R. Kelly has continued making music even while incarcerated.
The singer appeared on a recent Inmate Tea with A&P podcast episode, claiming to have written 25 albums while in prison.
When asked if he’s continued his music practice, the 58-year-old replied, “Well, singing is a beautiful disease that’s incurable. That’s not gonna happen, stopping singing. I don’t care where I’m at. I’m always singing, I’m always writing. I’ve written, like, 25 albums since I been in here, and right now I’m just working on getting out…I’m using patience as a tactic right now.”
Kelly said he called into the podcast because he was told to “sing happy birthday to somebody.” However, rather than start with the traditional birthday song, he sang a version of his 1998 track, “When a Woman’s Fed Up.”
The show’s producer then started singing the intro to Kelly’s “Bump n’ Grind,” before saying that Kelly should “finish it off,” adding, “I can’t do it like you!”
“I appreciate the love, man,” Kelly responded. “I appreciate you for knowing the words.” He capped off the call with a rendition of “Step in the Name of Love.”
Kelly is serving a 30-year sentence in New York City after being found guilty of nine counts of racketeering and sex trafficking in July 2022. Two months later, in Chicago, he was found guilty of three counts of production of child pornography and three counts of enticement of a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity. The latter charges carry a separate 20-year sentence.
