I Admit (R. Kelly song)

"I Admit"
Song by R. Kelly
Released July 23, 2018 (2018-07-23)
Format Streaming
Genre R&B
Length 19:11
Label Self-released
Songwriter(s) R. Kelly[1]
Producer(s) R. Kelly, Noc[1]
Audio sample
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"I Admit" is a 19-minute song by American R&B singer R. Kelly. It was self-released on SoundCloud on July 23, 2018.[1] The song addresses the singer's sex scandals and allegations.[2][3] "I Admit" was written by Kelly, and produced by Kelly and Noc[1] using a sample of "On and On" by Joey Badass featuring Dyemond Lewis and Maverick Sabre.[4]

Background

"I Admit" is Kelly's first release since his 2016 holiday album, 12 Nights of Christmas.[5]

In 2017, Jim DeRogatis contributed an article to BuzzFeed News detailing legal investigations from three families regarding their daughters' alleged kidnappings after they established relationships with Kelly. The article characterized Kelly's operations as a "cult", and included interviews with three of Kelly's former associates.[6] However, both Kelly[7] and the daughters[8] refuted the claims.

In May 2018, the Women of Color branch of the Time's Up movement announced their support for the #MuteRKelly social media campaign, which advocated for venues to cancel Kelly's concert dates and for Sony Music to terminate Kelly's recording contract.[9]

Content

Kelly denies accusations of domestic violence, involvement in a "sex cult", and pedophilia in his lyrics.[2] Kelly also reveals that he lost his virginity when he was raped by an older female family member.[10][11] The lyrics denounce Jim DeRogatis for profiting from his reports of Kelly's scandals,[2] and John Legend, Steve Harvey, and Tom Joyner for refusing to publicly defend Kelly from his accusers.[5]

Despite the name of the song, Kelly does not admit guilt regarding the 2008 acquittal of his sex tape allegations, but sings that his lawyer advised him to "don't say noth'".[5] Kelly admits to casual sex with “both older and young ladies”, but claims that all of them were "over age".[12][13]

In response to the #MuteRKelly campaign,[14] Kelly sings, "only God can mute me".[15] Kelly finishes the song by telling the audience to "stay the fuck out of my business",[16] and inviting his hometown of Chicago to use his image as inspiration for city youth.[10]

Critical reception

Hannah Giorgis of The Atlantic compared the song's structure to Kelly's Trapped in the Closet opera, and remarked, "The specter of harmful actions is softened by the harmonies of the lullaby." Giorgis described Kelly's delivery as "a stomach-churning mix of self-pity and hubris" and criticized Kelly for refusing to address the alleged victims directly. She wrote, "none of the women who have recounted tales of Kelly’s abuse is worthy of being the hero in this story. Kelly, and Kelly alone, occupies that mantle."[5]

Ann-Derrick Gaillot of The Outline considered "I Admit" a "bad song" and "a 20-minute long plea to save his dying career", and stated that the release of the song demonstrated that Kelly was "no longer invincible".[17] Michael Arcenaux of Rolling Stone lambasted Kelly for attempting to "invoke his own trauma to excuse the grief he is alleged to have caused in so many women and girls".[18]

Responses

In an interview with Variety, Jim DeRogatis denied that his reporting of Kelly's allegations has been a significant factor in his own career growth. DeRogatis defended his continued coverage of Kelly by disclosing that he still received calls from sources. He said, "You're not a journalist or a human being if you get those calls and do not do your job."[19]

The attorney representing the family of Jocelyn Savage, one of the daughters mentioned in DeRogatis's BuzzFeed News article, rebuked Kelly for trying to "shift the narrative" and demanded Savage's release.[20]

