Kelly Rowland takes us back to 2001.

Did you know that Kelly Rowland was once involved in an abusive relationship that created a rift between her and her “sister” Beyonce? Well, according to her new song, “Dirty Laundry”, the singer had been trapped in a dangerous situation that threatened to derail her career.

During the post-Survivor era, Rowland was forced to remain in a relationship for almost five years and was repeatedly beaten by an unknown lover. In fact, Rowland’s partner distanced her from her fans and family, and he prevented her from realising her full potential. Meanwhile, she grew envious of Beyonce whose career continued to blossom.

“Maury, he put his hands on me!”

Listen to Rowland sing about her love life in “Dirty Laundry”, which will appear on her Talk a Good Game album on June 18th, below:

Although tempo of “Dirty Laundry” certainly does not make it the best single choice, the controversial message should garner enough buzz to help it on radio. Perhaps the best facet of the record – once you get pass the half dozen Beyonce references – is that Rowland isn’t talk about her love of sex for the umpteenth time. Rather, she is addressing a serious issue that other young women endure that deserves respect.