Cassidy just came through with some not-so-criticial statements on the sex crimes and musical legacy of R. Kelly. Moreover, the two collaborated on the 2003 track "Hotel," which came out a year after abuse allegations against him started to surface. Not only that, but it was around the time that his sex tape with an underage girl was also under heavy discussion and unfortunate dissemination in pop culture. In an interview with RealLyfe Productions, the rapper addressed these crimes and convictions while making reference to R. Kelly's musical legacy. In his mind, there's a clear distinction between the two, yet his comments on his abuse seemed to brush it aside.
"I probably wasn’t aware of it that time," Cassidy stated regarding the tape and his accusations. "It probably came to my attention later. And I wasn’t sure about it. At that time it was weird. I was a superfan of R. Kelly, and this was my first album, my first single. So to be working with somebody of that magnitude, your first go-round… For me to be trying to argue that about some tape that I don’t even know… I wasn’t doing no research and digging deep at that time ’cause I ain’t the law.
Cassidy Speaks On R. Kelly
"I don’t got no problem with n***as being mad at R. Kelly," the 40-year-old continued. "If that’s how y’all feel, if y’all feel like what he did actually makes you mad at heart, cool. But be mad at heart at anybody that’s in that bag. There’s a bunch a n***as, not even famous n***as like R. Kelly, just in my neighborhood alone… These industry n***as [are] worse. These n***as are crazy… So now I can do no records then.
"I ain’t here to point the finger at R. Kelly and these n***as," Cassidy concluded. "That ain’t my job. I just respect the n***a’s music." The R&B singer now faces thirty years in prison for his various sex crimes. While many still advocate for and respect his music, context becomes almost too overpowering in most cases. Regardless, come back to HNHH for the latest news and updates on R. Kelly and Cassidy.