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The Infamous R. Kelly Double Up Tour: A Look Back at the Controversy and Music

In the late 1990s, R. Kelly was on top of the music world. The R&B singer, songwriter, and producer had already achieved massive success with hits like "I Believe I Can Fly" and "Your Body's Callin'." But it was his 1998 "Double Up Tour" that would cement his status as a live performance powerhouse and spark a wave of controversy that would follow him for years to come.

The Tour

The "Double Up Tour" was a major production that featured R. Kelly performing with a live band and a troupe of talented backup singers and dancers. The show was a high-energy spectacle that included elaborate choreography, pyrotechnics, and even a few surprises. The tour kicked off in April 1998 and hit cities across the United States, Europe, and Asia.

The tour was a massive commercial success, with many shows selling out quickly. Fans were drawn to R. Kelly's electrifying stage presence, as well as his ability to get the crowd on their feet and dancing. The tour's setlist featured a mix of R. Kelly's biggest hits, as well as some new material from his then-latest album, "R.".

The Controversy

However, the "Double Up Tour" was not without controversy. R. Kelly had already faced criticism in the mid-1990s for his lyrics and music videos, which some perceived as explicit and misogynistic. But it was during the "Double Up Tour" that his live performances became the subject of intense scrutiny.

Many critics and fans accused R. Kelly of using the tour to showcase his signature blend of sex and spirituality, which some saw as tawdry and disrespectful. The show's choreography and costumes were also criticized for being overly provocative. Some cities even threatened to ban the tour due to concerns about its explicit content.

The Girls

But the most serious controversy surrounding the "Double Up Tour" involved allegations of R. Kelly's relationships with underage girls. In 1994, R. Kelly had married Aaliyah, a 15-year-old singer who was then his protégée. The marriage was later annulled, but it sparked a wave of allegations that R. Kelly was involved with underage girls.

During the "Double Up Tour," several girls came forward to accuse R. Kelly of exploiting them and using his fame and power to manipulate them into having sex with him. The allegations sparked a police investigation, which ultimately led to R. Kelly's arrest in 2002 on charges of child pornography and enticement of a minor.

The Legacy

Despite the controversy, the "Double Up Tour" remains a significant moment in R. Kelly's career. The tour showcased his incredible talent and charisma as a live performer, and it helped to cement his status as one of the most successful R&B artists of the 1990s.

However, the controversy surrounding the tour also marked a turning point in R. Kelly's career. The allegations of misconduct and abuse that emerged during and after the tour damaged his reputation and led to a series of high-profile lawsuits and investigations. r kelly double up tour

In 2019, R. Kelly was arrested and charged with 11 counts of aggravated criminal sexual abuse, in connection with alleged incidents involving underage girls. The charges were part of a larger pattern of allegations that have followed R. Kelly for decades.

The Music

Despite the controversy, R. Kelly's music remains popular to this day. His hits like "I Believe I Can Fly," "Ignition (Remix)," and "I Need Love" continue to get played on radios and streaming platforms around the world.

The "Double Up Tour" may have been a defining moment in R. Kelly's career, but it was also a moment that highlighted the complexities and contradictions of his artistry. R. Kelly's music has always been marked by a blend of sensuality, spirituality, and emotional intensity, which has sometimes put him at odds with critics and fans.

Conclusion

The R. Kelly "Double Up Tour" was a pivotal moment in the career of one of the most successful R&B artists of all time. The tour showcased R. Kelly's incredible talent and charisma as a live performer, but it also sparked a wave of controversy that would follow him for years to come.

Today, R. Kelly's legacy is complicated and multifaceted. While his music remains popular, his personal life and conduct have been the subject of intense scrutiny and criticism. The "Double Up Tour" may have been a moment of triumph for R. Kelly, but it also marked a turning point in his career and a moment of reckoning that would have far-reaching consequences.

