R Kelly example essay topic

Robert Kelly was born in January 1969, in Chicago Illinois. Kelly grew up in the housing projects of Chicago's south side. He overcame the peer gang and other negative influences in his surroundings. "He had a strong determination never to settle for any l's (loses) in his life". (Lisa Knazze) That might explain R. Kelly's ability to bounce back form situations that could permanently damage anyone's career.

Kelly had a natural flair for most instruments, eventually becoming more by accident then by design. "Robert was never really cool, but he was really talented though. He could play almost any instrument". (Lisa Knazze) He used his love of music and natural flair for instruments and began performing on the streets. He describes his first experience performing "Well it started out as me and my boys just messing around performing in the streets.

Then one of the fellows dropped a hat while I was playing this keyboard and people started putting money in it. That became our thing! I simply made a regular job out of it". (Baker, Billboard pg. 86) R. Kelly's street performances did earn him a living until constant police disruptions forced him to reconsider his employment. From there Kelly had his share of unsuccessful music groups. His big break came when manager Barry Hankerson spotted Kelly while he was auditioning for a play at the Regal Theater in Chicago.

Hankerson soon had Kelly acting as musical coordinator / producer for a slew of acts including Gladys Knight, David P easton, and Kirk Franklin. Kelly's work with these and various other performers helped him to get his foot in the door. Kelly then began to establish himself as a performer. His first album "Born Into the 90's" sold over a million copies.

However, his second album "12 Play" far surpassed the success of all his previous and future works, selling well over 3 million copies. The same year his third album was released he wrote and produced the Grammy - nominated "You Are Not Alone" for Micheal Jackson. Not to mention the Grammy Award winning "I Believe I can Fly" which became another massive international hit and was featured as the theme of the 1997 movie "Space Jam". Kelly's most recent album "Chocolate Factory debuted at number one. R. Kelly's seemingly endless talent however could not save him from the public lashing he's recieved from his recent child pornography indictments. In February 2002 a videotape surfaced that allegedly shows R. Kelly having sex with a fifteen year old girl.

(Power Essence pg. 34) June 2002 the Chicago based singer was arrested and indicted on twenty one counts of possession of child pornography. "A copy of the tape was sent to the Chicago Sun-Times where it was turned over to police". (Samuels, Newsweek pg. 54) It was not until then that R. Kelly's real trouble began. More news came out of Kelly's past sex offenses. In 1998 R. Kelly paid a reported $250,000 to Tiffany Hawkins, who claims to have been forced into an orgy when she was fifteen. (Samuels pg. 54) Then surfaced information about Kellys marriage to pop star Aaliyah.

She was then fifteen years old while R. Kelly was a shocking twenty - seven. Although it was annulled the marriage resulted in his record company Jive Records putting a morality clause in his contract. (Samuels pg. 54) Kelly's recent indictments raise several questions. Why is it that someone so talented can get away with an act so appalling? If the act is so outrageous why don't the women in question press charges against R. Kelly?

"Kelly is charged only with child pornography, because the girl in question refuses to press charges". (Samuels pg. 55) Kelly simply states that " No one takes advantage of anybody. People are old enough to know what it is they want and what they don't want". (Baker pg. 86) That motive clearly explains why Kelly's fans are so supportive of him. The rally that was held for Kelly in Chicago last August. has not been forgotten.

It was there that forty children wore pro- Kelly T-shirts. Our supporting celebrities who behave reprehends.