Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Greatest R&B Talent Ever? Really?

"He did all of this after he peed on the girl."

That's all my boy GM would say. It was his defense as to why Robert "I want to piss on you" Kelly, who was acquitted of 14 child porn charges, is the greatest R&B talent.

There were six of us at the table engaged in this debate. Three agreed with GM. NYC Body and I were the only two to dissent.

Shuttlesworth's Twin argued that R. Kelly had the sales. John Lennon's Black Daughter (JLBD) said Kelly had the hits. And GM's Wifey agreed with her husband because that's what she's supposed to do (not really, but she didn't happen to give reason for her argument).

They all turned to me and asked "Vic, who is better? Name someone."

(insert momentary pause)

"You're not giving us anything."

I tend not to handle that type of spotlight well. You know, that kind where it seems like everyone is really breathing down your neck for an answer you don't immediately have.

After some thought, I came up with Brian McKnight, Babyface and even Raphael Saadiq ... as artists. Even in bringing those names up, and understanding the quality and depth of their works, no one would dare say one of them was better than Kells. In fact, GM and Shuttlesworth's Twin actually defended Kelly.

It got me to thinking.

There really is something wrong with this world when the best R&B artist is an (alleged) pedophile. I mean, R. Kelly is to black music what crack was to the black community in the 1980s.

Can you imagine what R&B music would be like if R. Kelly had written 10 more "I Believe I Can Fly"-like tracks, and fewer hood anthems that have no place in our society? I'm not even talking about the sex joints because some of them have their places.

But "You Remind Me of My Jeep?" Really? Or pretty much anything off of about his last three albums? Everything since TP3 (include TP3 because it sucked) has been crap, and this is the best we have, allegedly.

I think not.

I'll admit it, I have about 100 R. Kelly tracks on my computer. He's a hitmaker. But I'll never buy another R. Kelly album.

He's a huge part of the problem. He can't be the best R&B artist ever. He's a great musical talent and a great fear to the public for his (alleged) acts with underage girls.

It's kinda like Roger Clemens and steroids - but worse. Clemens may be the greatest pitcher of my lifetime, yet he's probably not going to the hall of fame right away, if ever, because he used 'roids.

R. Kelly can't be the the best R&B artist ever because he, too, must be disqualified from the discussion.
That "he did all of this after he peed on the girl," actually makes my case.

HE PEED ON THE GIRL. He can't see anything wrong with a little bump and grind with a 13-year-old girl. Neither his mind nor his body told him no.

I don't care what that jury said, that's Robert Kelly in the video. There are Soul Train awards in the background. Think about it.

End of discussion.

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