So, I’ve got a few topics to dive into for this video, but let’s kick things off with a fascinating tidbit about Jay-Z. It’s not exactly headline news, but it’s intriguing nonetheless. Jay-Z seems to have his eye on Doja Cat! Yes, that’s right. The same Jay-Z who rarely engages on social media, let alone follows anyone on Twitter, decided to make a move by liking a tweet from Doja Cat. Now, let me show you the tweet in question.
So, there’s this Nicki Minaj fan on Twitter named Felix de Mirage, who whipped up this awesome cover art featuring Doja Cat, Nicki Minaj, and Megan Thee Stallion gracing the Rolling Stone cover together. Doja Cat responded with a simple “fire.” Lo and behold, Jay-Z, for a brief moment, gave that tweet his seal of approval. He liked it, and then swiftly unliked it. Cue the wild speculations! Some folks were quick to jump to conclusions, suggesting Jay-Z was making a pass at Doja Cat. Frankly, I’m not sure how liking a tweet translates to that. Others speculated that Jay-Z was simply acknowledging the undeniable prowess of Doja, Nicki, and Megan in today’s rap scene. Perhaps it was his way of giving them a nod of respect.
Now, here’s where it gets interesting. Some believe Jay-Z might be low-key stanning for Doja Cat. Personally, I’m inclined to agree. It seems plausible that he’s a fan of her work. His strategic like holds weight considering his Twitter hiatus of nearly two years and his notable lack of follows. It’s evident he was lurking on Doja’s page, saw her tweet, and thought, “Yeah, she’s got something special.” I wouldn’t be surprised if Jay-Z is eyeing a reunion with Doja under the Roc Nation banner. You see, Doja was once under Roc Nation’s management but parted ways. Since then, her career has skyrocketed. With her own relentless self-promotion and the support of her RCA team, she’s become a force to be reckoned with in the industry. From relative obscurity to chart-topping success, Doja Cat has truly carved out her place in the limelight. And Jay-Z, well, he’s probably thinking she’d be a valuable asset to Roc Nation once again.
Now that she’s gained more popularity, Jay-Z is interested in collaborating with her again because he prefers artists who are already established. That’s why he reached out to Megan Thee Stallion when she became more prominent. He thought, “Boom, having her on Roc Nation could benefit my company, and vice versa, I could help boost her career.” That’s how he brought Megan on board, and now he’s attempting to bring Doja back into the fold. However, I doubt it’ll succeed because Doja has previously tried Roc Nation, and apparently, it didn’t align with her goals. She’s been forging her own path, which has proven successful. So, she doesn’t necessarily require Roc Nation’s support at this stage.
Moving on to another topic, let’s talk about P. Diddy. He recently hosted a dance-a-thon on Instagram Live to raise funds for healthcare workers who’ve been tirelessly treating COVID-19 patients. During the live stream, several celebrities joined in to help raise money, including Lizzo. When Lizzo started dancing and twerking, the camera shifted away from the screen. P. Diddy then intervened, pausing the music and advising Lizzo to tone it down. He said, “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, let’s do something fun.” Personally, I felt Lizzo’s dance was inappropriate. There’s a time and place for everything. Even Megan Thee Stallion refrained from twerking, despite her known affinity for it, because she understood it wasn’t the right moment. Lizzo should have recognized that too, but she didn’t, prompting Diddy’s intervention. While I agree with him stopping her, I find it contradictory that he discouraged Lizzo while he sat watching Draya twerk on the same platform.
He then stated, “This is a family-friendly Live.” So, why did he permit Draya to dance to ‘Back That Thing Up’ while taking issue with Lizzo’s twerking? Let’s examine the stark contrast in Diddy’s reactions to Lizzo and Draya. Props to Direct Relief for their stellar performance. It was undoubtedly one of the highlights of the night. Kudos for the genuine appreciation. My bad, let’s switch gears. Anyway, did anyone else notice how differently Diddy reacted to Lizzo compared to Draya? There’s a blatant double standard at play here. Lizzo’s twerking was deemed inappropriate because of her body size, let’s not sugarcoat it. Diddy seemed unbothered by Draya’s performance because she fits his standard of attractiveness. He allowed her to twerk freely, raising eyebrows, including mine. Personally, I believe he should have treated Draya and Lizzo equally. If it’s indeed a family-friendly Live, as Diddy claimed, then nobody should have been twerking, period. And they certainly shouldn’t have been playing songs like ‘Back That Thing Up,’ which practically begs for twerking. It was all quite perplexing. Following the backlash, Diddy addressed the issue on social media, clarifying, “Can’t stop, won’t stop. Bad Boy for life.” Let me make this crystal clear, like my queen, my sister Lizzo. I paused the music because of the profanity, not because of her twerking. She’s undeniably one of the best twerkers out there, got it? So let’s set the record straight. It wasn’t about the twerking. Twerking on Easter? Sure thing. It was the explicit language in the song. I hope Child Services isn’t knocking on my door right now, you feel me? So, that’s why I stopped the song. But Lizzo, we adore you, and everyone, let’s focus on the positives, alright?
Let’s delve into matters of the heart. Daddy might claim he’s well aware, but it’s clear he’s not being entirely truthful. If the song Lizzo was dancing to was deemed explicit, then why allow the explicit version of ‘Back That Thing Up’ to play during Draya’s twerking session? It’s confounding. Yet, we all know why Diddy treated Lizzo differently from Draya. Lizzo is a plus-sized woman, while Draya is not. That seems to be the crux of the matter. However, in my view, they both should have been treated equally. Twerking on that live stream just wasn’t appropriate, regardless of who was doing it.
Moving on, let’s discuss a movie that captivated church kids everywhere: the ‘The Clark Sisters: First Ladies of Gospel’ biopic, which premiered on Lifetime over the weekend. Let me just say, this was hands down the best biopic I’ve ever seen on Lifetime. For those unfamiliar, the Clark Sisters are a legendary gospel group whose influence extends to many of our favorite artists and singers. Mary J. Blige, Queen Latifah, and Missy Elliott, among others, were so influenced by the Clark Sisters that they collaborated to produce this biopic. And they did a phenomenal job. The singing was breathtaking, and the actresses deserve a round of applause, especially Aunjanue Ellis. Ellis portrayed the matriarch of the Clark Sisters, Maddy Moss Clark, with such depth and authenticity that it felt Emmy-worthy. Her portrayal vividly depicted Maddy Moss Clark’s intensity, akin to Joe Jackson’s management style with the Jackson 5. While Maddy may not have resorted to physical punishment like Joe, she was certainly strict and unyielding, not hesitating to toss a shoe at anyone who missed a note.
Maddy Moss Clark’s portrayal in this film was formidable, emphasizing her pivotal role as the foundation of the Clark Sisters. It shed light on her struggles as a woman in ministry and a wife, notably enduring abuse from her pastor husband and facing resistance from church bishops threatened by her family’s rising success. Denise and Twinkie Clark’s narratives were equally compelling, delving into their personal lives and intricate dynamics with their mother. Denise’s strained relationship stemmed from her desire for autonomy, facing ostracism due to unconventional choices and revealing candid details, including pressure to undergo an abortion. Twinkie, the family’s musical genius, grappled with her mother’s dependency, sacrificing her own aspirations to fulfill her mother’s dreams, ultimately seeking independence. The film, though occasionally messy, captivated with its portrayal of the Clark Sisters’ journey, leaving a profound appreciation for their resilience and talent. There’s much more to unpack in the movie, but these highlights resonated with me. I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. Don’t forget to like, comment, subscribe, and share if you enjoyed the discussion. Thanks for tuning in, and until next time, take care!