The Case Against R. Kelly: To Buy or Not to Buy

R. Kelly has a new double CD that is getting plenty of airplay even as accusations of child pornography and multiple instances of statutory rape continue to move through the courts and the press. His "marriage" to the late singer Aaliyah, who died in a plane crash three years ago today, was proof enough for me that the man did not respect women. It's sad, because Kelly may be the best all-around male R&B singer since Marvin Gaye -- another troubled soul, but not, to my knowledge, a pedophile.

All of this comes to mind because a link sent by my brother-friend Mark Anthony Neal to an MSNBC article about the fact that Kelly continues to make money and receive validation from the black community despite the considerable evidence of his moral turpitude. The article quotes brother Neal talking about the paradox that music so sweet can come from someone so troubled:

“I like his music a great deal, but the only time really I can listen to him when he sounds like he’s being honest about the problems he obviously has. On some songs when he’s talking to God and his mother — he’s telling you that he’s not right. But then there are other times when I just can’t listen to him. Like when he calls himself the Pied Piper. Anyone familiar with the myth of the Pied Piper has to ask ‘just what is he admitting to here?’”

There is also this quote from Chicago Sun-Times critic Jim deRogatis:

“The thing is,the charges against Kelly aren’t isolated. They’re part of a pattern — this is something that has happened over and over. And it’s tough to listen to a sexually charged song like “Ignition” after you’ve sat down with some of the people who have accused him, and heard about how some of the girls involved have tried to commit suicide, or how their lives have been ruined, like the girl in the video. This is a man of great wealth who uses his position, power and resources to prey on young girls.”

I'm not ambivalent on this one. My "step in the name of love" will be to step away from CDs, concert tickets, posters, etc. The so-called "Pied Piper" gets none of my money. Instead of spending money on R. Kelly, music fans might consider a donation to the memorial fund set up by Aaliyah's family to benefit breast cancer research and other worthy causes.