Largely regarded as a founding father of contemporary R&B, 2013 saw R. Kelly branching out, crooning alongside Lady Gaga on her hit single "Do What U Want" and performing with rapper 2Chainz on "My Story," the lead single from Kelly's 12th studio album Black Panties. Captivating ticket buyers with his sultry hits and power ballads since 1991, Kelly is the author of delirious pop culture hits like "Trapped in the Closet," which evolved from radio single to full blown rap opera. Iconic tracks like "I Believe I Can Fly" and "Ignition (The Remix)" are his calling cards, but Kelly is also a prolific writer and producer -- he famously shepherded late songstress Aaliyah's debut album Age Ain't Nothing But a Number, and produced Michael Jackson's hit "You Are Not Alone." In 2002, Kelly partnered with a rising Jay-Z for a joint record and tour titled The Best of Both Worlds, appealing to a diverse market of music fans long before Watch The Throne was born. With the much-anticipated release of his 12th studio album in 2013, Kelly has fans looking forward to a series of upcoming live concerts in 2014.