Besides a few hiccups, R. Kelly has always been a smooth operator. How else could he have a song called “Pregnant”? And like he lays it down with the ladies, he does so with the audience. First, he titillated us with word of his ninth studio album. Now, he’s delivering the goods with a release date (via RollingStone.com) of December 1st for Untitled.

Recorded outside of Kelly’s native Chicago, the album features production work by the likes of Lil Ronnie, Chris Henderson and Infinity. In case you’re wondering about the vibe of the album, Kelly told guests at an album preview party that it it came from some heavy partying. Partying that is, thankfully, without documentation.

“For three months straight, I threw a party at my house every weekend. … Like 200 girls come over, and there’s some guys too, like four or five, but no pictures, so we can all be ourselves,” Kelly said. “Then I’d play the music and see how they would react… if they didn’t feel it, I’d go back downstairs and rework it…”

Let your imaginations roam on that one. The album has already generated a hit duet with Keri Hilson called “Number One”. The latest single, “Religious” premiered on Kelly’s YouTube page. Kel’s on tour for the album now and should be out on the road until early December.

R. Kelly 2009 Tour Dates:
10/22 – Atlanta, GA @ Fox Theatre
10/23 – Chattanooga, TN @ Chattanooga Memorial Auditorium
10/24 – Charleston, SC @ Gaillard Municipal Auditorium
10/25 – Augusta, GA @ William B. Bell Auditorium
10/27 – Birmingham, AL @ BJCC Concert Hall
10/29 – Grand Prairie, TX @ Nokia Theatre At Grand Prairie
10/30 – Houston, TX @ Reliant Arena
10/31 – New Orleans, LA @ Lakefront Arena
11/01- Memphis, TN @ Orpheum Theatre
11/05 – Los Angeles, CA @ Nokia Theatre
11/06 – Las Vegas, NV @ Planet Hollywood Theatre
11/07 – Oakland, CA @ Paramount Theatre
11/12 – Indianapolis, IN @ TBA
11/14 – Detroit, MI @ TBA
11/15 – Milwaukee, WI @ Milwaukee Theatre
11/17 – Chicago, IL @ Auditorium Theatre
11/20 – Louisville, KY @ Louisville Palace Theatre
11/21 – Charlotte, NC @ TBA
11/22 – Greensboro, NC @ Special Events Center
11/24 – Washington, DC @ TVA
11/27 – Jacksonville, FL @ Moran Theater
11/28 – Miami, FL @ Knight Concert Hall
11/29 – Tampa, FL @ Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center
12/04 – Norfolk VA @ TBA
12/05 – Richmond, VA @ TBA
12/06 – Cleveland, OH @ Palace Theatre
12/08 – St. Louis, MO @ Fabulous Fox Theatre