JoJo and K-Ci
The reality show "K-Ci and JoJo...Come Clean" concluded last week, with a one hour finale. As mentioned previously, it stars half of the R&B music group, Jodeci, namely brothers, Cedric Hailey (K-Ci) and Joel Hailey (JoJo).
The show got off to a rough start, as the two brothers were irritable, angry, slightly uncooperative and suffering from withdrawal. However, as the program progress, they showed improvement and the Judiciary Report hopes they will stay sober.
Jodeci
The latter part of the show featured a visit from Jodeci band member, Devante Swing, real name Donald Degratae, who the Judiciary Report had a crush on in the 1990s. K-Ci's demeanor changed somewhat when Swing appeared. Yes, he embraced him as a friend, but he also said something I knew to be true, Devante brings out the worst in him.
There's a reason KC-i said that. Swing is the son of a preacher, who did his best to show the industry he could be just as much of a rebel as anyone else in Hollywood, which is not a good idea. Yes, he continued to profess his faith, but his lifestyle has squarely been at odds with it. He became an alcoholic and drug and sex addict, hanging out with hardcore rappers. Much of his fortune has been spent, due to twenty years of wild living.
Devante Swing (left back) before Jodeci in his dad's band (Image courtesy of Bop MySpace)
At the end of the day, God gave him a gift for music and he didn't need to prove anything to anyone. But being Donald Degrate never seemed like enough, so he adopted an alter ego with a stage name "Devante Swing."
Swing took K-Ci under his wing from day one, requesting he be in the group due to his soulful voice. The two became friends and Swing encouraged him in bad behavior as well, which resulted in legal trouble and addiction. The group was competing with each other to see who could be the most rebellious and it bred many problems. The Hailey brothers are on the road to recovery, but the Degrate brothers are not and it is sad, as they have potential as well.
Charlie Wilson
One of the most stunning parts of the program came when the duo visited Charlie Wilson of the music group the Gap Band, who is a recovering drug addict and alcoholic. His addictions had taken him so low, he became homeless. This was a man that sold millions of records, earning millions, but drugs and alcohol took just about every material possession from him.
However, he made a comeback, embraced sobriety (15-years sober) and was able to purchase a nice home in the hills. He won a Grammy as well. Wilson gave the brothers Hailey excellent advice, in telling them to take it one day at a time and to be real with themselves regarding their addictions.
