StoneCrib said:

There's truth in this, but I think it's more the fact that it was a girl and not a boy. It's socially acceptable in our society to sexualize girls. Hell, you can even make pop songs about it! He did it before this girl and wasn't punished (as far as we know), so he's gonna do it again.

Rhondab said:

True!

RipHer2Shreds said:

Rape Kelly.

Truth be told, black fans of R. Kelly are as complicit as a corrupt legal system. Blacks should've cut all ties with him, when this became public. Instead, we've bought his CDs in droves, played his songs -- even in church, which is where he began his campaign for public opinion -- and treated him like a punchline.

That kind of support sends a message to young girls.

In Wal-Mart, I've heard middle-aged mothers of teen girls rave about getting R.'s new album.

That sends a message to young girls.

A 25-year-old female friend of mine -- well aware of Kelly's issue, mind you -- was talking last night about how much of a musical genius he is. She didn't want to hear my points about him being sick. Her point? If you hold Kelly's issue against him and boycott his money, you might as well boycott everybody.

That sends a message to young girls.

If more black women aren't going to raise a fuss about Kelly -- and by that, I mean picket at his promotional appearances and concerts, employ NOW and other groups and hold him and other folks accountable, why should anyone else care?

By the same token, black men around Kelly ought to have distanced themselves from him, when the charges and tape first became public. One way to acknowledge the violation of social mores is to stand up for the victimized. We do it in other situations. We should do it, in Kelly's case.

And send the right message to young girls.

ThreadBare said:

Anyone who thinks R. Kelly is a musical genius, well, I really wouldn't put much stock in their judgement

VoicesCarry said:

Descriptions I keep hearing of his composing, arranging and instrumental skills suggest someone extremely driven and inspired. When the same types of descriptions are used for Prince, "genius" has seemed acceptable enough.



My friend did fault his penchant for songs such as "Feeling on Your Booty," though. Thank goodness.

Preach that shit, dammit!
It's a damn shame how people just kept supportin' this ho after the overwhelming evidence was out on him. I even had one sista tell me "You gotta watch these little young girls now, they will lie about their age just to get to you" - The negro knew that broad was 13! So it wasn't about HER, it was all about HIM!

The dude was fuckin' Aaliyah when she was 15, this negro has a problem and some people don't want to recognize it or try and pass the blame on the young girl who too damn young to be thinking about how wrng this all is.

ThreadBare said:

Well, Prince *is* a genius R. Kelly has never done anything brilliant. He has done a lot of mediocre and a lot of bad. That's about it. "You remind me of my jeep."

VoicesCarry said:

Prince got his Genius Title revoked after NPS
but he's still very talented...

EmbattledWarrior said:

VoicesCarry said:

And, Prince has done "Poom Poom" and "Solo." But, I give him credit for "Girls and Boys" and "Dorothy Parker." Look, I'm not a Kelly fan, by any means, but I think we should acknowledge how subjectively the "genius" label gets applied. Some folks think Kelly is a genius. I don't.

ThreadBare said:

Oh, yeah, I totally agree that it is subjective. And Prince for sure has done shit. But unfortunately R. has never ever done anything on Prince's level and certainly never will at this point. R. really is a by-the-numbers R&B producer, songwriter and singer. I mean you may as well call Rodney Jerkins a genius. I think R. is proficient. People that think he's a genius have me
[Edited 6/10/06 12:44pm]

Well that is totally true that "race" is the issue in this case. But i have heard it from both forums on this case, I have heard people say that its because R Kelly is Black that this even went to trial, now im hearing that if the girls were white then his ass would have been in jail already. The truth of the matter is that R kelly, black or white, celeb or not, should be doing time for this. I just watched this larry king interview with that school teacher who had sex with her student and then married him later on, well she did 7 years for it. Now i know she was i think 33 at the time and he was 14, but its really the same thought. The deal is R. Kelly is a celeb and if he goes to jail it will "be because hes a black male" and if he doesnt he will walk because he's a rich celeb, so choose your battles, On the moral stand, he should do some sort of time or just get some help, its cool to like younger ladies, but R, use your brain if U got one, when a Groupie says shes 21 but looks 16 she is probably lieing about her age, stop being ignorant.

VoicesCarry said:

Gotcha. I think a lot of R&B fans would disagree that characterization of him. I'm not the hugest R&B fan, but even I know folks love his music. That in itself seems an acknowledgment that he might be a little more gifted than you suggest.

Be that as it may, he still has some issues and deserves to be held accountable, socially and legally, for his predatorial behavior with little girls.

R.kelly is the best R&B has to show for...
in essence we see how sad the state of R&B is in...
[Edited 6/10/06 12:54pm]

ThreadBare said:

Or it suggests that those folks don't know R&B beyond maybe the last 15 years and R&B in its current state is shit. My guess is that's much more likely. On this board his music is not loved, and for good reason - because people more often than not know their shit.
[Edited 6/10/06 13:22pm]

EmbattledWarrior said:

Yeah, that.

GangstaFam said:

I'm tellin' you. That is what the R stands for.

WTF?

Show child pornography to the public?????

This is INSANE!

CarrieMpls said:

In court.

VoicesCarry said:

People are a lot more knowledgable about music than folks on this board like to give them credit for. Yes, we have some serious musicphiles here at the Org, but it's still a pretty small pond.

And, to that point, if people know what they like, and they like Kelly's music, that in itself is a barometer.

skyecute said:

exactly. but when and if it ever does go to trial they better throw the book @ him

Rhondab said:

how is it different? that girl coulda been a straight up ho who'd been around the block one too many times, but that doesnt excuse the fact that kelly is a grown man and that he broke the law

ThreadBare said:

bless u!

I like the man's music.

ThreadBare said:

Well said Threadbare.

Rhondab said:

Possibly, if the boys weren't black, but only because it would be about homophobia then.
[Edited 6/11/06 17:27pm]

ThreadBare said:

It's personal taste. I still think anyone who calls R. a genius is fucking nuts, though You are free to think whatever you like.

Handclapsfingasnapz said:

RipHer2Shreds said:

hysterical.

VoicesCarry said:

OMG do you remember when someone made a thread saying R. Kelly was a genius?