R Kelly: Success and scandal

Lawsuits could have blighted a successful career

The spotlight is once again on chart-topping R&B star R Kelly, who has been arrested on charges of possessing child pornography.

He is already facing 21 charges relating to producing child pornography and appearing in a video having sex with an underage girl.

The 36-year-old Grammy winner has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

R Kelly rose from Chicago's deprived South Side to a glittering music career, selling more than 23 million albums.

He has worked with the likes of Michael and Janet Jackson, Mary J Blige, Whitney Houston and Celine Dion as well as a host of rap stars.

R Kelly

Born Chicago 1969

Albums: Born Into the 90's (1991); 12 Play (1993); R Kelly (1995); R (1998); TP-2.Com (2000)

The singer is a double-Grammy award winner who has scored massive hits with ballads including I Believe I Can Fly, as well as raunchy numbers such as Bump 'n' Grind, Feelin' On Yo Booty and Your Body's Callin'.

Boycott call

He topped the charts in 2000 with TP-2.Com and he performed at the opening ceremonies of the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.

Aaliyah: Briefly married to Kelly

But the spate of lawsuits he has faced may be beginning to hurt his career.

There have been calls in Chicago for a boycott against his music and his Best of Both Worlds collaboration with rapper Jay-Z, which was released after the scandal broke, was a flop.

Rapper Jay-Z is reported to have refused to appear with Kelly since word that he was under investigation for violating child pornography laws.

R Kelly was rumoured to have been briefly married to pop singer Aaliyah, who died in a plane crash in August.

The singer is now married to a dancer in his touring group, with whom he has two daughters and one son.