Tyrese has once again found himself at the center of controversy after boldly declaring R. Kelly the “King of R&B” during a recent performance in Chicago. The Grammy-nominated singer and actor paused mid-show to make the statement, fully aware of how divisive it would be.
“I know the city I’m in. I’ma say it again. Feel whatever you want to feel, I got no f***s to give. The King of R&B is R. Kelly… Chi-town, baby,” Tyrese told the crowd. His words sparked an immediate mixed reaction, with some audience members cheering while others appeared visibly uncomfortable. The comment was particularly striking given that it came in Kelly’s hometown, a city that has long celebrated him as a musical pioneer, even as his reputation crumbled following his 2022 federal convictions for sex trafficking and child exploitation.
There’s no denying Kelly’s impact on modern R&B. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, he dominated the charts with hits like “Bump N’ Grind” and the Grammy-winning anthem “I Believe I Can Fly.” Beyond his own music, Kelly shaped the sound of R&B by writing and producing for countless other artists, leaving behind a catalog that continues to influence the genre. However, his legacy is now deeply fractured, as his artistic achievements remain inseparable from the crimes and decades of allegations that led to his imprisonment.
Source: YouTube
