June 22, 2012

Link

R. Kelly’s long-in-the-works memoir, Soula Coaster: The Diary of Me?, will finally be released on June 28th, according to an issued press release. It’ll be a big week for the R&B singer as his latest album, Write My Back, will be released two days prior on June 26th through RCA Records.

[Edited 7/14/12 22:20pm]

I wonder will he touch on his torrid affair & marriage with Aaliyah. He did promise her family he would never speak on her again. Which so far he kept his word

KCOOLMUZIQ said:

I wonder will he touch on his torrid affair & marriage with Aaliyah. He did promise her family he would never speak on her again. Which so far he kept his word

He won't.

The fucks I give.

Maybe it'll be another American Psycho type story

Website for the book:

http://www.rkellysoulacoaster.com/

This may shock others... but i would actually be interested to hear about Kells music

I mean most biographys are cool... but i always want to hear about what inspired certain songs and such. I would love to hear what went behind his first 3 albums, his involvement with Public Announcement and going solo.

But then again this is what i expect out of all biographys i read & it usually turns into how ''hard'' so & so artists had it coming up.

Oh & it would be cool to hear about his professional relationship with Sparkle! i loved her album. And her background work on the ''R'' Album but after that she just totally dissapeared.

I heard she had some disputes with Kelly but i really don't know the entire situation.

[Edited 6/24/12 4:27am]

Wonder if the vile predatory perv will have a chapter entitled "The People I Pissed Off And Pissed On".

1sotrue said:

Do you really think R.Kelly is gonna come clean about his dark side? Its no secret he had a predilection for young girls so you think he's going to write about that ? I know he'll mentioned the trial and how it affected him and hus family but you won't get much insight. Theres definitely more skeletons in his closet but there wont be any startlingly revelations

Are you R. Kelly?

Mong said:

Wonder if the vile predatory perv will have a chapter entitled "The People I Pissed Off And Pissed On".

This isn't YOUR book.

neonlights said:

Supasoaker?

Gunsnhalen said:

Oh & it would be cool to hear about his professional relationship with Sparkle! i loved her album. And her background work on the ''R'' Album but after that she just totally dissapeared.

I heard she had some disputes with Kelly but i really don't know the entire situation.

[Edited 6/24/12 4:27am]

The dispute was over The R becoming very possessive of her. Not wanting her to work with other producers. When she did anyway he dropped her from his label(rockland) & tried to get her blackmailed.

The relationship(They we're sleeping with eachother to) suffered also when Sparkle discovered that The R was sleeping with her niece(The underage girl in the sex video)...She actually testified at the trial. But became not credible when they realized she had a "personal" relationship with Rob...

R. Kelly Shares His Memories of Meeting Michael Jackson

June 25, 2012

Link

It's been exactly three years since Michael Jackson's untimely passing. But for R. Kelly, the memory of spending time with the King of Pop will last forever.

They met when Kelly wrote "You Are Not Alone" for Jackson, and the late pop star agreed to sing it. Kelly details the thrill of meeting Jackson, their collaboration on the song – and what it was like to hit the mall with the mega-star – in his upcoming memoir, Soulacoaster: The Diary of Me, on sale June 28.

The day finally came. I got to the studio two hours early. I ordered my favorite Chinese food. I was sure to include some vegetarian dishes for Michael. I was so nervous that I started practicing in front of the food just how I would introduce Michael. Would I say, "Mike, would you like some Chinese food?" Or, "Mike, want some of this, man?" Or maybe it'd be better to say, "If you're in the mood for some Chinese food, Michael, you're welcome to it."

Thirty minutes and several phone calls from Jackson's people later, the legendary singer arrives.

He looked at least eight feet tall. He looked like an avatar. He was wearing a black mask over his face. Only his eyes were showing.

Finally, Mike walked over to me. He looked in my eyes, opened his arms, and gave me the hug of my life, whispering to me in his lighter-than-air, soft, high voice. "The world's gonna be singing this song."

I blurted out something silly like, "Congratulations on everything you've done, Mike. Congratulations on being Michael Jackson."

Just about then, Bubbles the chimp pranced into the room. In my mind, I called Bubbles "Trouble." The chimp made me nervous.

"He's friendly, isn't he, Mike?"

"Oh, yes, he's not going to hurt you."

"Anyway," I said, "I'm just glad you like the song."

"If you excuse me for a minute," I said, "I'll be right back."

