Beyoncé – Drama + Controversy

What If?: Tamar Braxton Edition

Everything happens as it should, right? Well, even if that’s true, let’s imagine that each time a choice is made, the other options play out in a parallel dimension. Doesn’t that make you feel better? To know that in another life you’re living out every one of your dreams? Yeah, let’s roll with that and imagine Tamar Braxton was full-out famous as Beyoncé back in the early 2000s.

Ms. Tamar Estine Braxton – premier vocalist extraordinaire – has become well-known for her one-of-a-kind personality and out-of-this-world vocals. She’s been around since her teenaged years, starting out in the 1990s as a member of The Braxtons with her four sisters, including THEE Toni Braxton, and later launching a solo career (late 1990s – early 2000s). However, her well-deserved ascension to stardom didn’t happen until over a decade later when her reality show, Braxton Family Values, came on air in April 2011. It wasn’t until then did we get to behold the authentic personality that would set the internet abuzz with tons of catchphrases. And with the release her first post-reality-show album, Love and War (2013), Tamar had proven that she was slept on for far too long. A solid R&B EP with her personality shining through fully, I was completely sold. Before that, she lived in her big sister’s shadow and never really got the shine she was due. Not that I’m obsessed or anything, but I often wonder why she never blew up back in the day. She definitely had the potential. Besides, she would’ve been good competition for Ashanti… and eventually Beyoncé. Yes, I said Beyoncé.

Don’t get me wrong, I am a card-carrying member of the BeyHive; however, I’m not so blinded by the ineffable Mrs. Knowles-Carter’s grandeur that I cannot give props to other artists as I see due.

After witnessing the very outspoken Ms. Braxton on Braxton Family Values alongside her sisters, I realized that we’d been deprived for many years of something amazing. Not that she didn’t make good music prior to that, it’s just that she didn’t get the play or notice she deserved. “Get None” (1999), from her eponymously titled debut album is so very Tamar and the video was giving! She also killed her feature on R&B group, Silk’s, song “Don’t Go” from their album Love Session (2001). She was not a one hit wonder type of artist. It’s like there was something trying to keep her in a box, and that is just someplace Tamar didn’t belong.

Tamar Braxton – Get None (1999)

I wonder if it was because her voice or look was too similar to Toni’s? Maybe music executives felt there wasn’t a clear-cut niche for Tamar so the “machine” wasn’t put in full-throttle to push her forward? I can see how it could appear that way, and maybe back in early 2000s, personality wasn’t as important is it is today, but we sure could have used a Tamar in that era. The Tamar with the outrageous commentary and tear-provoking vocals. The girl who could drop it low but also sit on a stool in the middle of an empty stage and send chill-bumps up our arms with those chilling vocals.

Oops, too much like Beyoncé? Well, that would have been a bit of healthy competition that would have required Tamar to give it all she had, which means we would have seen all that poppin’ and droppin’ and sassiness given and received with full adoration. That Beyonce/Tamar [healthy] rivalry would have been lit.

Watching her “Love It” video (from her Calling All Lovers album) makes me believe she felt like she had FINALLY burst out of her box and was able to be the woman she wanted to be from the very start. The woman who would’ve given all the early 2000s hot girls a run for their money.

When we want to bring someone up against Beyoncé Giselle Knowles, there must be verifiable receipts to back up such audacious claims of worthiness. Besides the fact that this is all how I personally envisioned that era with Tamar Braxton officially on the scene, there is no doubt that Tamar has the talent. Don’t get me wrong, Beyonce shut it down with the whole package – dancing, vocals, and fabulousness beyond measure, giving life from the moment we heard “uh oh, uh oh, uh oh oh no no”… it was done. But just to imagine that there was another on the scene who could keep up – and in my mind, that would’ve been Tamar, if only the stars had aligned correctly. Had she had the team and the backing, she could have torn up the 2000s. With vocals comparable to Mariah Carey, I am for sure in my heart of this.

