R. Kelly Preps For New Album With Debut Mixtape, "Demo"

Ever since R. Kelly was acquitted of child pornography charges, the Chocolate Factory foreman has been hibernating. His rumored new album 12 Play: Fourth Quarter never surfaced in the tail end of 2008 as expected, and besides the supposed Kelly and T.I. Detox track that leaked ̬ which reportedly won't be on Dr. Dre's long-delayed Detox — we haven't heard much from the crooner. That's about to change becasue Kelly, with the help of DJ Skee and Gangsta Grillz mastermind DJ Drama, is releasing The Demo Tape, which finds Kelly remixing some of hip-hop's biggest current hits as well as dropping some new tracks, like "Tip The Waiter" (watch it above).

According to MTV, The Demo Tape is Kelly's first ever mixtape, and he's recruited some of the best DJs with Skee and Drama on board. Among the hits that get the Kelly treatment are Lil Wayne's "Every Girl," Drake's "Best I Ever Had," Keri Hilson's "Turning Me On," songs by Akon and The-Dream plus Jeremih's debut single "Birthday Sex." New tracks include "Superman High" featuring OJ Da Juiceman, "Club To The Bedroom," and "Playaz in Da Club" with Plies. "I wanted to do something different," Kelly told MTV. "I wanted to get closer to the streets. It's the first time an R&B artist has done a mixtape on this level. It's a way to start over and give my fans something new and fresh again. I think it's great for music!"

"He's coming back with a new generation of the music business, a new generation of music. All these kids coming up are up on other stuff. He wanted to come back out and get everyone familiar on who he is," DJ Skee added. "It's your boy Kells, and I want y'all to get ready for that new album, coming in September, because I'm about to drop some real R&B R. Kelly shit on y'all," Kelly hints at the end of his remix of "Best I Ever Had," "So get ready."

Kelly is reportedly almost finished with his "untitled" next album that will remain nameless because, as Rock Daily previously reported, Kelly told an Atlanta crowd, "I'm calling that muthafucka Untitled. Y'all call it what y'all want."

Related Stories:

• Chicago Jury Finds R. Kelly Not Guilty on All Child-Porn Charges
• New Dr. Dre Song Possibly Destined For "Detox" Leaks
• R. Kelly Starts Fans' Ignitions With Super-Sexy Drama Marathon in New York

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Song Stories

“Is It True”

Brenda Lee | 1964

As the British Invasion reached its peak in 1964, Brenda Lee went from Nashville to London to record one of her hardest-rocking hits, her perky vocal backed by a stuttering, squalling guitar. That guitar was played by session musician Jimmy Page, yet to skyrocket to fame with first the Yardbirds and then Led Zeppelin. "She said to me, 'I've come here to make a record with the British sound,'" remembered producer Mickie Most. "She felt she wouldn't get the same sound in Nashville because they're only just catching up on the British beat group sound of about six months ago."

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