r-kelly-jacked-raheem-devaughn-customer-remix-video-the-bobby-penMusic

EXCLUSIVE | How R. Kelly Jacked Raheem DeVaughn’s “Customer” Remix [VIDEO]

Share this post!

WOAH! Surviving R. Kelly, the 6-part documentary which aired on Lifetime this weekend, is peeling back the covers on the music industry in more ways than one.

The shocking (and sickening) details of the 3-time Grammy Award-winning singer’s dirty sex secrets have stirred the hearts of many who feel heartbroken for his victims and empathy for their families.

One of the key takeaways from the docu-series, produced by filmmaker and journalist Dream Hampton, was how many people it takes to keep his pedophilia, sexual deviancy and utter filth running and under wraps. So many adults failed these young women.

For instance, Aaliyah‘s own uncle was R. Kelly’s manager at the time the then 15-year-old “Age Ain’t Nothing, But A Number” singer was married to the 27-year-old “12 Play” singer and helped forge the minor’s wedding certificate stating that she was 18.

To create distinct distance, many celebrities– especially singers–  took to social media to share their thoughts on the 3-night television event, and disdain for the songwriter’s backstory to a lot of his hits following the most recent details and footage of R. Kelly’s 20-plus years of filth.

View this post on Instagram

I lot of artists, song writers, producers, record execs, etc are very confused as to how to respond to what they’ve seen and heard. We’ve all been inspired by this man. We’ve all been witnesses to his musical genius. We have shaped and molded talent we sign after his musical image. We’ve invested so much of ourselves into this man that it’s hard for us to let go. I no longer have that issue. I whole heartedly apologize for not coming to this realization sooner. I CANOT separate the music from the monster! My 3 black daughters won’t let me. What hurts even more are the facilitators around him. His team, his record company, the promoters, the radio stations! There has to be a line drawn. Enough has to be enough at some point. Who are we saying is worth protecting if we let this continue? I choose the lives of these young black girls! I’m sick to my stomach! Let me also say this! There are more men guilty of these crimes! Lets make sure none of them slip through the cracks every again! You are no king because kings don’t treat queens like this! #RnBMoney #TheGeneral

A post shared by Tank (@therealtank) on

Among retractions from singers like Tank, who recently deemed Kelly “King of R&B” and got his start in the game by writing for and touring with Aaliyah himself; or Omarion, the lead singer of the recently reunited R&B boy band B2K, a teen sensation in the early 2000’s who performed two hits penned by the “Pied Piper,” is another familiar voice.

How R. Kelly Jacked “Customer” from Raheem DeVaughn

Most recently, former Jive Records artist Raheem DeVaughn shared his experience with his label mate from 2002-2013. Apparently, it was customary for all Jive artists to work with R. Kelly, who was the label’s biggest act at the time. Somehow, DeVaughn was able to avoid working with Kelly, due to his reputation, active court proceedings stemming from the sex tape, and reputation for leaving artists in the studio for days at a time if he felt like it during Chicago recording sessions. DeVaughn shared in an Instagram Live (Jan. 7) exactly how the “Customer (Remix)” featuring R. Kelly came about.

I was in New York when I heard the song on the radio

See, DeVaughn launched his career by being the first R&B artist to sell mixtapes as rappers would. Think of Master P’s come-up story; selling his CD’s from the trunk of his car. The true definition of hustling.

Anyway, these mixtapes would feature Raheem DeVaughn singing soulful melodies and mind-bending wordplay over contemporary Hip-Hop beats. DeVaughn called the style “Jackin’ for Beats.” Well, since DeVaughn wouldn’t work with R. Kelly willingly, Kells jacked the “Customer” beat, added a verse, intro, and closer and released it to the radio stations without Raheem DeVaughn’s knowledge!

Imagine leaving a photo shoot, to hear one of your biggest songs with someone else’s voice all over it! I couldn’t.

“I was in New York when I heard the song on the radio,” Raheem DeVaughn states.

Two major points in the “Customer (Remix) that stood out to DeVaughn and got under his skin

First, The line that says, “…and shawty if you’re thirsty, I’ve got some good, good lemonade.” Keep in mind this song came out while R. Kelly was on trial for urinating on a minor on-camera. YUCK! “I cringe every time I hear [that line,] Raheem DeVaughn said on Live.

Next, R. Kelly makes a slight at DeVaughn with the line “Young Fella, this reminds me of something I would do.” Hmmm… R. Kelly really tried Raheem DeVaughn at his own game. “Nah, this remind of something I would do because I’m the king of jacking the beats. That’s what I do. When I choose to do it, that’s what I do!” DeVaughn said.

Unfortunately, as many people around R. Kelly expressed in the documentary, it was best to let it go than to make a big stink about it, DeVaughn said in the video.

“From all the things I had heard, going against the grain, and being difficult or what have you. I just took it on the chin and it was what it was. I think had I really supported their record they would’ve shot a video and really pushed it and the record probably would’ve been no. 1, but just morally …I was conflicted.”

Wow! I believe Andrea Kelly, R. Kelly’s ex-wife said in the documentary that the “Pied Piper” has a God-complex. Well, this story certainly supports that notion.

What do you think of R. Kelly stealing Raheem DeVaughn’s “Customer (Remix)”?

About Author