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christianholub's review against another edition
4.0
A really important book built on years of reporting and interviews with many of the women allegedly hurt by R&B superstar R. Kelly over the years. "Do we hold art accountable for the artist's behavior?" is a debate that has and will continue forever, but the lease you can do is familiarize yourself with the available information.
Here's my EW interview with DeRogatis about the book: https://ew.com/books/2019/06/07/soulless-jim-derogatis-case-against-r-kelly-interview/
Here's my EW interview with DeRogatis about the book: https://ew.com/books/2019/06/07/soulless-jim-derogatis-case-against-r-kelly-interview/
beingjada's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, and Sexual assault
marvelouspyt's review against another edition
3.0
Title: Soulless: The Case Against R.Kelly
Author: Jim DeRogatis
Format: eBook via Hoopla Digital
Description: The essential account of R. Kelly’s actions and their consequences, a reckoning two decades in the making
In November 2000, Chicago journalist and music critic Jim DeRogatis received an anonymous fax that alleged R. Kelly had a problem with “young girls.” Weeks later, DeRogatis broke the shocking story, publishing allegations that the R&B superstar and local hero had groomed girls, sexually abused them, and paid them off. DeRogatis thought his work would have an impact. Instead, Kelly’s career flourished.
No one seemed to care: not the music industry, not the culture at large, not the parents of numerous other young girls. But for more than eighteen years, DeRogatis stayed on the story. He was the one who was given the disturbing videotape that led to Kelly’s 2008 child pornography trial, the one whose window was shot out, and the one whom women trusted to tell their stories—of a meeting with the superstar at a classroom, a mall, a concert, or a McDonald’s that forever warped the course of their lives.
Thoughts: R.Kelly is a monster...that is it....that's the review.
Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars
Author: Jim DeRogatis
Format: eBook via Hoopla Digital
Description: The essential account of R. Kelly’s actions and their consequences, a reckoning two decades in the making
In November 2000, Chicago journalist and music critic Jim DeRogatis received an anonymous fax that alleged R. Kelly had a problem with “young girls.” Weeks later, DeRogatis broke the shocking story, publishing allegations that the R&B superstar and local hero had groomed girls, sexually abused them, and paid them off. DeRogatis thought his work would have an impact. Instead, Kelly’s career flourished.
No one seemed to care: not the music industry, not the culture at large, not the parents of numerous other young girls. But for more than eighteen years, DeRogatis stayed on the story. He was the one who was given the disturbing videotape that led to Kelly’s 2008 child pornography trial, the one whose window was shot out, and the one whom women trusted to tell their stories—of a meeting with the superstar at a classroom, a mall, a concert, or a McDonald’s that forever warped the course of their lives.
Thoughts: R.Kelly is a monster...that is it....that's the review.
Rating: 3 out of 5 Stars
terroreesa's review against another edition
4.0
things that are true about this book:
1. this book is difficult to read.
2. this book is necessary to read.
3. r. kelly is a monster.
1. this book is difficult to read.
2. this book is necessary to read.
3. r. kelly is a monster.
willwork4airfare's review against another edition
4.0
By the end I understood why there was so much self-insert by the author, but it was very distracting to read, having no idea who he was prior to this. The book is interesting and had a lot in it, but it was pretty repetitive and I skimmed some LONG descriptions of just people around Kelly's inner circle that really didn't have to be included. I understood why he wanted to tell us that he first watched one of the child pornography videos on his daughter's TV while sitting on her bed, but I honestly didn't need that visual. Those kind of details were too much for my taste, and I was pretty eager to just get the whole book finished with. I only watched the first 3 parts of the docuseries by Lifetime so I got some new info for this, but I'm not sure how different they are. I just saw he was arrested again a few days ago on more charges. Awful, horrifying stuff and it's been going on for 25+ years.
lanidacey's review against another edition
5.0
"The saddest fact I've learned is nobody matters less to our society than young black women. Nobody."
"Soulless: The Case Against R. Kelly" lays out the crimes against R. Kelly in a straightforward and riveting way. I hesitate to say that journalist John DeRogatis broke the story about R. Kelly; from what he wrote, R. Kelly's illegal predilections were an open secret among his family members and acquaintances for decades. That was, in fact, one of the most surprising things I learned from the book. None of DeRogatis' sources denied or even seemed that surprised by the allegations against the singer. Many of them said "the brotha needed help."
But, acting on a tip he received from an anonymous fax in 2000, DeRogatis' and partner Abdon Pallasch were the first to investigate and report the full extent of the singer's predatory behaviors. They then spent the next 25 years investigating accusations against the singer and telling the survivors stories. Part true crime expose, part journalism case study, this book is a culmination of those many years of work.
In it, we learn more about R. Kelly, the people who surrounded him, the women he victimized and the authorities who tried to put a stop to it. R. Kelly's legal troubles began way before the 2008 trial; the first civil case to be brought against him was filed in 1996 by a 15-year-old girl from Chicago. The book also briefly covers the singer's short marriage to Aaliyah — an event I always assumed was a perverted rumor. Turns out, actually R. Kelly married his 15-year-old protege when he was 28. After annulling the marriage, Aaliyah would break off all contact with Kelly and would later say he was "just a bad dude." That description gets repeated a lot by many women.
