R.

R. by R. Kelly is a sprawling 1998 release that blends contemporary R and B with hip hop, pop and occasional rock-tinged textures, moving between intimate slow jams, gospel-tinged anthems and more uptempo, rap-influenced numbers. The album highlights R. Kelly's multi-layered vocal production and songwriting range, with arrangements that mix electronic and live instrumentation and lyrical themes that range from personal relationships to spirituality. Its stylistic variety and ambitious production give the record a wide stylistic reach within late 1990s urban popular music.