Rapper Ne-Yo has hit out at R Kelly after being axed from the ‘I Believe I Can Fly’ singer’s tour.

Ne-Yo was bumped off their joint US jaunt little more than a week after it started on November 14, and the rapper firmly believes this was because his sets were receiving a better response.

He blasted:  "I believe it was because the first few reviews of the show, people were talking more about my set than his."

Continuing to the BET Cable Network, he said: "I am disappointed that I won't be able to perform for my fans. I love being on stage in front of fans because of the immediate feedback you get. You know right away if they are feeling you; and they were really feeling our show."

Kelly’s camp have insisted that the ditching of Ne-Yo was due to contractual reasons.