Reps for R. Kelly Say Surprise Album Was Likely Released By Thieves Who Stole His Masters Last Year

R. Kelly and his team are now blaming the release of his surprise album, “I Admit It,” on thieves who stole his masters.

Last week, the world was shocked when the new Kelly project hit streaming platforms. The title of the album seemed to allude that the disgraced singer was ready to confess to various crimes that have landed him behind bars for 30 years. However, the Grammy-award-winning singer and his team say thieves put the project out after stealing his masters at some point in 2021.

Back in February, Keith Calbert reported the theft, telling police that he oversees the Illinois warehouse that houses Kelly’s property. Calbert noted that two roadies had stolen several recordings and transported them to California last year. When he demanded the tapes back, one of the culprits attempted to extort the singer by requesting $160,000 for their safe return. Since it was nine months between the recording’s disappearance and the report filing, authorities were not left with many leads to follow, and the masters were never recovered. 

Fast forward to December 9th, when “I Admit It” was released. Kelly’s team believes that the release was due to the thieves. 

“It’s stolen music,” stated Kelly’s attorney Jennifer Bonjean. She also admitted that his masters are “somewhere out there” but cannot say for sure who has them and who is profiting from them. The “I Believe I Can Fly” star spoke out himself, insinuating that some of the music may not have even been his voice. Kelly swears he had nothing to do with the 13-track album since he is focused on appealing his lengthy[ sentence.  

“I Admit It” was swiftly pulled from streaming platforms, but not before causing a stir on social media. 

R. Kelly’s “I Admit It” is more proof that I’ve left my actual reality and somehow got myself stuck in an episode of The Boondocks.

— Jon Kung (@ChefJonKung) December 10, 2022

R Kelly dropping an album entitled 'I Admit It' is nasty. An album from a rapist and pedo admitting he's a rapist and pedo but then questioning whether he's truly a rapist and pedophile OR if that's just the public's opinion?????? GUILLOTINE. IMMEDIATELY.

— Spidey with the Pen (@Marcgriffin27) December 9, 2022

Me seeing Twitter defend R Kelly’s music pic.twitter.com/9rQtGEhZwU

— ☈. (@RIHANNAPRlNT) December 10, 2022