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:
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:
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.
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. r kelly double up tour
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:
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:
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.
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.
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. While the tour supported the Double Up album,
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.
If you judge the Double Up Tour purely on musical performance, it was a 4/5 star experience. R. Kelly’s voice was pristine, his band was tight, and the crowd left feeling like they’d witnessed a king.
But art cannot be separated from the artist forever. The Double Up Tour is now a historical artifact of enabled fame—a moment where an entire industry and millions of fans chose to ignore glaring red flags because the music felt too good. The tour’s title, Double Up, was meant to signify doubling your money or your pleasure. In retrospect, it symbolizes doubling down on denial.
Rating (2007 context): ★★★★☆ (A thrilling R&B spectacle)
Rating (2025 retrospective): ★☆☆☆☆ (An uncomfortable, predatory victory lap)
Final thought: You can still hear the echoes of that tour in the silence of his prison cell. The hits remain, but the tour’s legacy is not one of triumph—it’s a cautionary tale about how long a monster can dance before the music stops.
1. The “Trapped in the Closet” Medley What should have been 5 minutes became a 20-minute drag. Kelly performed a spoken-word, acted-out version of chapters 1–5, complete with a bed prop, a fake gun, and a man in a dress (the “Cathy” character). By 2007, the novelty had worn thin. Many fans used this as a bathroom break.
2. Vocal Inconsistency On good nights (MSG, Chicago), Kelly belted with power. On off nights (reported in smaller markets), he was breathy, mumbled lyrics, or let backing tracks carry him. He often stopped songs mid-verse to chat or direct the band, which thrilled hardcores but annoyed casuals.
3. Overlong and Self-Indulgent Setlists ran 25+ songs. By the end, fatigue set in. The final 20 minutes were often a medley of gospel-tinged ad-libs (“I Wish,” “I Believe I Can Fly”) that felt tacked on rather than triumphant.
4. Late Starts Kelly was notorious for taking the stage 60–90 minutes late. Ne-Yo would finish at 9:30 PM, then the crowd waited until nearly 11 PM for R. Kelly. In some cities, the venue curfew cut the show short.
For better or worse, the R. Kelly Double Up Tour defined late-2000s urban fashion. Kelly wore customized throwback jerseys (Chicago Bulls, of course), oversized True Religion jeans, and the infamous "Leprechaun boots" (tan suede Timbalands). Merchandise booths sold out of "Double Up" dog tags and "Team Kells" bandanas. Today, these items are rare collector’s pieces, often selling for hundreds of dollars on eBay as relics of a pre-#MuteRKelly era. The "Love Letter" Segments (The Crooner) Halfway through,
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:
For fans, the R. Kelly Double Up Tour ticket was a value proposition equivalent to a major urban music festival.