New Sparkle ‘We Are Ready’ – Surviving R. Kelly Inspired
Sparkle, a/k/a the #VoiceOfReason’s new single “We Are Ready” (W.A.R.) encompasses a mindset that women of all ethnicities should be proud to adopt. While Sparkle’s new single speaks for all, it speaks of the subtle misfortune that women of color have not been appropriately embraced as part of the #METOO movement, by way of her life’s story. Sparkle’s perspective and all too real story regarding her estranged and embattled former mentor R. Kelly was featured in the Lifetime Network’s documentary, Surviving R. Kelly.
“They have tried to silence from us, strip away the power from us,” she sings at the beginning of the first verse. “Said that we were weak long enough, but time is up/We ain’t weak/ We have a voice and it’s loud/no, we ain’t just figure it out.”
Once a part of R. Kelly’s production team, Sparkle was the face and talent that helped launch Kelly’s Rockland Records imprint. The business union came to a screeching halt after Kelly’s insecurities attempted to supervise Sparkle beyond the recording studio.
The years aside one another proved to be fruitful for both Kelly and Sparkle. Sparkle, obtained writing methods, performance and studio techniques, while Kelly utilized Sparkle’s pitch perfect voice to reference songs that ultimately landed under Toni Braxton, Mary J. Blige, and most notably Aaliyah.
?The certified platinum self-titled project from Sparkle launched Rockland Records with the #1 single “Be Careful”, a duet with Kelly and soulful outlook on an urban relationship and blended family that speaks true even today. The single held #1 position for 6 consecutive weeks on Billboard.
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Discomforts of Kelly attempting to produce in Sparkle’s personal life would eventually have her to ask for a release from Kelly and his label. Kelly put up a fight as only he could, however, Sparkle’s persistence would eventually cause him to cave and grant the requested release from he and his imprint. The two former colleagues remained friends until it was rumored that Kelly had inappropriate behavior with Sparkle’s underage niece and a video would eventually surface to support the allegations.
?Sparkle, dubbed the #VoiceOfReason because due to her stance against former mentor R. Kelly and portions of her own family. Sparkle’s endurance, resilience, and sacrifice is admirable, yet she gives all credit and thanks to God for ordering her steps through her life or “Obstacle Course”, which she’s named the upcoming music project set for release spring/summer 2019. The return of Sparkle’s voice is in perfect timing. Musically, she hasn’t missed a beat, but her voice for the voiceless is now clearer than ever. Morally, the masses have finally moved in the same neighborhood that Sparkle’s standards have lived in all along. The #METOO movement is finally getting done what Sparkle had attempted to do for years, assuring victimized or voiceless females will be heard and supported.
In Sparkle’s single “We Are Ready“, Sparkle notes.. “Before it was #METOO, it was just #Me!”
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