R Kelly has opened up on the allegations of sexual misconduct levelled against him in a new 19 minute long song, “I Admit It”.
The singer, who is the target of a boycott campaign over his treatment of women, hit backMonday in a 19-minute song on Instagram TV.
He told his 1 million Instagram followers, “Today is the day you’ve been waiting for. I admit it.”
“I never thought it would come to this, to be the most disrespected artist,” he sings over a mid-tempo R&B beat.
“So I had to write a song about this, ’cause they always take my words and twist it.”
Halfway through the song, Kelly says that a family member touched him sexually from a young age until he was 14.
He said, “Now, I admit a family member touched me (touched me, touched me, touched me)/ From a child to the age 14, yeah/ While I laid asleep, took my virginity (sleep, gini’)”.
In the lyrics of the song, he says; “I done made some mistake…
“How they gon’ say I don’t respect these women, when all I’ve done is represent (30 years)/ Take my career and turn it upside down, ’cause you
mad I’ve got some girlfriends (girlfriends),” he sings.
At one point in the song, Kelly admits to being with “older and younger [ladies]” and also makes reference to the ongoing campaign against him.
“I admit I mess with all the ladies, that’s both older and young ladies (ladies, yeah)/ But tell me how they call it pedophile because that shit is crazy (crazy)/.
“You may have your opinions, entitled to your opinions (opinions)/ But really am I supposed to go to jail or lose my career because of your opinion/ Yeah, go ahead and stone me, point your finger at me (stone me, yeah, yeah)/ Turn the world against me, but only god can mute me (against me, mute me).”
He specifically referenced allegations charged by the parents of Jocelyn Savage, who say Kelly began dating their 19-year-old daughter in 2016 and proceeded to cut off all communications between them and their daughter.
Kelly also has some words for the Chicago-based music journalist, Jim DeRogatis , who has reported on Kelly’s alleged misconduct over the last two decades.
Kelly, 51, in the song suggests racial bias and draws a contrast with positive portrayals of late Playboy founder Hugh Hefner, known for his multiple relationships with younger women.
Kelly admits sex with “both older and young ladies” but adds, “Really, am I supposed to go to jail or lose my career because of your opinions?”
He also chides celebrities who have turned on him including singer John Legend as well as top streaming service Spotify, which briefly removed him from playlists as part of a crackdown.
