Aaliyah: A Star Gone too Soon

Aaliyah Dana Haughton January 16, 1979- August 25, 2001

Aaliyah Dana Haughton (Aaliyah means Exhalted One in Arabic) was born January 16, 1979 in Brooklyn, NY. Upon her family moving to Detroit Michigan at the age of five, her mother enrolled her in voice lessons where she would perform for family functions and school productions, eventually making her way to Star Search at the age of nine singing her mother's favorite song "My Funny Valentine." She didn't win the competition but it helped her become a better performing in concert with her then aunt by marriage Gladys Knight.

At the age of 12 Aaliyah's uncle Barry Hankerson signed a distribution deal with Jive Records, forming Blackground Records, and immediately signed her to the label. Hankerson introduced her to recording artist R. Kelly her music mentor and later rumored lover; the two began working on her debut album "Age Ain't Nothin' but a Number" cracking the #18 spot on the Billboard 200 charts, spawning such hits as "Back and Forth", the title track and she struck gold with her remake of The Isley Brothers' gem "At Your Best (You are Love)". At the age of 15, she  was mysterious, even sexy with a trademark style of baggy jeans, sports bras, big jackets, sunglasses and her signature swoop bang hairstyle.

In the midst of the success of her first album vicious rumors circulated that R. Kelly and Aaliyah secretly married, where she allegedly lied and said she was 18 years old. Vibe magazine got their hands on a copy of the marriage license. This was perhaps one of the first major scandals in the world of Hip Hop and R&B, and the beginning of R. Kelly's problems with under aged girls. Out of the blue allegedly the marriage was resolved, and Aaliyah parted ways with Jive Records signing with Atlantic Records which began a chemistry like none other with the chemistry of Aaliyah, Timbaland and Missy Elliott. Her second album again peaked at #18 on the Billboard charts 200 garnered hits such as "If Your Girl Only Knew, Hot like Fire, The One I Gave My Heart To, 4 Page Letter" and the title track "One in a Million". Her work with Timbaland and Missy opened up the doors for her to become a Tommy Hilifiger model, becoming best friends with Quincy Jones' daughter Kidada Jones, have a hit single mostly recognized by its use of a baby cooing "Are You that Somebody?" from the Doctor Doolittle soundtrack and "Journey to the Past" from the Anastasia soundtrack which she performed at the 1998 Academy Awards.



Her last album self titled "Aaliyah" first debuted at #19 on the Billboard 200 charts followed by two more albums released posthumously. This album showcased a more mature side of Aaliyah, partly due to her budding relationship with then co-founder of Rockafella Records Damon Dash. Her three singles "We Need a Resolution, Rock the Boat and More than a Woman." During this time she starred in two movies "Romeo must Die and Queen of the Damned." Her last television appearance was on BET's 106 & Park, discussing her upcoming shooting in the Bahamas for the video for the aforementioned single "Rock the Boat." It was after the video was shot that a tragic turn of events ended this young lady's rise to the top. Director Hype Williams left a day before with the completed video. The crew boarding a small aircraft to return to America put the plane crashed shortly after take off. Everyone on the aircraft was killed; Aaliyah died instantly from her injuries. Reports from the tragedy included the pilot being under the influence of drugs and alcohol and he wasn't registered to fly the plane, falsifying registered hours of flight, as well as the aircraft being overloaded with too much luggage. Upon her death her third album shot from 19 to #1 on the Billboard 200 charts.

I remember hearing the news of Aaliyah's passing. I was a senior in high school, just starting my after school job at Rite Aid Pharmacy. I was deeply saddened and mourned her death as if I personally knew her. I had few young artists that I admired, but Aaliyah stood out to me the most, so much so that I named my baby sister for her. She was a trendsetter, I'll be the first to attest that I wore the swoop bangs, the sunglasses, the black nail polish, and she was the first to rock the pump/ponytail comb, a style that didn't become popular until four or five years later. When fan clubs still existed, I wrote to her fan club and received an autographed copy of her album Age Ain't Nothin' but a Number. She sang, danced, and was an actress; an all around great entertainer. a friend on twitter stated she was the girl next door and another friend stated she was the woman every man wanted and what the woman every woman wanted to be. She drew comparisons to Janet Jackson for her stage presence and dance moves but not so strong vocal ability. To this assertion I disagree, Aaliyah's best vocal performance hands down is "The One I Gave My Heart To." She sang that song with such passion and emotion and I related to her heartbreak on this song. I also disagree with comparisons to Beyonce, the two are totally different artists, in different lanes, appealing to different audiences.


