Kelly in 2019.
Picture: Getty Photos

While you made it to the eighth music of Drake’s new album Certified Lover Boy (congrats to you, that’s a form of work), and occurred to gaze the significant points of that tune, “TSU,” you would possibly maybe well well’ve caught a couple astronomical names, one much less offensive than the varied. First: Justin Timberlake. Then, two names under him on the checklist of credited songwriters, R. Kelly. That’s Robert Kelly of every R&B and accused predatory reputation, the same R. Kelly for the time being on trial in Brooklyn federal court docket for racketeering and intercourse-crimes charges. In actuality, hours after Certified Lover’s Boy launch, R. Kelly used to be assist in court docket, wrapping up the third week of trial. So, how precisely did this songwriting credit occur? It’s yet one more classic case of tune publishing rights; as Billboard notes, “TSU” samples/interpolates one of the main orchestral bits from R. Kelly’s 1998 single “Half of on a Toddler.” And so relatively than lastly discontinuance up in Olivia Rodrigo’s recent blueprint, it appears Drake bought earlier than divvying up songwriting royalties. (JT is credited due to the tune also makes exhaust of NSYNC’s version of Christopher Rotten’s “Sailing”; Timbaland is also credited.)

Following the trial on Friday, R. Kelly attorney Devereaux Cannick stated of the credit: “It factual speaks to his genius and the demand for his work. I mean, he’s a literary genius, it doesn’t shock me. I don’t specialize in it’s that unparalleled referring to the money, I specialize in the public and various artists need his participation. I’m particular he’s entirely unaware of it due to he’s consumed real now however I will piece with him.”

Reporting by Victoria Bekiempis.

Why Is R. Kelly Credited on Drake’s Certified Lover Boy?