R. Kelly's child sex trial is to start in Chicago, Illinois on Friday after a series of delays and hold-ups.

Jury selection will begin six years after Kelly was initially charged with having intercourse with a minor.

The charges were prompted by a videotape allegedly showing the singer/songwriter having sex with a young teenager.

The trial looks set to be a messy one with both Kelly and his now-23-year-old alleged sexual partner both insisting it isn't them on the videotape.

Kelly, 41, faces up to 15 years in prison if he's convicted.

But his spokesman Allan Mayer insists Kelly is relieved the trial is about to start at last: "Every waking moment, he's always had this hanging over his head. He's confident that when all the evidence comes out he'll be shown not to be guilty of any crime."

Maybe he can write a hip-hopera to plead his case.