Buku Abi, who was born Joann Kelly, is R. Kelly’s daughter, and like her father, she has a musical career. But that’s about where the similarities end.
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Buku spoke with The Hollywood Reporter about her career and how tough it was to grow up as R. Kelly’s daughter. When she was a child, Buku wasn’t aware of some of her father’s criminal problems. She had no idea that he was misbehaving with minors.
At home, he was just her dad, and her parents did what they could to keep the bad press from entering the home. When she went to school, however, that’s when she started to learn about what her father was involved with.
Buku didn’t go to public school until she was in the fifth grade. By then, she already had her own idea of who her dad was, which was that he was a great musical artist and father. In reality, by this point, R. Kelly was already being investigated for some troubling claims from young women and girls.
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She was bullied at school, and the students were mean to her about her dad. It got so bad that she even considered harming herself. The only thing that saved her was music.
Buku Fell in Love with Music
Originally, Buku didn’t want anything to do with music. That was something her dad did, and she wanted to find her own thing. However, when she had a performance at school that required her to sing, and she took the stage, she called the experience so intense.
She loved it, and she wanted more of it. Buku stopped running from her musical talent and decided to embrace it. She claimed that following a music career is what ultimately saved her from harming herself.
Following a music career meant that Buku was faced with the unique challenge of being R. Kelly’s daughter. She’s called it a double-edged sword.
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There are those in the industry who want to work with her because they believe it’s a way of getting back at R. Kelly. There are also those in the industry who want nothing to do with her because of who her father is.
Buku said she tries not to let those who immediately judge or make assumptions about her get to her because music saved her life. There’s nothing in the world that would stop her from pursuing music because she has such a strong connection to it.
That said, she’s also aware that her music ties her to her dad. They’re both R&B singers, although Buku would likely classify herself as an alternative R&B singer.
His music even inspires her. She said that he’s made mistakes and has some stuff to deal with, but when it comes to his music, she can’t take that away from him. It’s the one area that connects them.
Back when Buku was using the stage name Ariirayé, Buku thought she might mend her relationship with R. Kelly. Part of that process was doing a song together.
Buku Doesn’t Want to Be Judged for her Father’s Choices
The song, Wanna Be There, was about restoring a broken relationship. It debuted on The Buffet, released in 2015.
In the song, R. Kelly sings that he wants to be there to support his daughter. When she finds success, he wants to be there with her, too.
Buku explained that at the time of writing and recording the song, she was trying to fix her relationship with her dad. While she’s glad of the experience and thinks it’s a good song, the process didn’t help her relationship with him. Still, many people claimed that it helped them come together.
R. Kelly has faced and continues to face charges for crimes that involve women and young women. Even Buku’s mother was in a documentary called Surviving R. Kelly, in which the victims of his crimes share their stories. She was there to tell her story of how R. Kelly physically harmed her while they were together.
As for Buku, she tries to stay away from the news about her dad. Since she doesn’t have much of a relationship with him anymore, she doesn’t let his troubles interfere with her life or goals.
Her mom, Drea Kelly, also shared how proud she was of her daughter during an episode of Growing Up Hip Hop: Atlanta. In the episode, she said that she’s proud of Buku for creating her own music career and making her own decisions instead of relying on her connection to her dad to get gigs.
Buku claimed that the bullying she received as a child helped her grow some armor. Handling the press and what some people say about her and her dad is a bit easier for her because of those experiences.
She just doesn’t want people to judge her for her dad’s problems.
