Aquaria

34 minutes ago, king_c said:

I'm a huge fan of hers, and I think she is in fact one of the greatest acts of her generation. But I feel like there's been this industry agenda to force her onto this level with acts like Whitney and MJ and it just doesn't seem organic. Like people in real life never actually acknowledge her as someone as popular as they ever were.

I'm gonna stop you there.  

To mostly everyone I know IRL and social media (like, personal social media) Beyoncé is THE star. She is universally acknowledged to be in a different league than any other contemporary artist and the closest we have to someone of MJ or Whitney's caliber. 

Janet is in this post by Naomi for Dave Chappelle’s birthday.  

That nail color is a choice.

I want that hoodie though.  

15 hours ago, vibeology said:

yes...im watching week by week and just finished episode 6. Ms Coel is a talented lady.

Episode 6??? I only see 3 on hbogo.  

Y'all hookers watching it? It's really good.

14 hours ago, Laveaux said:

Yes chile.

It was tricky because I have bad allergies around this time...so it started off with me just coughing a lot in the middle of May. I would pop a Claritin and things would be better. Had no fever or anything. Towards the end of May, the coughing got a little more aggressive (so I thought I might be sick)...and I started getting chills and a slight headache...I was like okay...I'm getting tested tomorrow...( I had to jump through all these fucking hoops just to get a test....that pissed me off)...anywho, they swabbed my mouth and told me I'd get the results in 5 days....so I tried to be patient and wait but by that 3rd day....she was on my ass, muscles were weak af, could barely get air in my lungs...that was Sunday the end of May I believe...told my friend to call the sirens...its an emergency. 

I literally just got out yesterday lol. It's crazy because they had a feeding tube down my throat, so I was knocked out most of the time when I first got there and finally when I'm coherent...I see all these Black men still being killed by police, people rioting, looting, chaos....I almost told them to put me back under.

Da fuq going on out chea. Smh

 

Scary shit. I'm so happy you're feeling better now. 

Yeah... and things extra crazy out here.  

I enjoyed it.  

I'm not the target demo though.  

31 minutes ago, Lenzo88 said:

Yup!!! No shade please!

She shaded herself with that one.

I fuck with WTP so I'm not gonna be shady.  I didn't realize she had stans though.  

30 minutes ago, Lenzo88 said:

Omg!!! Guys, this is EXACTLY what I needed since Black Diamond is on an indefinite hold!!!  “THE ALBUM” is......WOW!!! Pure Artistry!!! Pure R&B!!!
 

Listen to this album, it really is THE ALBUM!!!

It's called "The Album"?  

1 hour ago, Selz said:

You know what - it helps too to hear you say that.  As much as I want to (and am) stand up for people of colour right now, it is a bit of a minefield because like many white people I don't want to offend.  But it helps to have read things like being told that it's better to say something and get it wrong than to not say anything at all.  It's really encouraging to me that things are actually happening, like Chauvin's charge being increased and the other three officers arrested and charged, but at the same time I'm aware that white people need to be watched at this point, that we don't rest on our laurels because this one thing happened.  After all, the officers who beat Rodney King were all arrested, and they got off because the jury was white.  White people don't get to stop pulling up just because some officers in the latest case were arrested. 

What I think I do need to do is find the line between saying stuff all the time and listening to others.  My sister in law messaged me on Insta a couple days ago and told me to 'move on'.  When I asked 'Why?' she said because I have been signed off with anxiety and depression she worries that this issue can have an impact on mental health.  While I understand that, I also understand that moving on is not an option.  It's only my privilege that would allow me to do that.  I cannot.  I could spend hours reading social media posts but have come to realise that a lot of them are making the same point, and it's a point that I DO get.  I do want to keep on top of updates though.

I hope you all don't mind me saying this here, I'm just pouring out some of what's been going through my head the last few days.

I think what's key as allies is taking the back seat and supporting. Listening. Amplifying black voices. 

As Brittany Packnett Cunningham (@mspackyetti) keeps saying, "We Save Us." What we as allies can do is continue to educate ourselves and our non-BIPOC friends and family. Donate to causes and as I said before amplify black voices.

Also, taking care of mental health right now is SO IMPORTANT. I feel like even the most "solid" people right now are feeling this strain, let alone people affected by anxiety, depression, etc. You're right that this is not something we "move on" from and it's important to continue to stay engaged and keep supporting this movement. That being said, I've been reading it's healthy to limit your social/news intake to a designated time and cap it off so you are not incessantly refreshing your feed and building more and more anxiety. 

On 6/2/2020 at 10:12 AM, Angela said:

I pretty much like you, and in that I am a lone wolf. I missed seeing my family but my parents are over 60 and I didn’t want to risk getting on a flight and potentially exposing them. I went outside for my own sanity. I will say that I’m grateful to still have a job and not going out has helped me to save money so I’m appreciative of it. 
 

