Disgraced R&B superstar R. Kelly, currently serving a 30-year federal prison sentence for sex trafficking and racketeering, has made a surprising claim: he’s written 25 albums since his incarceration began in 2021.
The revelation came during a rare phone interview on the Inmate Tea with A&P podcast, released on March 2, 2025, where the 58-year-old singer spoke from the Federal Correctional Institution in Butner, North Carolina. Despite his legal troubles and confinement, Kelly insists that his creative fire remains unextinguished, describing singing as “a beautiful disease that’s incurable.”
“I don’t care where I’m at, I’m always singing, I’m always writing,” Kelly told podcast hosts April and Patricia. “I’ve written like 25 albums since I’ve been in here.” The statement has sparked a mix of skepticism, curiosity, and debate among fans and critics alike, given the logistical challenges of producing music behind bars. During the interview, Kelly also serenaded the hosts with a cappella renditions of his 1998 hit WHEN A WOMAN’S FED UP and his 2003 classic STEP IN THE NAME OF LOVE, proving that his vocal talents persist even in prison.
Kelly’s claim comes as he continues to fight his convictions. “I’m just working on getting out, getting back to what it is God gave me my talent to do,” he said, adding that he’s “using patience as a tactic right now.” His legal team remains steadfast in their efforts to overturn his sentences. Attorney Jennifer Bonjean, speaking to Billboard, emphasized that “our appeals process has not come to an end.
We will continue to fight for justice and for his freedom.” However, Kelly’s hopes were dealt a blow last month when the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan upheld his New York racketeering convictions on February 12, 2025, ensuring he’ll remain behind bars for the foreseeable future—potentially into his 80s if he serves the full term.
Before his downfall, Kelly was a prolific artiste, releasing 18 studio albums between 1992 and 2016, including chart-toppers like 12 Play and R., alongside 33 chapters of his eccentric TRAPPED IN THE CLOSET series. His latest claim of 25 albums written in just over three years suggests a creative output that rivals his pre-prison pace, though questions linger about how such work could be accomplished.
Federal prison regulations typically restrict inmates’ access to recording equipment, and while some facilities allow limited musical expression under supervision, producing full albums seems improbable without special privileges. The Bureau of Prisons has not commented on whether Kelly has been granted any such accommodations.
The Inmate Tea appearance has reignited the polarizing debate surrounding Kelly’s legacy. Once hailed as the “King of R&B,” his career was overshadowed by decades of allegations of sexual misconduct, culminating in his 2021 conviction on nine counts of racketeering and sex trafficking in New York, followed by a 2022 Chicago conviction for producing child pornography and enticing minors.
The three-judge appeals panel described Kelly as having “exploited his fame to lure girls and young women into his grasp” over 25 years, isolating and abusing them. Despite this, some fans—referred to on X as “die-hard supporters”—expressed awe at his claimed productivity, with posts marveling at his resilience, while others dismissed it as “delusional” or questioned the feasibility.
This isn’t the first time Kelly’s music has surfaced since his incarceration. In December 2022, a mysterious 13-track album titled I Admit It briefly appeared on Spotify and Apple Music before being pulled amid disputes over its legitimacy. Kelly’s legal team called it an unauthorized release of “stolen” material, and the Federal Bureau of Prisons confirmed he hadn’t recorded it from prison. Whether his alleged 25 albums exist as written lyrics, mental compositions, or something more tangible remains unclear, but Kelly’s comments suggest he’s banking on a future release—perhaps tied to his ongoing legal battles.
Public reaction, as seen in trending posts on X, reflects the divide Kelly continues to inspire. Some users expressed skepticism, with one writing, “25 albums in 3 years behind bars? Sounds like a stretch,” while others were stunned, noting, “If true, that’s wild dedication.”
Critics, however, argue that any new music would face a cold reception given the severity of his crimes, with streaming platforms and labels having largely distanced themselves from him since the 2019 Surviving R. Kelly documentary amplified his accusers’ voices.
For now, Kelly’s musical ambitions remain confined to his cell, much like the man himself. According to Bureau of Prisons records, his release date is set for December 21, 2045—meaning those 25 albums, if they exist, may stay locked away unless his legal team can secure an unlikely victory.