Editing R. Kelly (section)

===2002–2003: ''The Best of Both Worlds'' and ''Chocolate Factory''===
{{Main|The Best of Both Worlds (Jay-Z and R. Kelly album)|Chocolate Factory}}
On January 24, 2002, at a press conference announcing the completion of Kelly and Jay-Z's first collaborative album, ''[[The Best of Both Worlds (Jay-Z and R. Kelly album)|The Best of Both Worlds]]'', celebrities such as [[Johnnie Cochran]], [[Russell Simmons]], [[Luther Vandross]], and [[Sean Combs]] praised the album, with Jay-Z stating that he hoped the collaboration represents "more unity for black people on a whole".<ref name="joint LP">{{cite web|last=Reid|first=Shaheem|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1451930/jay-z-r-kelly-hype-joint-lp-with-hash-browns-johnnie-cochran-and-a-pimp/|title=Jay-Z, R. Kelly Hype Joint LP With Hash Browns, Johnnie Cochran And A Pimp|publisher=MTV|date=January 24, 2002|access-date=July 20, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020210182536/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1451930/20020124/story.jhtml|archive-date=February 10, 2002|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[MTV]]'s Shaheem Reid wrote: "And if Jay and Kelly can put their egos to the side long enough to wrap up and promote their album, then their labels—[[Def Jam Recordings|Def Jam]] and Jive, respectively—can surely figure out a way to join forces and make cheddar together."<ref name="joint LP"/>

On February 8, 2002, Kelly performed at the opening ceremony of the [[2002 Winter Olympics]], a week after a news scandal broke of a sex tape that appeared to show Kelly with an underage girl.<ref>{{Cite news|last=DeRogatis|first=Jim|date=May 2002|title=Tale of the Tape|pages=86–88|work=Spin|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=M4CHp9FEZRgC&pg=PP1|access-date=October 26, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2002-02-08 |title=Chicago Police investigate R. Kelly in sex tape |url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/2002/2/8/18432320/chicago-police-investigate-r-kelly-in-sex-tape |access-date=2024-01-26 |website=Chicago Sun-Times |language=en}}</ref>

Following a leak of the joint album on February 22, 2002, [[Roc-A-Fella Records|Roc-A-Fella]] and Jive moved the release date one week earlier in an effort to curtail [[Copyright infringement|piracy]].<ref name="autogenerated2">{{cite web|last=Reid|first=Shaheem|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1452773/jayz-shoots-song-cry.jhtml|title=Jay-Z Shoots New Video, Unsure If Clip With R. Kelly Will Come|publisher=MTV|date=March 6, 2002|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020409113726/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1452773/20020306/story.jhtml|archive-date=April 9, 2002|access-date=September 10, 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> Jay-Z expressed frustration about the album leak to MTV News, describing the event as both a "gift" and a "curse."<ref name="autogenerated2"/> Upon release on March 19, 2002, ''The Best of Both Worlds'' sold 285,000 copies in its opening week and debuted at number two on the ''Billboard'' 200.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brown |first=Preezy |date=2017-03-28 |title=How Good Was Jay-Z & R. Kelly's 'Best Of Both Worlds' Album? |url=https://www.vibe.com/music/music-news/jayz-rkelly-best-of-both-worlds-album-anniversary-review-499480/ |access-date=2023-02-11 |website=VIBE.com |language=en-US}}</ref> It was a critical and commercial disappointment.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-feb-03-ca-popeye3-story.html |title='Best of Both Worlds' Is One Album Title That May Not Be Hyperbole |work=Los Angeles Times |last=Hochman |first=Steve |date=February 3, 2002 |access-date=January 3, 2022 }}</ref>

In May 2002, six months prior to the scheduled release of Kelly's sixth studio album, ''Loveland'', a bootleg copy containing 15 tracks had been leaked.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1454446/20020521/kelly_r.jhtml|title=R. Kelly Vows To Clamp Down As New Bootleg Hits Streets|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020601214814/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1454446/20020521/kelly_r.jhtml|archive-date=June 1, 2002|last=Reid |first=Shaheem|publisher=MTV News|date=May 21, 2002|url-status=dead|access-date=June 30, 2024}}</ref> In response, Kelly began work on the album now known as ''[[Chocolate Factory]]'', opting to release ''Loveland'' as a [[Special edition|deluxe edition]] bonus disc.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bogdanov |first=Vladimir |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=o552g5xRRiwC&dq=r+kelly+loveland+album+chocolate+factory&pg=PA386 |title=All Music Guide to Soul: The Definitive Guide to R&B and Soul |date=2003 |publisher=Hal Leonard Corporation |isbn=978-0-87930-744-8 |pages=386 |language=en}}</ref> In October of that year, Kelly released "[[Ignition (Remix)]]", the lead single from the album. It would spend 42 weeks on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, peaking at number two.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/the-billboard-hot-100/2003-03-29 |title=The Billboard Hot 100 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=January 3, 2022 |url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2002-dec-04-et-quick4-story.html |title=R. Kelly's new album out next month |last=Boucher |first=Geoff |work=Los Angeles Times |date=December 4, 2002 |access-date=January 3, 2022 |url-access=subscription}}</ref>

On February 18, 2003, Kelly released ''Chocolate Factory'', which debuted as the number-one album on the [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]].<ref>{{cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/r-kelly-bounces-50-cent-180571/ |title=R. Kelly Bounces 50 Cent |magazine=Rolling Stone |last=Dansby |first=Andrew |date=February 26, 2003 |access-date=January 3, 2022 }}</ref> It sold 532,000 copies in its first week.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-rkjelly-timeline-redeye-story,1,1421606.story |title=R. Kelly timeline |work=Chicago Tribune |date=March 18, 2004 |access-date=January 3, 2022 }}</ref> The album was met with critical acclaim,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.riverfronttimes.com/music/r-kellys-chocolate-factory-is-ten-years-old-a-look-at-its-seminal-ignition-remix-2664223 |title=R. Kelly's Chocolate Factory is Ten Years Old: A Look At Its Seminal "Ignition (Remix)" |magazine=River Front Times |last=Miller |first=Liza |date=February 18, 2003 |access-date=February 16, 2024 }}</ref> and supported by two more singles. "[[Snake (R. Kelly song)|Snake]]", the album's second single, was followed by "[[Step in the Name of Love|Step in the Name of Love (Remix)]]", which charted for 70 weeks, reaching number one on the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/artist/r-kelly/chart-history/hsi/ |title=R. Kelly Chart history |magazine=Billboard |date=March 30, 2004 |access-date=February 14, 2024 }}</ref> Later that year, in September, Kelly's first [[greatest hits album]], ''[[The R. in R&B Collection, Vol. 1]]'', was released which included "[[Thoia Thoing]]" and two other previously unreleased songs.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/the-r-in-r-b-collection-vol-1-mw0000692032 |title=The R. in R&B Collection, Vol. 1 Review by Alex Henderson |last=Henderson |first=Alex |website=AllMusic |access-date=January 3, 2022 }}</ref>