The Pied Piper

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Editor’s Note: This is a short excerpt from Pastor Michael Scrugg’s  forthcoming book, “MuSick Makes Me Lose Control: A Tale of Sex, Drugs and Hip-Hop…and oh, yeah Gospel Music”

According to legend, in 1284, Hamelin was suffering from an infestation of rats. A self-proclaimed rat-catcher approached the villagers with the perfect solution to their rodent problem. He promised that for a certain sum that he would rid the city of all mice and rats. The citizens quickly struck a deal. The rat catcher then took a small fife from his pocket and began to blow on it. Rats and mice immediately came from every house and gathered around him. The rat-catcher led them to the River Weser where the animals all followed him, fell in, and drowned.

Now that the citizens had been freed of their plague, they regretted having promised so much money. Despite holding up his end of the bargain, they refused to pay him. He would eventually leave town, but not before enacting his revenge.

The rat-catcher’s ultimate payback was to come into the town, while the people were in church, play his pipe, but this time attracting the children of Hamelin. It is said that one hundred and thirty children followed the “piper” out of town, never to be seen again.

With this revelation, it is interesting that R. Kelly refers to himself as the “Pied Piper of R&B.” On one hand, you have a brilliant singer, songwriter who churns out hit after hit, has 12 LPs, has sold 35 million albums in the U.S., 15 million singles, and over 50 million albums worldwide. On the other hand, you have an artist that helps fuel sexual-oriented thinking amongst listeners, some of which are children.

What brings to life Kelly’s “pied piper” moniker is a tumultuous relationship that he has had with minors. Allegations of Kelly’s sexual activity with underage girls go as far back as 1991, when several women claimed to have had sex with him. In 1994, rumors surfaced that Kelly had married fellow singer Alex Shipton, which both singers had denied. In 1995, a rumor surfaced that 15-year-old Aaliyah and 27-year-old R. Kelly had secretly married. Both camps initially denied the rumor, but VIBE magazine published a copy of their marriage license, which showed that Aaliyah’s age had been falsely listed as 18. The marriage was annulled a few months later.

In February 2002, a videotape became available that allegedly showed Kelly and a 14-year-old daughter of an associate, and niece of Sparkle, a former Kelly protégé, engaging in sex. The tape, released by an unknown source, was sent to the Chicago Sun-Times, the newspaper that broke the story. While witnesses have identified the alleged victim, the girl and her parents have denied that she is the person shown on the tape. Kelly has also denied that he is the man in the video. After almost seven years, R. Kelly would be brought to trial and acquitted of the charges levied against him.

The question remains, are R. Kelly and artists of his stature “luring” our children away, while the parents are in church? Music has become a Bible to many, especially children that can find no solace in the church. When no one can explain why it hurts so much, music is there. When no one is willing to tell the truth, music is there. When no one wants to take the time out to teach the things that they are being affected by, such as my natural, growing sexual appetite, music is there. American King Music and Capitol Records recording artist, Shawn Mims, has gone so far as to perform under the acronym, MIMS – Music is My Savior.

Just as James Cleveland, R. Kelly was not the first, nor will he be the last to take advantage of his influence. Due to a generation’s lack of concern and or discernment, the infiltration continues. Before R. Kelly was singing “Feelin’ On Yo Booty,” Marvin Gaye was singing “Sexual Healing.” Because the men and women of God did not stand up then, it does not become hard to understand why they are not standing up now. George Santayana is noted for his quote, “Those who cannot learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”

Dr. Michael Eric Dyson once asked the question, “How can we avoid the pitfall of unfairly attacking black youth for problems that bewitched our culture long before they gained prominence?”

Tagged as: Music, R.Kelly

Article by Mike Scruggs

Pastor Michael Scruggs, Founder of Light of the World Ministries, located in Cincinnati Ohio, is an ordinary man with an extraordinary vision. With the mandate to “bind up the brokenhearted” and “proclaim liberty to the captives,” he is seizing the Kingdom of God by force. Blessed with an uncanny delivery, Pastor Mike uses his dependence on the Word of God and a passion for the empowerment of people everywhere to bring forth an uncompromising message for “such a time as this.” To learn more about Pastor Mike and Light of the World please visit: www.LOWcincy.org.

Mike has written 4 article(s) for us.