The story of R. Kelly was already one of the most shocking falls from grace in modern music history, but even behind prison walls, the controversy surrounding his name refuses to disappear. Because recently, something unusual happened inside the federal [music] prison where the once famous R&B superstar is serving his sentence. >> [music] >> R. Kelly was suddenly placed into solitary confinement, and for nearly 2 weeks, no one knew exactly why. Then, just as suddenly as he was placed [music] there, he was released. And now his lawyer is claiming something that raises serious questions about what really happened inside that prison. But before we break down the full story, what's good, shout out the family. Make [music] sure you like the video, run the comments up, and subscribe to the channel for more deep dives into the biggest stories in music and celebrity culture. Later that summer, now let's go to 1992. R. Kelly and Public Announcement debuted. Born into the 990s, released a year later, the album went platinum. Now let's go to '93. His album 12 Play is released and eventually sells more than 5 million copies. His single in includes Sex Me and Bump N' Grind, which become the longest-running number one R&B song Now let's talk about what really happened. According to reports, the entire situation began when prison officials discovered something unusual during a search of R. Kelly's cell. Inside a notebook belonging to the singer, >> [music] >> investigators reportedly found the personal phone number of a former prison warden. >> [music] >> Now, inside a federal prison, contact with outside individuals, especially former officials, can immediately raise alarms. So, [music] when that number was discovered, prison staff launched an investigation. And almost immediately, R. Kelly was placed into what the prison system calls [music] special housing. That's essentially solitary confinement. For nearly 2 weeks, the once world-famous singer was isolated from other inmates while officials tried to determine what was going on. >> [music] >> But now his lawyer says the entire situation may have been unnecessary. [music] According to the defense, the phone number belonged to a prison official who had already retired, and the number had been given to Kelly voluntarily. The explanation is that the retired warden gave Kelly his phone number before leaving the job so he could provide advice related to a mentorship program. In other words, the defense is arguing that nothing illegal or suspicious actually happened. And after almost 2 weeks of investigation, prison officials apparently reached the same conclusion because R. Kelly was quietly released from solitary confinement [music] and returned to the general population. But the situation has raised a lot of questions online because anytime R. Kelly appears in the news, it reminds the public of the crimes that put him behind bars in the first place. [music] And today R. Kelly was sentenced to prison for his many crimes against underage girls. And R. Kelly used the power of his celebrity and his music business to lure and to manipulate and to isolate and to denigrate many young girls. He was a skilled sexual predator who preyed on his victims, and after grooming them, he inflicted significant emotional and sometimes physical harm on them, which in some cases will continue to hurt them for the rest of their lives. Much of the pain that they suffered because of him was evident as the victims read their victim impact statements today in court. I don't know what else to say except that I'm grateful. I'm grateful for today, and I'm grateful that Robert Sylvester Kelly is away and will stay away and will not be able to harm anyone else. Thank you. that one? The singer, whose real name is Robert Sylvester Kelly, is currently serving a 30-year federal prison [music] sentence after being convicted of racketeering and sex trafficking. His projected release date is currently 2045. When you are taught to be quiet and to keep silent about things that should be spoken about openly, you find yourself recluse, and that often affords people the ability to manipulate you. I'm sorry. Sorry, I didn't hear you over society. Society. When people are telling you that you're not telling the truth and there's no support for you, If that date holds, the once [music] dominant R&B superstar would be nearly 80 years old when he walks free. But what many people don't realize is [music] that life for R. Kelly behind bars has been filled with strange moments, >> [music] >> rumors, and shocking developments. And there are at least five facts about his time in prison that many people don't know. [music] Shocking fact number one. Shortly after his conviction, reports surfaced that R. Kelly was placed on suicide watch inside prison. Prison officials believed the emotional toll of the sentence and the overwhelming media attention might put him at risk. During that time, inmates placed on suicide watch are typically monitored constantly and often placed in special cells. For a man who once performed in sold-out arenas around the world, the sudden shift to that kind of environment was a dramatic change. Shocking fact number two. Another disturbing moment happens in 2020 when R. Kelly was reportedly attacked by another inmate while being held at a federal facility in Chicago. According to reports, the inmate attacked Kelly while he was in his cell, [music] claiming he was angry about prison lockdowns caused by the singer's presence in the facility. While the injuries were not considered life-threatening, the incident highlighted just how dangerous life inside prison can be, especially for a high-profile inmate. Shocking fact number three. Even while incarcerated, R Kelly has reportedly continued writing music behind bars. According to several reports from his legal team, the singer has been composing songs and lyrics during [music] his time in prison. Whether those songs will ever be released remains unclear, but the idea that the disgraced singer is still writing music has sparked debate online. Some fans say the music should never be heard again, while others argue that art and crime should be separated. >> [music] >> Shocking fact number four. Photos of R Kelly inside prison went viral last year after people noticed something surprising about his appearance. Some viewers said the singer looked completely broken and defeated by prison life, but others argued the opposite, claiming he actually looked surprisingly relaxed for someone serving decades behind bars. Those photos sparked another wave of debate about how [music] prison has changed him. Shocking fact number five. One of the most controversial discussions surrounding R Kelly today involves his musical legacy. Despite everything that happened, millions of people still stream his music. Songs like Ignition Remix and I Believe I Can Fly continue to generate streams years after his conviction. And that has created a massive cultural debate. Can someone's art be separated from their crimes, or should his music disappear completely from public life. That question still divides audiences today, but the situation involving solitary confinement has now brought R Kelly's name back into headlines once again. His lawyer insists that the prison made a mistake by isolating him without cause. According to the legal team, investigators found no wrongdoing whatsoever connected to the phone number, and because of that, the singer was eventually returned to normal housing. Still, [music] the case continues to spark emotional reactions. For many people, [music] the name R Kelly is permanently tied to the accusations and convictions that ended his career, but others continue debating how the justice system handled the case [music] and whether the full story will ever truly be known. What makes this situation even more complicated is the impact it had on victims, families, and the entire music industry. Because R Kelly was once one of the most influential figures in R&B music, his songs defined an era, his voice shaped a generation of artists, and yet today his legacy remains overshadowed by one of the most [music] controversial criminal cases in music history. Now, with this latest prison [music] incident making headlines again, people are once again asking the same question. What will the world remember when it comes to R Kelly? The music or the crimes? But now, I want to hear from you, Shidery family. Do you think R Kelly's music should still be played today? Or should his legacy disappear completely because of what he was convicted of? Let me know in the comments. And if you enjoyed this deep dive, make sure you like the video, subscribe to the channel, and stay tuned because when stories like this resurface, new revelations often follow.