Setlist

The setlist for the "Double Up Tour" featured a mix of R. Kelly's biggest hits and some new material from his then-latest album, "R.". Some of the songs that were included in the tour's setlist include:

"I Believe I Can Fly"
"Your Body's Callin'"
"Ignition (Remix)"
"I Need Love"
"Gotham City"
"Halfway Pur my Cigarette Out"
"The World Greatest"

Tour Dates

The "Double Up Tour" kicked off in April 1998 and hit cities across the United States, Europe, and Asia. Some of the tour dates included:

April 10, 1998: Atlanta, GA (Georgia World Congress Center)
April 12, 1998: Chicago, IL (United Center)
April 14, 1998: Detroit, MI (Cobo Arena)
April 17, 1998: New York City, NY (Madison Square Garden)
April 20, 1998: Los Angeles, CA (Staples Center)

Merchandise

The "Double Up Tour" also featured a line of merchandise, including T-shirts, posters, and CDs. The merchandise was sold at each tour stop and helped to promote the tour and R. Kelly's brand. The Infamous R

Critical Reception

The "Double Up Tour" received mixed reviews from critics. Some praised R. Kelly's energy and charisma as a live performer, while others criticized the tour's explicit content and allegations of misconduct.

"R. Kelly's show is a real crowd-pleaser, with the singer delivering his signature blend of sex and spirituality." - Chicago Tribune
"The tour is a mess of explicit lyrics, scantily clad backup dancers, and a general air of lewdness." - Los Angeles Times

Impact

The "Double Up Tour" had a significant impact on R. Kelly's career and the music industry as a whole. The tour's success helped to establish R. Kelly as a major force in R&B, and it paved the way for future tours and live performances.

However, the controversy surrounding the tour also had a lasting impact on R. Kelly's reputation and legacy. The allegations of misconduct and abuse that emerged during and after the tour have followed R. Kelly for decades and have had a lasting impact on his career and personal life.

In conclusion, the R. Kelly "Double Up Tour" was a pivotal moment in the career of one of the most successful R&B artists of all time. The tour showcased R. Kelly's incredible talent and charisma as a live performer, but it also sparked a wave of controversy that would follow him for years to come. Today, R. Kelly's legacy is complicated and multifaceted, and the "Double Up Tour" remains a significant moment in his career and a reminder of the complexities and contradictions of his artistry.

The Setlist: A Jukebox of Genius

Musically, the tour was a victory lap. Kelly’s catalog from 1992–2007 is objectively one of the greatest in R&B history, and the setlist reflected that. He opened with the bombastic “The Champ” (a Double Up track sampling the Rocky theme) before immediately pivoting to classics.

Highlights included:

The slow jam medley: “Bump N’ Grind,” “Your Body’s Callin’,” and “Fortunate” (from The Roots) had arenas singing every breath.
The 12-play: A marathon of his biggest hits (“Ignition (Remix),” “Step in the Name of Love”) that turned the show into a non-stop dance party.
The gospel moment: “I Wish” and “I Believe I Can Fly” were performed with dramatic, choir-like backing, a reminder that Kelly always saw himself as a spiritual figure.

The Double Up tracks—particularly “Same Girl” (where he dueted with a pre-recorded Usher on screens) and “Rock Star”—landed well, though they lacked the timelessness of his 90s work.

The Opening Acts: A Star-Making Lineup

The R. Kelly Double Up Tour is often retroactively studied for the sheer talent of its supporting cast. Unlike solo tours, Kelly brought a caravan of his protégés and friends. The official lineup included:

Keyshia Cole: Fresh off the success of Just Like You, Cole performed Let It Go and Love, bringing a gritty, female counterpoint to Kelly's bravado.
J. Holiday: The D.C. native rode the wave of his massive hit Bed, warming up the crowd with his smooth tenor.
Ne-Yo: Although already a star, Ne-Yo served as a direct opener in several legs, performing Because of You and So Sick.
T-Pain: The king of Auto-Tune joined for the second leg, turning the tour into a "remix" spectacle for Buy U a Drank.

For fans, the R. Kelly Double Up Tour ticket was a value proposition equivalent to a major urban music festival.

The Reception: Critical and Commercial

Critically, the R. Kelly Double Up Tour received mixed to positive reviews. Rolling Stone gave the New York show 3.5 out of 5 stars, writing: "Vocally, Kelly has lost none of his power. The high notes in Bump N' Grind are still resonant. But the mood in the room is tense; you can feel the court dates looming over the bass drops."

