I Admit

For the song by Sanda, see I Admit (Sanda song). For the song by YoungBoy Never Broke Again, see Ma' I Got a Family.
"I Admit"
Song by R. Kelly
ReleasedJuly 23, 2018 (2018-07-23)
GenreR&B
Length19:11[1]
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
  • R. Kelly
  • Noc

"I Admit" is a 19-minute song by American singer R. Kelly.[1] Released on SoundCloud on July 23, 2018,[3] the song addresses the singer's sexual abuse scandals.[4][5] "I Admit" was written by Kelly and Raphael Ramos Oliveira,[2] and produced by Kelly and Noc.[6] In "I Admit", Kelly makes a number of confessions, including that he is dyslexic,[7] that he has been sexually unfaithful,[8] and that he was raped.[6] Kelly does not make any criminal admissions, but instead denies allegations of domestic violence and pedophilia.

The release of "I Admit" followed a 2017 BuzzFeed News investigative report that alleged that Kelly operated a "sex cult", and a 2018 boycott of Kelly backed by Time's Up. The lyrics rebuke Jim DeRogatis for his BuzzFeed News report, and disavow the report's allegations that Kelly is in charge of a "sex cult". "I Admit" was Kelly's final release before his 31-year incarceration at FCI Butner Medium I.

Critics reviewed "I Admit" unfavorably. Some reviewers contrasted the title with the lack of criminal admissions in the lyrics, and described the song as an act of trolling. The song was compared to Kelly's rap opera Trapped in the Closet and O. J. Simpson's book If I Did It, which addressed Simpson’s allegations of murder. Reviewers noted that Kelly's lyrics more closely resemble a self-defense than an admission or mea culpa.[9][10][11] The release of "I Admit" led to a response from DeRogatis, who defended his journalism in two interviews. R. Kelly's ex-wife, Andrea Kelly, and brother, Carey "Killa" Kelly, individually released songs in response to "I Admit" that contain additional allegations against R. Kelly. The song also attracted criticism on social media.

  1. ^ a b "ISWC-Net". ISWC Network. CISAC. ISWC T-925.589.813-6. Archived from the original on May 7, 2019. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
  2. ^ a b c "ACE Repertory". ASCAP. Archived from the original on June 12, 2016. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference The Guardian was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Sodomsky, Sam; Strauss, Matthew (July 23, 2018). "R. Kelly Addresses Sex Cult Allegations, Spotify Policy in 19-Minute New Song". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on July 23, 2018. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
  5. ^ "R Kelly: 'I Admit' released against sex allegations". BBC. July 23, 2018. Archived from the original on July 23, 2018. Retrieved July 23, 2018.
  6. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference NME was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference Rolling Stone overview was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference cnn was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Izadi, Elahe (July 23, 2018). "R. Kelly addresses sexual misconduct allegations in a new 19-minute song called 'I Admit'". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on January 9, 2019. Retrieved January 8, 2019.
  10. ^ Branigin, Anne (July 23, 2018). "We Listened to R. Kelly's New 19-Minute Song, 'I Admit,' So You Don't Have to". The Grapevine. Archived from the original on January 7, 2019. Retrieved January 7, 2019.
  11. ^ Cite error: The named reference Rolling Stone was invoked but never defined (see the help page).