Drake‘s new album Certified Lover Boy, which arrived on Friday (September 3), features guest contributions from JAY-Z, Lil Wayne, Young Thug, Travis Scott, and many more. The credits for the album also list R. Kelly as a co-lyricist on a song called ‘TSU’. Now, longtime Drake producer Noah “40” Shebib has offered an explanation regarding the R. Kelly credit in an Instagram comment.
“At the beginning is a sample of OG Ron C talking,” Shebib wrote earlier today, responding to a photo of an Independent headline that reads: “Certified Lover Boy: Drake album credits R. Kelly as co-lyricist.” “Behind that faintly which you can’t even hear is an r Kelly song playing in the background. It has no significance no lyrics are present, r kelly’s voice isn’t even present but if we wanted to use Ron c talking we were forced to license it. Doesn’t sit well with me let me say that. And I’m not here to defend drakes lyrics, but I thought I would clear up that there is no actual r Kelly present and it’s a bit misleading to call him a co-lyricist.”
“It’s kinda wild because I was just reading ‘Baby Girl’ by Kathy Iandoli and the recounts of some of that stuff is horrific and disgusting,” Shebib continued, referring to the recently published Aaliyah biography. “Then I saw this post and just had to say something because to think we would stand beside that guy or write with him is just incredibly disgusting.”
Shebib added in some replies: “I dont think we even knew about it until the final hours when through clearance we discovered it. At that point it’s about the integrity of the art for the artist and that’s not my place to mess with it. I’m an engineer ultimately my job is to help an artist deliver their vision. There’s lots I don’t agree with and I voice my opinion but I definitely don’t subscribe to all the lyrics. I’m worried about sound and sonics melodies and progressions 
that’s my place.”
40 addressed the “R. Kelly” sample pic.twitter.com/u0qmMeFCz5
— Inspired By Ermias Asghedom 🏁🇧🇧 (@Stayfocusla) September 5, 2021