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Editor’s Note: This article contains descriptions of sexual abuse.
Drake’s finally released his latest album, Certified Lover Boy, last week but fans were surprised to see R. Kelly’s name in the credits for the song “TSU.” Over the weekend, Drake’s longtime producer Noah “40” Shebib responded to an Instagram post that pointed out R. Kelly is credited as a co-lyricist on the album with a lengthy comment explaining the situation.
40 pointed out the song does not actually feature R. Kelly’s vocals, but a sample they used on the track inadvertently contained a snippet of Kelly’s 1998 song “Half on a Baby,” forcing them to seek clearance. He also called it “disgusting” to suggest they would stand or write beside R. Kelly. On Instagram, 40 wrote:
On a song called tsu at the beginning is a sample of OG Ron C talking. Behind that faintly which you can’t even hear is an r Kelly song playing in the background. It has no significance no lyrics are present, r Kelly’s voice isn’t even present but if we wanted to use Ron c talking we were forced to license it. Doesn’t sit well with me let me just say that. And I’m not here to defend drakes lyrics, but I thought I would clear up that there is no actual r Kelly present and it’s a bit misleading to call him a co lyricist. It’s kinda wild cause I was just reading ‘Baby Girl’ by Kathy Iandoli and the recounts of some of that stuff is horrific and disgusting. Then I saw this post and just had to say something because to think we would stand beside that guy or write with him is just incredibly disgusting.
To 40’s point, “TSU” credits OG Ron C as a producer, alongside Noel Cadastre and Harley Arsenault. The book he refers to, Baby Girl by Kathy Iandoli, is a biography on Aaliyah.
Kelly is currently on trial where he facing federal charges like human trafficking. During court testimony, several witnesses have claimed they had sexual relationships with the singer while they were underaged while another witness detailed Kelly’s illegal marriage to an underaged Aaliyah.
Drake is not the first rapper to sample R. Kelly’s “Half on a Baby.” Back in 2016, A Boogie wit da Hoodie sampled the song on his own version of “Half on a Baby” and Mustard and Ty Dolla $ign also sampled it for “Lil Baby.”
Read all the lyrics to Drake’s “TSU” on Genius now.
