Michael Jackson claimed the title King of Pop, Howard Stern dubbed himself the King of All Media, and now R. Kelly has apparently seized on the title King of R&B.

With the October 13 release date of Kelly's anticipated double album "R." looming, his camp has taken to calling the singer the King of R&B in materials trumpeting the release of the album. Considering that Kelly's last effort, 1995's "R. Kelly," went quadruple platinum and he won three Grammy Awards this year for his single "I Believe I Can Fly," the throne may actually be his.

This time out, King Kelly gets a little help from Jay-Z, Foxy Brown, Keith Murray, and the Trackmasters. Kelly's first video from "R.," for the song "Half On A Baby," was directed by both Kelly and Hype Williams and is currently making the rounds on MTV.

With the regal pronouncement, Kelly now joins King of Pop Michael Jackson, Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin, King of Rock and Roll Elvis Presley, and ABBA's "Dancing Queen" in music's

royal pantheon.