R. Kelly

Lore & Background

In the late 1990s, Nas was at a crossroads, seeking to expand his sound beyond hardcore rap into more melodic, crossover territory. *I Am...* was his ambitious attempt to blend hip-hop with R&B and pop elements, and enlisting R. Kelly—then at the height of his commercial power—was a strategic move. Kelly, known for hits like 'I Believe I Can Fly' and 'Ignition (Remix),' brought a polished, radio-friendly sheen to 'Did You Ever Think.' The collaboration reflected the era's trend of rap-R&B fusion, but it also highlighted the growing divide between Nas's raw authenticity and the more commercialized sound he was experimenting with. Kelly had long been the subject of accusations of sexual abuse, including that of minors, dating back to the 1990s, and following the 2019 documentary *Surviving R. Kelly*, renewed interest in the allegations resulted in additional investigations by law enforcement beginning in 2019, which led to multiple indictments and Kelly's arrest.

Reader's Guide

R. Kelly's contribution to Nas's career is limited to a single, notable collaboration: 'Did You Ever Think' from the 1999 album *I Am...*. On this track, Kelly provided the chorus and additional vocals, his smooth R&B style contrasting with Nas's more aggressive verses. The song was intended to broaden Nas's appeal, tapping into the late-90s trend of rap-R&B crossovers. For Kelly, the collaboration was a typical feature in his prolific guest-appearance catalog, but for Nas, it represented a commercial gamble that yielded mixed results. The track did not become a major hit, and the partnership was never repeated. As Kelly's legal and personal controversies escalated—he was prosecuted on child pornography charges in 2002, leading to a controversial trial that ended with his acquittal in 2008 on all charges, and later convicted on multiple charges involving child sexual abuse in 2021 and 2022—the collaboration became a footnote, a reminder of a different era in hip-hop when such pairings were common despite later moral reckonings. Fans often debate whether the song holds up, but it remains a curious artifact of Nas's experimental phase—a smooth vocal that now arrives with a chill.

Did You Know?

• R. Kelly won three Grammy Awards in 1998 for his song 'I Believe I Can Fly'.
• Kelly's 1998 collaboration with Celine Dion, 'I'm Your Angel', debuted atop the Billboard Hot 100.
• Kelly sold over 75 million albums and singles worldwide, making him one of the best-selling music artists of all time.
• Kelly was born on the South Side of Chicago on January 8, 1967, and began singing in the church choir at age eight.
• From age 8 to 14, Kelly was often sexually abused by an older female family member, as stated in his autobiography *Soulacoaster: The Diary of Me*.