I walked to the bathroom and just fell out on the floor. I broke down and cried. It wasn't that Michael Jackson was singing my song; it was that Michael had felt how I'd caught his spirit. Michael Jackson had come to Chicago to work with me!

"Rob," he said in that high, sing-song voice, "would you mind coming in here and singing backgrounds with me?"

Mind? Are you kidding? Michael Jackson was asking me to sing with him!

I had to practically stop myself from running to the vocal booth. I paced myself so I could walk slowly, but in my heart I felt like a little girl.

When we started to sing, the blend was perfect. We were butter and toast. He did that some rocking motion I'd seen him do on "We Are the World." Sitting there next to me – my voice over his, his voice over mine – I tasted heaven. Heaven on earth. Brother, this is as good as it gets.

"You know, Rob," he said later that afternoon, "sometimes it can take me a month to get a song where I want it."

"Me, too, Mike," I agreed. "Sometimes it takes me more than a month."

"I'm glad you understand. You'll be patient with me, won't you?"

"I'll be whatever you want me to be, Mike. It's still like a dream for me."

Then, the King of Pop made an unexpected request.

"Can I ask you something else?"

"Sure."

"Is there a mall around here, Rob?"

"Just a couple of blocks away."

"Would you go there with me? I love malls."

"I love 'em too, Mike. Let's roll."

With Bubbles and the security team in place, we went to Water Tower Place, one of the nicest malls in Chicago. Michael headed straight for the Disney store where he was fascinated by a larger-than-life statue of Donald Duck hung above the entrance.

"That's beautiful," said Michael. "Do you think they'd sell it to me? I'd love to have Donald Duck for Neverland."

"Couldn't hurt to ask," I said.

Of course Michael Jackson walking into the Disney store caused a near-riot. When the manager appeared, Michael couldn't have been sweeter: "Is there any way I could buy that Donald Duck?" he asked.

"I'm afraid not, Mr. Jackson. It's permanently built into the front of the store."

"Oh, that's a shame," Michael said politely. "But thank you anyway, sir."

I'd never met anyone with better manners.

The pair worked on perfecting the song over the next three weeks and spent time chatting together in the studio.

The experience of working with Mike was drama-free. Every night after he left the studio and got in his van, people were hanging out the windows of office buildings and hotels, stretching their necks to get a glimpse of him. He'd always stop and wave.

When the job was done and it was time for him to leave Chicago, he gave me another hug and said, "You're my brother."

I was too choked up to say anything. When "You Are Not Alone" dropped as the second single off Mike's Historyalbum, it made the Guinness World Records book as the first song to debut at #1 on the Billboard Top 100 chart. It was #1 in the U.K. as well as in France, New Zealand, Spain, Switzerland, and Japan. Mike was right. They were singing it all over the world."

Michael Jackson died on June 25, 2009. News of his death was like a hatchet to my chest. He meant to me what breathing means to most people. He was not only my brother and friend, he was also my mentor. I am honored and blessed to have been in Michael's presence. I got to know him like most of the world never will – on a person-to-person, soul-to-soul level.

The Diary Of Pee, surely?

^ You're too obsessed.

Pot, kettle.

Mong said:

The Diary Of Pee, surely?

That was about as creative as a slice of bread

Identity said:

Now some of us know for damn sure that R, Kelly ain't gonna "write" anything.

David Ritz WROTE the book.

I'd rather read Charles Barkley's autobiography and understand more.

"When you say 'underage', what do you mean?"

Yeah.... exactly. Deny and claim ignorance.

I love Mr. Kelly's music, but otherwise... meh.

aardvark15 said:

Mong said:

The Diary Of Pee, surely?

That was about as creative as a slice of bread

So it's on par with R Kelly's music.

Mong said:

aardvark15 said:

That was about as creative as a slice of bread

So it's on par with R Kelly's music.

When you can reinvent the R&B slow jam, create a new type of soap opera, basically invent modern R&B, create an album that is both a tribute to past while remaining present, and manage to have success through it all, call me

fuzion said:

Identity said:

Now some of us know for damn sure that R, Kelly ain't gonna "write" anything.

David Ritz WROTE the book.

Were you there when David Ritz wrote the book? How do you know R. Kelly "ain't gonna write anything"? It clearly states that he wrote the book WITH David Ritz.

neonlights said:

fuzion said:

Now some of us know for damn sure that R, Kelly ain't gonna "write" anything.

