Music

R. Kelly’s Trial For Sex Trafficking And Racketeering Charges Has Been Set For 2021

Getty Image The date was originally set for July but pushed back due to the pandemic. …

R. Kelly was originally supposed to stand trial for his federal sex trafficking and racketeering charges back in July. The trial was pushed back indefinitely due to safety precautions in light of the coronavirus pandemic, but it now looks like Kelly now has gotten a definitive answer to when he’ll appear in court.

Per a report from HotNewHipHop, Kelly’s trial has now been set for April 7 by district court judge Ann Donnelly. Earlier this month, Donnelly approved a motion for Kelly’s case to be tried in front of an anonymous jury.

“Empaneling an anonymous jury is appropriate given the seriousness of the charges, the defendant’s history of obstructing the judicial process, the potential for juror intimidation and the intensity of media attention given to this case,” Donnelly said.

The singer will remain in prison in Chicago’s Metropolitan Correctional Center until the spring court date after being denied an early release over coronavirus concerns. While awaiting trial, Kelly has had quite a few reported issues. He was the victim of an alleged jail cell attack perpetrated by a fellow prisoner back in September. The singer had reportedly learned of the potential of the attack and alerted guards, who did not heed his warning. Following the incident, Kelly’s attacker was transferred to a different prison to address the singer’s safety concerns.

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Artist Spotlight

Kovei ignites a rallying cry with the mighty latest release “Mercy”

Kovei is back with the hard-hitting hip-hop statement “Mercy,” a fusion of bold storytelling and a strong sense of purpose. The Los Angeles-based South Asian American rapper and producer delivers a track steeped in resistance, unity, and community strength, while also embracing rich desi musical influences that make the record its own.

The song starts with an Desi-influenced flute melody that immediately grabs the ear, before a punchy kick drum kicks in to establish its commanding vibe. Kovei’s confident delivery drives each verse with surgical precision, balancing lyrical intensity with ease of flow. Lines like “Mercy, we don’t play fair” set the fearless tone. “we the big dogs, big boss, BET TV famous” reinforces the triumphant spirit, but the song never loses sight of its deeper message.

Nihar and Shivan’s standout appearances add additional depth to the record, reinforcing the communal theme of the song while augmenting Kovei’s vision. Each artist’s contribution doesn’t feel like a separate feature, but instead contributes to one unified performance that raises the track’s anthemic quality.

This release is further enhanced by an official music video directed by Darsh Thakker and produced by Chaotic Neutral Studios. The visual presentation, in addition to the single, takes the song’s bold identity to another level but simultaneously highlights its message of resilience and solidarity.

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Artist Spotlight

C’batch delivers love, reflections and new beginning through “Next Time (I Won’t Be Falling)” (EP)

C’batch’s latest EP, “Next Time (I Won’t Be Falling),“ is a soulful exploration of the never-ending cycle that is love. It’s a release that combines intimacy with looking ahead, blending emotion with cinematic ambition. The EP embraces the ambiguity that follows, instead of providing a clean resolution to heartbreak.

This EP is a sneak peek of C’batch’s upcoming album, “The Vault 4 – Cinematic,” set for release on July 10, 2026, that will go deeper into the emotional universe. The project begins with “Next Time (I Won’t Be Falling),” a nicely balanced, measured balance of strength and openness that captures the emotional tension between self-protection and hope for another chance. “Next Time (I Won’t Be Falling) (2)” gives the same emotional struggle from a more reflective perspective, letting the feelings settle with more maturity and quiet conviction.

“Next Time (I Won’t Be Falling)1a“ tells a different story, with similar emotions reinterpreted with musical shifts, adding to the experience but still resonating with the core message of the EP. The release is completed with the cinematic version of “Next Time (I Won’t Be Falling) Cinematic Version 2,“ a sweeping song with cinematic textures that turns the title track into an immersive sound and offers a glimpse of the creative direction behind “The Vault 4 – Cinematic.“

Another point of connection in C’batch’s expanding catalog, “Next Time (I Won’t Be Falling),“ also supplies the creative inspiration for the two companion versions of “Fluorescent Buzz (You Got Me Falling)“ on the EP of the same name. These releases represent an artist consciously creating a connected musical universe that is growing in emotional depth, storytelling, and cinematic production.