No one knows just how far she could have gone if she wasn't cut off at the tender age of 22. Either way we can still jam to her music, watch her music videos and have found memories of the talented songbird which is Aaliyah Dana (Baby Girl) Haughton.

~L.G.~

(Below are some of my favorite songs/videos).

Martin: 19 years old and still providing laughs

Scene from "You So Crazy"

No one knew what to expect of the comedic genius which is Martin F. Lawrence when his comedy sitcom Martin hit the airwaves on August 27, 1992. He was previously known for his small yet memorable roles on "What's Happening Now"  "Do The Right Thing" and "House Party 1 and 2" before he started what is known as one of the funniest shows in the history of television. On the show we experienced the ups and downs relationships, friendships, drama and most of all Martin's multiple characters on the show.

I felt impressed to write this blog from my friends on twitter that watch re-runs of the show currently airing on MTV2 and tweet about their favorite episodes. My cousin was and is the biggest Martin fan I know, yet when I saw the show released on dvd at Best Buy I ran out and bought them to relive the laughter from 19 years ago. Here are my top ten favorite Martin episodes starting from 10.

10. Martin's on the Move- leading up to this episode Stan sold WZUP to a country radio host where Martin works and eventually gets fired. In this episode Martin is trying to find ways to make money to pay his bills and his rent. Martin decides to sell Whitney Houston t-shirts outside of her concert with Brotherman but there's a problem...Brotherman can't spell! "He was running with the slow bop bae-bee!" Instead of Houston's face on the shirt, there was a picture Brotherman smiling with a wig on and Houston's name was spelled Witty Hutton.

9. Fat Like Dat- Gina convinces Martin that he's gaining weight so Martin, Tommy and Cole attend Gina and Pam's aerobic class. As Tommy and Cole slack off Martin toughs it out and eventually develops a healthier lifestyle, driving Gina crazy in the process. Gina strikes back by making all of Martin's favorite foods including Mama Payne's biscuits to break him. He eventually breaks down and eats everything on the table.

8. Get a Job- In this episode Martin becomes obsessed in finding out what Tommy does for a living, while Gina becomes suspicious after seeing Pam talking to two men who look like hit men. Martin and Gina sneak into Pam's apartment for clues "using their cat eye" and overhears a message from the strange men on Pam's answering machine. Martin and Gina stake out a building before going in, seeing Tommy walking down a run way in what appears to be a strip club. Martin and Gina find out it's a charity fashion show as Martin is still puzzled as to what Tommy does for a living.

7. Ain't Nuttin' Going on But the Rent- Martin is upset that his landlord Luis increased the rent and refuses to pay "the five". Luis sends Martin an eviction notice and cuts off the heat in the middle of a blizzard. As the gang goes through extreme measures to stay warm and find food, they send Cole out in the blizzard to get a pizza, only for Cole to be frostbitten with a frozen pizza that shatters into pieces. Martin gets the heat turned back on after catching Luis with someone's wife and reveals that he made the gang suffer for not paying the five...five dollars!

6. Forever Sheneneh- Sheneneh wins a radio contest on Martin's radio show for a date with her favorite rapper Kid from Kid & Play. As Sheneneh gives Kid some "live entertainment" and makes sexual advances towards him, Kid runs out of her apartment into Martin apartment to tell him the date is over. After Gina informs Kid that Sheneneh is his biggest fan Kid returns to her apartment to continue their date. (This episode also reunites the three from their previous roles in the House Party franchise movies).

