “Trapped in the Closet?”
R. Kelly reached stratospheric popularity in 2005 when he first brought “Trapped in the Closet” out to the world. This self-described hip hopera is a multi-song story about a one night stand turning into a daring ride of treachery and betrayal. R. Kelly does not play the first part of the song nor any other part in the series during his show. This is fine, because it is a separate entity entirely and does not fit with his R&B dance music.
What covers does R. Kelly like to play?
R. Kelly has a rotating wheel of cover songs he brings out in his setlists and they rarely stay the same from one tour to the next. There are about six in total that is made up of covers. For 2014 he switches between some intriguing choices in hip hop and R&B. Perhaps the most well known is Kanye West’s “Flashing Lights” with its classical pulsating backbeat. He honors Young Jeezy, oddly enough, with a more laidback spin of “Go Getta.” His hip hop picks are especially bizarre, with a cover of Ja Rule’s ballad, “Wonderful” and Nick Cannon’s “Gigolo.” Both these artists are pretty obsolete now in the world of hip hop, making choices like Snoop Dogg’s “That’s That Shit” all the more out of place.
How long is a R Kelly concert?
R. Kelly plays for upwards of two hours at his shows.
Who is opening the show?
The Toni Braxton repertoire continues to grow, and its newest entrant is the famed artist’s youngest sister, Tamar Braxton. Tamar is opening up the show with her own approach to R&B. She brings a background in acting as well as reality television, which definitely plays off well in both her stage presence and her improvisation with the audience. She is touring on her third album, Winter Loversland, released in 2013.
Who R. Kelly’s publicist and press contact?
R. Kelly works with the very famous Red Light Management Team. You can contact them and expect a reliable answer back through their official R. Kelly media channel, rkelly@redlightmanagement.com.
How do I get access to presale tickets for R. Kelly’s tour?
R. Kelly provides presale options through his official ‘Tour Talk’ page. The presale passwords are often given on official social media feeds and through the fan club itself. Fans can also follow the American Express platform for presales, but only if they have an American Express card. Otherwise, you are left working through the official fan club, which is not always consistent, or the independent resource Presale Passwords Info.
Concert Reviews
“For his latest venture on the road – dubbed the “Single Ladies Tour” – R. Kelly transformed the Milwaukee Theatre on Saturday into a wild party for his shrieking, dancing female fans and some of the dressed-to-impress fellas scattered throughout the approximately two-thirds-full theater.” – Piet Levy of the Journal Sentinel
“What other artist could, or would want to, do a show that was essentially one extended medley? While other major artists shy away from greatest-hits shows, Kelly does all the hits, often at the expense of new material. The big-voiced Kelly, decked out in all white along with his band and a stage set that included a runway jetting into the crowd, appeared atop a lighted staircase in dramatic fashion for opening song “Your Body’s Calling,” a staple from his 1993 album “12 Play.” – Kevin Johnson of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch
“Mr. Kelly may not be subtle, but never let it be said that he hasn’t developed a sense of humor over the years. He’s by far the most theatrical figure in R&B. The show opened with a short video depicting him as a 1930s club singer on the verge of a big tour, gabbing with his moll. (At the end of the show came the blooper reel.)” – John Caramanica of the New York Times
Tour Archive
The Single Ladies Tour 2012
Tour Opening Acts: Tamia
Started October 13, 2012 in Columbia, South Carolina | Ended December 7, 2012 in Merrilville, Indiana
Love Letter Tour 2011
Tour Opening Acts: Marsha Ambrosius, Keyshia Cole
Started June 2, 2011 in Southaven, Mississippi | Ended July 14, 2011 in Nashville, Tennessee
The Ladies Make Some Noise Tour 2009
Tour Opening Acts: NA
Started October 8, 2009 in Mashantucket, Connecticut | Ended December 8, 2009 in St. Louis, Missouri
The Double Up Tour 2007
Tour Opening Acts: J. Holiday, Keyshia Cole
Started November 14, 2007 in Columbus, Georgia | Ended January 12, 2008 in Hampton, California
The Best of Both Worlds Tour 2004
Tour Opening Acts: Jay-Z
Started September 29, 2004 in Rosemont, Illinois | Ended October 29, 2004 in New York City, New York
The Key in the Ignition Tour 2003
Tour Opening Acts: Ashanti
Started May 10, 2003 in Little Rock, Arkansas | Ended June 22, 2003 in Chicago, Illinois
The TP-2 Tour 2001
Tour Opening Acts: Syleena Johnson, Sunshine Anderson
Started March 9, 2001 in Kansas City, Missouri | Ended April 29, 2001 in Minneapolis, Minnesota
The Get Up on a Room Tour 1999
Tour Opening Acts: Foxy Brown, Nas, Deborah Cox, Kelly Price
The Down Low Top Secret Tour 1996
Tour Opening Acts: LL Cool J, Xscape
The 12 Play Very Necessary Tour 1994
Tour Opening Acts: Salt-N-Pepa