No, she doesn’t do much dancing in her current videos, but obviously she has the ability. Please take the time to view The Braxtons’ “Good Life” performance from 1990. Just find it online and behold the moves that a young Tamar was giving. Watching her compete on the 21^st season of Dancing With The Stars in 2015 actually caused me a bit of grief because I felt we had long been deprived of something great. Not that what she’s giving us at the present isn’t great enough, I just realize that there could have been so much more given had her star arose back in the 2000s. So much talent was subdued for far too long.

Tamar with The Braxtons – Good Life (1990)

I don’t know all the details of what happened with Tamar back then. Her big personality could’ve been an hindrance or maybe it just wasn’t her time yet.

‪Beyoncé‬ will headline Coachella.

Beyoncé will be the first black woman ever to headline Coachella.

She will be headlining the Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival in Spring 2018, along with #Eminem & #TheWeeknd.

Queen Bey will be performing on April 14th & 21st, featuring Tyler the Creator, Chloe x Halle, Post Malone and many more.

Favorite Couples Series Volume 1: Beyoncé & Jay-Z.

Beyoncé & Jay-Z

“All I need in this life of sin, is me and my girlfriend.”

Hip hop royalty — Beyoncé and Jay-Z have been rocking for a decade and a half. In the beginning of their relationship, the dynamic duo was bent on keeping things on the low-low, which made perfect sense at the time. Beyoncé was emerging as a solo artist with a lot to prove & Jay-Z was a well-established rapper with a bad boy persona. Imagine the field day the media could’ve had with their love story back in the early 2000s. There was so much at stake and they made sure to protect their love with a shatter-proof layer of secrecy.

Although they would collaborate in the music studio together, they never really discussed their relationship in the media. Everyone had solid suspicions of their commitment to one another, but Bey & Jay were to remain mum on the subject until they were good & ready to “come out”.

The pregnancy rumors. The rumors of Jay-Z cheating. The rumors of Jay-Z having kids. They moved past it all and eventually tied the knot in a top-secret wedding on April 4, 2008. Jay-Z reportedly dropped $5 million on the wedding ring! But, why wouldn’t he? Beyoncé is worth every dollar – she’s kind of a big deal. Beyoncé could have easily chosen to live her life focused on her career as many other powerful, successful women have chosen to do. Based on the trajectory of her career – from Destiny’s Child to one of the most iconic entertainers to walk this earth – you would think she had no room in her grand scheme to settle down with a family. However, there’s obviously a side to the innovative beauty that values love and family. Her father and mother provided the foundation for family and although their marriage ended in divorce, I’m sure Beyoncé set out to do it bigger and better in her own life.

And who else could tame a roguish guy like Shawn Carter other than Beyoncé? Based on the content of his music and the plethora of women he was attached to back in the day, you would think Jay-Z would not be the marrying type. It’s possible that Bey and Jay were on and off in their relationship for many years as Jay continued to sow his wild oats. In the end, he realized that there is only one Beyoncé on this great, wide earth and letting go of a diamond to go chase cubic zirconia probably started to seem a bit foolish at some point. He held on to his Queen and she fell dangerously in love.

The power couple welcomed their first princess, Blue Ivy, into the world in January 2012 and Beyoncé was officially a mother. Although naysayers would want to say otherwise, she wore pregnancy well and even kept those 6 inch heels on deck. How could someone make pregnancy looks so good? But there was, once again, trouble in paradise when Jay got caught up with “Becky with the good hair.” We heard all about it when Beyoncé released her visual album, Lemonade, in 2016. However, the couple was triumphant in the fight for their marriage and kept it moving past all the infidelity and pain. We even got blessed with a set of twins, Sir Carter and Rumi, afterwards. Jay-Z went on record, literally, to express his remorse and discontent with his actions in his iconic album, 4:44, which was released in 2017 and it’s apparent that he is a changed man after it all.

The two together are worth billions of dollars and we get to witness their grandeur on Beyoncé’s Instagram account when she sporadically updates with her artsy photographs. Beyoncé is in collaboration mode in her music career, recently releasing singles with rapper Eminem, and singer Ed Sheeran. Jay-Z is on tour for his album 4:44 and still making business moves daily. They are raising three beautiful children up in royalty and loving life along the way. The story of Beyoncé and Jay-Z shows us all that love always wins.

