Timbaland Insists That R. Kelly Is “The King of R&B”: “Don’t Mix Music Up With Personal”

R. Kelly claims the title of “King of R&B” according to Timbaland. The producer, occasional rapper, and newly AI-enthusiast appeared on a new episode of Club Shay Shay, where he and host Shannon Sharpe discussed the impact of disgraced R&B veteran R. Kelly. As Sharpe explicitly asked Timbaland, born Timothy Mosley, about his thoughts on the Pied Piper, Mosley asserted that the 56-year-old is “the king of R&B; we all know that.”

“And it’s funny, I’m glad you talk about that, because I be having talks… everybody jump when you say R. Kelly’s [name],” Mosley expressed. “I’m like, ‘so we just gonna ignore his music that he gave us, that we all jam to?’ No, we can’t do that. His art is his art, I ain’t gonna bash the man’s art.”

He added, “Don’t mix music up with personal. Music is a feeling, it stands alone. Music is something that don’t have no race, it brings people together. It don’t have no drama with it. It is a place of enjoyment; a feeling, so don’t bring drama into music. Leave that outside.”

Timbaland on R. Kelly: 'He's the King of R&B' | Ep. 80 | CLUB SHAY SHAYyoutu.be

Both Kelly and Timbaland were producers, songwriters and collaborators of the late Aaliyah, who Kelly married when he was 27 and she was 15. A marriage license illegally showed that the “More Than A Woman” singer was 18-years-old, and her parents reportedly annulled the marriage. For her sophomore album, One In A Million, Aaliyah began working with Timbaland and Missy Elliott, both who’d contribute multiple songs to the 1998 LP.

In February, Kelly was sentenced to 20 years in prison after being found guilty of three counts of child pornography and three counts enticement of a minor to engage in criminal sexual activity in Chicago. The sentencing followed being found guilty in September 2022, after footage was revealed of him sexually abusing his 14-year-old goddaughter. Kelly, who was also previously convicted on charges of racketeering and sex trafficking, is set to serve 19 of his 20-year sentence, in addition to a 30-year sentence.