Did Beyonce Sacrifice Aaliyah?

Years ago a co-worker told me he believed Beyonce killed Aaliyah. “You’re crazy,” I rebutted. Refusing to let anyone badmouth her. The irony.

Diddy killed Biggie,” he continued. “Think about it. Who has the most to gain from their deaths?”

A question and a statement that changed my life. I wrote him off, but pinned his theory in my mind. Circling back to it later, just in case it should arise again. Boy did it, solidifying everything happens for a reason. What are the chances this conversation would come up repeatedly between us? He was the only person who ever said such things to me, out of billions of people and all the jobs in the world. Social media is where I discovered others believed the same.

Sans critically thinking, the majority of people are quick to dismiss Beyoncé’s role in Aaliyah’s death. Often citing there’s no overlap, that Aaliyah wouldn’t hinder her career. Naive. Unlike Baby Girl, Beyonce isn’t the rare, coveted triple threat: she can sing, she can dance, but her acting’s abysmal. Aaliyah could do all three and was already established in the upper echelons of Hollywood. Best friends with superstar producer Quincy Jones’s daughter Kidada Jones, the face of Tommy Hilfiger, her star was about to shoot further due to film. She was getting praised as a thespian. Not to mention the chokehold learning her dance moves had on us. Beyoncé would’ve been relegated to second fiddle, mostly getting scraps of whatever first pick Aaliyah rejected. She herself shows there can only be one Queen at a time. Who’s comparable to her now? That bitch did it (read Beyoncé The Satanic Witch). I rest my case. She would not be as successful if Aaliyah lived, reminding me of another duo. Actors in the same predicament. Hint- River Phoenix. Via: ForeverIconicAaliyah & RumiYonce

Under The Bridge Is Top Tier

Did I cry at the end of this limited series? Yup. Under The Bridge is based on the true story of Reena Virk, an Indian teen murdered by her classmates after a desperate attempt to fit in. Where do I even begin? This is one of the first times I’ve watched something and distinctly detested 99.9% of the characters, I promise you. With the exception of Cam Bentland (played by Lily Gladstone). Regarding everyone else there was constant oscillation between exasperation and likability.
Reena Virk’s (played by Vritika Gupta) need to fit in at any cost was nauseating, to the point of telling the authorities her kindhearted father molested her. On top of that she’s in over her head pretending to be gang gang from the comfort of her Jehovah’s Witness household. Granted the restrictions were unbearable, her mother a zealot, you don’t start rumors about people having AIDS sans consequences. Especially girls like Josephine Bell (played by Chloe Guidry) who gloats about beating bitches up and snatching their chains. Then there’s wishy washy Dusty Pace (played by Aiyana Goodfellow) who threatened her niece, an entire child with violence. But the crème de la creme is Kelly Ellard (played by Izzy G), a privileged psychopath. Read the room Reena, these are not your friends.

White audacity permeated throughout, with Cam’s adopted family overlooking the murder due to the victim being a person of color, to completely trying to take over her case. Reporter Rebecca Godfrey (played Riley Keough) shows more sympathy for Warren Glowatski (played Javon Walton) than the victim, giving her an exploitative, innate racist vibe, made worst by the treatment of her deceased brother. Unfortunately such is the case with murders of indigenous and Indian women to this day, it’s really not okay.

Mostly disliking everyone made my own tears surprising to me. That’s how you know the acting, the plot, everything was top tier. I mean, a round of applause to everyone. The full circle Biggie moment really sent me weeping. If you haven’t watched do yourself a favor. Lily Gladstone is here to stay. Via: The New York Times & Hulu

Biggie’s Homage To Hitchcock

Biggie knew his iconography, do you? Knowing your history is essential, you cannot be a great anything otherwise. To know where you’re headed you must know where you came from. Knowledge is power and intelligence is sexy, study up and learn from the best.
The energy of each photo is vastly different, Alfred Hitchcock’s has a playful energy, while Biggie’s picture is ominous. Even the bird has tension. How do you compare each vibe? Photographer: Philippe Halsman/ Via: WhatsCulture