R. Kelly Reportedly Welcomes First Child With Joycelyn Savage

R. Kelly has reportedly welcomed his first child with his fiancé Joycelyn Savage. The baby girl is named Ava Lee Kelly and was conceived through IVF.

Savage shared the news of their baby girl after posting two photos of her on her Instagram account over the weekend. The first photo was shared on Saturday (Dec. 17) with a simple caption of the baby's name and time of birth which was December 8, 2022. The second photo was posted the following day (Dec. 18) which Savage included a heartfelt message.

"My baby girl Ava when you were born, my whole world shined so bright," she wrote. "I knew that it was no longer about me anymore it was about us. Though the world is cold, I promise to always protect you. I am so happy to be your mother & you bring me so much joy . 12.08.22"

A public statement has not been issued from R. Kelly nor his lawyer about Ava Lee Kelly’s birth.

Jennifer Bonjean, R. Kelly's lawyer, previously told Entertainment Tonight that Savage was not pregnant with the disgraced singer's child but Savage refuted her claims to the publication.

"Robert and I were doing IVF because at the time I was told I couldn’t have a baby," Savage said. "When he got sent to prison, we paused on it, and I had them freeze my eggs until I was ready. Once his lawyer did find out, she wanted me to have an abortion because she didn’t feel that now was the time for me to have a child following the 30-year sentence."

Savage continued: "Me and Robert wanted to have a child for a long time. He is very happy about it, but his lawyer isn’t. Once I told her I was keeping my baby, she didn’t want me to announce it, but I wanted to share the news. I’ve always been there for him, even before this new lawyer came into the picture."

R. Kelly was sentenced to 30 years in prison back in June following his previous conviction on nine federal charges on racketeering and sex-trafficking charges last September.

If confirmed, Ava would be the singer's fourth child. He has three older children from his previous marriage to Andrea Kelly: 24-year-old Joann, 22-year-old Jaah, and 20-year-old Robert Jr.

Hip-hop is in a good place, to say the least. In just the first four months of 2022, there have been multiple hits by Nicki Minaj as she ushers in newer rappers Coi Leray and Fivio Foreign in "Blick Blick" and "We Go Up" respectively. Both Coi and Fivio dropped their debut albums Trendsetter and B.I.B.L.E. on April 8, 2022. Gunna also has had a good year by making his Saturday Night Live debut as the musical guest and dropping his No.1 album DS4Ever on January 7, 2022. Lil Baby also dropped his first solo singles of the year with "Right On" and "In A Minute" which now makes him the 12th artist to have 100 Billboard Hot 100 chart entries. Those however are just a few highlights of the songs released so far this year. Take a look at 25 of the hottest hip-hop songs of 2022 (so far):

"Do We Have A Problem?" was released on February 24 and features Nicki Minaj and Lil Baby. The song debuted and peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop chart. The track is accompanied by a nine-minute-long music video based on the 2010 film Salt.Watch the music video below:

A week after Nicki Minaj and Lil Baby dropped "Do We Have A Problem?" they released "Bussin." A preview of "Bussin" was featured in "Do We Have A Problem?," and fans were hyped to have another hit by Nicki on the way. The song debuted and peaked at number 20 on the Billboard Hot 100. Listen to the track below:

"London" features rappers Bia and J.Cole and was released on April 8, 2022. The accompanying music video features Bia and Cole shopping for designer items in London and living their best life on a yacht. Watch the music video below:

After it looked as if Nicki [inlink id="coi-leray-announces-new-single-with-nicki-minaj" text="would not be on"] Coi's newest track, the two dropped their first collab together "Blick Blick." The music video features the two rappers in a maze-like room with plastic guns. The song dropped March 18, 2022. Watch the music video below:

Latto's [inlink id="fans-react-to-lattos-777-album" text="sophomore album 777"] dropped on March 25, 2022 and featured previously released singles "Big Energy" and "Wheelie" but a standout track was easily "Sunshine." Latto taps in Lil Wayne and Childish Gambino for "Sunshine." Listen to the track below:

After Drake's feature on Gunna's DS4Ever was [inlink id="fans-theorize-what-happened-to-drakes-feature-on-gunnas-ds4" text="greatly missed by fans"], "P Power" dropped a week after. Gunna's DS4Ever debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums.

Listen to "P Power" below:

"City of Gods" features Fivio Foreign, Kanye West, and Alicia Keys. The song is the lead single on [inlink id="fivio-foreign-taps-in-kanye-alicia-keys-for-city-of-gods" text="Fivi's debut album "] B.I.B.L.E which Ye executive produced and is featured on Donda 2. The music video features all three artists in a black-and-white aesthetic. Watch the music video to the track below:

"Diet Coke" by Pusha T dropped Feb. 8 and was co-produced by Kanye West and 88-Keys. The song prominently features a Fat Joe sample as the rapper yells “yesterday’s price is not today’s price.” "Diet Coke" is featured on Pusha's album It's Almost Dry released on April 22, 2022. Watch the music video below:

"We Go Up" features Nicki Minaj and Fivio Foreign which dropped on March 25, 2022. They later [inlink id="nicki-minaj-fivio-foreign-drop-we-go-up-music-video" text="dropped the music video"] to the song on April 19, 2022. The visual was filmed in New York where both of the rappers are from. Watch the music video below:

"First Class" is the second single off of Jack Harlow's upcoming album Come Home The Kids Miss You. In "First Class," Harlow raps about inviting a woman who's caught his interest in potentially joining the "mile high club." The song samples Fergie's 2006 hit "Glamorous." The song debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Watch the music video below:

"What Happened To Virgil" is featured on Lil Durk's 7220 which features DS4Ever rapper Gunna. The track pays homage to the late designer, Virgil Abloh. Abloh [inlink id="louis-vuitton-veteran-fashion-designer-off-white-founder-virgil-abolh-dead-at-41" text="died on November 28, 2021"] at 41 after a two-year battle with cardiac angiosarcoma, a rare form of cancer. The music video starts off with a quote from Abloh and features Drake's private plane which Abloh designed. Check out the music video below:

After Lil Baby was featured on two of Nicki Minaj's songs this year ("Do We Have A Problem?" and "Bussin") he dropped his first solo song "Right On" on April 8, 2022. He simultaneously dropped "In A Minute." The song debuted at No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. (with "In A Minute" following behind at No. 14) and No. 5 (with "In A Minute" following behind at No. 6) on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Chart. Lil Baby just became the 12th artist to earn 100 Billboard Hot 100 entries with "Right On" and "In A Minute." Watch the music video below:

Lil Baby was featured in two Nicki Minaj songs ("Do We Have A Problem? and "Bussin") earlier this year and later dropped "In A Minute" on April 8, 2022, as one of his first solo songs of 2022. He simultaneously dropped "Right On" as well. The song debuted at No. 14 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart No. 6 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Chart. Lil Baby just became the 12th artist to earn 100 Billboard Hot 100 entries with "Right On" and "In A Minute."

Watch the music video below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4F_vcZ6KD9Q

Released on Valentine's Day, "Banking On Me" finds Gunna not wanting to get tired of the woman in his life. The song was originally included on the deluxe version of his No.1 album DS4Ever but was taken off and released as a standalone single. Listen to the track below:

Tyga and Doja Cat [inlink id="tyga-and-doja-cat-team-up-for-freaky-deaky" text="team up on "Freaky Deaky""] which was released on Feb. 25. The two previously collabed on Doja's "Juicy" which was dropped back in 2019. “Freaky Deaky” is the first single from Tyga’s upcoming album set to arrive this summer.
Watch the music video below:

Pusha T taps in Jay-Z and Pharrell for his song "Neck & Wrist" which appears on Pusha's album It's Almost Dry. Pharrell lends both his production skills and voice on the chorus and post-chorus before Jay's verse. This is the first collaboration between Jay-Z and Pusha since 2016’s “Drug Dealers Anonymous.” Listen to the track below:

Gunna has the whole world screaming "pushin P" and it's because of his hit with Young Thug that appears on his DS4ever album. The track debuted at No. 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Watch the music video below:

Off of Dreamville's D'Day A Gangsta Grillz Mixtape starts off the 15-track project with "Stick" and easily became a fan favorite. The song features J. Cole, JID, Kenny Mason and Sheck Wes, who are all signed to Cole's Dreamville record label. The project dropped April 1, 2022.

Listen to the track below:

Future dropped his anti-Valentine track "Worst Day" on Valentine's Day. In the track he explains how Valentine's Day is the worst day because he has "too many women to please" and how his addiction has cost him 2-3 million in gifts for various women.

Take a look at the music video below:

Fivio Foreign taps in and Queen Naija and Coi Leray for "What's My Name." The track is featured on Fivio's debut album B.I.B.L.E. The song samples Destiny's Child's 1999 hit "Say My Name."

Listen to the track below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSULK89Eofo

The Coachella favorite "Plan B" dropped on April 22, 2022, by Megan Thee Stallion. The Houston native previewed the song during her debut appearance at the Indio, Calif. festival. During her performance she said that the track was “very motherf------ personal,” and dedicated it “to whom it may the f--- concern.” Listen to the track below:

Cardi B joins fellow Bronx rappers Kay Flock and Dougie B for the new song “Shake It.” The track also features Bory300 and is produced by Elias Beats. It samples Akon's “Bananza (Belly Dancer).” “Shake It” is Kay Flock’s first new single since releasing his debut project, The D.O.A. Tape, in November.

Watch the music video below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7P68k8jWbI

"Nail Tech" is Jack Harlow's lead single from his upcoming album Come Home The Kids Miss You. The music video features a cameo from City Girls' Yung Miami. The track dropped on Feb. 18 and debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Watch the music video below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e2AeKIzfQus

Coi Leray taps in Yung Bleu for "Aye Yai Yai." The track is featured on Coi's debut album Trendsetter which dropped on April 8, 2022.

Listen to the track below:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ueU6aCfsQw

The City Girls recruited Brooklyn drill rapper Fivio Foreign for their first release of the year "Top Notch." The duo takes over Fivi's home state of New York in the accompanying music video. Watch the music video below: