R Kelly completes African super group One8

The star-studded gathering of African musical giants has continued to gather mass momentum with eight of Africa's rock-star legends combining their talent into the continent's first supergroup.

R Kelly, who was recently joined in the world-famous Chicago studios by the members of One8, has been a force in R&B worldwide for the past two decades. Apart from global fame he has also received numerous awards and is one of the best-selling urban artists of all time. Hits like I Believe I Can Fly, Bump 'n Grind, and Gotham City have made him a household name and his production on top artists like Michael Jackson, Toni Braxton, LL Cool J and many more have kept him at the top of the charts and on radio for the duration of his music career.

I can feel myself connect

R Kelly is excited to be involved in the One8 project. Speaking from his studio in Chicago as they put the final touches to the single, he said: "I love projects like this. As I hear the music of these artists and meet them in person I can feel myself connect. Somehow I can feel the excitement and adrenaline through them and then the ideas and everything around this track just comes together. This is probably one of the greatest things I have ever done, I can just feel it in me."

One8 already consists of the finest superstars on the African continent. Born from a simple idea and a small collaboration, the momentum of this project has turned it into a full-blown super group that will also be releasing a full album and DVD later this year. This long-term project was kicked into high gear when the artists flew into Chicago late last month to record Hands Across the World with R Kelly and his production team.

The group also recorded a video and documentary which will be released shortly.

The final ONE8 line up has been confirmed as follows:

• R Kelly: US
  
• 2Face: Nigeria
  
• Alikiba: Tanzania
  
• Amani: Kenya
  
• Fally Ipupa: DRC
  
• 4X4: Ghana
  
• JK: Zambia
  
• Movaizhalene: Gabon
  
• Navio: Uganda

A major focus of the group is to provide their fans with digital all-access passes to follow their diaries and journeys as larger-than-life rock stars around the clock, allowing fans close personal experiences.

Join online at www.myone8.com, on mobile at myone8.mobi, facebook.com/myone8, follow @myone8 on Twitter or watch youtube.com/one8TV.