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“R&B Divas” recap (2.3): Purple Carpet Time

This week with the divas, we slowly inched our way back to an atmosphere of sisterly love and support after the drama overload of last week. Slowly. We also got to see a spotlight on our girl Monifah, which is always more than welcome. The episode begins with Mo over at LaTocha’s house, where Mo invites her to New York for the showcase she’s putting on for her birthday. Not only is it her sort of reintroduction to the musical world as who she is now, it’s the first time she’s played a show in New York, her hometown, in over ten years. As the official title of this episode says, work it, girl.

As Mo leaves Atlanta on her trek to The City, she obviously calls up her friend Queen Latifah to ask her if she’ll be around for the showcase. Turns out she won’t be, which is a bummer, but Monifah talks about how they’ve been friends for 16 years. Latifah once produced a track of hers, and has just supported her in her “wellness and…everything.” And by “everything,” you mean bonding over the fact that you are both beautiful black gay sisters, right? We get it.

Turns out all the other divas will be in New York for the show though, with the exception of Syleena because it’s her son’s birthday. (But Syleecia will be there to rep the fam.) Even Faith is there, and we get to see her hanging out in Brooklyn for a while with her stepdaughter, T’Yonna Wallace, who was only a baby when Biggie was killed. They share a bittersweet moment outside of the apartment where he used to live, where another friend who’s with them says that people still leave flowers. Faith says she feels grateful to have been part of a life that touched so many people. And shucks, this is just sad.

But in better news, Faith is rocking some serious mid-winter diva swag.

We then see Monifah with Terez as she’s prepping for the big event later on; getting her hair did by a friend at a bar. Monifah gets emotional pretty quickly, telling Terez how much she appreciates her, crying as her purple locks get chopped. Terez teases her and says to get it out now, although everyone who knows her knows she’ll be wearing water-proof makeup at the show. You guys, I just love Monifah and Terez so much. So much genuine heart.

After this warm moment, the drama unfortunately comes back a little. Nicci and Faith are hanging out in a fancy hotel room when Nicci gets an “email blast” promoting the upcoming R&B Divas tour, featuring a photo of the original divas plus Angie Stone. As no tour has actually been agreed upon yet, and no one gave anybody any permission to send out this promo, Nicci and Faith are capital-P Pissed. Faith calls her lawyer for a cease and desist. Yay happy times!

Keke is also in New York for some personal business of her own; she and Michael meet up with some peeps at the North Star group to negotiate increased management of the Keke Wyatt brand so Michael doesn’t have to do it all himself. Like most things involving Keke, this meeting proceeds to be half entertaining and half awkward. While Keke is obviously excited to be meeting with these people, she also rolls her eyes and makes a stink anytime Michael mentions wanting to back off from the business side of things so he can spend more time actually being her husband. When he asks her, “Isn’t it a relief?” about him playing less of a business role, she just says, “No.” I don’t really get this. Isn’t it sweet that he wants this? But I think her reaction hearkens back to her dependency issues from last season; I think while she wants her career to get bigger, it’s also scary for her to have anyone other than Michael in absolute control of her life.

And maybe it’s some of that anxiety that manifests itself in her laughing and making faces during the business meeting, until she starts in on some signature Keke Wyatt belching. Which she does apologize for, but eesh. The woman from the North Star group says, “I told you she was colorful.” But her business partner is prompted to ask Keke, “Have you ever had a no joke business meeting?” He asks if she’s able to go 15 minutes without the antics, just straight business. At which she gets her serious game face on immediately and responds, “Try me.”

The tour is also brought up, which Keke has been staunchly refusing up until this point because of her belief that it’s an old lady tour, and she ain’t old. The management company basically tells her to get off her high horse. Thank you! I think this meeting was successful in the end business wise, while also perhaps being a good wake up call.

And while Keke lists Prince and Michael Jackson as artists that these people have been behind in the past, no credit at all is given to the current sparkling face of Janelle Monae which is also so pleasantly situated behind their head.

But on to the main event! All the divas get together before Monifah’s show. The e-blast about the tour is brought up again, as some of the ladies haven’t seen it, and they all agree that they feel disrespected by it. What they disagree on is whose fault it is: Nicci, obviously, vehemently blames Syleecia Johnson. Keke does step up and say hey, “Syleecia’s a very sweet person,” which I’m glad for, because it does seem like she’s a very sweet person. The e-blast was from a booking agent, not Syleecia. Anyhoo, Angie sort of rounds everybody up and says that drama aside, we are all “bad sisters” and people love us and we could make this tour happen on our own terms if we want. And they decide to shift the focus of the night to where it belongs, on Mo. It’s so nice to see some semblance of unity again.

They arrive at the show for Monifah’s “purple carpet,” and how much do I love that she has a purple carpet? I love it a lot.

And after all the fun on the carpet, her girlfriend gets to introduce her on stage, calling her the “purple princess.” Life is sweet.

On stage, Mo performs with what Faith calls a “glow” in her spirit, while Terez watches lovingly from the sidelines. At the end, all the divas join her on stage for “Touch It.”

Amazingly enough, Keke then takes to the drums, and kills it. Who knew girl could rock the drums? Not me! All the divas are laughing and living it up and having a great time and this is what I love; this is what I would go see a tour of in a heartbeat. Angie takes the mic for a moment to say of Monifah’s realness: “Her voice matches her spirit.”

And there’s a little more e-blast tour drama after that, but I’d rather the episode just end here.

What did you think of Mo’s show? Keke’s percussion skills? Do you think this tour will ever actually happen, or more importantly, how much of this season do you think will be taken up with nonsense over it?

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