Timbaland says R. Kelly remains to be the 'king of R&B' regardless of being convicted of sex-trafficking girls

• Timbaland stated R. Kelly remains to be the “king of R&B” and “everyone knows that” throughout a podcast look.
• “His artwork is his artwork, I ain’t gonna bash the person’s artwork,” the award-winning producer added.
• Kelly, 56, is presently in jail after being convicted of racketeering and intercourse trafficking expenses.

Timbaland insisted that R. Kelly remains to be the R&B G.O.A.T., regardless of his being convicted of sex-trafficking girls.

“R. Kelly’s the king of R&B. Everyone knows that, man,” the award-winning music producer stated throughout a current look on the “Membership Shay Shay” podcast whereas discussing with host Shannon Sharpe whether or not it is attainable to separate Kelly’s artwork from his crimes.

In June 2022, Kelly was sentenced to 30 years in jail by a New York Court docket after being discovered responsible on 9 counts of racketeering and sex-trafficking expenses associated to Kelly’s decades-long follow of grooming girls and ladies for unlawful intercourse.

In February of this yr, the 56-year-old was then sentenced by a Chicago courtroom to an extra 20 years in jail after being discovered responsible of manufacturing little one pornography and abusing minors.

Kelly will serve 19 years of his Chicago sentence concurrently along with his New York sentence, that means that Kelly may serve a complete of 31 years in jail.

“Everyone bounce while you say R. Kelly,” Timbaland stated. “I am like, so we simply gonna ignore his music that he gave us, that all of us jam to?”

“No, we will not do this. His artwork is his artwork, I ain’t gonna bash the person’s artwork,” he added. “Do not combine music up with private. Music is a sense, it stands alone. Music is one thing that do not have no race, it brings individuals collectively. It do not don’t have any drama with it. It’s a place of enjoyment; a sense, so do not convey drama into music. Depart that exterior.”

Representatives for Timbaland didn’t instantly reply to Insider’s request for remark.

Although Timbaland by no means labored with Kelly, he did produce quite a few songs, together with “One in a Million” and “Attempt Once more,” for the late Aaliyah, who married Kelly in 1994 when she was 15 and he was 27.

Throughout an episode of “True Hollywood Story” in 2011, Timbaland confessed to being “in love” with Aaliyah once they first met in 1995.

He stated he didn’t act on his emotions due to their seven-year age distinction.

“She only a child, I am outdated,” he stated. “I stated to myself, ‘I am simply gonna be her brother.’ Oh man, I used to be fightin’, I used to be fightin’ lots, a giant conflict. However I cherished Aaliyah.”