*R. Kelly broke his silence this week during a phone call on the “Inmate Tea With A&P podcast,” three years into his 30-year sentence for sex trafficking and racketeering.
The infamous R&B singer, who was convicted in 2021, took to a monitored phone line to share his experiences and creative endeavors while incarcerated, claiming he has written over two dozen albums since his imprisonment in 2022, Billboard is reporting.
During the seven-minute call, Kelly engaged with the podcast hosts while being referred to affectionately as the “King of R&B” and the once-lauded “Pied Piper of R&B.”
He conveyed his feelings of “greatness” and even performed a few lines from his 1998 hit “When a Woman’s Fed Up,” eliciting laughter and enthusiasm from the hosts, who danced and sang along.
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The incarcerated singer emphasized his undying passion for music, categorizing it as “a beautiful disease that’s incurable,” declaring, “That’s not gonna happen, not singing.”
Despite facing serious legal repercussions, Kelly remains committed to his artistic ambitions, asserting he has written “like 25 albums” while behind bars.
Since his conviction on multiple charges, including sexual exploitation and racketeering, Kelly has faced a myriad of allegations related to his past, including an illegal marriage to the underage Aaliyah in 1994 and accusations of running a “cult” that allegedly controlled the lives of several young women. These allegations were further brought to light in the powerful Surviving R. Kelly documentary series, where numerous women shared their experiences of abuse at his hands.
As he navigates life in a federal prison in North Carolina, Kelly also revealed that he is striving to secure an appeal to eventually regain his freedom. However, his recent legal battles have seen a setback, as Manhattan’s 2nd Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals rejected his bid to appeal his New York conviction. Given the length of his sentence and his current age of 58, it is plausible that he could remain incarcerated into his 80s if he serves the full term.
As R. Kelly continues to fight for his artistry and freedom, the intersection of his musical legacy and the serious accusations that have marred his career remains a focal point of discussion. His recent podcast appearance not only underscores his desire to remain connected to his passion but also places him once again in the public eye amidst ongoing controversies surrounding his past.
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