Tyrese is making headlines again, and this time, it’s for his support of R. Kelly at a recent concert. During a recent performance in Chicago, the ‘Sweet Lady’ singer proclaimed R. Kelly as the “King of R&B,” standing ten toes behind the incarcerated hitmaker despite his controversies. His comments come just weeks after Tyrese revealed how Mary J. Blige turned down a feature on two songs he recently sent her, chile. Here’s the lowdown…
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Here’s What He Said About R. Kelly
On Sunday, August 31, Tyrese hit the stage at the Summer Jam R&B festival in Maywood Veterans Park, just outside Chicago. In true Tyrese fashion, he didn’t shy away from speaking his mind. During his set, he gave a shout-out to R. Kelly, calling him the undisputed “King of R&B.” In a clip shared by The Art Of Dialogue on X, Tyrese doubled down, saying, “I know the city I’m in. Imma say it again. Feel whatever you wanna feel, n***a, I got no f***s to give. The King of R&B is R. Kelly. Chi-Town, baby.” Tyrese stood firm, though, making it clear he wasn’t fazed by the possible backlash. Well, social media lit up, with fans debating on whether R. Kelly, despite his crimes, can still be deemed the King of the genre that made him famous. See reactions to the clip in the comments section HERE.
Tyrese says the King of R&B is R. Kelly while performing in Chicago:
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“Feel whatever you want to feel, I got no f**ks to give. The King of R&B is R. Kelly.”pic.twitter.com/8OtHULaKKI
— The Art Of Dialogue (@ArtOfDialogue_) September 4, 2025
Tyrese Previously Said The Same Thing During His Interview With The Shade Room
Now, this ain’t the first time Tyrese has given a shoutout to R. Kelly for his contributions to music. During an exclusive sit-down with The Shade Room’s Thembi, he made it clear that he’s been riding for Kells for a minute. Tyrese argued that R. Kelly’s discography is unmatched, regardless of the controversies surrounding his name. Tyrese also noted that he wasn’t taking Kells’ personal matters into mind when thinking about the king of the genre; he’s solely focused on the music.
Additionally, he pointed out how Kelly’s songwriting and production shaped the sound of ’90s and 2000s R&B, from his own hits to collabs with artists including Aaliyah and Michael Jackson. “Who else but him? We’re not talking about him being in jail… all that controversy,” Tyrese said. When Thembi gave her own take, saying Usher was worthy of holding that title, Tyrese snapped, “Usher is not the King of R&B. I love Usher, but he’s not the King of R&B. […] Chris Brown is not the king to me.”
Tyrese Shares Hurt After Mary J. Blige Rejects Two of His Songs
In another emotional moment, Tyrese got candid about his disappointment with the Queen of Hip-Hop Soul, Mary J. Blige. On September 1, Live Bitez captured a video where Tyrese poured his heart out about MJB passing on not one but two songs he crafted for her. “I tried my best to get Mary on two of my songs, but she passed on it,” he said, visibly hurt. “It’s okay. I’m hurt, I’m really hurt, I can’t lie.” Tyrese explained he went “mad scientist” in the studio, tailoring one track specifically for Mary, only to face rejection.
Despite the sting, he showed love, calling her his “Capricorn sister” and praising her heart, soul, and loyalty. “You’re one of one, Mary. I love you,” he said, adding. “I’m disappointed, but we got so much equity over all these years, I ain’t gon hold that to you.” Fans flooded the comments, some empathizing with Tyrese’s being so open about the situation, while others wondered if Mary had her reasons for passing.