Why we should stop comparing Rihanna to Beyoncé.

Beyoncé & Rihanna: two black women at the top of the music game. Both artists have been in headlines recently regarding new music and upcoming tours. Beyoncé caused a stir a few weeks ago with her controversial performance at Super Bowl 50, which pretty much added a little more history to Black History Month. Everything the woman does is epic. Rihanna definitely holds her own as well and is one hell of a hit maker, recently breaking Michael Jackson’s (yes THE Michael Jackson) record for most number one hits while unleashing another smash with a ridiculously infectious beat, “Work”. Slaying all up and through the music video for “Work” she dropped this past Monday, February 22, 2016 – looking absolutely scrumptious and twerking for her life. These two fabulous women certainly keep a buzz on social media. Their fan bases, the #BeyHive and #RihannaNavy, often go to war in the comment sections of your favorite gossip blog’s social media accounts. Whenever Rihanna is exalted, Beyoncé is denounced, and vice versa. However, to compare these two women is like comparing apples and oranges.

From being discovered by Jay-Z in the 2000s, Rihanna has transformed throughout her career and has ascended above most to become a mega star in the music game. When I say the woman can drop a hit, the woman can DROP A HIT. Her voice is unique, which makes her stand out. She comes off as the relatable girl from around the way who is cool as hell; kind of like the girl who befriends you in the bathroom at the club on Saturday night. She gets lit, twerks like a true Bajan goddess, and sets trends. Rihanna is an absolute fashion icon; she can wear anything and make it look hot. For these reasons and many more, her fan base is die-hard loyal. Millennials rock with Rih-Rih. She is also a businesswoman and brand ambassador and she has even taken a stab at acting in a movie or two. With all that being said, the very thing that makes her so popular amongst millennials is what could hinder her growth as a legendary artist: her turn up could turn down her vocal ability and work ethic. Not to say she can’t slay a hit song or stay booked, but it takes a lot to be at the very top of the game. She has an AMAZING team behind her and that is what has boosted her to where she is today – and she owns it.

Beyoncé was pretty much born a star. From talent competitions to girl group rehearsals, her parents pushed her from a very young age to hone her talents, which is the basis for her hard-core work ethic. Her level of perfectionism is obvious in everything she does. From her public persona, to her marriage, I’m pretty sure she has it all mapped out. She can come off as “programmed” to some, but she was simply groomed to be a star. In this age of social media, everyone feels entitled to know every detail of a superstar’s life and when access is denied, the bashing begins. It’s all a waste of thumb-thugging because Beyoncé never responds to rumors and backlash online. While many celebrities will “pop off” with Twitter fingers, Beyoncé simply dedicates a line or two in a new song to address the slander. Everything we know about Beyoncé is what she wants us to know; reminiscent of the pre-social-media-era where celebrities’ personal lives were vehemently kept under wraps. Classic Superstar 101. Whether or not people want to admit it, Beyoncé is the closest thing to Michael Jackson this era will know. Her vocal range is bananas and she owns the hell out of a stage – a true performer. Who else can sing flawlessly while dancing across a stage in heels in this day and age? She seems to be taking more risks this time around to create music that stirs up conversation. Beyoncé’s similarities to the King of Pop are in development but many choose to relegate her talents to be more in line with those of Rihanna instead.

Rihanna has amassed a team that knows how to win, and that is apparent. No one can take away her accomplishments and accolades – she has earned those fair & square. However, to pit her against an artist who was groomed in Jackson 5 fashion to be a superstar with ironclad work ethics and dedication to perfection is simply unfair. Rihanna has not only surpassed Beyoncé & Michael Jackson in producing hits; she has obviously surpassed Janet Jackson & Whitney Houston – both legends in the music game. Does this mean Rihanna is better than all of these artists as well? Why pit her against Beyoncé?

Rihanna will never be Beyoncé because she will be too busy being Rihanna – beautiful, iconic, trend-setting, hit-making Rihanna. It’s certainly not crowded at the top so we should just let them both be great.