Drake Sparks Controversy With R. Kelly Sample on ‘Certified Lover Boy’

Drake fans began dissecting Certified Lover Boy shy after 1 a.m. eastern time and were surprised to see R Kelly listed as a contributor for the highly-anticipated project.

“TSU” samples the disgraced singer’s 1998 song “Half On a Baby,” Therefore he received credit along with the producers, Harley Arsenault, Noel Cadastre, OC Ron G, and Justin Timberlake, Timbaland and Cross thanks to the use of the sample of NSYNC’s 1997 version of Christopher Cross’ “Sailing.”

R Kelly is currently on trial in New York for sex trafficking and racketeering charges. But before his latest legal troubles, he was sampled, featured, and mentioned a lot in Hip Hop by the likes of The Notorious B.I.G., JAY-Z, Nas, Childish Gambino, and previously by Drake on “Lose You,” which sampled the hit single “Ignition (Remix).”

Twitter had a lot to say about Drake sampling R.Kelly on Certified Lover Boy especially in comparison to Kanye West bringing out Marilyn Manson and DaBaby at his third DONDA listening event.

“R. Kelly, while currently on trial for sexual abuse of countless Black women and girls, is going to be making money off the most anticipated album of the year thanks to Drake giving him a songwriting credit on #CertifiedLoverBoy. And that’s why both #CLB and #DONDA are trash,” Journalist Ernest Owens wrote.

Another user weighed in, “People are defending this R. Kelly credit, talking about “it’s a sample”… okay?????? So Drake chose to sample his work, knowing he’d have to clear it with R. Kelly, and that Kelly would get a check/royalties. He could’ve done away with the sample/track, he clearly doesn’t care.”

What are your thoughts?