A spokesman for R&B crooner R. Kelly recently released a statement responding to Ne-Yo's allegations that Kelly had him booted off  the "Double Up” tour.

Ne-Yo filed a lawsuit against Rowe Entertainment, a Georgia based concert promoter, on December 31st claiming that someone from R. Kelly's camp asked Rowe to kick him off the tour because he was outshining Kelly.

Ne-Yo also claimed he and Rowe made an oral agreement that he would receive $785,000 for opening for R. Kelly at a minimum of 25 concerts.

Kelly's spokesman says that the singer had nothing to do with Ne-Yo's dismissal.

"The idea that R. Kelly had anything to do with Ne-Yo being dropped from the  "Double Up" tour is just plain silly.  As we said at the time, Ne-Yo was dropped because of a contractual dispute with the tour promoter, and in fact Ne-Yo is not suing Kelly but only the promoter,” said the spokesman in a statement. 

“Ne-Yo may think blaming the situation on R.Kelly will improve his chances of collecting from the promoter , but if he does, he is sadly mistaken,” the spokesman continued.  “Anyone remotely familiar with R. Kelly knows he is confident enough in his own abilities to be happy to share the stage with enormously talented people -- the more talented, the better.”

NEW YEAR, NEW BEGINNING

Janet Jackson will be releasing her latest album titled Discipline on February 26th.

The album, which will be her first via Def Jam , which will feature collaborations with Rodney Jerkins, Ne-Yo, Stargate, Tricky Stewart and The Dream.

“Janet's new music is exciting,” Island Def Jam honcho L.A Reid says.  “My guess is that Janet, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis will do something together because they have such magic.  But we've experimented with things for no other reason than to find some freshness and give her some different challenges musically."

Article written by 'Jay-O'