Clash of the Cover Songs: R. Kelly vs. Bonnie 'Prince' Billy

The Rules for Battle: Each week, we pit versions of the same song by two different artists in a head-to-head death match for musical supremacy. (Sometimes it will be the original recording vs. a cover version; other times it will be two different covers.) Then it's up to you to decide: Listen to and vote on which version you think should emerge victorious and which should be sent packing. May the best band win!



The Song: 'The World's Greatest'

The Contestants: R. Kelly vs. Bonnie "Prince" Billy

In This Corner -- R. Kelly: Robert Sylvester Kelly is R&B's cheekiest chappie. This king of the sexed-up slow jam has faced any number of legal cases, lawsuits and controversies throughout his career. He's also kinda fond of himself, as the album inlay of 1998's 'R' will testify, where it asks the reader to worship, pray for him. It's hard to remember that 'The World's Greatest' is about Muhammad Ali -- and not Kelly himself.

R. Kelly, 'The World's Greatest'




In This Corner -- Bonnie "Prince" Billy: Will "Multiple Pseudonyms" Oldham offers up a sweet rendition of this R. Kelly original, taking the listener off on a gentle bluegrass journey. Yet for all its differences from the original track, Oldham takes care to doff his cap to Kelly, even going as far as to pronounce the word "ask" as "axe," just like R.K. does. Aw.

Bonnie "Prince" Billy, 'The World's Greatest'