‘He Knew’: Aaliyah’s Uncle Barry Hankerson Accused of ‘Masterminding’ the Leak of R. Kelly Tape as Conflicting Stories About Who Stole the Recording Resurface

Former music executive Barry Hankerson is forever tethered to the legacy of his niece, the late singer Aaliyah, and the scandals of her personal life. The Background Records co-founder is responsible for introducing the then-teenager, his niece, to R. Kelly, whom he managed as she began to chart her own music career. The 15-year-old vocalist was quickly paired with the “12 Play” crooner to help write and produce her debut album, “Age Ain’t Nothing but a Number,” which was released in 1994. Around that same time, rumors about him and Aaliyah being romantically involved surfaced as they made public appearances in matching outfits, and Kelly, 27, took an obvious interest in the singer’s personal and business affairs. R. Kelly (L) and Aaliyah (R) (Prince Williams/WireImage/Kevin Mazur/WireImage) They skirted around the topic by describing themselves as “deep friends,” which only further fueled speculation. In August of 1994, Kelly reportedly married Aaliyah in Chicago after lying about her being 18 years old. It has been speculated that Hankerson helped to orchestrate the union that was annulled months later in February by Aaliyah’s parents. The underage marriage is one of several controversies that would follow Kelly. In 2002, The Chicago Times reported that...