Photo: AP
LOS ANGELES
R Kelly is regarded as one of music’s all-time hit makers, but the years of sexual abuse allegations against the embattled R&B star have created a dark cloud over his musical legacy. Some believe Kelly’s career is in serious jeopardy once again after being charged with 10 counts of aggravated sexual abuse involving four females, including three minors. A Chicago judge set the singer’s bond at $1 million Saturday after he turned himself into police the day before.
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After being acquitted on child pornography charges more than a decade ago, Kelly’s new criminal charges might be too hard for his career to overcome. “I think the court of public opinion is too strong,” said Evelyn McDonnell, an associate professor who focuses on women and music at Loyola Marymount University. “I think venues will not book him. He’s reached the proportions of Harvey Weinstein. There’s no coming back. There will be those psycho fans who will stand behind him no matter what. Maybe he’ll have a career playing casinos in Thailand. But I can’t see him having any kind of a respectable career.”
Kelly broke into the music scene in 1993 with his first solo album, “12 Play,” which produced such popular sex-themed songs as “Bump N’ Grind” and “Your Body’s Callin’.”
The singer rose from poverty on Chicago’s South Side and experienced crossover success through “I Believe I Can Fly” and “Step In the Name of Love.” He has written numerous hits for himself and other artists, including Celine Dion, Michael Jackson and Lady Gaga. His collaborators have included Jay-Z and Usher.
But it’s been a while since the Kelly, 52, has scored a major hit. His songs “Feelin’ Single” and “Share My Love” reached No. 1 on Billboard R&B songs chart in 2012. “He’s not someone who’s selling millions of records,” said Gerrick D Kennedy, music writer for the Los Angeles Times. “Those days were long since over.”
Some music performers including Jennifer Hudson, Fantasia and Joe have denounced songs that Kelly created for them. Lady Gaga and Celine Dion removed their duets with Kelly from streaming platforms. Boy band B2K said after their reunion tour that they won’t perform any songs R Kelly crafted for them including “Bump, Bump, Bump,” the group’s only Billboard Hot 100 chart-topping song.
Last year, Spotify removed his music from its playlists in 2018 due to the streaming services’ new policy on hate content and hateful conduct. Multiple outlets reported that Sony Music dropped the Kelly from its roster this year.
