R Kelly finally opens up about sexual assault allegations in song

R Kelly has released a new 19-minute song I Admit in which he addresses nearly three decades of sexual violence, coercion and abuse allegations by multiple women.

The artist uploaded the revealing new song to Soundcloud on Sunday night with the caption: "Today is the day you've been waiting for."

Contrary to the song's title, Kelly maintains that he is not guilty of any of the numerous sex crime accusations levied against him, singing: "Now I don't know what else to say except, I'm so falsely accused."

The rambling lyrics contain several references to specific claims, with the 51-year-old artist proclaiming: "I ain't chasing these ladies, no. These ladies are chasing me."

The nearly-20-minute song opens with the line: "I admit I have made some mistakes and I have some imperfect ways" and repeats: "I admit it, I did it" in the chorus.

Kelly sings that he's "not convicted, not arrested, dragged my name in the dirt. All this work to be successful, when you abandon me 'cause of what you heard.

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"The only thing I have left is my voice, and now I have to use it for my protection, 'cause they left me no choice."

In response to claims that he has had inappropriate relationships with young girls, Kelly sings: "I admit I f*** with all the ladies, that's both older and young ladies. But tell me how they call it 'paedophile' because of that s***, that's crazy.

"You may have your opinions, entitled to your opinions, but really am I supposed to go to jail or lose my career because of your opinion?"

One of the first accounts of Kelly's inappropriate conduct was in 1994, when he wed 15-year-old artist Aaliyah. On I Admit he sings about a recent conversation he had about the now-annulled marriage with talk show host Wendy Williams.

"[Wendy] said: 'What about Aaliyah said?'" he sings, responding with: "Love."

"She said: 'What about the tape?' I said hush, I said my lawyer said: 'Don't say noth', but I can tell you I've been set up.'"

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Last year several women came forward claiming Kelly had been running a sex cult. He addresses those allegations by singing: "What's the definition of a 'cult'? What's the definition of a 'sex slave'? Go to the dictionary, look it up, let me know, I'll be here waiting.

"I never said I was perfect, say I'm abusing these women, what the f***? That's some absurd s***. They brainwashed Really? Kidnapped? Really? Can't eat? Really? Real talk, that s*** sound silly."

Parts of the 19-minute-long track get deeply personal, with the artist revealing that he was sexually abused as a child, singing "A family member touched me" and revealing he was "so scared to say something, so I just put the blame on me".

In other parts of the song he says that he does not own his music, that he dropped out of school and that he "couldn't read the teleprompter when the Grammy's asked me to present [an award]."

He also mentioned his money problems, saying he had to borrow money from his record label to 'put food on the table'.

"Now the truth in this message is I'm a broke a** legend, the only reason I stay on tour is 'cause I gotta pay my rent," he sings.

"I was told I had to sell my cars, I was told I couldn't get a loan, said I owed 20 million to the IRS and they were coming to get my home."

The new song was not released on the Sony's RCA Records - where Kelly is signed - and the label said it had no comment about the song.

Kelly is one of pop music's best-selling artists and his hits include Ignition, I Believe I Can Fly, Step in the Name of Love and Bump N' Grind.

He has also written hits for artists ranging from Celine Dion to Michael Jackson to Lady Gaga.

While he's written classic love songs and even gospel music, he is defined by sexually explicit songs such as Feelin' on Yo Booty, Your Body's Calling Me, Sex Me and even more explicit fare.

In 2002, Kelly released a song about his troubles in similar fashion with Heaven I Need a Hug, a response to his critics at the time.

"Media, do your job, but please just don't make my job so hard," he sang on the song.

Timeline of allegations against R. Kelly

1994 - R Kelly, then 27, married Aaliyah, who was 15 at the time

1996 - The singer is sued by Tiffany Hawkins for 'personal injuries and emotional distress'. She claimed she began having sex with Kelly when she was just 15. The case was settled in 1998.

2001 - Kelly was sued by a former intern, Tracy Sampson, who accused him of inducing her into 'an indecent sexual relationship' when she was 17. The case was settled out of court.

2002 - The R&B artist is sued by two more women. Patrice Jones claimed he got her pregnant when she was 16 and Montina Woods accused him of filming them having sex without her consent. Both cases were settled out of court.

In the same year, a video emerged that allegedly showed Kelly having sex with a 14-year-old girl.

Kelly was charged with making child pornography, but he was later found not guilty on all counts.

2017 - Kelly is accused of holding six women against their will at his properties in Chicago and Atlanta.

One of the women, Joycelyn Savage, has denied she was being held against her will.

Jerhonda Pace and Kitti Jones also come forward, alleging they were abused by Kelly. The singer denies the allegations.

This article was first published on dailymail.co.uk and is reproduced here with permission.