5. Blackboard Jungle Fever- Martin is reunited with his favorite third grade teacher Miss. Trinidad at the elementary school's career day. After grabbing a bite to eat and going back to Martin's apartment to catch up on old times, Miss. Trinidad has other plans as Gina walks in on Miss. Trinidad groping and trying to kiss Martin. To cover herself Miss. Trinidad blames the advances on Martin. The two argue resulting in Gina giving Martin the keys back to his apartment. Martin goes to the school to confront Miss. Trinidad for ruining his relationship with Gina.  Gina realizing that Miss. Trinidad lied about Martin not telling her who she was, shows up to the elementary school to fight for the man she loves.

4. Really, Gina Is Not My Lover- Martin prepares for his high school reunion and is under great stress to impress everyone, pressuring Gina to look perfect. Gina gets a avocado mask from Juanita's Bump & Curl which she is allergic to and when she goes to the dentist to get her teeth cleaned the dentist hits a nerve causing her face to swell up. Martin convinces Gina to stay home and gets into it at his reunion with his arch nemesis Ricky "Pretty Ricky what They call Him" Fontaine. Martin lies about Gina being a supermodel and living large and in charge as Gina shows up to the reunion hair disheveled, wild eyes and swollen face. After winning man of the decade, Martin realizes his mistreatment towards Gina to impress people wasn't worth it as he didn't like them and his classmates still didn't like him. This is one of two episodes showcasing Gina's comedic side.

3. Blow, Baby, Blow- late rapper The Notorious B.I.G. guest stars as an old friend of Martin coming to Detroit looking for a backup singer. This causes a feud between Pam and Gina for who's the better singer and they ruin the talent search on Martin's talk show by fighting on tv. This results in Biggie signing Sheneneh as his new backup singer. Biggie also performs.

2. Romantic Weekend- After seeing Gina covet Pam and Tommy's celebration of their six month relationship, Martin takes Gina on a trip advertised on the back of a cereal box to a place called Chilligan's Island. Chilliagan's Island is a  low rate resort with unpleasant amenities, including an altercation with a raccoon puppy. The two soon find out that Pam and Tommy were duped into the resort as well as Pam and Martin team up to fight a raccoon puppy for the second time.

1. Banging Hard in the School Yard/ Suspicious Minds- It was a tie for my number one favorite Martin episode. On Banging Hard in the School Yard, Martin gets into a battle of the sexes believing men to be better at everything than women including sports. Gina challenges him to a bet for a basketball game men against women. Martin thinks Gina and Pam are playing and rounds up good and not so good players, but he's in for a rude awakening;  his team will  play against  the Olympic Women's Basketball Team. Realizing he's in over his head, Martin fakes an injury to forfeit the game. This episode was hilarious to me because of an old man shuffling across the court "Air Gordon" 14 years later and that episode brings me to tears of laughter because of that small yet funny moment.

Suspicious Minds is another hilarious episode so much that Martin's cast members were laughing at him on set. Martin's new cd Walkman comes up missing as he suspects that one of his friends or his girlfriend stole his cd player, after learning of them saying they'll do whatever it takes to get what they want. Martin has everyone dressed in black and walks around the group with a stuffed black Doberman, making barking sounds and telling the dog to sit. This was a scene straight from the movie New Jack City. As the crew argues Brotherman slips in through the window, returning Martin's cd player.

No one knew that this comedian from the Maryland/DC/Virginia area would become one of the most renowned comedians of our generation. Lawrence not only mastered the art of television, movies and stand up, he was an innovator in creating multiple characters on his show, a feat not done since  Eddie Murphy in the 1980s. Although the show is considered old, its a goodie that provides laughs for many more years to come.

~L.G.~

Catfights: A disgrace to Women or great Entertainment?

