NFL
By: Mark T. Wilson
The news is out that rapper Nelly and R&B singer Ashanti will have their Docuseries show coming this year. But will we want to watch it? Of course we will but we must do so with caution. Nelly and Ashanti have become that “IT” couple for African Americans in the music industry. This is not Cardi B and Offset nor is it a Future and whoever he’s dating. This is the couple we’re rooting for to win.
For those old enough, this is how we felt about Bobby Brown and Whitney Houston. How we feel about Beyonce and Jay Z. We want them to succeed in their careers but we’re more invested in their love life.
Ashanti and Nelly have been down this road before regarding their relationship. It didn’t work the first time around as they went their separate ways and now, they’re back together, engaged, and with a new child. Hats off to them. But a Docuseries? Well, that has all the makings of a downfall.
Just a few years ago, we rooted for Papoose and Remy Ma. They were the couple that was going to make it as Papoose came off as the loyal man while his woman was locked away. BET came calling with Love and Hip Hop and before you know it, they had their own spinoff show. But then we started to see cracks in their armor.
Smiling in front of the camera for the press was one thing but arguments and not seeing eye-to-eye on a TV show was different. We wanted to see them as perfect but TV has a way, either real or fake to show some true colors.
Pap and Remy are done. They are done in a way that has gone viral and there may be no coming back from that. We don’t want that for Nelly and Ashanti. Both appear to be happy. But it all could be a facade for the cameras. We sure as hell hope not.
Their past breakup was documented on every level. Their reconciliation as well. We’ve invested in them again but way more than were were the first time around and that’s due to the maturity of all parties.
But here we are years later and those same fans are now parents and grandparents and Nelly and Ashanti have grown as individuals and as a couple. Which brings us back to this show idea.
Maybe it’s a good thing, maybe it’s just best if they keep those media droves out of their private lives. Right now all we see are IG pics. But how could all this go wrong if Nelly and Ashanti seem so happy? All that needs to happen is a camera catching a side-eye reaction or a smart comment and the media will ruin wild with allegations about cracks in their armors. This is what the haters want, another coupe tearing themselves down for more fame.
At some point, these entertainers have to realize that some people are not cheering for you. They are just waiting in the bushes for you to fail. Keep that love hidden. Let your fans and those cheering for you from the cheap seats continue to believe that everything is peaceful and perfect in the world of Nelly and Ashanti. We don’t want to see anything else but those smiles.
