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CNN Live Saturday

Interview With Lola Ogunnaike of 'Vibe' Magazine

Aired June 08, 2002 - 12:33   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Well, now on to the case of a falling star, or is he? R&B singer R. Kelly, now back at home in Chicago, free on $75,000 bond, charged with 21 counts of child pornography. What now for the R&B mega star? "Vibe" magazine's Lola Ogunnaike of "Vibe" magazine joins us now to talk about the case. She's done extensive research on him, even did an article that was in May's issue on R. Kelly. Thanks for joining us from New York.

LOLA OGUNNAIKE, "VIBE" MAGAZINE: Thank you.

WHITFIELD: Well, even before his arrest, there were some artists who had a problem with R. Kelly's reputation, at least two other cases involving minors and his alleged sexual relations with them. Jay-Z, a hip-hop star who had a collaborative album with him, he doesn't even want to go out promoting with R. Kelly even before the arrest. Do you see that R. Kelly is in some serious hot water even before the trial has begun?

OGUNNAIKE: Yes. People began distancing themselves from him as soon as the rumors started circulating, and even before he was indicted. A lot of artists came out and started saying that they didn't want to have much to do with him until this whole case was finished with.

WHITFIELD: So how do you see that affecting his career? Obviously pretty instantaneously that people are divorcing themselves from him. He's been called the modern day Marvin Gaye, the best thing to come out of Chicago since Curtis Mayfield. Is his career as you see it pretty much over? Even though he has not been found guilty of this latest charge?

OGUNNAIKE: In the short term, it is going to be very difficult for Mr. Kelly to overcome all of this. I mean, people are distancing themselves from him, radio stations have chosen to ban his music. There have been CD burnings of his music. So it's going to be a long road for him. But is his career over? I don't think so. He's a very talented man. And I think the fans will ultimately forgive him. It's just going to be a matter of time.

WHITFIELD: And how disappointed are you hearing other stars express, as -- what is taking place involving R. Kelly? I mean, he went from being, you know, a church-going and church-singing musician to rise -- you know, to rise the charts with R&B and pop music, and now this. OGUNNAIKE: I think that Mr. Kelly has two sides to him. There is a very church-going side, a side of him that's very steeped in the church and in religion, and there is a side of him that's a little more risque and a little raunchier, if you will. So he's always had this duality that he's flirted with. And I think in this case it has just worked against him. He's veered too much to the left, if you will.

WHITFIELD: What are some of the other -- some of the other fellow artists, maybe, those in the industry that you've spoken with in recent weeks, how are they expressing themselves on R. Kelly case and his career?

OGUNNAIKE: Well, Sisqo, for example, another R&B star, has come out against him in song. I know Nas, a rapper, has come out against him at a concert. Jay-Z refuses to even acknowledge his existence right about now, and Dr. Dre has also come out against him. So I think they've been very vocal, but there are others who have similar sentiments who are not saying anything. But right about now, I think he's considered to be a social pariah.

WHITFIELD: And about now, too, other critics are really praising that collaborative album with Jay-Z, saying that this is a wonderful collaboration of R&B and hip-hop, and yet no one really wants to touch it at this point, or even promote it, for that matter.

OGUNNAIKE: Well, that's the thing that's tragic here, because the album is actually -- it is actually a good album, and this was supposed to be huge. It was expected to be multi platinum. And because there has been no promotion, because there has been no video and there will be no tour, and people are not playing the songs in heavy rotation on the radio, it's very difficult. It's very tragic. This was supposed to be huge, and it ended up being a flop because of the scandal.

WHITFIELD: All right. Lola Ogunnaike of "Vibe" magazine, thanks very much for joining us. Of course we'll all be keeping tabs and watching this case if and when R. Kelly is to go to trial on these charges. Thanks very much.

OGUNNAIKE: Thank you.

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