R&B singer/songwriter R. Kelly revealed that despite his musical talents, he suffers from illiteracy and barely made it through grade school. The Grammy winner recently spoke at the Midwest Music Festival in Chicago, about the trials and tribulations of starting his career.

"When I was trying to make it out here, I already knew, and I was stubborn about it," he said. "I don't even read really and I'm not afraid to say that. My cousins and brothers used to tease me 'you can't even read right. How you think you're going to come up?' The only reason I graduated from grammar school is because I had a great jump shot. I went to high school and [my teacher] told me 'you will one of the greatest writers of all time.' I believed. You [have to] believe it. You can't believe [anything] if you're hating. You can't achieve [anything] if you're hating."

Since being exonerated from child molestation charges Kelly has been working on his upcoming release. When news of Kelly's possible sexual escapades with a then underage girl broke in 2001, the singer maintained his innocence despite the leak of a sex tape showing him and the victim. He has received mixed reactions in response to the allegations but the 42-year-old stated that he is undaunted by his critics. "I got ya'll beat if you're hating on me," he said. "Because I love you. That's why I keep doing what I do."

Last year Kelly spoke publicly about the child molestation case. "I can't keep answering these questions," he said in an interview. "If you [were] charged with something and you [were] found innocent, then you can't be found guilty for being found innocent."

Kelly's forthcoming album is due in stores Oct. 12.