I’ll tell you, in recent weeks it’s been getting harder to come up with an Afrobella of the Week.
While there are still some obvious choices coming up in the not-too-distant future, so many women I could have sworn would be all-natural forever have switched it up and gone all weavey or straight on me. Jill Scott, Marsha Ambrosius from Floetry, even Erykah Badu have strayed from their natural styles. I’m looking for suggestions, y’all. In general the Afrobella of the Week should be a woman who proudly wears her natural hairstyle and doesn’t undergo any chemical hair processes. But this week, I honestly don’t know. I’m just gonna go for it and hope for the best.
Bellas, I present to you Chrisette Michele, an afrobella in the midst of a hairstyle transition.
I’ve had my eye on her since I first heard Lost Ones from a early bootleg download.
Her voice caught my attention first — how could it not? She’s got such a distinctive sound, so jazzy and retro but simulataneously fresh. And when I visited her website to investigate this warbling diva-to-be, I was thrilled to discover a gorgeous natural afrobella smiling back at me.
Chrisette Michele positively glows. Click here to watch her sing live at the NationWide Unsigned Hype show. Oh, I wish I could embed that video so, so much. She sounds great, and I am feeling the lyrics of that song. But unfortunately it’s only available on her website, so do yourselves a favor; click and listen.
The song feels like gospel music washing over your soul. Which makes sense, because Chrisette is apparently a spiritual kind of chick.
I was all set to name her Afrobella of the Week, then I saw the Nas video for Can’t Forget About You. The song is an instant classic, if you ask me. Her voice is as unforgettable as the sample. But at first, I wasn’t even sure it was the same person! Her style was straight, dark, and Forties chic. For a brief minute I had to wonder — are we having a Martha Wash moment on our hands? But the eyes told me otherwise. Then I saw the on the set photos on Concrete Loop and my suspicions were confirmed. Apparently Chrisette is apparently in the midst of a natural hair transition, and she’s definitely gotten the uber glam Hollywood makeover. Her makeup is flawless. Both her and Jill Scott wear that retro sexy look incredibly well.
Natural hair or no, Chrisette can sing. And she looks so fly and sounds so fresh performing live here on Letterman, I can’t even diss her hustle. She’s gorgeous and I have the feeling that she’s going places big time. Duetting with Jay-Z and Nas on big hits is just the beginning for her.
Truthfully, I think it’s probably pretty difficult to start out in the game with a natural hairstyle. I sincerely hope she someday returns to her roots, so to speak… but I’m already a fan.
Here she is being introduced to the Def Jam executives by none other than Mr. L.A Reid. She’s utterly amazing.
Congrats, Chrisette! You’re Afrobella of the Week!
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