R. Kelly Fla. Child Porn Charges Dropped

[CrimsonTide4]

A week before his arraignment, R. Kelly has already entered a plea, an emotional plea for the support of his fans.

His latest song, "Heaven, I Need a Hug," finds the R&B singer currently facing 21 counts of child pornography-related charges (see "R. Kelly Free On Bail As Detailed Charges Emerge") reaching out to his hometown of Chicago, where the song debuted Tuesday night on WGCI-FM.

"Heaven, I Need a Hug" is the only legit track from the Loveland sessions to be released, as the rest have since been scrapped because of bootlegging (see "Kelly Vows To Clamp Down As New Bootleg Hits Streets").

The song was written in response to the current scandal, according to WGCI Program Director Elroy Smith, who said he met with Kelly and waited until he got permission from Kelly's label before airing the track.

In the mid-tempo ballad, Kelly accuses his detractors of rushing to judgement, criticizes women for dependence on men, asks the media to give him a break, and begs for a little human tenderness ("Heaven, I need a hug/ Would anyone out there like to hug a thug?" goes the chorus).

Kelly sings, "I gave 13 years of my life to this industry/ Hit song or not, I've given all of me/ You smile in my face and tell me you love me/ But then before you know the truth you're so quick to judge me."

Kelly goes on to blame his current troubles on his celebrity, a belief he also put forth in his May interview with MTV News (see "R . Kelly: In His Own Words"). He sings, "It's all because I'm famous/ You know what I'm sayin'/ I mean if I wasn't famous/ Then all this wouldn't be happening/ I'm just being real."

So far the song has been getting a good reaction in Chicago. WGCI reports that within 90 minutes of adding the song to the playlist Tuesday evening, "Heaven, I Need a Hug" became one of the station's most requested songs.

Rival Chicago station WBBM-FM has banned Kelly's music because of the charges against him. WGCI, which has been supportive of Kelly's career since his days in Public Announcement and was the focal point of a community protest (see "Kelly Settles Civil Suit, Defends Himself On Radio"), takes the position that the station won't condemn the singer unless the courts do, Smith said. However, WGCI has stopped playing some of Kelly's more innuendo-laden songs, such as "Feelin' on Yo Booty."