May's Ebony Man features R. Kelly, the new king of R&B

Jet, May 13, 1996

R. Kelly, the sensational songwriter and singer who is currently heating up cities around the country on his tour, graces the cover of May's EBONY Man (EM).

In the feature article, Kelly talks about how he handles his exhausting touring schedule.

"It takes a lot of energy," Kelly says. "Rest and total concentration are necessary. Every show I look at it like a championship game.

"Sometimes every stage looks the same. But when you hit the stage, everything lights up. You've got to really love this profession to get with it, and I really love this. My vacation is this."

The soul singer, who has composed hits for Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones, Toni Braxton and Janet Jackson, has a knack for composing erotic lyrics such as Bump and Grind from his second album released in 1993. His current album, R. Kelly, is topping the charts with hits such as Down Low (Nobody Has to Know) and You Remind Me of Something.

In addition to touring and thinking of future hits, Kelly reveals that he is planning to build his own studio.

"I,m building it where light makes things happen," the singer, who is in his late 20s, says. "Light is very important to me."

EM's May issue also features "Men Ask: Do Women Want Good Men?" Other articles include "Popular Vacation Spots For Men," "Travel Wear: Good To Go," and "How To Handle Hatred, Frustration and Societal Woes."