With all of the killings, I was doing a great job of compartmentalizing but Breonna Taylor’s killing was the first major crack in my facade and then George Floyd was the final tipping point. It’s really hard to work when there’s such a huge burden weighing on you. Last week was really rough and I didn’t know how much I was holding in until I was on a conference call and a senior leader brought it up and I started to cry. Thank goodness we weren’t on camera because I cried really hard for about 20 minutes. I called my brothers and sister just to talk to them and check in on them and I had a really difficult conversation with my mom. 
 

I am a huge supporter of the protests and while I’m saddened about some businesses being destroyed that currently serve underserved communities, I’m a supporter of the movement. As a Black woman, I just get so tired of waiting for justice and to be seen as human. And this last couple of days, tensions have been high at work and I finally told someone off because there are so many bigger things on my mind than a number on a PowerPoint chart. The violence has been scary, admittedly. I live 0.25 miles from a really nice street in Chicago that was looted. I couldn’t go outside and I had to have a couple of backup plans just in case they got to my apartment building. 
 

I will also express my sincere gratitude and appreciation of my nonblack friends and acquaintances intentionally reaching out to check on me. I’ve been very moved and I remain hopeful. 

I truly hope you are doing ok as can be and hanging in there. I love and support you (and all in this thread). 

As awful and heart wrenching as this is... look at the entire WORLD rising up to demand justice. It is inspiring. 

30 minutes ago, Angela said:

I know this forum isn’t as active anymore. But I wanted to check in to see how everyone is doing with what’s going on in the world today. 

I appreciate this thread... it's hard talking about this. I know everyone is struggling and I just never go too far in depth because I don't want to dwell there or add to their worries by worrying about me. 

Covid was/(is!) 1 thing... the isolation had taken a slight toll on my sanity but I've been able to soldier through as I am more of a lone wolf anyway. I was able to keep hope alive that the world would emerge wiser and forced to change for the better.

What's been happening recently... it makes me feel there is no justice, and no hope. I feel I need to stay informed but I realized how unnatural/scarring it is to see so much real life violence playing out, so I've been starting to put a cap on how much I'm looking at. It's been really fucking me up, and I can't imagine how my black friends must feel. It's just sick, and evil, and it's honestly giving me a phobia of people in this world and what they are capable of. 

How are you holding up Angie? 

10 hours ago, Angela said:

I’m glad you got to meet him. It is crazy to think about how some of our most active members are no longer here. I do hope Henry is well. 
 

Paul is I think the third  member I’ve known that’s passed. While it’s a reality of life, it still hurts when it’s one of our own. 
 

I love y’all. 

Even though we are not all as active this forum holds a special place in my heart. Thank you Angie for keeping it running all these years, that fact most of us have been posting together for at least 14 years is crazy to think about. 

3 hours ago, bu. said:

Who remembers him? Long term member of the forum from London. I just found out that he died last year and I’m annoyed and angry that I didn’t know. I was thinking of him today and thought I’d go to his Facebook to see what he’s been up to and message him but then I saw a lot of rest in peace messages on his wall from April 2019. I literally was speaking to him in March that year and we were trying to meet up. I have no idea what happened but I’m shocked. 

I got a bad feeling when I saw this thread title. 

omg I am SHOCKED. We were friends on facebook too. Damn. So fucking sad I can't believe it.  

The most iconic song of the last 80 years. The best collaboration in pop music history. 

Stream Rain on Me 

47 minutes ago, Selz said:

I’m only 42 cos I’ve been alive that long... I’m still naive as hell, single as hell and immature as hell Though it freaks me out to think I’m old enough to have a 26 YO... I work and go to church with those youngers lol

Selz can you do anything about these bots???? 

I'm turning 32 in less than 6 months. 

I do look good though. 

On 4/17/2020 at 11:47 PM, Lenzo88 said:

So the second lead vocalist of the group just put out a new single and video, “Coffee” (Seriously, when did they have time during this crisis to film it?!? ). The song is sexy af and video...MINDBLOWINGLY GORGEOUS!!! Serving Afrocentric beauty and royalty!!! Aka Kelly did it better Beyonce!!! Sorry!

It was obviously filmed before.

I thought it was reductive tbh... oh another song about sex... oh more visuals lifted from Solange and Beyonce. She can keep it.  

2 hours ago, Lenzo88 said:

So I wonder if you guys have noticed that both Janet and Bruno Mars are the headliners for the Essence Festival 2020 in July!!!
 

Hmmmmm, could the first single for the upcoming album be that heavily rumored collaboration between the legend and nostalgia pop star?!?!

You little super sleuth, I mean slut, I mean sleuth  

oOooohhh lawdt my body is ready 

Omg hi!!!!!  

It’s barely on.  How ya been toots?

On 12/2/2019 at 2:23 PM, Kalfou said:

Rock IS not even Rock anymore....an alternative album delving into trip hop, industrial sounds and acid jazz would suffice for me....but Janet is not in the space to make a moody alternative album. She really thinks that Hawaii song is the cat's meow...Chile. Upbeat dance Janet is here to stay

I completely agree, could see this about 15 years ago... but not now. I like your idea though, I’d love that.