Jerseylicious Olivia and Tracy fighting outside the Sonic restaurant

Basketball Wives Meeka and Tami fighting in Italy

Tracy arguing with Olivia's boyfriend Mike resulting in a bar fight

Basketball Wives Eric Williams throws drink in ex-wife Jennifer's face

It all started with the Flavor of Love and more recently ends with Basketball Wives black women are catching flax for getting into brawls on national television. During the first season of Flavor of Love, the average working class woman was appalled at the negative images of black women fighting on t.v. At that time we didn't know that most reality television is scripted and the producers stir up controversy to boost ratings. It began with black women acting a fool on television, but with the addition of shows like Jerseylicious, Jersey Shore and Bad Girls Club acting a fool is now a universal behavior among all women.

Drita and Karen brawl on Mob Wives

Some of these women are aspiring actresses, businesswomen or just want their 10 minutes of fame, but is it worth embarrassing themselves on t.v. for the sake of a paycheck? Producer of Basketball Wives  Shaunie O'Neal was under fire a few weeks ago for a lack of better words throwing a brick out into a crowd then hiding her hands behind her back. She claimed that she wasn't intentionally portraying negative images of black women on television. Anyone who watches the shows knows that her words don't equal to her actions on the show. Should we continue to watch these reality shows and boost their ratings or should we boycott these type of shows? The formula is simple...America loves drama...whether it's on programs showcasing the lives of hairdressers, party goers at the shore, ex-wives of athletes, dating shows, or dance/singing competitions, America loves to watch the drama unfold on television.

I have mentioned before that I watch these shows for entertainment purposes only, I may tweet about them on Monday nights, but I don't look to these women as being role models to young women or as inspiration to me to be like them. Of course not all reality television is negative shows like How Do I Look?, Say Yes to the Dress, Four Weddings, My Fair Wedding, Tia & Tamera and Bill and Guilana are all breaths of fresh air. These shows exhibit normal behaviors of brides-to-be, sisters, new mothers, and loving married couples. Don't get me wrong these shows have a different type of drama which does not end in a restaurant fight or a drink thrown into your face.

~L.G.~

New York gets a spit shower on Flavor of Love

Kim and NeNe argue on Real Housewives of Atlanta

If You Love Her Put A Big Rock On It?

As I've watched many times before, the episode of The Game "Put A Ring On It", I revisited a question in my mind that I asked some friends previously on my Facebook page. On this episode, Derwin asked Melanie to marry him for the second time, after previously buying two rings before. The first proposal happened after a pregnancy scare and Melanie not wanting to start a family before being married. The second proposal didn't happen because Melanie wasn't ready to get back into a relationship with Derwin after he cheated with singer Drew Sidora. On this episode, she was disappointed with the size of the ring and even stated that their relationship was cursed. So my question to both men and women does the size of the ring matter?

We live in a society today where the significance of marriage has been lost, to the point people don't believe in it. The newer generation of couples are content on being in a co-habitating  relationship, what most older people call "shacking up or living in sin". Is the comfortability of co-existence okay for the sake of having a mate? Do these couples feel that something will be lost if they decide to jump the broom? According to divorcerate.org between 40 to 50 percent of marriages end in divorce 36.6% are between the ages of 20-24. Do a local search on Goggle or Yahoo and you see a celebrity trending because of divorce. Celebrities get married and divorced as much as the average person changes their clothes and hair. When did the importance of marriage go down the drain.

So back to my original question, is the size of the ring a deal breaker for marriage? Does the size of the rock determine the man's love for his woman? Does it determine the future of their union together? The size of your ring for most women are used to rub in another woman's face, look at my ring, don't you wish your ring was as big as mines? The conversation I have with most women is the size of the rock does matter and there wasn't room for negoiations. I mentioned hypothetically if the man couldn't afford a big ring at the time but was ready to propose to the woman he loves and will purchase a larger ring later would they still say no. Some replied yes because the proposal should have been done with the right ring and not an alternative ring. Does this make them superficial? Maybe. Is my reasoning practical? Probably. All in all, if you truly want to spend the rest of your life with the man/woman of your dreams, the size of the ring shouldn't be the deal breaker...not wanting to have kids should be the deal breaker. :-)

~L.G.~

(Videos courtesy of YouTube, picture courtesy of Google).