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October 30, 2004
R. Kelly, Jay-Z & Pepper Spray: Un-Finished Business "The Best of Both Worlds" Tour over?
It's been no secret the R. Kelly and Jay-Z have been feuding during the Best of Both Worlds tour. For the two artist, the tour has been anything BUT the best of both worlds. It seems that Kelly has been more than a bit envious of the audience reception for his touring partner, Jay-Z. The tour is now in doubt after Kelly walked offstage during a performance Saturday and then was alledgedly pepper sprayed by a member of Jay-Z's entourage.
NEW YORK - The tumultuous tour pairing platinum-selling stars R. Kelly and Jay-Z came to an abrupt end Saturday, one day after Kelly walked offstage during a performance and allegedly was blasted with pepper spray by a member of Jay-Z's entourage.
Kelly was booted from shows Saturday and Monday at Madison Square Garden by the promoter, who told the "I Believe I Can Fly" singer that he was banned from the facility, said his publicist, Allan Mayer. The promoter announced that Jay-Z, with special guests, would do the shows alone.
"The fans deserve better than this," Kelly said in a statement. "I'd like the show to go on. It's really disappointing that Jay-Z and the promoter don't."
Jay-Z and R. Kelly were in the midst of a 40-city "Best of Both Worlds" tour, which has been beset by canceled shows and reports that the feuding performers weren't even on speaking terms.
The tour, which had been scheduled to run through Nov. 28, has been canceled, said promoter Jeff Sharp of Atlanta Worldwide Touring. Jay-Z's publicist was unsure if the rapper would try and fill the remaining dates as a solo act.
The pepper-spray incident happened about an hour into Friday night's show, when Kelly walked on stage and said he saw two people in the audience waving guns, Mayer said. Kelly abruptly stopped his set around 9:30 p.m. while arena security employees searched for weapons.
Finding none, guards told Kelly it was safe to continue performing, Mayer said. But as the singer was making his way back to the stage, a man in Jay-Z's entourage — apparently miffed that Kelly interrupted the show — sprayed him and two of his bodyguards in the face, Mayer said.
Read the article: R. Kelly Booted From Jay-Z Tour
Artist: Jay-Z & R. Kelly
Album: Unfinished Business
Label: Def Jam
Audio CD (October 26, 2004)
Posted by BIGBAER at October 30, 2004 10:06 PM
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