R&B singer/songwriter R. Kelly recently revealed that despite his musical talents, he suffers from illiteracy and barely made it through grade school. According to eurweb.com, at the recent Midwest Music Festival in Chicago, Kelly brought up his short-comings while discussing the ups and downs of his career.
“When I was trying to make it out here, I already knew, and I was stubborn about it,” he said. “I don’t even read really and I’m not afraid to say that. My cousins and brothers used to tease me ‘you can’t even read right.
“How you think you’re going to come up?’ The only reason I graduated from grammar school is because I had a great jump shot. I went to high school and [my teacher] told me ‘you will be one of the greatest writers of all time.’ I believed. You [have to] believe it. You can’t believe [anything] if you’re hating. You can’t achieve [anything] if you’re hating.”
Despite his trials and tribulations during the child molestation case, Kelly has been working hard on his upcoming album. He maintains his innocence despite the leak of the sex tape of him with an underage girl back in 2001. “I got ya’ll beat if you’re hating on me,” he said. “Because I love you. That’s why I keep doing what I do.”
By Deborah Bennett, Senior Editor October 6, 2009 11:15 am
Kelly’s forthcoming album is due in stores Oct. 12.
VIDEO: R. Kelly ft. Keri Hilson “Number One Sex”
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