avatarJulius Evans

Summary

The web content reflects on R. Kelly's significant influence on music despite the serious allegations against him, acknowledging his prolific songwriting and collaboration with numerous music icons.

Abstract

The article discusses the complex legacy of R. Kelly, focusing on his impact as a songwriter and composer rather than the crimes for which he has been incarcerated. It recounts a personal anecdote of meeting Kelly in Atlanta and emphasizes the enduring influence of music in general, citing Kelly's extensive collaborations with artists like Celine Dion, Lady Gaga, and Beyoncé. The author notes that despite the tragedy of Kelly's personal conduct, his musical contributions, including 17 studio albums and 129 singles, have indelibly shaped a generation. The piece is a contemplation on the dichotomy between Kelly's talent and his actions, questioning how society should reconcile the two.

Opinions

  • The author acknowledges R. Kelly's musical genius, highlighting his prolific output and the breadth of his collaborations.
  • Music is portrayed as a powerful force that influences many aspects of life, with the author suggesting that listeners often have strong memories associated with songs.
  • The author expresses that R. Kelly's music has had a profound impact, suggesting that many children have been born to his music, indicating the deep integration of his work into people's lives.
  • Despite the severity of R. Kelly's crimes, the author believes there is value in discussing his musical legacy separately from his personal conduct.
  • The article suggests that readers may share a nostalgic connection to R. Kelly's music, particularly from his album "The Chocolate Factory," which is used as a personal reference point by the author.

R. Kelly Was a Lot of Things…

But Did Any of His Music Ever Influence You? I Bet it Did.

Made by the author.

I’m not here to debate all the horrible and inhumane things R. Kelly did to those precious women and little girls. He is where he belongs. I only came here to discuss how prolific a song writer and composer he was. Can we talk about his music?

I met R. Kelly when he was at the top of his music game. He came to Atlanta, GA, to play in a charity basketball game with radio disc jockey Ryan Cameron. You remember Ryan, don’t you? He came up with the world famous birthday rap:

“Today is a special day, it is a day that everything will go your way,

“Today is the day that you were born. It’s your birthday. You got it going on.

“From Jan-u-ary to De-cem-ber, everyone has a day that they have to remember,

“Either turning 21 or 95, it’s your birthday, come on, get live!

“It’s Your Birthday. Its Your Birthday. It’s Your Birthday. It’s Your Birthday.”

Now, how do I remember that from the 1990s? You got me, but suffice to say that music influences most parts of our lives. In fact, I’ll bet you that if an oldie but goodie song came on, you would remember exactly where you were when you first heard it, and some other facts surrounding the song.

That’s why this R. Kelly case is so tragic. This man influenced an entire generation. Oh no, you say? Well, it’s not just the R. Kelly songs that he created. He collaborated with many of music’s superstars including Celine Dion, Lady Gaga, Michael Jackson, Babyface, shall I continue? Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Britney Spears, Beanie Siegel, Mary J. Blige, Jodeci’s K-Ci and JoJo, and on and on. It has been reported that he wrote 462 in 2015. According this his brother in the Netflix documentary, Robert started singing as a child in church with his mother. Music was his safe haven. His first record deal with Jive Records was inked in 1991.

Throughout his career, R. Kelly has released 17 studio albums, five compilation albums, one soundtrack album, six video albums, one mixtape, two extended play, and 129 singles (including 47 as a featured artist and 10 promotional singles).

If that’s not enough, well, believe me this could get pretty extensive. You wanna guess how many children have been born to R. Kelly music? Ok, you see where this is going.

So, the point to all of this is, as I sit here and listen to a song from his 2003 album, The Chocolate Factory, (that was 18 years ago — know how I know? That’s the year my son was born), I think we can all agree that R. Kelly might have been a lot of terrible things, but as far as the music goes, he was one heck of an incredible music maker.

About the author

Julius Evans has a Master of Arts degree in National Security and Strategic Studies from the U.S. Naval War College, Newport, RI; a Master of Arts degree in Strategic Communication and Leadership from Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ; a Bachelor of Science degree in Mass Communication and Journalism from City University, Bellevue, WA and an Associate of Arts degree in Liberal Studies from Central Texas College, Killeen, Texas.

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Music
R Kelly
Surviving R Kelly
Singer
Musicians
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