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Soulless

The Case Against R. Kelly

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Soulless

By: Jim DeRogatis
Narrated by: Jim DeRogatis
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About this listen

The essential account of R. Kelly’s actions and their consequences, a reckoning two decades in the making

In November 2000, Chicago journalist and music critic Jim DeRogatis received an anonymous fax that alleged R. Kelly had a problem with “young girls”. Weeks later, DeRogatis broke the shocking story, publishing allegations that the R&B superstar and local hero had groomed girls, sexually abused them, and paid them off. DeRogatis thought his work would have an impact. Instead, Kelly’s career flourished.

No one seemed to care: not the music industry, not the culture at large, not the parents of numerous other young girls. But for more than 18 years, DeRogatis stayed on the story. He was the one who was given the disturbing videotape that led to Kelly’s 2008 child pornography trial, the one whose window was shot out, and the one whom women trusted to tell their stories - of a meeting with the superstar at a classroom, a mall, a concert, or a McDonald’s that forever warped the course of their lives.

Soulless: The Case Against R. Kelly is DeRogatis’ masterpiece, a work of tenacious journalism and powerful cultural criticism. It tells the story of Kelly’s career, DeRogatis’ investigations, and the world in which the two crossed paths, and brings the story up to the moment when things finally seem to have changed. Decades in the making, this is an outrageous, darkly riveting account of the life and actions of R. Kelly, and their horrible impact on dozens of girls, by the only person to tell it.

©2019 Jim DeRogatis (P)2019 Audible, Inc.
Entertainment & Celebrities Music Sexual Abuse & Harassment True Crime Career Exciting Celebrity
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What listeners say about Soulless

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Excellence in literary journalism, a must-read if you want to know what happened.

Excellent writing with heart, and genuine kindness and respect for R Kelly’s victims. A harrowing story that needed to be told.

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This book is a powerful voice and it must be heard

I take my hat off to Jim DeRogatis for using his talents, clout and deep commitment to justice, to give a voice to black girls and women.

The author has such deep respect for women, that he cannot stand by and let R. Kelly’s crimes against women continue to go unchallenged.

Meticulously researched, honest, harrowing and brilliantly written - I think this book will forever be up there with the best, when it comes to investigating historical abuse by powerful and charismatic celebrities.

I enjoyed Jim DeRogatis’ narration. I also found R. Kelly’s background story fascinating. I like how the book is written chronologically, because it really illustrates the setbacks and obstacles, the hours of research, the human encounters and the brick-wall system which allowed this to happen.

I only hope this book serves as a reminder for people not to be complicit if they suspect abuse, no matter how famous or wealthy the perpetrator is, or how scary their bodyguards are.

Jim DeRogatis has sparked a fire in this book. I hope the fire continues to rage until books like this are no longer necessary.

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Brilliant, timely and absolutely necessary

Brilliant, timely and absolutely necessary. I particularly liked the fact that the author narrated given his personal involvement.
#MuteRKelly

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Shocking

This is a shocking story, all the more shocking because you thought you knew R Kelly.

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Im fighting for my life here

Well glad he is now in jail discusting creep had it all money fame etc but all he wanted to do was fuck 14 year old girls

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Outstanding

I rewatched both series of Surviving R Kelly after the first chapter of this book. It helped to add faces to names, which made it hit home even harder. Those poor girls. Excellent journalism here, but the city of Chicago and all those who allowed Kelly's horrific treatment of these girls and women should be mightily ashamed.

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Tenacious investigative journalism

The author did an incredible job of ensuring women received justice. For that, he deserves the highest praise.

I struggled with the length of the book, as I found it was heavy on detail to the point where my mind kept wandering off. I kept speeding it up to x2. I’m guessing he did this so that everything could be fact checked and so as not to leave questions, but for the casual listener, it is very heavy going indeed.

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