The Buffet Tour is the twelfth and final

concert tour A concert tour (or simply tour) is a series of concerts by an artist or group of artists in different cities, countries or locations. Often concert tours are named to differentiate different tours by the same artist and to associate a specific to ...

by American recording artist

R. Kelly Robert Sylvester Kelly (born January 8, 1967) is an American singer, songwriter, record producer, and sex offender convicted of racketeering and multiple sex offenses. During his recording career, Kelly sold over 75 million records worldwi ...

. The tour supported his thirteenth studio album, ''

The Buffet ''The Buffet'' is the thirteenth studio album by American R&B singer-songwriter R. Kelly. It was released on December 11, 2015, by RCA Records. The album features guest appearances from Lil Wayne, Jhene Aiko, Ty Dolla Sign, Jeremih, Juicy J, W ...

'' (2015). The tour played over 30 concerts in the United States.

Background

The tour was announced March 2016 by various music publications, including '' Billboard''. Kelly referred to his tour as his most ambitious production. The tour was quickly met with controversy as the students and faculty of Saint Louis University boycotted Kelly's concert, to be held at the

Chaifetz Arena Chaifetz Arena ( ), located on the campus of Saint Louis University, is a 10,600 seat multi-purpose arena in St. Louis, Missouri, that began construction on August 28, 2006 and opened on April 10, 2008. In February 2007, Chicago-based businessm ...

on April 29, 2016. A

Change.org Change.org is a worldwide nonprofit petition website, based in California, US, operated by the San Francisco-based company of the same name, which has over 400 million users and offers the public the ability to promote the petitions they care abo ...

petition was created to have the concert cancelled, citing Kelly's troubled career. The concert was quickly moved to the suburb of St. Charles at the

Family Arena The Family Arena is a multi-purpose arena in St. Charles, Missouri, built in 1999. The arena seats 9,643 for hockey, 9,755 for football, 10,467 for basketball, 6,339 for half-house concerts and up to 11,522 for end-stage concerts. In addition t ...

. The debut concert featured Kelly performing for nearly four hours and featured various skits making light of his criminal past. Intended to be a 40 city tour, many shows were canceled, citing the elaborate production and Kelly's fear of flying as reasons. The tour is believed to have earned nearly $50 million.

Critical reception

The tour was met with mixed reactions from many music critics. They unanimously cited the shows felt disorganized, with the setlist being too "loose". Kenya Vaughn (

The St. Louis American ''The St. Louis American'' is a weekly newspaper serving the African-American community of St. Louis, Missouri. The first issue appeared in March 1928. In 1930, the newspaper started a "Buy Where You Can Work" campaign. Donald Suggs along with two ...

) called this disjointed, stating: "This particular portion of the show was almost an R. Kelly overdose thanks to the lack of focus and the emphasis on quantity instead of a masterful delivery on songs selected for maximum impact. The show had grown boring until he e-ositioned himself to the middle of the arena for a brief set that included a tribute to

Prince A prince is a male ruler (ranked below a king, grand prince, and grand duke) or a male member of a monarch's or former monarch's family. ''Prince'' is also a title of nobility (often highest), often hereditary, in some European states. T ...

. As he continues to shape the show, he should consider narrowing the focus of the show—hopefully into something that looks more like his grown and sexy incarnation that he closed the show with." In Kansas City, Timothy Finn (

The Kansas City Star ''The Kansas City Star'' is a newspaper based in Kansas City, Missouri. Published since 1880, the paper is the recipient of eight Pulitzer Prizes. ''The Star'' is most notable for its influence on the career of President Harry S. Truman and a ...

) found the concert to be odd. He continued to say: "There was a live band onstage, but it was swept into the corner, shrouded by darkness, and its performances sounded secondary to the other music and sounds coming off the stage. They brought to a close a show that, though wandering and reckless at times, sated the appetites of fans who came to indulge in the libidinous sounds of one of pop music's more mercurial, prolific and controversial stars." The show in Tampa, reviewed by Jay Cridlin (

Tampa Bay Times The ''Tampa Bay Times'', previously named the ''St. Petersburg Times'' until 2011, is an American newspaper published in St. Petersburg, Florida, United States. It has won fourteen Pulitzer Prizes since 1964, and in 2009, won two in a single ...

) states: "All of these moments screamed R. Kelly – silly, sexy, soulful and at times very, very strange. Over the course of his two-hour concert, these moments kept right on coming, one after the next, eventually sketching out a portrait of one of R&B's greatest and most mystifying performers, in all his freaktacular glory." The same sentiments were felt by Liz Tracy ( Miami New Times) for the show in Miami. She says: "If it wasn't clear before, Kelly can sing. The crowd was reciting the lyrics all along, writhing in sonic ecstasy, but at the end, they were just in it to win it. ..It's clear Kelly will never outrun his own demons. They are too thick to sidestep. But he'll take what he can get, rejoicing for now in being purged clean of his sins in his own mind and in the minds of his loyal followers."

