Picture perfect, but that’s where the perfection ends. This VH1 “reality” show exposes the harsh reality of mixing business and personal life.
Sonja Norwood has had to play overprotective “Mother Hen” in order to ensure that her children could pursue stardom and not be exploited. From her estranged relationship with her daughter Brandy, we see a common family dynamic: mothers loving their sons and raising their daughters. Sonja is tough-as-nails on “Bran.” While Ray J on the other hand can behave like a complete coon and doesn’t receive the same harsh speech, hell, he may even elicit laughter from her. His antics have included; coming to work drunk/hung-over, allowing his friends to get the family van impounded, playing a guitar during the middle of a business meeting and entertaining a stripper that his friends sent to his place of employment.
Sonja is very level-headed when it comes to business. She has the right idea, “no corruption, be on-time, and be fair.” What’s sad is that the fairness Mrs. Norwood so often speaks of isn’t practiced with her children. Ray J can run out amuck and shame the family name with no repercussion but Brandy can’t venture into a different genre of music and receive her mom’s support.
The good thing is, Sonja recognizes the problem and wants to be better. The bad thing is, her definition of better seems to be to separate herself as a mother instead of stepping back from the business aspect. This is detrimental in that all Brandy wants is a chance to have the mother-daughter relationship that was severed at 15 years old.
Willie Norwood, Sr. is a very quiet man. Not the domineering man of the house you would expect to find in an African American household. He says a little but is always there when his children need him.
Brandy Norwood or “Bran-Nu” :smh: she’s pretty histrionic and disturbingly child-like. At 31 you’d expect to see a little more maturity. That isn’t exactly present. She tends to be all over the place. She wants to relive her childhood and the reality is, it’s time to grow up. It’s also pretty clear that her efforts seem to be striving for perfection; doing all the things her brother DOESN’T do to earn the affection of her mother, to no avail. Her inauthenticity with herself explains why she tends to become so angry when interacting with Sonja. She’s a very emotional person who’s easily influenced. But on the other hand, if someone has to take over the family business, she understands the magnitude and would be willing to do so.
Ray J can be summed up in one short word: COON. It sounds harsh, but really, it’s accurate. Dude is 29 and in the club harder than 18-year-olds. His friends are coons too. It’s clear that his posse is content with riding on his coattail more than getting into the studio and dropping an album. From sex tapes to drunken-stupors, he doesn’t get it. He’s always oblivious to what’s going on and it’s because he’s so self-absorbed. He expects to act a fool and not suffer any consequences, and the sad fact is that his family’s reactions or lack thereof are conducive to his behavior.
He too is disturbingly child-like. Whether he was sheltered or working too hard as a kid, it’s pretty disgusting to see him live his life. He lacks focus, which explains why he’s been in the game so long and hasn’t really made a name for himself musically. It’s going to be very difficult to promote a cd that speaks of him as a gentleman and lover of love when after 2 failed episodic attempts he still isn’t “ready.” Girls, partying and getting wasted is all he knows. Sadly, he’s been able to get by. Can he run the family business? Hell no, I wouldn’t trust him to run to the store for ice.
The “Family Business” is looking real shoddy right now…I’m just saying.
Missed an episode or not familiar with the show? Catch up on www.VH1.com.
♥ Author Tierra ♥
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