Record producer and Blackground Records founder Barry Hankerson spoke with Rickey Smiley about finally making his niece Aaliyah's music available on streaming platforms.
During the interview, Hankerson was asked about his reaction to finding out about R. Kelly's relationship with Aaliyah. Hankerson, who was also R. Kelly's manager and is credited with introducing the disgraced singer to Aaliyah, claimed he simply prayed after learning about the illegal affair.
"To be very honest with you, of course, I was upset," Hankerson responded. "Of course I had to really, really consider what my reaction would be. I really found out I wasn't a hardcore criminal -- I couldn't kill nobody. I'm a Muslim and I went to Minister Farrakhan and we just prayed about it and just resolved ourselves to let God handle him. And I think that's what's going on."
Hankerson was also asked about his reaction to the stories R. Kelly's alleged victims have told. He claimed the subject was too emotional for him and his family and has chosen not to pay attention to updates regarding R. Kelly's legal cases.
"I just put a wall up with that," he said. "It's just too emotional for me, it just brings back too many bad thoughts for my whole family. He impacted my whole family...just a bad thing."
Skip to 7:52 to hear Barry Hankerson's response to Aaliyah and R. Kelly's affair.