David Ritz WROTE the book.

Were you there when David Ritz wrote the book? How do you know R. Kelly "ain't gonna write anything"? It clearly states that he wrote the book WITH David Ritz.

It does say that ... but if you read past interviews with R, he's clearly said he's functionally illiterate. Now, that's not to say there's anything wrong with it, but my main problem with him is his skirting the truth with his BET interview, so I'm not expecting anything other than sugarcoated music talk with his book, splashed with a few anecdotes from his childhood. I'd rather read Richard Pryor, Ray Charles and James Brown autobiographies.

Straight, no chaser.

[Edited 6/25/12 17:51pm]

fuzion said:

neonlights said:

Were you there when David Ritz wrote the book? How do you know R. Kelly "ain't gonna write anything"? It clearly states that he wrote the book WITH David Ritz.

It does say that ... but if you read past interviews with R, he's clearly said he's functionally illiterate. Now, that's not to say there's anything wrong with it, but my main problem with him is his skirting the truth with his BET interview, so I'm not expecting anything other than sugarcoated music talk with his book, splashed with a few anecdotes from his childhood. I'd rather read Richard Pryor, Ray Charles and James Brown autobiographies.

Straight, no chaser.

[Edited 6/25/12 17:51pm]

What does his learning disability have to do with him writing the book with David Ritz? Nothing. He wrote thousands of songs with a disability so this book is no different.

Well, you can keep assuming. This book isn't to prove anything or any 'truth' (Funny people say this as if they're the man himself). It's just book for fans to get to know more about him and it's not like he's only going to discuss his music. But whatever, it looks like you already have your mind made up before it even hit shelves.

Anywho... to try to not make this another constant pee joke after pee joke.

Does he talk about his year in Public Announcement & MGM?

I always wondered what those bands where about... i mean Kells was always the star. So where they just kind of there for the ride? or was there plans on PA going bigger after Born Into The 90's?

neonlights said:

fuzion said:

It does say that ... but if you read past interviews with R, he's clearly said he's functionally illiterate. Now, that's not to say there's anything wrong with it, but my main problem with him is his skirting the truth with his BET interview, so I'm not expecting anything other than sugarcoated music talk with his book, splashed with a few anecdotes from his childhood. I'd rather read Richard Pryor, Ray Charles and James Brown autobiographies.

Straight, no chaser.

[Edited 6/25/12 17:51pm]

What does his learning disability have to do with him writing the book with David Ritz? Nothing. He wrote thousands of songs with a disability so this book is no different.

Well, you can keep assuming. This book isn't to prove anything or any 'truth' (Funny people say this as if they're the man himself). It's just book for fans to get to know more about him and it's not like he's only going to discuss his music. But whatever, it looks like you already have your mind made up before it even hit shelves.

As I said, his learning disability has NOTHING to do with it, but it's a pretty safe bet to assume that David Ritz WROTE the majority of the book, even though it was dictated to him. Case in point, if you read even an excerpt of Fantasia's autobiography you can tell that it was dictated (which she's admitted to) because the way she speaks and the way that book is written are ENTIRELY different.

As far as his songs, "You Remind Me Of My Jeep" comes to mind.

Of course the book isn't going to prove anything or any "truth". It's gonna be a fluff piece for an R&B singer who overcame the odds of his disability, blah blah blah...

I'm sorry, but the whole Aaliyah and pissing video (which his protege Sparkle's niece was in) left a completely bad taste in my mouth, pardon the pun.

While in most instances, the music should be paramount, in this particular case the overwhelming "circumstancial" evidence says that it shouldn't.

It'll be for the stans. Great.

Just like if Mr. Nelson decides to write a book, it'll be on his terms, which is his complete right.

But his and Mr. Kelly's are two TOTALLY different situations.

Just don't pour sugar on R. Kelly shit and tell me it's chocolate ice cream.

[Edited 6/25/12 19:15pm]

fuzion said:

neonlights said:

What does his learning disability have to do with him writing the book with David Ritz? Nothing. He wrote thousands of songs with a disability so this book is no different.

Well, you can keep assuming. This book isn't to prove anything or any 'truth' (Funny people say this as if they're the man himself). It's just book for fans to get to know more about him and it's not like he's only going to discuss his music. But whatever, it looks like you already have your mind made up before it even hit shelves.

As I said, his learning disability has NOTHING to do with it, but it's a pretty safe bet to assume

Why are you assuming?