R. Kelly Shares Candid Stories of 2Pac and The Notorious B.I.G in New Memoir

In R. Kelly’s new memoir, Soulacoaster: The Diary of Me, he reflects on various times in his life, both professional and personal.

In a few of the more intriguing excerpts of the tell-all, he goes on to describe his encounters with Tupac Shakur and the Notorious B.I.G.

About 2Pac, the R in R&B suggests that he and ’Pac had planned to do a Best of Both Worlds album, which of course Kelly and Jay-Z wound up doing years later instead.

Kelly revealed that brief encounter with ’Pac that included the conversation about the collaborative LP in an excerpt released by Rolling Stone on Tuesday (June 26):

"Man, we need to do an album," Kelly remembers telling Tupac, as documented by the book.

"Would love it," ’Pac responded.

"I'm talkin' about a whole album. A whole concept. A big game-changing record," Kelly retorted.

"You got it, Kells,” he remembers 2Pac telling him. “Tell me what studio and when to be there."

In yet another excerpt, Kelly remembers playing his smash single, “I Believe I Can Fly,” for the Notorious B.I.G., drawing the late rap legend to tears:

He came over to the piano, and I started to play it for him: "I believe I can fly, I believe I can touch the sky . . ." but so far that's all I had.

"I'm gonna tell you right now, B, that's a smash. That's a big hit right there. That's a Grammy winner, Rob."

When I was playing it for him, I was thinking – he's a hardcore rapper; this is gonna be too soft for him – but when I got through and looked up, his face was wet with tears.

"My brother," he said, "they gonna be playing that when you and I have moved on to the other side of time."

Soulacoster: The Diary of Me is slated to hit stores tomorrow (June 28).—Cam Dooley