R. Kelly schedules new album behind trial
His child pornography trial is about to begin, but R. Kelly is hard at work — on his music.
Not even a year since the release of his last studio album, R. Kelly is plotting a summer release for his next project, ‘‘12 Play: Fourth Quarter.’’ Kelly made the announcement during his newly released remix of Mariah Carey’s hit, ‘‘Touch My Body.’’
(AP file)
According to Jive, ‘‘12 Play’’ is being penciled in for a summer release. The first single from the album, ‘‘Hair Braider,’’ is the top debut this week at No. 59 on Billboard’s Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. A video was shot in Chicago last month by director Malcolm Jones.
‘‘12 Play’’ will be the follow-up to 2007’s ‘‘Double Up,’’ which has sold 935,000 copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.
Kelly, 41, is accused of videotaping himself having sex with a girl estimated to be 13 or 14. Kelly, of Olympia Fields, has pleaded not guilty. Jury selection starts May 9.