The co-founder of the #MuteRKelly social media campaign, Oronike Odeleye, called the song a "19-minute sex trafficking fundraising anthem" and vowed to eliminate Kelly's remaining concert dates.[21]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "R.Kelly "I Admit"". SoundCloud. 23 Jul 2018. Retrieved 23 Jul 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 Sodomsky, Sam; Strauss, Matthew (23 Jul 2018). "R. Kelly Addresses Sex Cult Allegations, Spotify Policy in 19-Minute New Song". Pitchfork. Retrieved 23 Jul 2018.
  3. ↑ "R Kelly: 'I Admit' released against sex allegations". BBC. 23 Jul 2018. Retrieved 23 Jul 2018.
  4. ↑ "R. Kelly – I Admit Lyrics". Genius. Retrieved 26 Jul 2018.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Giorgis, Hannah (24 Jul 2018). "R. Kelly Is the Hero of His Own Disingenuous Epic". The Atlantic. Retrieved 25 Jul 2018.
  6. ↑ DeRogatis, Jim (17 Jul 2017). "Parents Told Police Their Daughter Is Being Held Against Her Will In R. Kelly's "Cult"". BuzzFeed News. Retrieved 25 Jul 2018.
  7. ↑ "R Kelly denies holding several women in 'abusive cult'". BBC. 18 Jul 2017. Retrieved 25 Jul 2018.
  8. ↑ Aswad, Jem (17 Jul 2017). "Parents Accusing R. Kelly of Holding Daughters in Abusive 'Cult' to Hold Press Conference, Writer Says". Variety. Retrieved 25 Jul 2018.
  9. ↑ "Women of Color of Time's Up Join #MuteRKelly Campaign". Billboard. 30 Apr 2018. Retrieved 25 Jul 2018.
  10. 1 2 Britton, Luke Morgan (25 Jul 2018). "R Kelly's 19-minute mea culpa 'I Admit', dissected and analysed". NME. Retrieved 25 Jul 2018.
  11. ↑ "R. Kelly Says He's 'Made Some Mistakes' on New 19-Minute Track 'I Admit'". Time. 23 Jul 2018. Retrieved 23 Jul 2018.
  12. ↑ Grady, Constance (23 Jul 2018). "R. Kelly released a 19-minute song called "I Admit." It doesn't admit much". Vox. Retrieved 25 Jul 2018.
  13. ↑ Read, Bridget (23 Jul 2018). "In a New 19 Minute Song, R. Kelly Admits to Nothing". Vogue. Retrieved 25 Jul 2018.
  14. ↑ Snapes, Laura (23 Jul 2018). "R Kelly denies sexual abuse allegations in 19-minute song I Admit". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 Jul 2018.
  15. ↑ Ellefson, Lindsey (23 Jul 2018). "R. Kelly answers his critics with a 19-minute song, 'I Admit'". CNN. Retrieved 23 Jul 2018.
  16. ↑ Kaufman, Gil (23 Jul 2018). "R. Kelly Appears to Hit Back at Sexual Assault Allegations in 19-Minute 'I Admit' Track: Listen". Billboard. Retrieved 25 Jul 2018.
  17. ↑ Gaillot, Ann-Derrick (23 Jul 2018). "The R. Kelly boycott is working". The Outline. Retrieved 25 Jul 2018.
  18. ↑ Arcenaux, Michael (24 Jul 2018). "R. Kelly's Latest Song Is the Same Old Two-Step From the Most Contemptible Man in Music". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 25 Jul 2018.
  19. ↑ Aswad, Jem (23 Jul 2018). "Jim DeRogatis Responds to R. Kelly, Who Says Reporter Has Been 'Trying to Destroy' Him". Variety. Retrieved 25 Jul 2018.
  20. ↑ Cohen, Jess (23 Jul 2018). "R. Kelly Addresses Sexual Abuse Allegations in Explicit New Song "I Admit"". E! News. Retrieved 25 Jul 2018.
  21. ↑ Fekadu, Mesfin (28 Jul 2018). "Once untouchable, 'I Admit' shows that R. Kelly is hurting". Associated Press. Retrieved 29 Jul 2018.
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