"I'm not a star. The stuff I been through in my life, I can't be a star. I'm a survivor." -- K.Cole
Last fall, millions of us gathered around our television sets faithfully on Tuesday nights at 10:30, finding ourselves drawn to BET. Since I've come of age, it was one of the rare times I even bothered to flick on the channel. Why?
The answer was simple: we were all caught up in the rapture of the ghetto rags-to-riches story of R&B chanteuse Keyshia Cole, and the affairs of her drug addict mother, Frankie, and her sister, Neffe. Season 2 of The Way It Is shown us the aftermath of Frankie's release from jail, and exactly what happened when Cole decided to move her family into her new Georgia digs. We all shunned Frankie for her seemingly ungratefulness, and the women on the board sympathized with Neffe as she had to make the decision of terminating her pregnancy toward the end of the season. And we all had an opinion over that explosive season finale.
So, it's no wonder that we tuned into follow-up special, although it was a few months too late.
So... another reality show has come to a close. I felt that it had just started, though! If y'all missed out on this one... oohhh Lawd, y'all missed out on some sh*t hitting the fan.
I think I came away with one sole lesson from this entire season:
Frankie is a piping, steaming, two-minutes-off-the-crack-pipe-hiding-under-the-bed mess.
Seriously... I'm not trying to crack on her, but I realized that Frankie will FOREVER have that "addict" look in her face & mannerisms. No amount of foundation, askewed wigs or poorly drawn lipliner (Ladies did you PEEP THAT? Someone should've called Lil' Mama to teach Frankie some application techniques) can cover that up. Sorry.
I love that pic of Keyshia Cole... I don't know why, I just do.
Anyway... what did you guys think of last night's episode? There are a few things that I'd like to bring to your attention. I've noticed this not only with this show but with Gotti's Way as well-- they keep resurfacing the same issues. Not to say that all of their problems should be solved by now, but we haven't really learned anything new in development... except that K. Cole's birth father may be alive-- and a fan of the show, as well!
You know what? After watching this episode, I think I am going to have to dub Keyshia Cole as The Hood Rat Savoir: taking chicks from ashy to classy one hood at a time.
Now, this is by no means a diss to my girl Keyshia C. It's just that these chicks she deals with all around get besides themselves, and she wins SO MUCH respect from me based on the fact that she opts NOT to wild out on them. For that reason alone, I'm considering going out to cop Just Like You.
To all of you that watched this episode, you know how emotionally draining it was. I almost couldn't get through it. It was pretty heavy.
We also got to see Nefeteria (shaking my head at that name) and Frankie in a new light. This is a deeply wounded family that is taking its slow (but sure) steps to healing.
I just have one question-- do you guys think that being a mother is harder than being on drugs?
I thought I would start off the recap with a bit of conversation
::Mama B comes in from work & I’m watching Gotti's Way ::
Mama B: What are you watching, I thought they canceled Growing Up Gotti .
Breezy: No ma, not the real Gottis. Irv Gotti’s show for the blog.
Mama B: Black Gotti’s?
Breezy: Yeah. He just calls himself Gotti, ma.
Mama B: Why are you watching this? What does he sing? WHO IS HE?
Heh, heh. True dialogue, I kid you not. And she's NOT a hater in the slightest.
Stiffen those upper lips, Gotti boys! If Daddy can keep a poker face while watching his empire possibly crumble... you can at least attempt NOT to cry during a kiddie playoff game!
(Or maybe your Dad’s just very good at playing off denial. Who knows.)
I know you guys gotta love Deb. I ain’t gonna lie, she’s very pretty. But her voice is kind of rough, isn't it? It's like staring at Nicole from the Pussycat Dolls, and then when you hear her speak, realizing that she smokes about 3 packs of Newports a day.
No wonder Irv questions the position she pees in.
(Gotta admit, that was funny, Irv-Lo!)
I love the comment that she makes, “We’re a traditional family from the outside looking in.†Actually, you’re QUITE thatâ€" I’m sure there’s plenty of families whose mommy and daddy no longer sleep together because a human c*m receptacle went public with the hubby's f*cking problem. It's aight Deb... don't worry. I'll give you a pass today, but if I catch you begging Irv-Lo back into your bed next week, you're gonna get it.
Well, a lot of this episode has to do with Deb & Irv’s difference in parenting styles. Lil' Sonny had a football game... he lost... he cried. Aww. It happens, boo! However, similar to Joe and Katherine... Deb doesn’t mind her boys crying, Irv thinks it makes them b*tches. Hmm... then how come you let Ja scream and howl all over his records? I'm just saying, dude. Even more, I’m just wondering if lil’ Sonny is destined for a Michael Jackson fate. Let’s hope not.
I think the “man-up†situation doesn’t exist only for boy children. It's a FATHER thing. Fathers don't want to see their children being weak, they want to make them "strong". I'm not hating on my own Dad's parenting styles, but when I did things and cried over a defeat, he too would tell me to "man up", albeit not in those words. And when I became of age... dare I not play the "I Had Cramps" card. That sh*t never worked.
I guess it's only fair to mention that another part of this ep has to deal with the release of Lloyd’s album, and it’s being pitted against Rich Boy and Musiq Soulchild... are any of you at all concerned? No? Okay, then I’ll move on.
Toward the end the episode, Irv does come at them in a calmer way and explains why he is so hard on them. Irv, I’m not trying to hate on your parenting skills, but all I have to say is this: The Jacksons. And I’ma leave it alone from there, buddy. It's in your hands now.
You know what? I’m going to make amends with you guys. There is a Murder Inc joint that is STILL my SH!T to this day. To me, this is the best thing Murder Inc ever did together as a whole. Sh!t, I was feeling this video so much I even wore my hair like Ashanti’s pratically that entire summer... yes I said that, damnit! Click the link below to check it out.