The Village Voice was harsher, accusing Kelly of using the "Double Up" theme to mask erractic behavior: "One night he is a genius; the next, he is a no-show. The split personality isn't an act; it's a defense mechanism." "I Believe I Can Fly" "Your Body's Callin'"

Commercially, the tour was a beast. According to Pollstar, the R. Kelly Double Up Tour grossed over $14.7 million across 62 shows in the U.S. and Canada, landing at #32 on the year-end top grossing tours, ahead of artists like Alicia Keys and John Legend that year.

The Aftermath: Where Are They Now?

The tour concluded in Vancouver on December 19, 2007. Kelly flew back to Chicago to focus on his trial. Within a decade, the narrative around the R. Kelly Double Up Tour would sour dramatically.

Following the 2019 documentary Surviving R. Kelly, many major streaming services quietly removed the Double Up tour footage. Keyshia Cole and Ne-Yo, who once shared a stage with Kelly, have since publicly disavowed him, expressing regret for participating in the tour.

T-Pain reflected on the tour in a 2021 interview, saying, "Back then, you just saw the talent. You didn't see the monster. The Double Up tour was a party, man. But looking back... it's complicated."

The Setlist: More Than Just Double Up

While the tour supported the Double Up album, Kelly understood that the audience wanted the deep cuts. A leaked setlist from the Houston stop at the Toyota Center (September 2007) reveals a 32-song marathon that lasted nearly three hours.

The "Double Up" Segments (The Hustle) The show opened with a pyrotechnic explosion as Kelly descended from the ceiling singing The Return of the Freak. He immediately transitioned into the album's title track Double Up (featuring a pre-recorded verse from Snoop Dogg). Other high-energy tracks included:

I’m a Flirt (Remix) – Complete with audience members being brought on stage to "flirt."
Fiesta (Remix) – Featuring backup dancers in tropical gear.
Snake – A deep cut where Kelly writhed across the stage dressed like a reptilian king.

The "Love Letter" Segments (The Crooner) Halfway through, the bass cut out. A single white spotlight hit the Steinway piano. This is where the R. Kelly Double Up Tour transcended a typical concert. Kelly sat at the keys for a 45-minute medley that stripped the bravado away:

Step in the Name of Love (Remix) – Transitioning from slow jam to the L.O.V.E. dance.
Ignition (Remix) – Arguably the loudest singalong of the night.
Trapped in the Closet – A 12-minute abridged version of Chapters 1-5, complete with Kelly narrating the chaotic affair like a one-man play.
I Believe I Can Fly – The obligatory finale before the encore.

The Stage & Vibe: "The Closet" Goes Global

The tour’s aesthetic was pure 2007 R. Kelly: excessive, leather-clad, and unapologetically raunchy. The centerpiece of the stage was a two-story chrome-and-glass structure dubbed "The Closet"—a direct reference to his infamous alleged hidden video rooms. In a move that today feels chillingly tone-deaf, Kelly performed parts of the show from inside this prop, flanked by women in lingerie and fur.

The production value was undeniable. Pyrotechnics, a full live band, and backing vocalists created a stadium-worthy experience. But the atmosphere was less "soul concert" and more "VIP strip club." Every visual cue screamed power, wealth, and sexual dominance.

Behind the Scenes of the R. Kelly Double Up Tour: The Rise, the Spectacle, and the Aftermath

When discussing the landscape of R&B in the mid-2000s, few names commanded the industry like Robert Sylvester Kelly. At the peak of his commercial power, following the release of his fifth studio album, Double Up, in 2007, Kelly launched what would become one of the most controversial road shows in music history. The R. Kelly Double Up Tour was designed to celebrate a "split personality" concept—balancing the sultry, romantic crooner of Trapped in the Closet with the raw, bass-thumping "pimp" persona of tracks like I’m a Flirt (Remix).

While the tour was a box office success, generating millions of dollars in revenue across North America, it also served as the beginning of the end for the singer's public invincibility. This article takes an in-depth look at the setlists, the scandals, the opening acts, and the long-term legacy of the R. Kelly Double Up Tour.

Final Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)

Who would enjoy it: Die-hard R. Kelly fans from the ‘90s–2000s who love his full theatricality and don’t mind bathroom-break skits.
Who should skip: People with low tolerance for late starts, overly long shows, or the explicit “Trapped” chapters performed live.

Note: This review reflects the tour’s artistic and logistical reception in 2007–2008. It does not address R. Kelly’s later criminal convictions and serious legal findings, which have justifiably overshadowed his musical legacy.