These days a chat with West Coast based vocalist and standout personality on the TV One hit R&B Divas: Los Angeles Michel'le, 44, will undoubtedly turn to her turbulent and times physically abusive relationships with hip-hop icon Dr. Dre and the notorious former Death Row Records head Suge Knight. The former has since gone on to translate his power from super producer/music mogul to the billion grossing face of Beats By Dre. The latter, however, finds himself in the legal fight of his life.

Suge, who is in jail on charges that he deliberately killed a man, Terry Carter, when he ran him down with his truck in a Los Angeles restaurant parking lot on January 29, recently collapsed in court after a judge set his bail at a shocking $25 million.

Of course, Michel'le has a lot more to say. The powerful vocalist with the trademark squeaky speaking voice has become a breakout star on R&B Divas, which also features fellow sirens Chanté Moore, Cynthia "Lil' Mo" Loving, Leela James, Chrisette Michele and newcomers Stacy Francis and Christina "Brave" Williams. The singer, who enjoyed immense success with her 1989 double platinum self-titled debut, is currently writing a tell-all book and is still recording. This is Michel'le in her own words.

Enstars: How has it been being back in the spotlight after walking away from the recording industry at the peak of your career? Does it feel strange?

Michel'le: Not for me. I think for the new generation who didn't know my name and can now put the name with the face, this was their first time really seeing me. We disappear in this business and come back all the time.

ENS: You walked away to raise your family going on to live pretty much a private life. When TV One approached you about becoming a cast member on R&B Divas: Los Angeles did you have any reservations about coming into the reality TV world?

M: I wasn't a big reality show TV watcher at the time, but I started watching Housewives of Atlanta. So of course I had a little bit of concern. So I said to my mangers, "No..." It took about a week or so and then Kelly Price called me and I figured, well, Kelly is a Christian girl. Surely she wouldn't have me jumping on tables [laughs]. So I said okay, and it was good. Because I admired the talent in that lineup. I thought this is really going to be fun.

ENS: On the show you have this bubbly personality going on...

M: They call me animated [laughs].

ENS: That's a pretty accurate description.

M: I'm just happy. People take happiness for coo-coo all day. But it's okay to be happy.

ENS: Your relationship with Lil' Mo has been one of the big storylines on the show. Can you talk about that dynamic and how it has played up dramatically?

M: Like you said, it's being played up for the show. Lil' Mo and myself had a little misunderstanding, so hopefully we worked it out. I'm not a drama starter.

ENS: That misunderstanding being that Mo tried to set you up on a date with her father-in-law, but you never showed up. Can you take us through what really happened?

M: If it's one thing that I've learned is if my friend introduces me to a guy, I usually say no thank you. Because if I fall out with the guy then I'm going to lose my friend. I looked at what happened with Mo from that perspective. And again, I will say that if it seems like I stood somebody up or if Mo felt that way then I apologize. But that wasn't my intention.

ENS: Your birthday party at the bowling spot seemed to be going very well, but things went a little haywire towards the end. What sparked the arguments between some of your fellow cast members?

M: Well, my state of mind was that I don't celebrate my birthday. I told them that I don't celebrate my birthday. So when [all the problems] started happening I was like, "See, this is why I don't celebrate my birthday." [Laughs] So it was kind of self-explanatory. But I gave it a chance because I thought the energy would be different this time with a new group of girls celebrating my birthday with me. Hey, I'll do anything once.

ENS: Why don't you celebrate your birthday?

M: There have been incidents that I've written about in my book that will be released explaining why I don't celebrate my birthday.

ENS: It's obvious that there are some very dark memories connected to your birthday. You have been pretty up front about the devastating physical abuse you endured from the fathers of your children, Dr. Dre and Suge Knight. What comes to mind when you see what Suge is going through at this moment given your turbulent history?

M: I feel for everyone involved. It has changed all of our families' lives. And it's turned the Carter's lives upside down. It has changed my daughter's life because now she may have to go visit her father in prison. The one thing I will always say is she can see her father but now he can't see his people and family whenever he wants.

However, that whole incident really isn't just about Suge. Our lives are now different. I'm still a parent, but now Suge is even less accessible even though he wasn't much before. If he's in jail my daughter will have to endure a life of visiting him in there. The Carter's are going to miss birthdays and celebrations without their loved one.

ENS: Were you shocked when the news came out that Suge was involved in the alleged hit and run?

M: I wasn't shocked. I got to my daughter as quick as I could so see what state of mind she was in. I was just praying that everybody was okay. I think when you are a child you are too young to grasp something like this. You don't even have all the emotional tools yet. Will Suge [being in prison] affect her later? I can only prepare her for now.

ENS: On a more positive note, I remember first seeing you on Yo! MTV Raps before your album was released. People were caught off guard by your squeaky voice. But then you would turn around and shockingly sing in a very soulful, grown woman's voice. Did you get a kick out of blowing people's minds?

M: [Laughs] Well, when I would talk nobody would listen to me. But when I would sing people really listened to me. That's when I knew singing was something I was going to do...it totally made sense.

ENS: The '90s was a great era of music. What was it like being a part of such a pivotal moment in hip-hop and R&B?

M: Ah man...it was great. The '90s represented the music of all music to me. We had great music. We hadn't had music like that since the 60's. It was hip-hop and R&B. That's it. Then pop came along.

ENS: Even with all the ups and downs you have been a part of music history. You are linked with both the NWA and Dr. Dre/Death Row eras of hip-hop. There are so many great musical moments from that time.

M: It was great. I've lived a lot of lives...I really have. I'm blessed, but I think everybody is blessed. Now I get to choose my own destiny.

ENS: We know about the R&B hits that you had in the early '90s...the self-titled double platinum debut album; the personal and professionals connections with both Dr. Dre and Suge. How hard has it been trying to get out from under those two immense shadows?

M: I can't escape them one way or the other, so I no longer try to. The past is the past. I can only live for today. But I know people are still curious about the past. They want to know our private lives.

Tags
R&B, Drama, Murder