Opening acts

Demetria McKinney Demetria Dyan McKinney (born August 27, 1979) is an American actress and singer. From 2006 to 2012, during its original run, she starred in the TBS sitcom '' Tyler Perry's House of Payne'', a BET revival of the show was announced in 2020. Her oth ...

June's Diary June's Diary is an American girl group formed by singer Kelly Rowland and director/choreographer Frank Gatson Jr. on the American reality television docu-series '' Chasing Destiny'' in 2016. The group consists of members Kristal Lyndriette Smith ...

Setlist

The following setlist was obtained from the concert held on April 29, 2016, at the Family Arena in St. Charles, Missouri. It does not represent all concerts for the duration of the tour. #"Video Sequence" #" My Story" #" Make It Rain" / "We Been On" / "

Hotel A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. Facilities provided inside a hotel room may range from a modest-quality mattress in a small room to large suites with bigger, higher-quality beds, a dresser, a re ...

" / " So Sexy" / " Wonderful" / " That's That" / "

Go Getta "Go Getta" is the second single from Def Jam artist Young Jeezy off his second album ''The Inspiration'', it features singer R. Kelly. The song samples "Born On Halloween" by Blue Magic. It was released in late January. This song was #76 on '' ...

" / " Thoia Thoing" / "

Snake Snakes are elongated, limbless, carnivorous reptiles of the suborder Serpentes . Like all other squamates, snakes are ectothermic, amniote vertebrates covered in overlapping scales. Many species of snakes have skulls with several more j ...

" / "Get This Money" / "

Gigolo A gigolo () is a male escort or social companion who is supported by a person in a continuing relationship, often living in her residence or having to be present at her beck and call. The term ''gigolo'' usually implies a man who adopts a lifes ...

" / " Fuck You Tonight" #"

Home Alone ''Home Alone'' is a 1990 American Christmas comedy film directed by Chris Columbus and written and produced by John Hughes. The first film in the ''Home Alone'' franchise, the film stars Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern, John Hea ...

" #"Legs Shakin'" #"Video Sequence" # "

Sex Me "Sex Me" is the first solo single released by American R&B singer R. Kelly, released as the first single from his solo debut album, ''12 Play''. The single became Kelly's first solo success, reaching number two on the R&B chart and reaching numbe ...

" / "The Zoo" / " Slow Wind" / " Half on a Baby" / " In the Kitchen" / "Strip For You" / "

Number One Number One most commonly refers to: * 1 (number) Number One, No. 1, or #1 may also refer to: Music Albums * ''Number 1'' (Big Bang album), and the title song * ''No. 1'' (BoA album), and the title song * ''No.1'' (EP), by CLC * ''n.1 ...

" / "Cookie" #" Ignition (Remix)" / " Fiesta (Remix)" / "

I'm a Flirt "I'm a Flirt" is a song by American rapper Bow Wow featuring American singer R. Kelly. The song was scheduled to be the second single released from Bow Wow's fifth album ''The Price of Fame'' but the decision was changed to "Outta My System" ...

(Remix)" / "Freaky In The Club" #" Your Body's Callin'" / "

It Seems Like You're Ready "It Seems Like You're Ready" is a song by musician R. Kelly, on his debut solo studio album titled ''12 Play''. It is the fourth song on the album and was charted at #59 on the Billboard airplay chart, number 29 on the Rhythmic Top 40 charts and ...

" / "12 Play" #" Slow Dance (Hey Mr. DJ)" / " Honey Love" #" Down Low (Nobody Has to Know)" / "

" / " You Remind Me of Something" / "

Feelin' on Yo Booty "Feelin' On Yo Booty" is an R&B song by American singer-songwriter R. Kelly, from his fourth studio album, '' TP-2.com''. Released on August 7, 2001, it is the fifth and final single from the album. Music video The music video is directed by B ...

" / "

Bump N' Grind "Bump n' Grind" is a song written, produced, and performed by American singer-songwriter R. Kelly. It was released on January 28, 1994, as the second single from his debut solo studio album, ''12 Play'' (1993). The track became a number one si ...

" #"Video Sequence" #" I Wish" / " When a Woman's Fed Up" / " Contagious" #" Purple Rain" #"

I Believe I Can Fly "I Believe I Can Fly" is a song written, produced, and performed by disgraced American singer R. Kelly from the soundtrack to the 1996 film ''Space Jam''. It was originally released on November 26, 1996, and was later included on Kelly's 1998 a ...

" #" A Change Is Gonna Come" #" When a Woman Loves" ;Encore #

" Happy People" #" Step in the Name of Love (Remix)"

Tour dates

;Cancellations and rescheduled shows

Box office score data

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Buffet Tour, The 2016 concert tours R. Kelly concert tours