DeRogatis also makes the case against society. After his story hit the papers in 2000, he was astounded by how little people cared. Even after his indictment, R. Kelly was still selling out concerts and albums, artists and organizations were still eager to work with him, and fans, many of them black women themselves, were still falling all over themselves for a chance to hear the singer live or meet him. So many people within his inner circle and in the industry not only ignored his behavior, they actively enabled it.
DeRogatis points out how when the singer was on trial in 2008, people treated it as a joke — mocking the "pee tape" — rather than the horrifying crime it was: the production of child pornography through the rape of an underage girl. DeRogatis himself became a derisive target of other critics and journalists who commented that his critique of the singer's personal life was uncalled for, too serious and too vulgar than what the music pages called for. That at the end of the day, they were just supposed to talk about the music.
(He and the paper also got a lot of flak for turning over the tape to the police, citing blah blah first amendment, blah blah freedom of the press. These criticisms ignore the fact that they handed over the tape of their own violation because of the criminal offense depicted on the tape.)
I learned so much about the case surrounding R. Kelly than I could ever list out here. I'll just repeat that it's galling how premeditated and predatorial the singer's behavior is. He is a danger and a violent threat to young women, and I hope that this time around, the justice system ensures he's kept separate from society for a long time.
This is a definite recommend. These women's stories have been ignored for too long.
"Soulless: The Case Against R. Kelly" lays out the crimes against R. Kelly in a straightforward and riveting way. I hesitate to say that journalist John DeRogatis broke the story about R. Kelly; from what he wrote, R. Kelly's illegal predilections were an open secret among his family members and acquaintances for decades. That was, in fact, one of the most surprising things I learned from the book. None of DeRogatis' sources denied or even seemed that surprised by the allegations against the singer. Many of them said "the brotha needed help."
But, acting on a tip he received from an anonymous fax in 2000, DeRogatis' and partner Abdon Pallasch were the first to investigate and report the full extent of the singer's predatory behaviors. They then spent the next 25 years investigating accusations against the singer and telling the survivors stories. Part true crime expose, part journalism case study, this book is a culmination of those many years of work.
In it, we learn more about R. Kelly, the people who surrounded him, the women he victimized and the authorities who tried to put a stop to it. R. Kelly's legal troubles began way before the 2008 trial; the first civil case to be brought against him was filed in 1996 by a 15-year-old girl from Chicago. The book also briefly covers the singer's short marriage to Aaliyah — an event I always assumed was a perverted rumor. Turns out, actually R. Kelly married his 15-year-old protege when he was 28. After annulling the marriage, Aaliyah would break off all contact with Kelly and would later say he was "just a bad dude." That description gets repeated a lot by many women.
DeRogatis also makes the case against society. After his story hit the papers in 2000, he was astounded by how little people cared. Even after his indictment, R. Kelly was still selling out concerts and albums, artists and organizations were still eager to work with him, and fans, many of them black women themselves, were still falling all over themselves for a chance to hear the singer live or meet him. So many people within his inner circle and in the industry not only ignored his behavior, they actively enabled it.
DeRogatis points out how when the singer was on trial in 2008, people treated it as a joke — mocking the "pee tape" — rather than the horrifying crime it was: the production of child pornography through the rape of an underage girl. DeRogatis himself became a derisive target of other critics and journalists who commented that his critique of the singer's personal life was uncalled for, too serious and too vulgar than what the music pages called for. That at the end of the day, they were just supposed to talk about the music.
(He and the paper also got a lot of flak for turning over the tape to the police, citing blah blah first amendment, blah blah freedom of the press. These criticisms ignore the fact that they handed over the tape of their own violation because of the criminal offense depicted on the tape.)
I learned so much about the case surrounding R. Kelly than I could ever list out here. I'll just repeat that it's galling how premeditated and predatorial the singer's behavior is. He is a danger and a violent threat to young women, and I hope that this time around, the justice system ensures he's kept separate from society for a long time.
This is a definite recommend. These women's stories have been ignored for too long.
theremightbecupcakes's review
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Pedophilia, Racial slurs, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Excrement, Trafficking, Kidnapping, and Suicide attempt
srash's review against another edition
5.0
A harrowing read--but an important one and an excellent example of investigative reporting done right.
Former Chicago Sun-Times music critic Jim DeRogatis has spent nearly 20 years reporting about R. Kelly's troubling relationships with underage girls and abusive relationships with women in general, ever since he was tipped off to it through an anonymous fax, but it's only been recently that anyone has taken the reports seriously.
Kelly's preference for teens--and grooming of them--was well-known not only in his inner circle but within the music industry at large. However, Kelly's proven ability to generate hit songs outweighed people's consciences.
DeRogatis is a good writer and a good journalist, and though he was the driving force behind this story, he doesn't arrogantly position himself as the hero of this story, which I appreciated.
Fair warning, though the accusations detailed against Kelly in this book was stomach-turning.
Former Chicago Sun-Times music critic Jim DeRogatis has spent nearly 20 years reporting about R. Kelly's troubling relationships with underage girls and abusive relationships with women in general, ever since he was tipped off to it through an anonymous fax, but it's only been recently that anyone has taken the reports seriously.
Kelly's preference for teens--and grooming of them--was well-known not only in his inner circle but within the music industry at large. However, Kelly's proven ability to generate hit songs outweighed people's consciences.
DeRogatis is a good writer and a good journalist, and though he was the driving force behind this story, he doesn't arrogantly position himself as the hero of this story, which I appreciated.
Fair warning, though the accusations detailed against Kelly in this book was stomach-turning.